Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-10-01
STUDIES IN The ELONDIKE
u. N. Cadell Reviews Development
Of Rich Gold Fields in Alaska
and Canada.
REGION HAS GREAT FUTURE

OF the early history OF this district ~
well a. prophecy as to It's future de-
veiopmcnt
The name Kloudike was once In every
mouth. and late in the nineteenth century
Il nearly became a synonym for all that
was rich and prosperous. But Of late 4
has not been so common, its early bloom
having faded away. The sensational
pockets Of fine placer gold. which at
trscted hordes OF hardy adventurers from
every quarter are now nearly depleted
and no new ones have been discovered
70 maintain its earlier reputation. But
while this part OF the Yukon distri,t
can no longer be called a poor mans
RoIdfield Il stili contains a considerable
dusntity Of aluvial gold which can he
secured by the application Of capital and
brains II remains a region well worth
visiting. for besides the gold q has other
possibilities OF development There are
many points Of geographic and scientific
interest in this remote and iu1perfectly
explored northwestern corner Of the Brit.
ish empire there are numerous probleoss
awaiting the discussion and Investigation
OF the geologipt and the seographer OF
tha years TO come.
skaRssay Ugly Town.
on hta trip of investigation. Mr.. Cadcli
steamed mp the coast from Vancouver.
and through the Lynn canal. to skasway
which he terms the gateway 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 ~ the
time OF the gold rush, which the police
aGthesi,ies had neither the power nor
energy TO control skegway rs not and
can never be. OF much use to the United
states. except az an obstruction TO Cana
dian progress but might be Of some adj
vantage 10 the vast Canadian hinterland
less than twenty miles inland"
rskaeway 10 surrounded on three sides
by plateau OF steep and rugged noun,
tans through which two trails lead to
The north over the White Horse and the
chilcoot Passes. up whose Wild and diff
ficut rayines thousands Of fortune
seekers trekked and struggled with their
heavy packs. tools, and tents in the mad
rash 10 the expected El Dorado over 500
miles away. Soon, after the gold was
found In quantities. mountain railroad
was built up the White Pass from
Skagway 10 the summit and on TO Lake
Bennett, distance Of forty miles, trav-
ersing q Wild and ice-worn plateau OF
gigantic proportions. strewn with
moraInes sprinkled over with lakes and
enclosed BY snowy peaks 5000 70 5000
feet in height
Bennett II Deserted.
AZ the head of Lake Bennett lies the
deserted town Of bennett, where, az
the time OF the gold rush. there were
iodfed some 800 people Ia houses. huts
and tents. but the only building now
standing besides the railroad station Is
a wooden Presbyterian church, which
shows that az least few righteous men
were among that sordld crowd. II was
here that the first prospectors and min
crs got into boats and canoes and nav
leated their fraii craft through lakes
and rapids for the remaining 53i miles
Of their venturesome Journey 10 Dawson
City. The Hast stretch OF the railroad
from Skagway runs along Lake Bennets
60 White Horse. a few miles above Lake
Laberge. where safe navigation down
the Lewes river to Dawson begins
Although great Ice fields Of the early
ages swept the greater portion OF North
America they missed the region OK the
klondike. and consequently the sold pro.
ducing deposits remained intact until
the early prospoctors discovered them.
The Yukon gold field u confined mainly
10 the vicinity OF Dawson Guy. although
small quantities of gold can be found
m the sand Of the Yukon for hundreds
OF miles UP the valley.
Discovery OF tso.d tn KIopdike.
Dawson City is situated on the ailuvial
nat where the Yukon Is Joined by tha
klondike river. two tributaries OF which
are the famous Bonanza creek and Hun
ker creek. Although traces OF gold were
discovered In the Yukon valley Ia about
ASS. Il was twelve years later, In 1881.
before 1t was found In the Bis Salmon
and In the Lewes. Peily and stewart
rivers. Five years atterward coarse gold
vas found ON the FortymiIe. tributary
OF the Yukon, below Dawson. and in
isei-isss the discoveries OF Bob Hender.
son and George cormack, in bunker
and Bonanza creeks drew miners into
lSlondiks valley from all quarters. Pro
digious quantities OF gold were soor
found IN bonanza creek and many min
ers made fortunes in q short time. but
unfortunately most OF the gold waA spen
feolishly or IN debaucnery. One man Il
said 20 have taken sne.ooo out Of clair
aighfy-sIx feet BY 800 feet. but. 20 tn
story goes. he spent II In few year
and died in poverty. The quickest for
tune ON record was secured by two MOI
who cleaned zap gold 20 the value o
tsS.ooo IN twenty-seven hours. Stories o
the proceedings At Kiondike during thes
golden days are not edifying. but poin
70 the moral that wealth too easily am
quickly won Is apt to work ~.
The total output in 1855 was si0.OoQ.0os
from which figure II jumped six Inillio
annually until 1900 when the produc
ton reached s22.s75.ooo. the highest poinl
From this point a STEADY decline bega
Until IN 1865. when Il was s2ss. ist. 4
y hitch tins hydraulicking and dredgin
BEGAN and the total output rose slow,
Until Il was sh.ols.all ia isia 1t has bee
estiInated that only about ss1.Oo0, q
aorfh OF gold remains 10 be produced
out Of The original available amount I
nearly tlka eo4o0O.
Al the height Of the noom IN the viii
Ter q f&e the population o. Dawson
said - have reached ?. 80. recently. hon
ever. II has dw1ndled down 70 less tina
200 people.
How Geld is Recovered.
The various processes Of rec0yerir
sold IA this region fail under three MAJ
heads: individuals. b. washing surfal
sravels with shovel and pan. or |