Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-18

cent publication OF the Smithsonian
Institution H. NJ. Cadell reports his
studies and Investigations of the Klon-
dixie and Yukon gold field including
an interesting roview OF the carly his
tory OF this district as we'll as a proph-
ocy as to lite future development
Tho name Klondike was once in
every mouth. and late in the nine
teenth century II nearly became a
synonym for all that wes rich and
prosperous. But of late II has not
been so common. its early bloom hav-
Ing faded away. The sensational
pockets Of nne placer gold. which at
tracied hordes OF hardy Adventures
depleted. and no new ones have been
discovered to maintain its earlier rep
utation. But while this part OF the
Yukon district can no longer be called
poor mans gold field, II still con-
tains a considerable quantity OF al
luvial sold which can he secured by
the application Of capital and brains
II remains n region we'll worth visit
Ing, for besides the gold II has other
possibilities OF development. There
are many points of geographic and rel
entifc Interest; in this remote and I'm
perfectly explored northwestern cor
ner Of the British empire there are
numerous problems awaiting tho dis
oussion and investigation OF the geol-
ogist and the geographer OF the years
TO come.
On his trip OF investigation Mr..
Cadell steamed UP the coast from Van
couver and through the Lynn Canal
to Skagway which he terms the gate
way to the Yukon, and describes as
Ahal al 70
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 can
never 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
htnterland less than twenty miles In
land"
skagwny Is surrounded or three
sides by a plateau of steep and rugged
mountains through which two trails
lead to tho north over the White
Horse and Chilkoot Passes. up whose
wild and difficult ravines thousands OF
fortune seekers trekked and struggled
with their heavy packs, tools and
tents in the mad rush to the expected
FL Dorado over 500 miles away. Soon
after the gold was was found in guam
titles mountain railroad was built
up the White Pass from Skagway TO
the summit and on to Lake Bennett.
q distance Of forty miles, traversing
wild and ice worn plateau OF gigantic
PROPORTIONS str~wn with morain%s.
eprinkled over with lakes and IN
closed by snowy peaks 5000 to 5000
feet in height.
At the head Of Lake Bennett lies the
deserted town OF Bennett. where. az
the time of the gold rush, there we're
lodged some 5000 people in houses,
huts and tents. but the only building
now standing besides the railroad sta
ton is wooden Presbyterian church.
which shows that at least few right
eous men we're among that sordid
crowd 1t was here that the first pros
pectors and miners got into boats and
canoes and navigated their frai! craft
through lakes and rapids for the re-
naming 531 miles of their venturesome
Journey TO Dawson City The last
stretch of the railroad from SkaeUay
runs along Lake Bennett to White
Horse, few miles above Lake Leberse.
where safe navigation down the Lewes
River to Dawson 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 consequently the
gold producing deposits remained in
tact until the early prospectors dis
covered them. The Yukon gold field is
confined mainly to the vicinity OF
Dawson City, although small quantities
Of gold can he found in the sand of
the Yukon for hundreds Of miles up
tho valley.
Dawson CITY Is situated on the allu-
vial Fat where the Yukon is joined BY
the Klondike River, two tributaries OF
which are tho famous Bonanza Creek
and Hunker Creek. Although traces OF
gold were discovered In the Yukon Val
ley in about 1860. 1t was twelve wears
later, in 1881, before 1t was found in
the Big Salmon. and in the Lewes. Pei
ly and Stewart Rivers. Five years
afterward coarse gold was found on
the Fortymile, a tributary OF the YUKON
below Dawson. and in 1S94-ls96 the
discoveries OF Bob Henderson and
ANA Creeks drew miners into kiondike
Valley from all quarters. Prodislous
quantities of gold were soon found in
Bonanza Creek. and many miners made
fortunes In n short time. bht nn1or-
tunateIy most Of the gold was spent
foolishly or In hebauchery. One man
| is said to have taken 100000 out of a
claim eighty-six feet by 300 feet, but,
SO the story goes, he spent II In few
wears and died In poverty. The quick
| est fortune on record was secured by
| two men who cleaned up gold to the
| value of $685. 600 in twenty seven hours.
Stories OF the proceedings at Klondike
| during these golden days are not
edifying, but point to the moral that
wealth too easily and quickly won is
| ant to work i'll The total output in
! 1898 was sl0.0o0.c00 from which
figures 1t jumped six million annually
! until 1900, when the production reached
| S22.27S,0t0 tho highest point. From
| this point steady decline hogan. until
| II