The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-08-19

In a recent publication of the Smith
sonian Institute, Mr.. a. NJ Cadell re-
ports his studies and Investigations of
the Klondike and Yukon gold fields, in
Guiding an interesting review of the
early history of this district as well
as prophecy as to its future develop
ment.
The name Klondike was once in ev-
cry mouth, and late in the 10Th GEN.
fury 1t nearly became synonym for
all that was rich and prosperous. But
of late ii has not been so common
its early bloom having faded away.
The sensational pockets of fine placer
gold which attracted hordes of hardy
adventurers from every quarter, are
now nearly depleted, and no new ones
have been discovered to maintain its
earlier reputation. But this part OF
the Yukon district can no longer be
called poor mans gold field, 1t still
contains a considerable quantity of
alluvial gold which can be secured by
the application of capital and brains.
It remains a region well worth visit
ing, for besides gold 1t has other pos
sibilities of development. There are
many points of geographic and scien-
tific interest; in this remote and i'm
perfectly explored northwestern cor
ner Of the British Empire there are
numerous problems awaiting the dis
cussion and investigation of the geo.
logist and the geographer for years to
come.
Something About skagway.
On his trip of investigation, Mr..
Cadell steamed up the coast from Van
couve-, and through the Lynn Canal
to Skagway, which he terms the gate
way to the Yukon, and describes as,
"a wretched little town with decayed
wooden houses and grass grown
streets, the scene of many robberies,
riots and murders at the time of the
gold rush, which the police authorities
had neither the power nor energy to
control Skagway is not, and never
can be, of much use to the United
States, except as an obstruction to
Canadian progress, but might be of
some advantage to the vast Canadian
hinterland less than 90 miles inland
Skagway is surrounded on three
sides by a plateau of steep and rugged
mountains through which two trails
lead to the north over the White Horse
and Chileoot passes, up whose wilo
and difficult ravines thousands of for
tune seekers trekked and struggled
with their heavy packs tools, and tents
In the mad rush to the expected e
Dorado over 500 miles away. Soon
after the gold was found in quantities
White Pass from Skagway to the sum-
nit and on to Lake Bennett, q distance
of 40 miles, traverslng wild and Ice
worn plateau Of gigantic proportions
strewn with moraines. sprinkled ovel
with lakes and enclosed by snowy
peaks 5000 to 1000 feet in height.
Church All That Remains.
At the head of Lake Bennett lies
the deserted town of Bennett, where
at the time of the gold rush, there
were lodged some 5000 people In
houses, huts and tents, but the only
building now standing, besides the
railroad station, is a wooden Presby'
terrain church which shows that al
least few religious men were among
that sordid crowd. 1t was here that
the first prospectors and miners got
into boats and canoes and navigated
their frail craft through lakes and
rapids for the remaining sci miles OF
their venturesome journey TO Dawson
CITY The last stretch Of the railroad
from Skagway runs along Lake Ben
net to White Horse, a few miles
above Lake Laberge, where safe navi-
CATION down the Lewes river to Daw-
son begins,
Although the great ice fields of the
early ages swept the greater portion
Of North America, they missed the
region of the Klondike and conse-
quently the gold producing deposits
remained intact until the early pros
pectors discovered them. The Yukon
goldfield is confined mainly to the
vicinity of Dawson City, although
small quantities of gold can be found
in the sand of the Yukon for hundreds
of miles up the valley.
Famous Bonanza Creeks
Dawson City is situated on the anu
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