Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-25
ALASKA GOLD FIELDS.
Former Augusta Citizen Tells Of Rich
Country.
Many Hardships, but Great Oppor.
tunity for Young Men.

While In conversation with the
Journal former Augusta son, J. p.
Ryan, related some very interesting
facts about the famous gold territory
of Alaska. Mr.. 1tyan has lately re-
turned to Alaska after a visit to his
native city, and just before his de-
parture he showed a Journal man some
of the glistening yellow dust as it is
brought to the mints from the sleuce
and pan. Mr.. Ryan left for the first
time for this region about three years
ago, and it was not the gold fever
that led him there. but an ingenious
idea, somewhat original. 1t was near
the time when the graphaphone had
become subject to the nickel-in-thc-
slot-machinc mans ingenuity, and the
idea seized Mr.. Ryan that il several of
those machines, together with suffi-
cient records, could be packed for safe
transportation for such a long journey
into an extremely cold country there
could be money made with the patent
different lodges, and allowing the
machines to be played, upon the pay
ment of SO much tariff. AS there
would probably be but few nickels in
this region and payment would be
mostly In gold Mr.. Ryan had numerous
blank lead pieces struck off the exact
size Of a nickel. 1t was his intention
to sell these blanks, which were the
key to the machine, for a certain
amount of gold.
This scheme, though, was to GER
tain extent a failure. On the way
about Onc-half of the records were
broken, the intense cold was not the
correct temperature for wax records
to reproduce in Il satisfactory manner
the music TO the machine. and the
greatest cause of the failure was that
upon his arrival Mr.. Ryan found in
Alaska everybody SO busy that they
had no time to listen to these repro
auctions. Upon finding this condition
prevailing throughout the country he
decided he would leave the grapha-
phone business, and search for gold
himself.
At this time, Mr.. Ryan said, "it was
a difficult task to find tract which
had not been Staked, and thereby
claimed, as the NOrwcgians and
Canadians who are experts OH skees.
had skeed the most of the country and
claimed all i'll sight. The laws were
rigid and it was Il tough chance for Il
late conner, but wages were good, en-
ployers paying $1U0 afTnonth with board
etc, also given the employees.
1.-The law for Il right of claims was
later changed making no man eligible
to hold claim who did not work it SO
many days out of Il month. This gave
many their desired chance and l OBJ
tanned several claims, which yielded ex-
cellent quality and Il fair quantity of
gold.
There are two kind of claims,
creek claim, and a bench claim. The
creek claim is one near, or on the small
brooks, and these are worked only in
the open season or summer months.
because should you work these by
digging in the winter the water would
Susl out and as you kept working
would accumulate, freeze and form a
glaZicr. If a glazier be formed it
obstructs the working of the claim for
nearly year.
1.-The old method of sleuce and pan
is generally used by miners in this
country. Wages at this time are about
5 dollars a day and the laborer has to
keep himself, you see by having to
keep himself these wages are really q
little lower than when the gold fields
first opened. Clerks through these
cities are paid $40 a month.
"Oh, yes, many were unsuccessful at
first because they flocked there with
out considering the country, its climate
and the hardships of it's wild and I'M.
settled regions, but 4 hardy young man
has all the chances of success that may
be laid before him. if he has common
sense, in this immensely rich country"