The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-10
kLONDIkE OF TODAY.
Epic Period Has Passed, But the Field
 Is Still Productive.

From the Chicago Inter-Ocean.
 Six years ago no portion of the earth was more talked about than the F<lon- dflxe region of the Yukon valley. From it's golden gravels, yielding by the most primitive methods over Sl00000, 900 in about three years came some ample fortunes, hundreds of modest competencies and an epic experience of life-or death-for thousands.
 Lately little has been heard of the Klon- dike. It no longer seems to offer the chance of quick fortune or sudden end of life to adventurous souls. Probably nine men out of ten when asked about it. would be of the impression that it's golden stores have been practically ex- hausted. and that 1t has been become merely another of the many gold dig gings which have played out
 According to c. M. Woodworth, In the Canadian magazine. that impression would be far from correct The time has passed in the I<londike when the indfvid- ual adventurer with his own hands and the simplest tools, might win enough gold to put him. if he could keep it. be- yond need to work again, or at least enough to lay the foundations or com petence But the Klondike Is far from exhausted of it's treasures. Almost be- vond question there Is still five or six times as much gold in the gravels as has been taken out.
 With the methods which 1t was possible to use during the great rush of lS9S-ss claims paving less than SS to the cubic ward could not be worked and were aban- aoned But conditions have changed with methods. and claims averaging $25 per cubic yard are now profitable, while Q drift hearing half that would not be aban- doned If the pay streak were regular and ot too thin With the dredges and steam shovels now coming into use hydraulic workings welding 50 cents per yard are found profitable.
 Tn California and elsewhere hydraulic gold mining works have been made to nav where the ground yielded less than 10 cents A cubic yard Mir Woodworth does rot believe that record can ever be equal ed in the Klondike. Too much or the gravel Is frozen. and there are other items of expense which will keep the limit of profitable working considerably high CT Mir Woodworth believes. however. that in the near future gravels paving 25 cents a yard can be worked at a good profit
 Within 100 miles east of Dawson there are believed to be more than oo square miles of auriferous gravel deposits from 9 to 125 feet thick which will yield an average of more than 25 cents yard. Twenty square miles in the Klondike ba sin are much richer. There Is good evi- dence that one square mile on Hunker creek will produce @00oo.0Oo. Altogether it Is believed that the Klondike basin Is canable with modern processes and ma chinery. of yielding more than $oo.0oo ooO. So 1t will be seen that the Klondike is far from played out" Its epic era-the days of single-handed striving with the elements for wealth--has gone or is rapid ly going. Successful industry there must now be organized and cooperative and sober. Those who made tne Niohoihe l,., en,c history have transformed it. The kind of chance they had will never be there again. Fifty years hence men will doubtless look at the Klond'ke of 's9 as we now look at the Klondike of 4s with a certain envIous wonder if 1t will ever be their lot to live as he lived, trans forming the face Of the earth m ie" ,r,onths with their own hands.