Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-08-01

50.
good meal costs $3.50. But these prices
can not last very long, ~ the conges-
ton is being relieved by thousands
scattering all over the country. Then
again, am satisfied that when the next
boats get here about The middle OF July
they will carry back more passengers
than they bring in, al there are very
many people here who are already suf-
fering with cold feet, and their num-
Der will Increase steadily.
That there are some rich placer
claims in this country Is without doubt
true, and that there are thousands OF
Is equally true. have not yet seen
opinion, but my impression is that 1t
has been very greatly over-estimated.
7 made a trip yesterday into the
country. walking about twenty-five
miles over wet moss and swampy tun-l
dra. l took in Anvil and Glacier
creeks and Snow Gulch, where some
sluicing is being done. Anvil has some
rich claims. Glacier has not yet pro-
duced much gold Snow Gulch Is said:
to be very rich. am convinced that
the rich placer diggings are Just as
spotted as In any country, there being
a few rich claims on a creek, and a
good many more that are not of much
value. should want to see much
better prospect on any claim 1 would
invest in than was able to obtain even
on some claims on Anvil and Glacier,
which are supposed to be among the:
best cree,A here When you read about
claims In this country prospecting $40
or $50 to the pan. or even II to the pan,
you can make up your mind that they
are picked pans, and that a great ma
jority of the pans will run out but a
few cents, while many will show no coll
or at all. While the beach paid well
last season it appears to have been
pretty we'll rocked out, and rocking on
the beach now pays but small wages,
running from 81 to IS day, and, in
Exceptional cases, considerably more
than these figures Thousands who
came here to work on the beach are
dreadfully disappointed and many a
poor fellow will have difficulty in earn
ing enough, above his expenses, to- take
him home. But little virgin beach has
been discovered. and the old has been
quite thoroughly worked out. Thou
sands upon thousands of dollars We're
invested in machinery to work the
beach, and 1t is now lying along the
beach for miles, and much of 1t will
never be moved from where 1t was
landed. Much Of it is wholly united
for the work, and still others can not
be moved on account of the great ex-
pense incident to its installation and
lack Of means of the owners teaming
costing at present at the rate OF SO an
hour.
81 have found a great deal Of quartz
in the gulciles, and In fact all over the
hills; but have seen none as yet that
would interest me. All the float quartz
/ have seen is perfectly barren of any
mineral whatever. The country rock
| is a decomposed and badly broken up
mica schist, and, while there may be
found some good veins in it, l have
seen none yet that / would regard as
OF much perInanency. hope may find
something good in quartz, but as told
you before came. it will have to be
pretty good to interest me, as this Is
going to be hard country to mine in.
and mining must necessarily be very
|expensive may find some good pla-
Iicers but will make no investments
lsuntil have looked the country over
quite thoroughly. and I may make none
at all.
s.From what ~ have heard OF this
Alaskan country from a great many
tfferent sources. am inclined to The
belief that the most promising section
| oft is the Copper river country, where
There are said to be fine prospects in
oil. coal and copper. Unless find some
thing of keen interest here by the time
the next boats go south. | will 30 TO
that country and look it over. unless
you write me not to go. The expense
will be little more than to remain here.
lif as much and may find something
|gmeritorious. ] expect to make long
"trip into the Bonanza district east Of
here. in few days. and hope to find
something interesting in that country
I am not at an discouraged with the
outlook here; but am convinced that
the courtry has been greatly over
estimated. That it will produce large
amount Of gold from the placers I do
not doubt. but do not expect much
from the quartz. unless find some
thing better than have seen In this
locality"