The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-01-15
KLoNDIKE GOLD FIELDS.


Incre mas Deen geutIdl AinPACS
sion that the Alaska boom is at an
end; that the production OF gold
from that region would show de-
crease this year; and that two or
three more years would see the
termination of the Alaskan enter
prise. This idea is not borne out by
the facts, as gathered by Charles s..
McNichols, one of the best known
Indian agents Of the northwest, says
the Chicago Tribune. Says Mr.. Nc
Nichols in letter to a friend in his
former home in Momence, Kankakee
county:
I'm recent trip from the north
coast to St. Paul / had as travelling
companion half dozen Alaskan min
ers of the better class, VINO were on
their way to Chicago and other
places where the luxuries Of life
could be had in exchange for the
gold Of the frozen north. One of the
men with whom / talked the most
had spent three years at Nome, work
ing his claims. He hired miners and
cook at five dollars q day and
board each. The first year he
clsaxpd ~ average Of 500 day on
each man, Including the cock. The
NEXT year he I'D slightly better. n
the last nennon III working clalule,
were fairly Opened up, and this se'Ae
son each Of his employe> cleared fo*
him t110 tor eech working day. His
working f1rce numbered ahort nines
Though the season lcnts but 80 days.
| it win be seen that Tie miners prof.
| it approximated 500, 900. !"
The returned AIaskans, all "
whom had prospered beyond their
anticipations, declared that in the
whole district from Nome to the
straits not ten per cent. of the claims
hac resched their maximum produc-
tion, and that in so years hence the
district would be yielding more Of
the precious metal than at the pres
ent time.
What show is there for prospec-
tors now?" inquired the Indian
agent.
Little, except in the constantly
discovered new regions replied one
of the miners.
There is plenty oswork for sober
men who can avoid gambling. and
these can save enough money to get
a start. A man with few thou
sands of dollars and good degree
OF business prudence can do well IL
be Is cautious and awaits his chance
to purchase good claim at rea-
sonable price, Such chances come
from the owners OF many claims who
have one or two opened up and pro-
ducing. On each of the idle claims
he has to do the 500 assessmen
work each year to hold them. This
is just so much time and energy TAX
en- from claims already proftably
producing, and most men have
.earned that three or four claims
well worked not only yield a com
Portable fortune. but will take as
much OF their lives as they care to
spend in the frozen north. For this
reason a careful man who takes his
time to investigate can secure good
nndeveloped claims at from 81 900 to
$4,000, out of which, by good man
agement, he can clean up from $685.
900 TO s20o.00o."
Not long ago" continued Mr.. Nc
Nichols, in his letter, II gathered
totally different but equally interest
ing phase of Alaskan life in a talk
with Rev. Father Van Corp, now in
charge Of mission on the Flathead
Indian reservation. For three years
past Father Van Corp has had charge
Of the six Catholic missions in
Alaska, and his headquarters were al
Holy Cross mission. 600 miles up the
Yukon river. was particularly in
terested in what he said of their ag-
ricultural experiments.
Farming or gardening can only
be carried on in the higher parts of
the Yukon on account of excessive
moisture. Even then the tundra. or
sod of moss, several inches thick.
must be removed by hand and cart
ed away. But at this mission. 600
miles mp the Yukon. they had. with
the aid Of Indian pupils. surfaced
about eight acres and grown all their
garden stuff for the last year. The
yield of the harder vegetables, like
potatoes, turnips, cabbage and most
root crops, peas, and even beets. was
enormous. Notwithstanding the
short summer, the days are so long
and so warm that vegetable life
grows with inconceivable rapidity.v
At Fort Yukon. six miles within
the arctic circle, the United States
government is conducting agricnltur-
al experiments.