The evening times., 1900-01-22

when the practically barren land would
become one Of the worlds great gold pro-
ducing centres; but such it now is. The
news OF the marvelously rich discoveries
in the Klondike was Immediately followed
by a great rush OF gold seekers into that
region.
The best claims were quickly pre-empt-
ed. and nothing was left for the last COM
ers. In consequence OF this an army OF
prospectors spread themselves far and
near over the face OF that country. and
new discoveries quickly followed one an
other. But owing TO the rigor of the Ca
madam mining laws the prOspectors were
anxious to find gold on American soil. Men
focked into Alaska and the-e began sys-
tematic search for the yellow metal. Sue
cess in a number OF instances crowned
{ cir efforts. and finally what appears 10
be the greatest Of all discoveries in this
gold country was found at Cape Nome.
The Original Discovery.
A number of Cape Nome men have been
lately making the Everett House. in this
city their headquarters, and Burton D.
Blakeslee. acting as spokesman for the
party, told the story OF Nome as he knows
It, as follows:
The credit for the original discovery
that there was gold in paying quantities at
Cape Nome think there is little question
belongs 10 the natives. Since the dis
covery Of the Klondike prospectors have
swarmed over ali available parts of Alas
ka in the hope og finding the yellow metal
in paying quantities, and as early as July,
1898 a prospecting party visited Cape
fhs,
country as devoid Of metal and bleak and
dreary to live in.
The natives, however. we're well aware
of the presence OF gold in Nome and un-
der the influence Of and in gratitude for
newly acquired religion, confded the fact
Of its existence there 10 two missionaries
named Hultburg and Anderson. I would
not like TO go 50 far as to say that these
men have permanently forsaken the
church. but they departed hot foot for
Nome TO learn the truth or falsity Of the
information they had received. Arriving
there in SEPTEMBER. 1898. just before the
freeze. they we're nevertheless able TO take
out of the ground from $500 TO $500
with an ordinary rocker.
when Anvil Creek froze up they organ
ized a company, which now has control
OF the best claims there. The news Of the
discovery Of gold az Nome travelled fast,
but there we're conflicting rUmors as TO
the extent and value Of the find, and on
this account il was not definitely known
that gold in enormous quantities had been
struck there until last September, when
the Wholesale rush of people from Dawson
and other points began.
Gold in the sen sands.
The strip OF beach in which gold lies
in the sands Of the sea stretches. it is
already known, from Cape Nome to Cape
York, where paying color has recently
been found, distance % one hundred and
twenty-five miles. This seashore gold
nature has deposited in pay
ing quantities. Indeed personally
know Of three men who. with
rocker, succeeded In three days
in extracting $1.1O0 worth but a doubt has
arisen as TO the legality % these claims
on the sea front, and as to whether or. not
in the coming year our Government will
not put a stop TO their being worked.
Under the law, the sixty feet Of beach
Immediately above tide water is said to
be reserved TO the Government. and it is
In this very strip that the gold was found
that caused such a sensation when its dis
cOvery became known last year.
But rich as this sea sand unquestiou-
ably Is, the heavy finds at Nome have been
made along the numerous creeks, with
which the country is interlsced. All the
creeks that have so far been investigated
have shown good results.
The total output Of gold from Nome
last year has been estimated at from So
100000 TO 5000. 000 Few Of the claims
were opened up or thoroughly worked last
year. whereas. in 1900 they will be thor
Oughly worked throughout the all too short
season. The most conservative estimates
place the coming output at from $40
IN nd T..
ones at higher figures still.
1T Is all placer mining at Nome; that is
where the gold is found in minute quanti-
ties. scattered throughout the beds Of
streams, in the earth adjoining, and in
this case. In the sands Of the sea itself
As. In every other great mining Strike,
there are not wanting those who advocate
the theory that all this gold was originally
together In one great ledge, from which il
was washed away by the gradual action
OF the waters passing over it throughout
countless cons OF time, and TO And this
original ledge men are now hunting the
country over. as they are stin doing in
the KlOndiks region.
1T is the old theory OF the mother lode
but / do not personally take much stoct
In IL. I do not doubt that this gold origi-
nally came from quartz ledge but IL is
not impossible that il the course of time
that ledge may have decompcsed and been
entirely washed away.
American Mining Laws.
There are two new discoveries report
ed, which are said to be rich, but Of them
know nothing personally. One is at Cape
York, 12S miles northwest Of Cape Nome
and the other at Morton Bay, eighty or
ninety miles southeast
The main difference between mining in
the Klondike and in the Nome region is
the dissimilarity between Canadian and
American mining laws. The former limits
the frontage OF claim on a creek to 200
feet, whereas by the latter you may have
1920 feet. Besides, the KIondike nay
streak, lying deeper than il does at Nome
the miners are able to work at il during
the months, and to stack up the earth then
taken out, In preparation for the time
when they can run these accumulations
through sluices. But in Nome the pav
streak lies nearer the surface and work
there is only carried on during the sum
mer months.
1t Is not necessary to carry much cloth
ing with you to that region for the reason
thPt you won't need much there and In
winter you can get furs. Large quantities
OF provisions are also now unnecessary.
for they can be bought upon arrival at rea-
sOnable prices.
What Is known as the Nome gold belt
is divided into the Nome, Bonanza. Eldo-
rado, Discovery. Blake. Big -Four. Sinook.
Cripple Granite, Fairview, Cape York. and
the Norton Bay mining districts. IN INV
opinion the Eldorado district lvino ,orth