The Alaska daily empire., 1917-11-16
FUTURE OF KLONDIKE
(Da wson News)


 Within the last few days the work of dredging the famous goldbearing creek of Bonanza from end to end has been finished The dredging of Eldorado equally famous creek, has been finished within tho last few days from it's mouth upward
 Bonanza is dredged in one continuous stretch right from the mouth to Victoria gulch above which, it is said, there not dredge values to warrant operations with dredge. Eldorado is dredged from the mouth to claim 27 and it is understood arrange ments have been made to dredge the remainder of the upper end of the creek with small dredge. more of the big dredges being released They must be transferred to other creeks in this camp of the largest dredges have been shipped from this camp They never will back. If any of the other dredges go out they will return. This is vital to this camp The loss of the two dredges which already have gone means many who other wise would have been earning good wages and spend not here
 Yukon has not suffered alone from the dredges which have been removed but also from absence of other dredges which would have had of the best creeks not been tied up by the blockade acncs Of certain persons Several instances of that Kind occurred in this camp in past years due chiefly to the ambitions of certain organize the creeks and to others who wanted prices for small strips or ground fair and reasonable attitude on behalf of both such people would have worked out boon to themselves and to the camp As it has turned out, the bockaders did themseevs out of the opportunities, and did damage the situation in general Now that the prospective enterprises have not materialized the nation and the Allied cause is hurt, as well companies and individuals as the gold which would have been produced would have been enriching the nation is locked in inc earth Men who unreasonably tied up the ground have proved menace to the cause. But others who have done everything in their promote goldbear. ing properties and to make them productive may be looked on in quite the opposite light.
 It comes good authority that there are men outside of Yukon Territory who certain claims on some of the best remaining creeks in this camp who block sales to other companies willing to buy and operate the ground If such could realize the strength of public opinion regarding those pursu- Ing such blockade tactics and could hear the caustic comments and structures pursued those who have defeated what seemed immediate sales they might De persuaded 1t was time for them to alter their course. some may want enormous prices, and some may want to buy at too low figure. But when the price IS fair there should be some process of law provided whereby the enterprises which involve the very existence and life of this camp if not the whole Territory, should be killed by a few obdnrate or eccentric persons sE
 If large percentage of creek say were owned py company prepared with funds or equipment to ground intervened, it seems logical that hoard of arbitrators or something similar should be provided With authority to condemn enough at least of the Dlockaded piece for the dredge to work through that ground especially if the company amply Compensated the owner or took of the gold This is a matter of detail but without doubt there should be ground which is absolutely tied up Several rich creeks in the vicinity of Dawson have been under this disability of delay within the last few years Men who invested there years ago with the hest in tentions and good faith have seen their monev tad up for years, with chance of relief They virtually have been gagged and bound Such is contrary to all principles Of fairness It is not argued any. one should be compelled to sell at the other mans figure, but none with handful of property should put spokes in the wheels of enterprise inyov. ing the fate Of great share of this Territory and many of its people.
 After all. the government merely leases nlacer ground Tn Canada It gives title to and there. lore the government easily can impose the necessary sa1eguards to protect the individuals others who nave taken the lease and invested their monev Something should be done in matters for relief or hiondike at the earliest possible date