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 ITS HISTORY ITS GOLD FIELDS ITS SCENERY 
 
 ITS ROUTES OF TRAVEL 
 
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 BY 
 
 HARRY L. WELLS 
 
 THK J. K. GlLl. COMPANY 
 
 PUBLISHKRS 
 
 MASONir TKMPLE, PORTI ANM), ORKdON 
 
 
 mm 
 
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 COFYRIGHTKD BY HaRRY L. WeLLS, 1897 
 
 .Vn:iiioiii,ih I') inline C.im/;tiiy, /',»i//,i«,i', <}rf);„n 
 
f 
 
 INDEX 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Pages. 
 History and Goverunient 5 to 18 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 Geography. Climate and Resources 18 to 26 
 
 CHAPTER in. 
 Gold Discoveries on the Yulcou 26 to 31 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 General Conditions in the Gold Fields 32 to 44 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Routes to the Yukon Mines 45 to 60 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Mines on the American Side 61 to 64 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 How and Where to Outfit 64 to 72 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Natives, .Missions iind 'I'owns 73 to 79 
 
 CHAPTER I.\. 
 The .Mining I.nws 79 to 88 
 
!;^A\Av\'W'^;* 
 
 '-.i 
 
 
 Qf \f<ni,noia J Statioii of tlio Nortliwost Trndlns & Transiior 
 »r, Miciinois I ^latUm of the Alaska t'omim-rclal Couimny. 
 
 tatlon CO) 
 
Chapter I 
 
 History and Govern mc-nt 
 
 During the fifty years immediately fi Uowii.-r tlie discovery of 
 America, Spain gained a firm and lasting I'.othold in tlia New World. 
 By tlie middle of tlie sixteenth century she had conquered and colou- 
 'Z' I every portion of the two continents in! iibited by Avealthy and 
 semi-civilized nations, and was enjoying from h(;r new possessions a 
 revenue almost fabulous in its amount. 
 
 In 1513 Balboa cro.ssed tlie isthmus of Dariou and discovered the 
 South Sea, and in 1520 Magellan passed through the straits at the 
 extremity of South America and entered the Pacific. In a few years 
 the two oceaus were found to be the same body of water, but it was 
 several centuries before the I'acific was known to extend so far north 
 as it actually does, for no sail was spread upon those northern waters. 
 
 Wheu Cortez completed the subjugation of Mexico, he at once 
 constructed vessels on the west coast for the exploration of the Pacific, 
 of whose vast expanse he had not the slightest conception. His plan 
 was to coast northward and westward until he reached the Indes. In 
 1500 Jasper Cortereal had entered Hudson's bay through the straits 
 he called "Aniau," and when the South sea was discovered a few 
 years later it \vas talcen for gninted tliat Hudson's bay was the same 
 body of water and that the straits of Anlan was a northern passage 
 from the Atlantic to the South sea, similar to the one discovered a little 
 later by Magellan. Tills error was not exploiled for nearly three cen- 
 turies, and it was due to the persistent efforts of several nations to 
 locate this passage that Alaska was finally settletl and colonized. Cor- 
 tereal's error was as soon discovered, but one Maldonado claimed a lit- 
 tle later, when ilie great widtli of Nortli America was more fully real- 
 ized, to liave sailed in an open North sea 300 miles and then to have 
 passed througli tlie straits of Aniitn directly into the South sea. 
 Thougii tills nllegi'd voyage was uiidoubtedlv n myth, it kept the mari- 
 time nations of the ciutli in an intermittent onest for the much-desired 
 passage for two centuiios and a half. 
 
 It was to find ami locate dofiiiit(>ly (liis mythical passage that Cor- 
 tez planned lo skirt the mainland to the Indes. having no Idea whatever 
 of the great width of tlie I'acific ocean. Ills plans were suddenly 
 changed liy orders from his sovereign, tlie powerful Cliarles V.. to sail 
 directly across to the Indes. These orders were the result of the suc- 
 cess of the Portuguese In estnbllslilug profitable trade and colonies In 
 the hides by tlH> way of Cape of (Sood Hope. After several unsuccess- 
 ful exix'dlt Ions avross the Pacific, tlio Philippine islands were subdued, 
 and 111 a few years an enormous revenue as derived from this new 
 
1 
 
 1,', 
 
 1 1, 
 
 6 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 dependency. As a result, the Northern ocean was neglected for two 
 centuries by Spain, with the exception of an occasional small expedi- 
 tion, the most venturesome of which reached no farther than the coast 
 of Oregon. Spain claimed exclusive jurisdiction or the entire Pacific 
 and the lands bordering upon it, and enjoyed undisputed possession of 
 its commerce until English and Dutch privateers, or buccaneers, in- 
 vaded It by the way of (>ape Horn and preye<l upon her commerce. 
 The easier to enter the Paclflc, tor this purpose, the Northwest pas- 
 sage was eagerly sought by the English, and the desire to find it and 
 fortify its Pacltlc end against invasion was the ruling motive that 
 prompted the spasmodic and fruitless expeditions sent out by Spain 
 along the northern coast. Failuri; led to a practical abandonment of 
 the effort on both sides for many years, until interest was suddenly 
 revived In it by the movements of a power i)reviousIy supposed to 
 have no Interest whatever in this region. 
 
 The sudden rise of llussla from oblivion to a high rank among the 
 powers of the world, a revolution wrouglit by the genius of Peter the 
 • treat, is one of the nuirvels of history. fJradually he extended ills 
 power eastward across the snowy wastes of Siberia, until his domin- 
 ions were washed by the waters of tiic Pacific beating upon the itcnln- 
 sula of Kamtcliatka. Having readied the Pacific lie became eager to 
 extend his power still fartlier eastward, until it touched the western 
 conlliies of tlie dependencies of England, France and Spain in America. 
 How far that was, or wliat was the nature of the region coveted, no one 
 had the faintest knowh-dge. He sought to find a northern pas.sage into 
 the Pacltlc. similar to the one the English were seeking In the opimslte 
 direction, as well as to explore eastward from Kamtcliatka. Hcl'ore 
 his jilans could be executed, Ik- died, but his wlilow and successor, 
 ("nllicriiie, took nji the pmiict, and In 1728 sent Vitus Helirlng, a Danish 
 navigator, from Kamtcliatka. He sailed iiortliward until he found the 
 <'«)ast trending steadily westward, and believing lie had entered the 
 Arctic ocean, he lelunicd. Neither going nor returning though tlie 
 straits, which were later named in his honor, did he see the Amerlciin 
 coast, conse(|nently lie reported that a great open sea lay to the east- 
 wanl of Asia, joining the Pacltlc and .\nilc dccans. During llio nc\t 
 few years several other expeditions wer(> sent out. one of them lundlng 
 on tlic .Viiierlcan cmiNt in 17n2 and discovering lliiii Iml i\ strait, and not 
 in: o|M>n sen. connected the two great oceans. 
 
 In 1741 Ileliring readied the Auierlcan coast In the vicinity of 
 Mount St. Kllas, christened by lilin, and went as far soutli as latitude 
 54 degrees 10 nilniites. I poll Ills relnrn voMige ills veNsel was driven 
 nut of Its cotirse, mid many of the crew died of sciirvy. They laiuled 
 upon Mehrlim's Isle, a Hiniill speck iipon tlie howoin of the ocean, con- 
 slsllng of a few giiiiiMe peaks, tlinisl iilio\e the sea, their sides coiitiu- 
 iioUHly IiisIumI Ii\ the snrf. Mel'ore spring Helirlng and thirty of his 
 followers foiiiKl n grave amid those wiiler bound rocks, rpon the 
 reinrn of spring the survivors conslrucied n smnll boiM ■■rom the wreck 
 of their vonnel, and Hticceeded In readilng the bay of Avats<'lia, on ilie 
 Kiiintdiiilktin cnnst. They had snhslsled during the winter U|)oii the 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 flesh of fur-benring animals, probujly seal ami seal otter, and the 
 skins had served for beds and clothing. In thesi furs were the sur- 
 viv^ors clad when they returned, and their value led to the dispatch of 
 several expeditions by Russian traders in search of furs, with the result 
 that a large trade in furs was gradually established, and Russian col- 
 onies were established on tlie coast of America. 
 
 For many years Alaslca, or Allasiia, was believed by the Russians 
 to be the largest of a group of islands, the many long inlets penetrating 
 the mainland being supposed to be passages between islands, and this 
 error was not disclosed until the explorations of the celebrated Captain 
 Cook revealed the true nature c. the coast line in 1778. The Russians 
 for many years took their furs to Avatsclia and Ochotsk, and sent them 
 thence overland to the Chinese market at great expense, being unaware 
 that the ocean in which tlie fur Islands lay was tlie same great sea that 
 washed the Chinese coast, and could be entered by tlie way of Cape 
 Horn. This was discovered wiien some Polish exiles escaped in a ves- 
 sel from the coast of Kamtcliatka and reached Canton, wliere they sold 
 at a higli price furs they liad picked up on tlie way. Tlion for tlie first 
 time was realized the great magnitude of tlie PaciHc, and tliat tlie same 
 waters beat upon Reiiriiig's isle, tlio coast of Olilna, tlie S|)anish col- 
 onies of Nortli and South Aiiierlru and llie sunny islands of the broad 
 Soutii sea. 
 
 Rotli England an<l Spain liecaiiie uneasy about tlic progress Russia 
 was making on (lie nortliern coast, and they sent out several expedi- 
 tions. Tlie llrst of Importance was tliat of Captain James Cook, who 
 sailed from England in 1770. and readied the const of Oregon in .Marcli, 
 177S, iiavlug discovered tiie Ihnvaiiaii islands tlie itrevious .January. 
 He followed tlie coast nortliward to Mount St. Ellas, thence westward 
 and northward through lleluiiig's straits, Into the .Arctic ocean as far 
 as ley cape, exploring all the inlets, and jirovliig .Maska to he a gr<*at 
 estern extension of the mainland of .Vmericn, and not a gioupe of largo 
 Islaiiil: , as the Kusslans believed. He proceeded to the Hiiwnlinn 
 Islam'* to speiitl the winter and was there kl'led in a needless (juarrel 
 with I lie natives. 
 
 T le llrst to avail thciiiselvi's of the discoveries of Cook weic the 
 RuhhImis. Cook's vo.vngc opened Iheir ey« s to the mitiiie and value of 
 the fur regions, and they detennlntMl to enter deeiily Into that which 
 they Iniil been simply sklinniing for yciirs. The many Independent 
 tnidei'K who had been making peilloiis voyages among ihc Islands of 
 the .Meutliin archipelago eonibined ami orgaiil/.ed a trading company 
 In 1781. and In I78:i eslnhllshcd the llisi pcnuiiiicni siallnii on Kadlak 
 Island. Ironi which stations u'radiially spread during succeeding years 
 along the islands and nuiliiland. Interest was also stlmulat(>d In this 
 I'egliin elsewhere, and In 178i; the tirst English trading vessel reached 
 the .Mask.'in cnast In search of furs, I'ullowed during tlii> next lew 
 yt'ttrs I y other English and .\merl<'nn trading vessels, as well on explor- 
 ing expeditions ni' several nalloiiy. In 1 rsi! I, a I'ainnsc. a I'icnch nav- 
 igator, i>\ploi'e(l the sontlieaslcrn coast, and during that and the follow- 
 Ihk ,vear I'ortloek and IMxoii, In llngl'.sli vessels, explored the coast iind 
 
ALASKA, THF NEW ELDORADO 
 
 Cook's Inlet. Because of this activity by foreigners, orders were issued 
 from St. retersburg in 1787 to talce possession of the mainland. At the 
 same time Spain aroused herself to assert her claim of exclusive Jur- 
 isdiction of the Pacific, and sent an expedition north to see what the 
 Bussians were doing. This expedition visited Kadinli island and Una- 
 laska in 1788, and returned to Mexico with the report that there were 
 eight setllenients in Alaska, all of tlieni west of Prince William's 
 sound, while another was about to be establislied near tlie sound itself, 
 which was done that year near the mouth of Copper river. These posts 
 were chellly occupied by natives of Siberia and Kamtchatka. It was' 
 also reported tliat the Russians were preparing to take possession of 
 Nootka sound, on Vancouver island, and other points far to the south. 
 Spain sent a remonstrance to Russia that lier subjects were encroach- 
 ing upon the Spanish dominions In the rnclHc, and was answered that 
 tlic Russians were acting under express directions of the crown. Moan- 
 while English traders hud taken possession of N'ootka sound, on Van- 
 couver Island, and in 1789 Spiiin sent an exi)editlon there, captured the 
 vessels of the Kngllsli companies and took possession. This almost led 
 to a war. but the nuUler wiis settled l)y the Nootka convention of 1792, 
 by wliich Spain's acknowledged sovereignty termlnattHl at the Call- 
 
 fornUi line, above which point both Spain and England should have 
 equal rights. 
 
 Knowledge of the nature of the great unknown wilderness back 
 of theAlaskanllnewas gained In 1(87, wlien Alexander Mackenzlemade 
 his famous .jouniey 1o the Arctic ocean 'oy the way of (Jreat Slave lake 
 and Mackeiizl(> river, and again In 1791-2, when lie made the first Jour- 
 ney overland to the Pacific l»y way of Peace river and the Eraser river. 
 From 1790 to 1791 s»>veriil Spanish, English and American vessels 
 traded along the coast and explor<'(l lli(> numemus passages and inlets, 
 and from 1792 to 1794 Captain (icorge Vancouver, the English Nootku 
 eommmlssloner. explored the (Mil Ire coast north of California to the 
 head of Cook's Inlet, and settled deilnllcly in tli(> negative the (|Uesllon 
 oi a iiassagc throiigh the northern continent betwe»'n the Atlantic and 
 Pacific, bt'llef In which had existed t'oi nearly Ihn'e centuries. It was 
 then realised fully that .Maska was a great western extension of the 
 continent, deeply iienetrateil by arms of th«> sea and its const fringed 
 with Innnrierabh' Islands. From this lime till Its purchase by the 
 United Sta<'-N, .Maska was uiidls|iulal)iy In tlii' hands of Uussla. 
 
 In 179t» SliellkolT, the most energetic of the traders, organised the 
 HliellkotV company to iiionopoll/,e the tinde. and was granted special 
 privileges by the government. 11. helaielT as maile chief dheclor. being 
 ({ovenior of t he entire I'tu' region, and the famous .Mexander HaranofT 
 was given charge of the posts on UadiaU Island anil Cook's lidet, the 
 former beliij: the general liead<|iiarters. HaranolV was made chief 
 director In 1792. and for nuiny years ruled Alaska with an Iron hand, 
 Inflicting tiiaiiy ciuellles upon the natives, with whom he was <-on- 
 ntanlly at war. and conducting lilmsell' In a most outrageous and cor- 
 rupt (naniier. Me was fretpiently complained of and reported ngalniit, 
 nnil twice successors were appointed, both of tln-m nu'etlng with dlsas- 
 
ere issued 
 d. At the 
 lusive jur- 
 
 what the 
 
 and Una- 
 here were 
 
 William's 
 uud Itself, 
 hese posts 
 I. It was" 
 session of 
 the south. 
 
 encroach- 
 vored that 
 [vn. Mean- 
 I. on Vnn- 
 :)tured the 
 1 1 most led 
 m of 1792. 
 
 the Call- 
 ould have 
 
 noss back 
 Mizic made 
 Slave lake 
 lliHt Jour- 
 iisor rlvor. 
 n vosst'ls 
 1 1x1 Inlets, 
 di Nootka 
 ihi to the 
 » qnoHtlon 
 liiiillc aiitl 
 H. It waH 
 i»ii of the 
 Ht ft'ltiKcd 
 «' by the 
 <nIii. 
 
 ini/i>(l the 
 •d HiM'dal 
 tor, Ix'ltiK 
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 t'on hand, 
 
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ALASKiS, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 9 
 
 ter before reaching him. In 1793 an imperial ulvnse was issued author- 
 izing the sending of missionaries and convicts to the American colonies, 
 and the following year 190 convicts, two overseors and 11 monies were 
 colonized on the coast near St. Ellas, wliere tliey endured incredible 
 hardships, even the monks being compelled to work like slaves. In 1795 
 the settlement of New Pussia was made on Beliring, or Yakutat, bay. 
 Opposition to the Shelikoff company having sprung up, the government 
 cliartored the Kussian-Amci'ican company for 20 years, giving it control 
 of all tlie coast nortli of latitude 55 degrees. Baranolf was made man- 
 ager and in consequence governor of the country, complc^te control 
 being in the hands of the company. Thert^was no law except the rules 
 of the company, and no justice for the foreigner or native save sucli as 
 pleased liaranoff to give. 
 
 Sitka, tlie present capital of Alaska, was established l)y I?aranoff in 
 1799, in Sitka bay, on BaranoH" island, the fort erected at that time 
 being called Fort ArcJiangel (Jiibriel. English and American vessels 
 visited tlie coast and tlieir cargoes were llie cliief source of supplies for 
 tlu' Uusslan posts. In 1801 a settlement was establislied on SitUa bay, 
 called New Archangel, and this was made by IJaranolf the headipiarters 
 of tlie company and the seat of government of the colony, lieing none 
 otlier lliau tlie present city of Sitka. 'I'lie Astor settlement at tlie 
 mouth of tlie Columbia in 1810 ami 1811 was. made in pursuance of an 
 agreement to sujiply tlie Hussian posts. For aiiotiier source of supplies 
 BarjMiotr elTecled a settiem(>nt in California, at Hodega bay, built Fort 
 RoH8, and establislied a colony to grow wheat and vegetables. This 
 settlement was sold to ,lolin A. Sutter In 1841, wlien no longer neede<l 
 by tlie Husslaiis. In 1817 llaranolf resigned and llagennieister became 
 governor. 
 
 In ISlfi tlie first extensive explorations of tlie coast north of the 
 peninsula were iiit.l(> by Kot/bue, whose name was given to tlie great 
 Bound north of HcMiring Htralt. in 1818 KorsaUolT crossed Alaska on 
 foot from Cook's Inlet to the mouth of Kushkoqulm river, and Kol- 
 hak< IT built a fort at Nusliergak, on Bristol bay. In 1819 iin|)ortant 
 reforms were instituted In the government of the company and colony. 
 At that tlmr tlicre were live sfttli-menls on tlie .Meutlan Islands, four 
 on Cook's lidt I, two on Cliugacli gulf and one on Itaranoll' island, llie 
 capital. In 1820 Muravleft' became governor, and the same year Kuah- 
 Uo<liiliii rhi'i" was explored. In 1S21 the charter of the company was 
 renewed for 20 yeais, and an imperial ukase was Issued, claliiilng all 
 the etuintry north of latitude 50 degrees. This led t(» a remonstrance 
 on the iiart of llie Fnlted Stales, wlileli nation luid purcliased llie Span- 
 ish claims in ISlii, resulting in a treaty In 1821, liiniliiig Uussian sellle- 
 uientii to the country nortli of latitude G4 degret's 40 ndniites, and giving 
 free trade privileges lo bolli nloiu; the (>nllre coast. The following yiMir 
 a similar treaty was made wllli I'.nglanil. This ('(Millned llie dispule for 
 poKMesHloii of the country betweeti California and latitude 54 degrees 
 40 minutes to Eimhiiid and llie riilleil Slates, a mailer whicli was si't« 
 IIihI by llie Irealy of 184(>. dividing llie disputed territory at tiie forty- 
 titnlli parallel. 
 
mm 
 
 •i 
 
 10 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 111 1825 Chistnkoff became chief director, aud moved the capital 
 from New Ardiangel to St. Taul, on Kadialc island. In 1826 Captain 
 lieechy, of tiie British navy, explored the Arctic coast of Alaslja as 
 far east as Point Barrow. In 1831 Baron Wrangell became governor 
 and relocated the capital at New Ardiangel. In 1833 Alaslia ceased to 
 be merely a penal colony, and permission was given to all Russian 
 subjects to reside there. The same year Fort St. Michaels was built 
 by Tebeneff on Norton sound, 80 miles north of the mouth of the 
 Yukon, and in 1835 the delta of the Yukon was explored by Glasunoff. 
 The Stickeen river, having been discovered in 1802 by the American 
 ship Atahualpa, and Wrangell learning in 1833 that the Hudson's Bay 
 Company was preparing to take possession of that region, he estab- 
 lished l<'ort l)yon(!sius at its mouth, subsequently called Fort Wran- 
 gell. This led to complaint by the Hudson's Bay Company, and Anally 
 to tlie leasing of tlie fort by that comimny, from which time the entire 
 interim' was dominated by the Engllsli corporation, whose posts had 
 been extended nortiiward to the Arctic and westward to the Pacific. 
 
 In 183G Kuprianoft' became chief director. In 1837 the Arctic coast 
 from tlie mouth of the Mackenzie west to I'olnt Barrow was explored 
 liy Dease and Simpson, thus completing the delineation of the entire 
 .Vhiskaii coast. Fort Nulato was built on tiie Yukon, but was aban- 
 doned tlie same year and was burned l)y tlie natives. It was rebuilt 
 in 1841, was captured and l)urned again in 1851, and was finally rebuilt 
 in 1859. In 1810 Klolin became clilef director, and in 1844 tlie com- 
 liany's cliarter was renewed for 20 years from 1842. In 1843 the Yukon 
 was ascended as far as Nowikakat, and in 1817 Mc.Murray built Fort 
 Yukon near tlie nioutii of tlie Porcupine and explored tiie latter river. 
 In 1848 Wolwodsky succeeded Etolin as goveruttr. Tills year is nieni- 
 oialiie as tlie lieglmiliig of waallng In the Arctic. Captain Rays took 
 an Anieritiin vessel tlirougii the straits and was so successful tiiat tlie 
 following year 134 .\iiierlcan wlialiiig vessels entered the Arctic 
 oct'an. The llrst setticiiuMit made on the Yukon by the Britisli was In 
 1861, when Fort Selkirk was estalilislied by Roliert Campbeil east of 
 the 141st iiieridlaii. wlilcii had Iteen made tlie boundary line liy the 
 treaties of 1824 and 1825. Tlu' fort was burned by natives, but subse- 
 (luentjy relmllt. In IHdO I'urnlielni became governor, and the following 
 year the exitloraliiMi of the Yuktm was completed liy Keiiiilcott, who 
 ticscciided the stream. Dissatisfaction with the condition of alfalrs led 
 to a refusal l»y the c/.ar to renew the company's charter in 18(i2, and It 
 lust all Its special privileges, tlie result being a practical suspension of 
 i;o\ ei'iiiiieiit In .MasUa iitilil IKI)4, when .MaksntolT, tlie first imperial 
 goverimr, arrived in the eoloiiy. 
 
 In 1S*!5 the \\'est«M'n rnlon Telegraph ('(iiiipany eiiteied upon tlio 
 ambitious project of connecting Eurupe with the Fnited States liy a 
 lelegrai>li Hue thiougli .Maska and Stherla. It sent out a large nuiiiiier 
 of well eipilpped expeditions, wlilcli expliired liotli tlie .Maskaii and the 
 Siberian coasts and liiteiior. and even built a portion of tlie line, wiileh 
 went to waste w lien the whole projeil was aliandoned because of the 
 silcci'NS of the .Mliiiitic cable. In tlie course of this wiirk tlie Yukon 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDOKADO 
 
 11 
 
 I the capital 
 1826 Captaiu 
 )f Alaska as 
 me governor 
 ka ceased to 
 
 all Russian 
 Is was built 
 louth of the 
 >y Glasunoflf. 
 le American 
 utlsou's Bay 
 n, he estab- 
 Fort Wran- 
 , and Anally 
 le the entire 
 e posts had 
 le Pacific. 
 Arctic coast 
 as explored 
 f the entire 
 
 was aban- 
 was rebuilt 
 lally rebuilt 
 !4 the coni- 
 I the Yukon 
 
 built Fort 
 atter river, 
 ar is lueni- 
 
 Hays took 
 ul tliat tlie 
 I he Arctic 
 ish was in 
 ell east of 
 Ine by the 
 but subse- 
 ' following 
 il<'ott, who 
 iilTairs led 
 S(i2, and It 
 P<'IihI(iii of 
 
 I iniperhil 
 
 upon tlic 
 ales by a 
 re iiunilx-r 
 
 II niKJ the 
 ne, wlilcli 
 INC of tlie 
 iH> Yukon 
 
 wasascended and desceiuled and the reslon about its mouth thoroughly 
 explored by Jones and Lukeen and others, and again in 1866 Keunicott. 
 Ketchum, Lebarge and Lukeen explored the river from the upper lakes 
 as far down as Fort Yukon. 
 
 The next step in the history of Alaska was its purchase by the 
 Unitetl States In 1867, for $7,200,000, through negotiations conducted by 
 William II. Seward. The far-sighted statesman was severely criticized 
 at the time for his purcliase of barren rocks and snow, but he was able 
 to show that the fur trade silone was worth the purchase price, while 
 the fisheries Avere unsurpassed in their possibilities and the mineral 
 wealtli gave promise of great value, which has been more than fulfilled 
 by the developments of recent years. There is no one now who thinks 
 Seward made a bad bargain. 
 
 At the time Alaska was purchased it had a population of but a 
 few Russians and mixed breeds, besides the natives. Schools had been 
 established by the government, under control of the priests of the 
 official (Jreek churcli, for both the white population and the natives, 
 but the government was primitive anil autocratic. Troops were sent 
 north to occupy tlie country, and ti military government was estab- 
 lished, with the capital at Sitka, the name given by the Americans 
 to the old Russian town of New Archangel. For a long time tlie colony, 
 for it could be called nothing else, was neglected by congress, but its 
 growing imporlaiue at hist compelled that body to pass an act for its 
 tfoveninu'iit in 1884. 
 
 In the summer of 1881 a, convention was lu'ld at .luneau, to take 
 steps to sfcnii' a government for Alasl<a. Tliis convention seU'ctetl 
 Mottroni D. Hall as a deh'gate to congress to secure legislation, lie 
 went to Wasliington, and, tliough not admitted to a seat in congress, 
 ills presence did much to attract attention to the needs of that section 
 of the country. For several sessions various Alaska bills wi-rc before 
 congress, and . I une 17. 1884, a bill introduced tlie year before by Sena- 
 tor Reiijamln Harrison became a law. Tills act provided for a gov- 
 ernor, district judge, clerk of tlie court, luarslial. collector of I'ustoms, 
 and four cdmiiilssioncrs, since liicicnscd to live, one to reside in each 
 of the chief towns, and all to be aiipoinlcd by llic president. SliUa was 
 made tlie capital and |thice of otllciiil residence, also a laud office. 
 Tlie laws of Oregon were made aiipllciible to Mie district. .Hid an 
 Oregon judge was appointed to administer tlieiii. The law proliibited 
 the culling and export of timber, liie Ivlllliig of fur si'iils, except by 
 the company with wlilcii tlic geveiiiiiu'iil liail a contract, and fla* 
 lmp(»rtatlon. nianufaciuie or snle uf litpior. W iih the excei»tlon of 
 occasliM'iil cniillsi alloiis by the < olleitor. the li(|uor law has been a 
 dead leller, as great (luantiiics of wlilsliy ai><l beer liave been smug- 
 gled ill. and saloons run openly In every town, from wliich the govern- 
 iiieiil. witli lis usual Inconsisieiiey, collects a revenue license. Tills 
 matter of liipior has been an Important one ever since the fur trinle 
 with the natives began, Xow thai the wlille men are ]tonrlng Into that 
 region in large iniiiihers || may lie called senled. They will demand 
 
Cffi 
 
 
J 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 18 
 
 ^ r-. 
 
 the same right to drink and sell liquor enjoyed by their brethren in 
 other territories, and the next Alaslia act will undoubtedly grant it to 
 them, reserving only the prohibition against selling liquor to Indians. 
 
 This act, thougli a vast improvement on a merely military govern- 
 ment, was not such as the growing needs of the counti'y required. 
 By 1890 the white population had increased to 4900, chiefly along the 
 coast, and in the next few years this was nearly doubled by the devel- 
 opment of the mines and fisheries, especially by the opening up of the 
 placer mines along the Yulion. The rush of the present year has 
 almost doubled it again, with prospect of much more than doubling 
 another year. Conditions have so radically changed that a regular 
 territorial government can not much longer be denied to Alaska. 
 
 After the act of 1884 was passed efforts were continued to secure 
 a better form of government. In 1888 the democrats sent two dele- 
 gates to tlie democratic national convention, and they were seated. 
 In 1889 tlie republicans held a convention at Juneau and sent Minor W. 
 Bruce to Washington with a memorial to congress and as a member 
 of the republican national committee. From that time both parties 
 gave Alaslva representation in their conventions. 
 
 The misunderstanding and contentions regarding the laws that are 
 applicable to Alaska, so far as lands and claims are co: i erned, have 
 been set at rest by a statement by Commissioner Binger Hermann, of 
 the general land ottlce. Many inquiries on this question have come to 
 the attention of the department, and numerous applications have been 
 made for copies of the public land laws which apply to Alaska. The 
 general laud office has taken much Interest in the reports from the gold 
 belt and has investigated the laws that govern them. Mr. Hermann 
 says there is no longer any question about what laws extend to Alaska, 
 and that those laws are applicable: 
 
 First — The mineral land laws of the United States. 
 
 Second— -Township laws, which provide for the incorporation of 
 townships and acquirement of title thereto from the United States 
 government to townsi'lp trustees. 
 
 Third — The laws providing for trade and manrifacturos, and giving 
 each qualilliMl person IGO acres of laud in a. square and compact form. 
 
 The coal lands regulations are distinct from the mineral regula- 
 tions or laws, and tlio jiu'lsdictlon of noithor coal laws nor public land 
 law extends to Alaska, the territory being expressly excludetl by the 
 laws tlioniselvos from Hielr operation. Tlie act approved May 17, 1884, 
 providing for civil governuicnt of Alaska, has this language as to 
 mines and mining privileges; 
 
 "The laws of the United States relating to mining claims and 
 rights inddiMital thereto shall on and after the passage of this act be 
 m full force and elTect in said district of Alaska, subject to such reg- 
 uli'tions as may he made by the secretary of the Interior and ap- 
 proved by tlie i)resident, and jiarties wlio have located mines or mining 
 prlvilv^ges tliereon, under tlie United States laws applicable to the 
 public viomain, or have occupied or improved or exercised acts of own- 
 
14 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 ■ ; 
 
 
 ership over such claims, shall not be disturbed therein, but shall be 
 allowed to perfect title by payments provided for." 
 
 There is still more general authority without the special authority. 
 Tlie act of July 14, 1886, says: 
 
 "All valuable mineral deposits in lands belonging to the United 
 States, both surveyed and unsurveyed, are hereby declared to be free 
 and open to exploration and purchase, and lands in which they are 
 found, to occupation and purchase by citizens of the United States, and 
 by those who have declared an intention to become such under the 
 rules prescribed by law and according to local customs of rules of 
 miners in the several mining districts, so far as the same are applica- 
 ble and not inconsistent with the laws of the United States." 
 
 The patenting of mineral lands in Alaska is not a new thing, for 
 that work has been going on for some time. In addition to the land 
 office at Sitka one will be established at Circle City. 
 
 CANADIAN GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The fact that the gold fields of the interior lie partly in Canada and 
 partly in the United States much complicates tl-.e situation. The Brit- 
 ish Columbia line extends some distance north of the southern line 
 of Alaska, so that all the interior south of that line is subject to the 
 laws of that province. North of tliat line, including the entire Yukon 
 region not in the United States, lies in the Northwest Territory, which 
 Includes that vast region of British America lying north of the organ- 
 ized provinces. This territory is governed by regulations promulgated 
 by the Canadian government, which has adopted mining regulations 
 for it as given at length in this volume. In 1894 a detachment of 20 
 mounted police was dispatched to the Yukon country, under command 
 of Inspector Constautiue, who established posts at Fort Cudnhy and 
 Forty-Mile, and proceeded to enforce the Canadian regulations and 
 collect customs duties. The next year a regular customs collector was 
 appointed. Since the great rush began the present year additional 
 police and customs officers have been sent to the Yukon district, and 
 Major .Toseiili Walsh has been appointed administrator and made prac- 
 tically governor of that district, wldle a judge has been appointed to 
 liold court and admlnl»iter the civil and criminal laws until the Canad- 
 ian parliament can take action. The office of the gold commlssionei', 
 wliore all locations must be made and llconaes secured, is at Dawson 
 City, thougli it is possible brandi otllcos may soon be located else- 
 where. 
 
 CANADIAN DUTIES. 
 
 One of tlie first steps taken by tlie Canadian government wi>en the 
 rush to tlie Klondike l)egan. was to send customs officers to collect 
 (hilicson all goods taken in. Tlils was not done 'n a spirit of hostility 
 to llie itrospcclors, nor woi't' any special duties imposed. It was simply 
 the same cITcn't on tlie part of (lie Canadian officials to enforce the reg- 
 ular laws of tliiit comitry that were lieing nia(l(> liy similar American 
 
 I 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 16 
 
 but shall be 
 
 ial authority. 
 
 ► the United 
 id to be free 
 ich they are 
 i States, and 
 ih under the 
 of rules of 
 are applica- 
 tes." 
 
 ;w' thing, for 
 1 to the land 
 
 Canada and 
 1. The Brit- 
 louthern line 
 ibject to the 
 mtire Yukon 
 ritory, which 
 )f the organ- 
 promulgated 
 r regulations 
 [hnient of 20 
 er command 
 Cudahy and 
 jlatious and 
 ollector was 
 additional 
 district, and 
 
 made prac- 
 ippointed to 
 
 the Canad- 
 mimlssiouer, 
 
 at Dawson 
 oontod olse- 
 
 it WlUMl tlio 
 s to oolloct 
 of hostility 
 was simply 
 I'ct' the rog- 
 V AmtM'iciui 
 
 officials. Customs collectors were hastily sent in over the Chilcoot trail 
 to Lalie Tagish, where they established a station for the collection of 
 duties on all goods talten past. This duty has not been collected upon 
 the personal wearing apparel or a reasonable quantity of supplies taken 
 in by individuals for their own ,use, but has been levied upon every- 
 thing taken in for trade or in quantities beyond the legitimate needs of 
 the owners for a reasonable period. The names of all persons who 
 refuse to pay the duty are forwarded to the mining commissioners at 
 Dawson, and all such persons will be denied the privilege of locating 
 claims, even if their outfits are not confiscated. An American entering 
 the Northwest territory, whether by one of the overland routes or by 
 steamer on the Yukon, must be prepared to pay duty on the stuff he 
 takes in and pay it in cash. The reverse is true of all persons entering 
 Alaska from the Canadian side, since it is not to be supposed that the 
 American collector of customs and his deputies will be less energetic 
 in enforcing the revenue laws of the United States than are the Canad- 
 ian oflScials with the laws of that country. The following are the 
 duties levied by Canada upon the chief articles going into the mining 
 region : 
 
 Per cent, 
 ad valorem. 
 
 A yea, hatchets, shovels, spades, picks, etc 25 
 
 Baking powder, 6c per pound. 
 
 Bed comforts 32% 
 
 Blankets, 5c per pound, and 25 
 
 Boats and ship sails 25 
 
 Boots and shoos and rubber boots 25 
 
 Breadstuffs, grain, flour and meal, all kinds 20 
 
 butter, 4c per pound. 
 
 Candles ... 28 
 
 Cartridges and ammunition 30 
 
 Clieese, 3c per pound. 
 
 Cigars and cigarettes, $2.00 per pound, and 26 
 
 Clothing 
 
 Socks, 10c per dozen pairs, and 35 
 
 Knitted goods of every description 35 
 
 Ready-made, partially of wool 30 
 
 Water-proof clotliing 35 
 
 Cotton knitted goods 35 
 
 Duck, from 20 to 30 
 
 Fur caps, capes, coats, muf[s, etc 25 
 
 Jerseys, knitted 35 
 
 Linen clothing : 32^As 
 
 Oiled doth 30 
 
 Sacks or bags • ... 20 
 
 Coft'ec, foudoused 30 
 
 Rousted, 2(' per pound, and 10 
 
 .Sulistitulfs, 2c per i)()UU(l. 
 
 Extracts, 3c per pound. , ,^ 
 
TH^ 
 
 (; i 
 
 t ': 
 
 16 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 Condensed milk, 3c per pound. 
 
 Crowbars 35 
 
 Cutlery 35 
 
 Dogs 20 
 
 Drugs 20 
 
 Earthenware 30 
 
 Edged tools 35 
 
 Fire arms 20 
 
 Flour, wheat, 75c; rye, 50c per barrel. 
 
 Fish hooks and lines 25 
 
 Fruits, dried 25 
 
 Prunes, raisins, currents, Ic per pound. 
 
 Jellies, jams, preserves,, 3c per pound. 
 
 Furniture 30 
 
 Galvanized iron or tinware 30 
 
 Hardware 32i^ 
 
 Harness and saddlery 30 
 
 Horses 20 
 
 Lard, 2c per pound. 
 
 Maps and charts 20 
 
 Meats, canned 25 
 
 In barrels, 2c per pound. 
 
 Oat meal 20 
 
 Pipes, tobacco 35 
 
 Pork in barrels, 2c per pound. 
 Potatoes, 15c per bushel. 
 
 Potted meats 25 
 
 Powder, raining and blasting, 2c per pound. 
 Rice ,l%c per pound. 
 
 Samills, portable 30 
 
 Sugar, 64-lOOc per pound. 
 
 Surgical instruments 15 
 
 Tents 32% 
 
 Tobacco, 42c per pound, and 12^^ 
 
 THE BOUNDARY QUESTION. 
 
 A controversy exists between the United States and Great Brit- 
 ain as to the boundary line between Alaska and Canada. In the Yukon 
 country lhi.s is only a question of survey and is of little importance, 
 but in Southern Alaska It Involves the construction of a treaty and If 
 settled according to the claim of Great Britain would take from the 
 United States a strip of land along tlio coast, Including the wonderful 
 tourist attraction of Glacier bay and several such starting points for 
 the inteilor as Taku, Dyea and Skaguay. 
 
 The treaty made In 1825 between Russia and England, referred to 
 in the previous chapter, defined the boundary line according to the 
 somewhat imperfect geographical knowledge of the time. This treaty 
 flxetl the starting point at the south end of Prince of Wales Island, In 
 
35 
 35 
 20 
 20 
 30 
 35 
 20 
 
 25 
 25 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 32% 
 
 30 
 
 20 
 
 ,20 
 ,25 
 
 ,20 
 ,35 
 
 ,25 
 
 .30 
 
 .15 
 
 .32% 
 
 .12% 
 
 Great Bi-it- 
 [n the Yukon 
 
 importance, 
 treaty and if 
 ilie from the 
 le wonderful 
 ig points for 
 
 referred to 
 rding to the 
 
 This treaty 
 les Island, in 
 
 CO 
 
 <U 
 
 <u 
 ■(3 
 
 £ 
 
 E 
 
 3 
 (/) 
 
 <u 
 
 JS 
 
 Z 
 
'Jf 'W 
 
 
 ti 
 
 * I 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 17 
 
 latitude 54 degrees 40 lulnutes, the line thence to run north along the 
 channel of Portland canal as far the point of the continent where it 
 strikes the 56th degree of north latitude, following thence the summit 
 of the mountains parallel with the coast to the point of intersection 
 with the 141st degree of west longitude, thence following that meridian 
 to the Arctic ocean. It Is especially provided that wherever the sum- 
 mit of the mountains parallel to the coast shall be more than 10 marine 
 leagues from the ocean, the line shall run parollel to the windings of 
 the coast and never exceed the distance of 19 marine leagues there- 
 from. This is what constitutes the controversy. The British claim Is 
 that Behm canal was really Intended, Instead of Portland cauol, as 
 the southern line, since the Portland canal is east from the starting 
 point, and pot north, as specitled In tlie treaty, and that the 10 marine 
 leagues should be measured from the main cluinncls of water and not 
 from the heads of Inlets as measured by the United States. Tlio differ- 
 ence in the Hues the acceptance of the construction now given to the 
 treaty by England would proiluce. Is clearly shown on the accompany- 
 ing map. It is so Important that much dittlculty will be experienced 
 In adjusting tLe matter. As to the boundary in the Yukon legiou, it 
 Is only a question of accurate location of tlie 141st meridian, which 
 runs due north from the summit of Mt. St. Ellas. Of the location of 
 this meridian tJencral Dutlleld, superintendent of the coast and geo- 
 detic survey, says: 
 
 "The location was made ou the north at Porcupine river by our 
 su'weyors and In the vi<"lnity of tlie Yukon l)y the Canadians under 
 Ogllvie, tnut their work there ciieckod by our men. We found tliat 
 where Ogilvle's line crossed Forty-Mile creek It wns six feet and nlno 
 Inches too f.ir east, and when it crossi'd the Yukon it was 618 feet too 
 far west. Tims It may be seen that tlic line as located by Oglhie la 
 substantially (•t)rrect. There Is no possibility of an error, the correc- 
 tlo I of nhlcl) would put the new gold regions In American territory. 
 At tlien<'an>Ht point Dawson City Is 5U nilh>s on the Caiiaillan side of 
 the Ogilvlo line. If the treaty now before the senate providing for 
 tlx'iig the boudary Is ratilled, a comiiiission will be an; fluted ti> per- 
 form this duty. It Is considered more ilian pmbable that tlie Ogllvie 
 survey will be accepted." 
 
 YT'KON MMl. SKUVKK. 
 
 The UnlttHl States postotllce department has issui'd an ordn estab- 
 lishing an exchange of malls between Dyea, Alaska, nud Dawson City, 
 Canada, bciclnidrg Se|iteniber I'O. rroin Dyea. 
 
 Th(< iiiailH III i|ncsll(in hIwiII ruiitain only litters ami postal cards, 
 to the exclusion of nil other articles. The mall niatle np ni the olllce 
 at Dyen for (lie ollhe at Dhwmom Clly shall ((tiitaln IcIIcim and postal 
 cards add! t'SHcd for delivery at any place In ilie YuUtui dlslrh-t of Cni»- 
 ada, and tl> nxills made up at the olllce tif Dawson City for the oHlee 
 of Dyea shall cuniain letters and postal cards addressed for delivery 
 at any plm e In the rniled Slates. 
 
UP up* 
 
 mmmmm 
 
 >i I 
 
 18 
 
 ALASKA. TIIK NEW ELDORADO 
 
 This Is the forninl announfemeut of tlK> innugurntioii of the new 
 postal service in tht» pihl region, whleh has been established through 
 an ani'eenieiit between tliis country and Canada. Tiie contract for per- 
 forming the ser ice will be let by tlie Canadian government, the 
 United Slates i)a.ving the latter for Its share of the expenses, l)ased on 
 tlie stretcli of .Maslcan territory tlie roule traviMscs. 
 
 No newspapers can be got tliougli tliis winter, and all mailed will 
 be held there until tliey can be sent in by way of St. Miciiaels in tlie 
 spr'ng. 
 
 In tlie summer montiis llieit- will lie regular mail st'rvice for botii 
 letters and p pers by tiic way of St. -dicliaels to Circle City, and prol)- 
 al»ly arrangi'ments will lie made to liave an inten liange of mail be- 
 tween Circle City on tlie .Masiia side of llie line and Dawson City on 
 the (^anadian side. 
 
 It is exjiected fliat tiie Canadian government will open up an en- 
 tirely new mail route liy way of tiie Sliclveen river and Lalie Teslln 
 next year. For the (-arrying of tlie mail by tlie prcs(>nt agreement, a 
 large luunber of trained dogs will be taken In from the Iludscm's Hay 
 ('omi)any jiosts along the Mai keii;:'e and at otiier points in tiie extreme 
 north. 
 
 The I'ldted States has a regular iiiali • iite between .Inneau and 
 (Circle City, by ..ay of Ciiilivoot pass, liy wliicii only letters .-ind pcistai 
 cai'ds are taken, 'i'lds leaves .luneau tin' first of cacii monlli. tiic new 
 Canadian service leaving in tlie middle of the monti'. Tliere are at 
 pr«'seiit no re<'elving and tllstrilmliug otlices in tiie interior excejit 
 Circle City and Dawson, Itul several will no doultt soon be established. 
 
 Chapter II 
 
 Goo^mphy. Climate and Resources 
 
 I 
 
 Alaska Is a vast wilderness. It Is a great westward projection of 
 the tiorthei'ii end of tlie North .Vnierjcan continent. The mainland Is al- 
 most sipiare in shape, except wliere II Is projected to the souHiwest in 
 H long iietilnsnla b Iween llie I'Metlie <H-ean and HelirIng sea, the peniii- 
 NUla being supplemented by the long line of .Meiitlan Islands, until tiie 
 farthermost point, the Island of Attn, tlie extreni western limit of the 
 Unlte^l States. Is 2000 inllt'M west of Sitka, Kveii the Ilawalhiii ImIhiuIn 
 do not exieinl as far west as the limits of .Maska. Wlien the sun goes 
 down at .\ttu It has already risen on the eastern border of Maine, and 
 thus It never sets on the doiuHln of the I'l .le<l Htaten, 
 
 The art>a of .Maska. by which name Is deslgmited only that por- 
 tion of tlie country belonging to the I'nited States, h fll7.70.1 Mtpnire 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDOKADO 
 
 19 
 
 n of the new 
 islioil through 
 itrnct for per- 
 •('ninunit, the 
 isos, bused on 
 
 ill ninilod will 
 loluu'ls in the 
 
 ivice for both 
 ity, iind i»rob- 
 (' of mail b(>- 
 iwson City on 
 
 [icn lip iui ('II- 
 
 I Liilvo TfsUn 
 iijii't'ciiH'iil, a 
 
 Hudson's Hay 
 
 II tlio cxtreiue 
 
 II .liiiit>aii and 
 'I'M and postal 
 onlli. tlic in'\v 
 Tlicro are at 
 iteiior except 
 w t'sialillshcd, 
 
 jtrojeetion of 
 wiiidaiiil Is al 
 
 sinit Invest in 
 ca. th<> penln- 
 nds. until the 
 11 limit of the 
 vallan IslandH 
 
 the Hini KiM'N 
 >r Malii*>, and 
 
 iiily that por- 
 IW.TO.I scpiare 
 
 miles, of which 580,107 are on the niainlnnd. Tlie Aleutian islands 
 have ii total of 6391 miles, and tiie ^I'eut Alexandrian arcliipelago. 
 that mass of large and small islands bordering the coast of Southeast- 
 ern Ahisl<a. lias 31.205 stpiare iiiiies. Tiie coast line is a very tortuous 
 one and is deeply indented with inlets, so tliat the total lengtli of the 
 coast lin«' is 26,000 miles, or 2000 more mile, than the circumference of 
 tiie eartli. It was lliese ioiig inlets and tiie numerous large islands 
 fringing tiie coast, that led tlie early Uussiaii exiilorers and traders to 
 l)elieve tiiat tills entire region was one vast groupc of islands, of whicli 
 the one tliey called "Aliaslva" was tii(> hirgcst. It is chiefly ui» m tiie 
 ishmds and tiie adjacent mainland tliat settlements liave lieeii made 
 up to liie present time, tin- vast interior liaving remained almost un- 
 known until tlie magic power of g(dd began to transform it into a 
 Mecca for its worsiiippers. 
 
 Tiie Coast range of mountains so familiar fartlier soutii raises a 
 high and icy barrier between tlie coast and the Interior, their summits 
 Iteing but a few miles from tiie sea. terminating at tiie angle wiiere tlie 
 coast line turns westward, in a series of Alpine peaiis, of wliieli St. 
 Ellas is tiie best known, though Mount T^ogan, .lust to the nortii of it. is 
 said liy Scliwatiia. wiio inade an unsuccessful attempt to aseend St. 
 Ellas, t(» be a few hundred feet iiigiicr. St. Ellas was ascended tiie 
 past summer by Prince Luigi and a party of Italian alpimn'rs. guidtHl 
 li.v Americans, and its iielght was ascertained to be 18,100 feet. On 
 the coast south of St. Ellas and Logan are the I'airweatlier .\lps. con- 
 sisting of four peaks from 10,000 to 16.()()0 feel high. Wrangel, another 
 liigh peak, said to have an altitude ex<'cediiig 20.000 feet, lies fartlier 
 Into the interior, to tlie northwest of St. Ellas and in tlie Copper river 
 region. Fartlier to tlie south, on an Island opposite Sitka, is .Mount 
 Edgeciiiiib. one of the earliest landmarks named by explorers and 
 originally called San .Faclnto by flie .*<panisli explorers. 
 
 Ill this .Mpliie region there are a iiiuitilude of treiiieiidoiis glaclerM, 
 soiiuMif them terminating at the water's edge aiul eonstantly dropidiig 
 tiielr frozen od'erings Into the sea. Tlie best known of these are the 
 Miilr and T'lividson glaciers, because tliese are visited by tlie tourist 
 Mteaniers. (ilacier bay, the ternilinil of the tourist nuiti'. Is a Uuig arm 
 of tiie sea exteiidli'g far Inland Immeillately east of tlie Kalrweatlier 
 Alps. At the head of Miilr Inlet lies the tremendous Mulr glacier, its 
 green wall of ice rising like a rock cliff abruptly from the water and 
 far above the deck of the vessel that ventures iie.ir Us b;ise. This 
 river of lee tlows steadily downward. Its progress being marked i»y the 
 huge leebergs that break from It with the detonation of artillery and 
 plunge Into the sea, throwing the water high Into the air. I'liese great 
 ice masses lloat about tlie bay and out Into the ocean until gradually 
 melted, and tlie steamer that takes pleasure-seekers to the foot of this 
 great moving wall of Ice must thread its way carefully among tliese 
 floating islands, (ilaeler bay Is the terminus of the tourist route to 
 Al iska, which lies contlniionsly along tlie sheltered Inner passages be- 
 tween the Islands ami mainland, like the navigation of an inland lake, 
 
m5^ 
 
 i I 
 
 20 
 
 ALASKA, TPIE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 and In constant view of some of cue grandest scenery the world con- 
 tains. 
 
 Under the influence of the Japan current and protected somewhat 
 by the coast mountains, the islands and the narrow strip on the main- 
 land between the mountains and the sea have a much milder climate 
 than the bleak Interior. The rainfall is heavy and timber and grass 
 grow luxuriantly. In the Interior timber grows to much smaller size 
 and only near the lakes and water courses, while the climate is far 
 more severe. 
 
 Alaska is divided almost in the middle by the great Yukon river, 
 flowing from the eastern border, with a great sweep to the north as 
 far as the Arctic circle, and then to the southwest, into Behring sea at 
 Norton sound. It is one of the great rivers of the world, being 3200 
 miles long, and for a long distance above its mouth extremely wide, its 
 delta being 60 miles wide, and at places hundreds of miles inland It 
 broadens out to a widtli of 10 miles, and yet it is navigable. The river 
 and its numerous large tributaries luive a total lengtli for light draft 
 river steamers of an unknown length, throuji probably not less than 
 4000 miles. The Yukon heads in Northwest Territory, Canada, its chief 
 sources being the Pelly river, flowing west from the Rocky mountains, 
 and the Lewis river, flowing nortli from llie lakes near the coast east 
 of .funeau. The junction of llii's»> two rivers forms the Yukon proper, 
 2044 ndles from the sea. the I'elly being 600 miles long and the Lewis 
 and connecting lakes .357. 'I'aUlng the Telly as the main stream the 
 total lenglli of the Yukon would exceed 3200 miles. The drainage area 
 is more than 600,000 siitiare niUes. Tlie Yukon is not the only large river 
 of Alaska. Tarallel to It for liundriMls of miles on the south, and also 
 entering Helulng sea. Is the great Kuskoiiuim river, also navigable. 
 Flowing Into K<>l/.liue sound, north of Helirliig strait, are the Nowak 
 and Noatak rivers, while several rivers of unknown length flow Into 
 llie Arctic ocean, one of ilicni said to lie of great size. A number of 
 rivers tlow southwanl Into the raclllc, the longest of which are Copjier 
 river near I'rlnce William snuiid. and >Vhite river, between St. Ellas 
 and I'alrweather, Imili navigable lor some distance. Flowing west- 
 ward Into the eliiiiiiiels along the .Vlexandrlan archipelago are the 
 Taku and the Stiekeen. both navigable. Tlu> last four rivers are alt 
 possible routes Into the Interior. 
 
 The Interior of Alaska Is a region of rolling table land, mountains 
 and valleys, where grass grows, flowers bloom In luxuriance, moss 
 abouiMls. and blnls sing by the thonsaiHls In suninier time, while In tlie 
 winter a mantle of snow covers the entire country and the streams and 
 lakes are locked with Ice, The scene of wonderftil beauty which en- 
 chants the traveler's eye In the »<M'Miner. as he Is borne on the bosom 
 of the ndghty river by the throbbing steamboat. Is transformed In u 
 few weeks into a vast w IhlerneNs of white, njion which tlie sun, hang- 
 ing low along the southern horl/.on or dlpiilng entirely below It, seenm 
 reluctant to ga/.e. 
 
he world con- 
 
 ;ted somewhat 
 ) on the main- 
 miUler climate 
 ber and grass 
 h smaller size 
 climate Is far 
 
 t Yukon river, 
 
 ) the north as 
 
 Behring sea at 
 
 rid, being 3200 
 
 !mely wide, its 
 
 uiles inland it 
 
 ble. The river 
 
 for ligiit draft 
 
 ' not less than 
 
 mada, its chief 
 
 ?ky mountains, 
 
 the coast east 
 
 Yukon proper, 
 
 and the Lewis 
 
 iln stream the 
 
 drainage area 
 
 nly large river 
 
 outh, and also 
 
 so navigable. 
 
 e the Nowak 
 
 gtli flow into 
 
 V numl)er of 
 
 ell arc Copper 
 
 • ■(Ml St. Kllas 
 
 "lowing w(»«t- 
 
 Ingo arc the 
 
 ilviTK are all 
 
 lid. n\niintalns 
 urinnce, moss 
 ', \vldl(> in the 
 Htrcains ami 
 iit.v wlilili cn- 
 on the bosom 
 isfornwMl In a 
 lie HUH, bang- 
 low it, MCCIUH 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
ff 
 
 ir '; 
 
 " ■! 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 21 
 
 THE CLIMATE. 
 
 No more reliable or succinct statement of the climate of the various 
 districts of Alaska can be found than the special bulletin issued by 
 Willis L. Moore, chief of the weather bureau, of the department of 
 agriculture. It is as follows: 
 
 The general conception of Alaskan climate is largely due to those 
 who follow the sea, and this is not strange wlien we consider the vast 
 extent of shore line (over 26,000 miles) possessed by that territory. 
 The climates of the coast and the interior are unlike in many respects, 
 and the differences are intensilied in tliis as perhaps in few other 
 countries by exceptional pliyslcal conditions. The natural contrast 
 between land and sea is liere tremendously increased by tlio current 
 of warm water that impinges on the coast of British Columbia, one 
 branch flowing northward toward Sitka, and thence westward to the 
 Kadiak and Shumagln Islands. The fringe of Islands that separates 
 tlie mainland from the Pacilic ocean from Dixon sound northward, and 
 also a strip of the mainland for possibly 20 miles back from the sea, 
 following the sweep of the coast as it curves to the uortliwestward to 
 the westward extremity of Alaska, form a distinct climatic division 
 which may be termed temperate Alaska. 
 
 The temperature rarely falls to zero; winter does not set in until 
 about December 1, and by the last of May the snow has disappeared, 
 except on the mountains. The mean winter temperature of Sitka Is 
 32.5 degrees, but little less than that of Washington. D. C. While Sitka 
 Is fully exposed to the sea Influences, places farther inland, 'but not 
 over the coast range of mountains, as KiUlsnoo and Juneau, have also 
 a mild temperature througliout tlie winter months. The temperature 
 changes from month to month In tempei'ate Alaska are small, not ex- 
 ceeding 25 degrees from midwinter to midsummer. The average tem- 
 perture of July, the warmest month of summer, rarely reaches 55 
 degrees, and the highest temperature for a single day seldom reaches 
 75 degrees. 
 
 The rainfall of temperate Alaska Is notorious the world over, not 
 only as regards the (luantlty that falls, but also as to the manner of Its 
 falling, viz: In long and InceHsant rains and drizzles. Cloud and fog 
 naturally abound, there being on an average but 66 clear days In the 
 year. 
 
 Alaskii Is a liiiid of striking contrasts, both In climate as well as 
 top()grai)liy. When the sun shines, the atmo8i)here Is remarkably clear, 
 the scenic effects are magulflcetit, all nature seems to be In holiday 
 atllie. Hill (he scene may change very <pilckly; the s' y bet-onics iiver- 
 cast; (li(> winds Increase In force; rain begins to fall; the evergreens 
 sigh ominously, and utter desolation and loneliness ])revall. 
 
 N«»r(liof the .Meutlan Islands the coast climate becomes more rig- 
 orous In winter, but in sninmer the difference Is much less nuirked. 
 Thus, at St. Michaels, a short distance above the mouth of the Yiikou. 
 the nieiin suiiinier lempcratuic Is 50 degrees, but I degrees cooler than 
 Sitka. The mean sunnucr temperature of roint Harrow, the most 
 

 22 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 northerly point in the United States, Is 36.8 degrees, but four-tenths of 
 a dei<ree le«8 than the temperature of the air flowing across the summit 
 of Pike's peak, Colorado. 
 
 Tlie rainfall of the coast region north of the Yukon delta is small, 
 diminishing to less than 10 Inches within the Arctic circle. 
 
 The climate of the interior, including in that designation practi- 
 cally all of the country except a narroAv fringe of coastal margin and 
 the terri^^ory before referred to as temperate Alaska, is one of ex- 
 treme rigor in Avinter, with a brief but relatively hot summer, especi- 
 ally when the sky is free from cloud. 
 
 In the Klondike region in midwinter the sun rises from 9:30 to 10 
 A. M. and sets from 2 to 3 P. M., the total length of daylight being 
 about four hours. RenuMubering that the sun rises but a few degrees 
 above the horizon, and that it is wiioUy obscured on a great many 
 days, the character of the winter months may easily be imagined. 
 
 We are indebte<l to the Fnited States coast and geodetic sxirvey 
 for a series of six months' observations on the Yukon, not far from the 
 site of tlie present gold discoveries. The observations were made with 
 standard instruments, and are wholly reliable. The mean te!npera- 
 tures of the months 0<tol)er. 1889, to April. 1890, both inclusive, are 
 as follows: October. 33 d«'grees above zero; November, 8 degret's 
 above zero; l>(>cember. 11 degrees below zero; January, 17 degrees 
 below zero; February. 15 degrees Ijclow ztro; March, 6 degrees above 
 zero; April, 29 degrees above zero. The daily mean temperature fell 
 and remained below the freezing point (32 degrees) from November 4, 
 1889, to April 21, 1890. thus giving 168 days as the length of the closed 
 season, 1889-90, assuming tliat outdoor operations are controlled by 
 teuiiieriitnre only, l)elng suspended when tlie daily mean falls to or 
 below the freezing point. 
 
 Tiie lowi'st temperatures registered during the winter were: 
 
 Tlilrty-two degrees l)ei<)\v in Noveiiil)er: 47 degrees below zero 
 in December; .'59 degri'es behtw zero in .lanuary; 55 degrees below zero 
 in Fel)ruary; 45 degrees lielow zero in ^lareh;' 26 degrees below zero 
 in April. 
 
 'I'lie greatest continuous colli occurred in February. 1890, when the 
 daily mean lor five consecutive days was 47 degrees lu'l«»w zero. The 
 wcatlier nuxieiated sllglitly tlie tlist of Marcli. but tlie temperature 
 still remained lielow tlie freezing iiolnt. tJeiierally, cloudy weatlier 
 prevailetl, there being but tliree consecutive days in any month with 
 clear weatlier during tlie wliole winter. Snow fell on about one-third 
 of tlie days in winter ,and a less number in the «'arly siiring and late 
 fall months. 
 
 (iieater cold llian tliiit liere noted has been exi)erleni'ed in the 
 Tiilted Sti^tes for a very sliort time, lint never lias It cunliniied so very 
 cold for so long a time. In the Interior of .VlasUa the winter s(>ts In as 
 early as September, wlieii snow storms may be expected In the moun- 
 tains and passes. Headway during one of tiiese storms is Impossible, 
 and the traveler who Is uvertaiien by them Is indeed fortunate If lie 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 23 
 
 i four-tenths of 
 OSS the summit 
 
 delta is small, 
 cle. 
 
 Ignatlon practi- 
 tal margin and 
 
 is one of ex- 
 iummer, especi- 
 
 from 9:30 to 10 
 daylight being 
 : a few degrees 
 a great many 
 le imagined, 
 geodetic survey 
 lot far from the 
 ivere made with 
 mean te?npera- 
 h inclusive, are 
 uljer, 8 degrees 
 ary, 17 degrees 
 6 degrees above 
 temperature fell 
 )ni November 4, 
 til of the dosed 
 e controlled by 
 leiin falls to or 
 
 Iter were: 
 ■t'cs below zero 
 trees below zero 
 rees l)elow zero 
 
 1890. when the 
 elow zero. 'I'he 
 lie tfUiperuture 
 
 loudy wen I her 
 ny month with 
 iiboul one-third 
 si)ring and lute 
 
 erlenctMl in tlie 
 inllnued so very 
 
 Inter sets In as 
 •d In the moun- 
 s is impossible, 
 
 fortumit*' If he 
 
 escapes with his life. Snow storms of great severity may occur in any 
 niontn from September to May inclusive. 
 
 The changes of temperature from winter to summer are rapid, 
 owing to the great Increase In the length of the day. In May the sun 
 rises at about 3 A. M. and sets about 9 P. M. In June it rises about 
 1:30 in the morning and sets at 10:30 P. M., giving about 20 hours of 
 daylight and diffuse tAvillght the remainder of the time. 
 
 The Inean summer temperature of the interior doubtless ranges 
 between 60 to 70 degrees, according to the elevation, being highest in 
 the middle and lower Yukon valleys. 
 
 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT. 
 
 When Alaska was purchased not even the statesniiin wlio negotiated 
 the ti'eaty and bore patiently the sarcasm of his countrymen, realized 
 the value of the acquisition. He knew tliat tliere were resources of 
 timber, fish, furs and minerals of great value, but die<l before their 
 partial development proved tliem to be so far beyond ids greatest ex- 
 pectations. In addition to the gold ndnes, tlie chief resources are as 
 follows: 
 
 The humid climate of the coast district of Southeast Alaska pro- 
 motes a strong growth of thnber on the islands and a narrow strip 
 along the nuiinland. Spruce, liendock and red and yellow cedar are 
 the leading varieties, the trees growing to very large size. The yellow 
 cedar is especially valuable for furniture and linislilng. Along the 
 coast west of Sitka the tUnber Is smaller and less valuable. In the in- 
 terior the thnber n(>ar the mouth of the Yukon and otiier streams is of 
 a fair size, but diminishes as distance is gained inland. It is chiefly 
 spruce, Cottonwood, alder and willow tiiat grows along the water 
 courses and hikes. Fir timber of go<Ml size Is also fomid to a conshl- 
 erable extent. Little use has yet been made of the timber, except for 
 local i>urposes along tlie coast, but the demand in the mining districts 
 has become so great that several small sawmills have been sent up 
 there this year, yet doiddless much lumber for use there will continue 
 to be .sent from Portland and other points on the lowt'r coast. 
 
 Coal has been found In several places, biit coal measuri's have not 
 yet been ope:i«'(l up. The most promising veins yet found are near 
 Kllllsno<(, or ("hickagott' island. Other discoveries are on Inga Island, 
 Cook Inlet, Lituga bay and Chilkat river, the most extensive being on 
 <'(K>k inlet. The coal Is bitumlniuis and of a good Muallty. On the side 
 of Hi'hrlng sen coal has been found on Herendeeii bay, and some of it 
 has been shipped by the Ahiskan Conimerclal Company to Inalaska 
 and found to be of excellent tpniUty. At Cape Sabine, on the Arctic, 
 coal has been found nnd iioth the Thetis and Corwin irnveniiiient v(>s- 
 sels, have mined coal there for their own use. Coal now used in 
 Alaska Is brotight from Krltlsli Colnmbln nnd Pugel souikI. Petroleum 
 has been found in a number of places, but no devehipmenis have been 
 undertaken. 
 
 The fisheries have already nsstnned Inrge proportions nnd iirondse 
 
T" 
 
 I 1l! 
 
 24 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW EEDORADO 
 
 greatlj' to increase. The rnitert States flsh commission has reported 
 100 varieties of lish in Alnsliaii waters, tlie most important of which Is 
 the salmon. The icing salmon, nnioh illve the chluoolc of the Columbia 
 river, is from 20 to 50 pounds in weight, sometimes 100 pounds, and 
 the silver salmon, 8 to 15 pounds. The salmon swarm in all the rivers, 
 and canneries are located in many places, Kadiak island being the seat 
 of the greatest industry. Tlie canneries all belong to a combine, ex- 
 cept those in tlie extreme soutli. The Alaskan output of canned 
 salmon is about 500.000 cases annually. 
 
 Cod abound along the const, a number of fine banks having been 
 located. Several flrms are engaged in catching and shipping codfish. 
 Halibut is also caught in large quantities uad marketed fresh, dried 
 and smoked. Herring abound in great schools and are an important 
 part of the food supply of the natives, a tisli of the smelt variety, 
 called oolichon, or candle fish, enters the rivers in immense numbers. 
 They are very oily, and when dried will burn like a candle. The 
 natives express a fine quality of oil from them, as they also do from 
 the herring and dogfish. 
 
 The hair seal abounds in great numbers and constitutes an Im- 
 portant part of the food supply of the Indians. The beluga, or white 
 grampus, whale Is also captured by the natives, the skin being valua- 
 ble for ropes, boats, etc. The walrus abounds In Behring sea and the 
 Arctic, but is fast being exterminated. Its skin and tusks are both 
 valuable. The black whale has been chased by whalers Into the Icy 
 fastnesses of the Arctic ocean, and has been almost exterminated. 
 So many whaling vessels are lost that the government has established 
 a rescue station at Point Barrow, the most northerly point of Alaska. 
 
 An important resource is the fur seal, which resorts each summer 
 in immense numbers to the Pribalof, or Seal islands, in Behring sea, 
 for breeding purposes. Tlu! government has a contract with a com- 
 pany, by which only 100,000 seals may be killed on tliose islands an- 
 nually, and less if the secretary of the treasury so directs, while all 
 others are prohibited from killing seals at all. except in the open sea 
 beyond the Jurisdiction of the government, which, by arbitration agree- 
 ment, extends 50 miles around the Islands. A large fleet of vessels 
 follows up the herd from as far down as tli coast of California every 
 spring, and kills many thousands of them, while during the summer 
 they hover about the Islands and kill many more. The complete ex- 
 termination of the fur seals is threatened, unless better international 
 regulations for their protection are agreed upon. 
 
 Another valuable amphibious animal is the sea otter, found in the 
 ocean along the entire coast. By no means so plentiful as the seal, It 
 is far more valuable, Iniilvldunlly. a single skin often being worth $150. 
 They have several times been supposed to have been exterminated, 
 but in a few years liave reappeared again. The land otter, a far less 
 valuable animal, Is the most abun<lant of all fiir-bearlng animals in 
 Alaska, except the fox. The licaver, once abundant , has now become 
 quite scarce and Its fur Is not In so nnicli demand as 50 years ago. 
 
 f\ 
 
'^ 
 
 has reported 
 
 ;' 
 
 at of which Is 
 
 1 
 
 the Columbia 
 
 1 
 
 ) pounds, and 
 
 i 
 
 all the rivers, 
 
 J 
 
 being the seat 
 
 1 
 
 combine, ex- 
 
 ^"A 
 
 ut of canned 
 
 1 
 
 s having been 
 ippiug codfish, 
 d fresh, dried 
 an important 
 smelt variety, 
 ense numbers. 
 I candle. The 
 ' also do from 
 
 itutes an Im- 
 
 luga, or white 
 
 n being valua- 
 
 ig sea and the 
 
 :usks are both 
 
 [•8 into the icy 
 
 exterminated. 
 
 las established 
 
 >int of Alaska. 
 
 each summer 
 
 1 Behring sea, 
 
 t with a com- 
 
 se islands an- 
 
 pcts, while all 
 
 the open sea 
 
 iti-ation agree- 
 
 (H't of vessels 
 
 liifornla every 
 
 tho summer 
 
 complete ex- 
 
 internatioual 
 
 , I'ouud In the 
 ns 1h(> seal, it 
 im wortli $150. 
 cxtonnliiated, 
 l(>r. a far loss 
 ijr animals in 
 ii(»\v become 
 curs ago. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 Devil's riiunib, on the lourist Rome. 
 
ir'"^* 
 
 tri'i 
 
 I 
 
 ii'i, 
 
 ' 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 25 
 
 Of the bear family there are several varieties, the brown bear be- 
 ing the most widely distributed. They are fiei'ce fighters and are not 
 hunted much, as their skins are not very valuable. The black bear is 
 found in the timbered regions and mountains. His skin is valuable 
 and he is less dangerous to hunters. The white, or polar, bear is 
 found along the Arctic coast. Several varieties of foxes contribute 
 much to the fur market, the most numerous and most widely dis- 
 tributed being the red fox, though the least valuable. The black or 
 silver fox is the one most highly prized for his fur. He attains a large 
 size and his habitat is the mountains of the interior. Ho varies in 
 color from silver to jet black. The blue fox is a highly-i)rized variety, 
 found on the Aleutian islands, ■where he is propagated for his fur. 
 The silver fox is extremely valuable, and is found in the Yukon region. 
 The white fox is found along the coast of Behrlng sea and the Arctic. 
 The cross fox is a mixture of the red and others. 
 
 The mink abounds along the rivers of the interior and on the 
 coast. In the forest-covered mountains the lynx and gray and white 
 wolves are plentiful. Wolverines are found in the lake and Yukon 
 regions. Muskrats, rabbits and marmots are abundant everywhere. 
 
 Deer abound, especially in Soutlieastern Alaska, but they have 
 been so rutlilcssly slaughtered for their hides that they are in danger 
 of being exterminated. In the Yukon country moose, cariboo and deer 
 are found of large size. In the Alpine regions of the coast mountains 
 the mazama, or American chamoise. and mountain sheep are found. 
 
 In the summer of 1892 Minor W. Bruce, acting as an agent of the 
 government, imported 170 reindeer from Siberia and established a 
 breeding station at Poi*t Clarence, near Behrlng strait. The purpose of 
 this was to supply a reserve of food for the Eskimos, who were 
 threatened with starvation in the Avinter time, owing to the extermina- 
 tion of the walrus, wild reindeer and whale, their chief food supply. 
 This herd, by natural increase and now Importations, has swelled to 
 1800 animals, other stations having been established at Point Barrow. 
 Cape Nome and Galovin bay. Dr. Sheldon Jackson, a well known 
 Alaska missionary, was the promoter of this reindeer project. It Is 
 now proposed to utilize these animals for transportation purposes in 
 the Yukon country during the winter season, both for carrying the 
 mail and in hauling supplies. The revenue cutter Bear has been di- 
 rected to convey twenty of them from Port Clarence to St. Michaels 
 this fall, and they may play an Important part In the work of sending 
 relief into the overcrowded mines this winter. The reindeer can lUid 
 subsistence by digging roots, moss and grasses from f'e frozen snow, 
 and tlius lias a great advantage over both dogs and horses, besides 
 being mucli swifter of foot. 
 
 N()w tliat Alaska is gaining so rapidly in population, tiie question 
 of agriculture is l)e<'omlng an important one. .V government commis- 
 sion has been appointed to investigate and report upon the agricnltiu'al 
 possibilities of that region, and tliis report will doiil)tless be siibmltted 
 to congn'ss at its next session. Experiment stations will probably be 
 
PTTS? 
 
 !! .i 
 
 !|'!:;j* 
 
 26 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDOKADO 
 
 established as a result of this report. Coiulitions seem favorable for 
 siK'li oereals and vegetables as mature (julckly. Even in the Yukon 
 region summer vegetables may be grown. The (luestion of stock-rais- 
 ing is also an important one. Tlie islauls along the coast supply 
 abundant food for stock, but the cold rains, sleet and raw winds are 
 hard upon animals, especially sheej), and little success lias been met 
 with thus far. It is believed tliat cattle nuiy be raised in the interior, 
 as nutritious grasNOs and mosses abound. 
 
 Chapter III 
 
 Gold Discovery on the Youkon 
 
 Till' most authentic data of tlie discovrcy and working of the 
 Vuktiii gold phiccrs in llic interior of Alaska is llial gatliered l>y Harold 
 B. Goodridi, of llic riiilc<l Stat«'s (Jeological Survey, whose account 
 ■•il)pears as a portion of tlic otliclal report of ,1. 10. Spurr, wlio was direc- 
 tor of ll'c expedition w''iili iiM-enliy returned from tlie Yukon i-ountry. 
 
 According to this rep(M't. a Uussian exploring back of Sitka early in 
 tin .•eiitii.y found seveiai pieces of ritii iniartz, Imt llniiiiioft', llie gov - 
 crnor and manager of liie fur company, did not want any uiining car- 
 ried on, and ordered the tinder of tlic <>•«> to stop prospecting. Not until 
 18(13 was any iirospecting done In tiic Interior. I'oiiowliig tlic I'raser 
 river excitciuent. in 1858. and th<> i>|iening of liie Cassiar mines a little 
 later, gold pl.ic»'r» were discovered and worked on tlie Stickeeu river, 
 yielding ^10 pc day lo tlie iiiiiii. In ISdH W. 1". lUakc began prospect- 
 ing on tliat sin.-iiii, laid after going r>0 miles up the river, came to 
 the conclusion that "there is every reason to lielleve that the gold re- 
 gion of tile Interior extends along tlie moniitaiiis to the shores of tlii> 
 I,y sea. and is thus connected wllli tlie gold regions ot .\sla." 
 
 Soon aflcrwartls the tinding of minute specks of gold by .some of 
 tl'c Hudson May roiiipany'H men on the \ nkon. In the virlnlty of I'mt 
 Selkirk, was reported, but ilic netal was not In (piantltles sutllilent to 
 warrant a rush to tlie hx'ality. In ISti!) Ketclniin and I.alxirge. m*>m 
 bets of the Western I'lilon telegraph expedition, as I'lided the Yukon 
 and ftiund evidences ot gold on the upper river. 'I'hese were casual 
 observations, liowever, and It was not tiilli ISTfi that systematic pro»- 
 pecilng tor the yellow sltitl was lieijun Ity (ieorge Holt. He brought 
 to llic c'wist glowlnr accounts of eoaise gold on the np|icr Lewis river, 
 Tlie Indians nnirdeied him later on. 
 
 Other reports of the same kiml starled a rush for the Interior ity 
 miners and prospectors. The (Udy practicable routes lay (tver the 
 passes In tlie Coast range of mountains. Tlirre were foi,i of liiese 
 piiHses. but I'hllkiHit pass, though excessively rough and Mltlicidt, wits 
 
"a. 
 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDOKAUO 
 
 m 
 
 favorable for 
 in tlip Yukon 
 of stock-rais- 
 coast supply 
 iw winds are 
 lias bi'cn met 
 11 tlie interior, 
 
 irkinj; of tlio 
 •('(1 hy Harold 
 liose ac'onnt. 
 lio was direr- 
 iiivon country. 
 Sitka early in 
 iiolT, tlie go\- 
 \' U)lidnK < in- 
 ig. Nut unill 
 H the Kraser 
 mines a little 
 li( Ueeii river. 
 nun i>rospeel- 
 vei', ciiMie to 
 
 llie Hold r«' 
 ■liiores (if liie 
 <ill." 
 i liv sitiiie (if 
 
 illy of I'orl 
 < MMlHrlenl ti) 
 hiu'ue, mem 
 il the Yukon 
 
 were easual 
 Irinillle |iros- 
 
 lle liriiuuhi 
 
 Lewis river. 
 
 Interior 'ly 
 ay over I lie 
 oi.i of these 
 illllenll, was 
 
 
 nearly always preferred. From time immomorial the Indians of the 
 coast had maintained a monopoly of trade with so called Stick Indians 
 of the Interior. In bartering, tlie latter were permitted to come as far 
 as Chilkoot pass, where tiiey were niet by the coast Indians. The posi- 
 tion of tie latter as intermediaries between the whites and the Indians 
 of the interior was very jirotttalile to tliem, and their monopoly delayed 
 the development of the country for several years. In 1879, however, 
 they for the first time permitted tlie whites to enter, and the removal 
 of the embargo resulted in the discovery of jfold-bearing hnlges near 
 TuKU. Tile interior of Alaska, wliieli jireviously had been tern, in- 
 cognita, was tlius tiirowu ojien. and f "oni this time dates tlie develop- 
 ment of tlie gold-mining Industry. 
 
 In 1881 four miners crossed tlie pass and prospected the Big Salmon 
 river. They reported gold the wliole length of that stream. In the 
 following year a well-organized expedi'^lon atteniptiHl to prospect the 
 Yukon from the other end. In .luiie llie itarty. ('onslsting of 4[) men 
 under the leadersiiii» of Edward and Eff Seliieffelin bougiit a steamer 
 and Jiscenih ,' the Yukon as far as Nuklukayet. wliere tliey wintered. 
 They prosiiecled many sniiill creeks and rivers, and found some gravel 
 liars tliat yielded $10 a day per man. In tlie jirospect every pan sliowed 
 gold. Hut the conclusion drawn was tlijit the country would never pay 
 lor iiiliiing opei'alioiis on ai-coiuit of llie severity of the wlnlei's iiiid llie 
 short iicss of llie o|nMi season. This trlji is interesting mainly iiei tnise 
 it resulted ill the llist re;iorl of gold 111 riiiled Slates lerrllory, all the 
 former prospecting loins liavi'ig l«"eii in Hrltlsh I'dssessjons. 
 
 In tlie fall of 188:{ some miners lironcht Into .lunei'.ii $1000 of coarse 
 gold, whli'h they said <!iiiie from tlie N'likon. 'I'lils ciiiised great exclte- 
 iiieiii, tiiid In the follow liig spring tlieic was a rush, over 'MM men cross- 
 ing llie mountains. A couple of years later the rush was still coiillnu- 
 iiig. and two men cleared up $:!."). 000 liy "rocking" on a bar alioni 100 
 miles from the himuIIi ol' Stewart river. 'I'lie idcker i ■. the same thing 
 as the ('aliforiila cradle a liottoniless box set on rockets and divided 
 into three compiirtmciiis. 'l"he gravel Is llirown Into the upper com- 
 pai'imeiil and liy selling tlie rocker In iiiollon. Is sifted lliroiigh a sheet- 
 Iron mesh into ilie lower eo <ii»arlnieiit. In wliicli a cloth calclies the 
 liner siind iind gold and strains the water. Tlie material thus collected 
 Is taken out iiml paiiiii <, 
 
 111 ilils iirlmltlve wa,\ Stewart river wa** prospected for 200 mllcH 
 from Us miiiith. The total golM produced by nil th«> Yukon country In 
 that year. ISHr). was estimate, I nt about $7ii.OOO. In the spring of I88(i 
 t'liNslar bar. Iti miles below the moiiili of Itig Salmon river, was dlsi-ov- 
 cred. and the yield was reported at $15 ,i da,\ iter man, the total output 
 of the placers tlicie lieliig I20.0U0. In the late auluinn of 18Stl a miner 
 iianied Franklin had discevereil gold near the mouth of Sliiiando river, 
 ollierw Isc know n as ('orty Mile creek. .V i"laiiiiie<le followed and Hie 
 vampot T'oitv Mile was founded. 
 
 In the liiiier inirt of I8K7 I'raiiklln gulch was Nlniek. being ntiined 
 in honor of the dlsco\ci'er of |''orl\ Mile. This locality has been a con- 
 ktuiit "payer" ever since. The character of llie gold fmuid there is 
 
7^ 
 
 I 
 
 
 if ■ 1 
 
 ^1 
 
 28 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 nuggety, tuassos of considerable size being common, Franklin gulch 
 has the fame of having produced the two largest nuggets ever found In 
 the Yukon region, worth $500 and $239 respectively. The discovery and 
 working of this gulch mark an advance from the primitive bar work- 
 lug to the gulch diggings. In which sluice boxes are used and the cur- 
 rent of a stream niiide to perform most of tlie work. 
 
 The first estimate of tlie production of the Yukon placers is in the 
 report of tlie director of tlie mint for 1890. It states tiie (luantity of 
 gold obtained at $50,000, but the figure is uiucli too small. Tlie estimate 
 for that year !)y the governor of Alaska was $275,000. Tlie eve\t of 
 1892 was tlie dlscovcvy of Miller's creek by O. C. Miller, a noted pros- 
 pector in the Yukon country. Tlih; creek had been prospected bei.^rc, 
 but had been given up. because tin' surface gravel which did not O' -'■" 
 gold was so deep. In the lirst year of actual worlv, however, one v'lai n 
 yielded $30,000. In the sjirlng of 1893 many new cliims we' staked out 
 in tills locality, and 80 men took out $100,000. Since that time Miller's 
 creek has been the lieirvlest jiroducer of the Forty-Mile district, and 
 until recently of the whole Yukon. Its entire length lies in British ter- 
 ritory. 
 
 In tlie spring of 1893 tiie reported richness of placers in tlie Interior 
 <'nused a rusli t)f miners, dver 300 men b(>lng employed in the I'orty- 
 -MUe district alon(>. In the summer of t'.iat yea:' two Uussian lialf- 
 l)ree<ls, named IMtka and Sorresco, reportiMl gold on Hlrch creek, 
 
 lOlghty men went from I'orty-Mlie to the new district, wlilcli was 
 soon found to be very ricli. A town was Imlll there called Circle City, 
 from Its proximity to the Arelie circle, and tills settlement soon became 
 the most Important In the interior. In tlic> meantime the Koyukuk 
 river was being prospi 'ted, and $30,000 was taken from that stream. 
 The total amount produced by the Yukofi placers in 1894 was double 
 that of the year iiefoic, the two camps of Forty-Mile and lllrcii creek 
 gelling out $409,000. With the ,'old from the plaeeis was some siber. 
 
 In 1S95 the output had doubled again. Kagle creek wti >|HM)ed up, 
 Hliowing the prettiest g »ld thus I'lir obtained on the Yukon, A little 
 pi'iisi>ectliig was done on roriii|>lne creek, where a result of 10 cents to 
 the pan was secured. The total output of the Yukon placers that year 
 was $709,000. Illrch cteeU being tlie I'oremosl producer. 
 
 The latest excitement begun during the latter part of Autfust of 
 In«t yonr, when It was icportpd nt I'ortv-Mllo that rich plaeers h. . i »en 
 diHcuvered on the waters of the Klmidlke ilvi .. Klondike Is a 's 
 
 corruption of the Indian n;mie 'I'hrniidluk, meaning water t'.ill of llsh. 
 Tlie stream han long been a favorite llslilng ground for the Indians; it 
 enters the Yukon 45 ndles below the mouth of SIvtyMlle, and 15 miles 
 abov»« old Fort Hellaiiie. There was a great stampede to :he new 
 region, so that In the winter of 189()97 Forly-.MIle was almost liese.ied, 
 and 350 men were on the Kloedlk •. The most Impciiiiiif p. i\-\ ut thi i 
 district now are on lh)naii-/.a aii.i Hunker creeks. On tiie t' "i,«>r the 
 first discovery wn» made, $1000 lM>liig taken otil In a few di,;, s, Hliiee 
 that time 1))il claims 1 avc been located, up to .laniiary .>!' the iiresent 
 year only, anil half as many on Hunker creek. 
 
nnklin gulch 
 ver found iu 
 Iscovery aiul 
 re bar work- 
 nnd the cur- 
 lers Is lu the 
 quantity of 
 riie ostlnmte 
 LMio evoit of 
 L noted pros- 
 M'ted boi."irc, 
 did not M r" 
 iv, one clun.ii 
 staked out 
 lime Miller's 
 district, and 
 1 British ter- 
 
 I the Interior 
 ti liie l''()rty- 
 lussinn half- 
 creel; . 
 
 , which was 
 
 Circle CMty, 
 
 soon becnuie 
 
 le Koyukuk 
 
 lint stream. 
 
 ■^ii 
 
 was double 
 
 < 
 
 Kirch creek 
 
 *'' 
 
 some sll'cr. 
 
 'tJ 
 
 'IKMUsI up, 
 
 1 
 
 J, 
 
 HI. A little 
 
 r 10 cents to 
 
 e 
 
 rs tli.it year 
 
 i 
 
 
 ■ji 
 
 1" AUKUHt of 
 
 1 
 i 
 
 'IS ii 1 >en 
 
 is ii "h 
 till! of llsh. 
 
 > IiMliaiis; it 
 
 % 
 
 md 15 udles 
 
 T 
 
 ii> !he lu'W 
 
 ^ 
 
 >st (lesc. led. 
 
 J 
 
 i- ''tH of (hi 1 
 
 a 
 
 r- "Ler the 
 
 1 
 
 h;, s. 8huM> 
 
 1 
 
 the presi'nt 
 
 ■ 
 
 JZ 
 
 c 
 o 
 
 •u 
 
 J^ 
 
 ■-5 
 
 c 
 o 
 
 i2 
 
 u 
 
 JZ 
 
 U 
 
 c 
 
 9. 
 
 rS 
 
 Q 
 
 > 
 
^'if^W^. 
 
 
 «*: 
 
 |l 
 
 I 1 1] 
 
 11 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 J' 
 
 f* 
 
ALASKA, THE \EW ELDORADO fB 
 
 The expectatou is that hydrauUcing will bo employed on a large 
 scale some day on the Yukon for mining the placers, but the method is 
 costly and requires much capital. At present the miner's Implements 
 are of tlie simplest, consisting generaJly of a hand goldpan, spade, 
 whlpsaw and ax. The geological survey's estimate of the yield of the 
 Yukon placers during 1896 is $1,400,000. The yield of 1897 Is variously 
 
 A .MlnliiK S\mft on tlii> Klondike. 
 
 OStinmUHl «« hiKh «H $10,000,000. of which Nome $3.00(1,000 to $4,000 000 
 hnH nlrendy been brouRht out of the country »*.""".""» 
 
 fro.7''"; I","'''.'"" '"' '•'""'•'^-'^^ •'^"""■'•■^ cxpclltlon w«K lo tlnd ll.c source 
 fron. which the gold of the VnkoM pln..erN wnH derived. This problem 
 vn- abHo utcly .olved by .he discovery of a gignn.lc hH, of nnrifc 1. s 
 «"«kH nt \vnHt 500 mlloH long ami from 50 to 100 ndlcs lu width. Th,. 
 

 i 
 
 30 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 bolt In question passes from British territory Into American In tho 
 uolghborliood of Korty-Mlle creek. It has a northwesterly trend, and 
 crosses the Yukon river near the mouth of Porcupine river, thence 
 treiidlnj? still northward for an unknown distance into an unexplored 
 country. Specks of bright gold are seen occasionally on tlie surface of 
 tlie rocks, but the bulk of the precious metal is disguised lu the form 
 of sulphides and in cond)ination with iron pyrites. Immense bodies of 
 ore are in siglit, of unknown thickness. 
 
 The aulliorilios of liie geological survey believe that the Alaskan 
 gold dt>posils are destined to rival in productiveness tliose of South 
 Africa. Naturally, tlie miners liave struck first for the gravel deitosits, 
 because tliey are on tiie surface and easily accessiide. During ages 
 past the streams have worn away the gold-bearing rocker, fetcldng 
 down itaiticles of tlie yellow metal. The latter, licing heavy, have smdj 
 to the Itottom and luive lemained while tlu' ligliter particles tioated 
 away. Thus at length a natural auriferous concentrate was formed, 
 and It is these dejiosils that the ndners have been working. At a future 
 day, provided with tlie i)rop('r machinery and tli(> necessary capital. 
 they will Jiltack the virgin rocks Iron) which the metal of the gravels 
 is derived, iind tlun the Yukon valley will become In all prol)abillty the 
 greatest gold-producing region of the world. 
 
 A report of tl'" gold discoveries and the character and extent of the 
 new gold lleldK was made to tlie f'anadlan gi>vernnient this year by 
 Wllllaiii Ogllvle.who lias been In that region for s(>v(»ral years as clilef 
 »>f the Caiiiidlan Internallonal boundary survey. In his report he says: 
 
 "Klondike Is a nilspronuiiciatton of the Indian word 'Throndak,' 
 or "riiroiidiiick," which m<';ins 'plenty of llsli." The discovery of gold In 
 branches of this stream. 1 believe, was due to the reiiorts of Indians. 
 A while man named .1. .\. I'armicli, who work«'d with me in 1887, was 
 the llrst to lake advantage of tlii> minor, and locate<l a claim In the 
 first branch, which was named by the miners Honan/.a creek. ('arml<-li 
 reached his claim In August. lie ha«l to cut some logs and g(>t pro- 
 visions to enable htm to begin work on his claim. lie returned wllh u 
 few weeks" provisions for himself, wife and brother Inlaw (Indliins), 
 In tht> last of AugUHt, and Immediately set about working his claim, 
 '{'he gravel itself he had to cany in a box on his back from 'M) (o lt)() 
 feet. .Vtitwllhslandlng this, three men working very Irregularly washed 
 out $14,200 In eight days, and Carnilcli asserts (hat had lu> proper facll- 
 itlcH he could have doiu' It In two da.vs. 
 
 ".\ branch of the llmiair/.a named Eldorado has j)foHpectei1 mnsf- 
 nlllceiitly. and another branch named Tilly i-reek has prospected well. 
 There are about 170 claims staked In the mnin creek and the branches 
 are (.rood for as many more, aggregaling about .150 good claims, 
 which will ic(|ulre over a thousand men to work properly. \ lew iiilles 
 further up. Hear crook enterH the Khuuliko, and It has been prospeebsl 
 and Iocale<l on. .Vbout 12 miles above the mouth of Rear creek, (iold 
 Holt' III creek joins the Klondlk«>, niul on a branch of it named Hunker 
 oreek, vory rich ground Iuih boon found. On Oold Hot loin creek and 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 31 
 
 erican in the 
 rly trinid. aiul 
 river, thence 
 in unexplored 
 the surface of 
 a lu the form 
 eiise bodies of 
 
 t tlie Aliisluiu 
 lios(> of Soutli 
 ravel deposits, 
 DurluK njies 
 ()ck(*. ft'lcliiuK 
 ivy. liave sunlc 
 irtlcles floated 
 e was formed. 
 >;. At a future 
 cssary capital, 
 of tlie gravels 
 probability the 
 
 id extent of the 
 this year by 
 years as cldef 
 report he says: 
 rd "I'lirondak." 
 ry of gold In 
 ts of Indians. 
 (« lu 1S87. was 
 a claim In tlie 
 cek. Carmlch 
 and get pro- 
 lurne<l witli a 
 law (Iiullniis), 
 iiig Ids fliiini. 
 from :I0 to 100 
 guliirly washed 
 proper facll- 
 
 •ospected nia»t- 
 •(»spccle<l well. 
 1 the branches 
 ^oud etnlniM, 
 . .\ few miles 
 it'cii prospected 
 •ar creek. (Jold 
 named Ilnnker 
 loin creeli and 
 
 branches there will probably be two or three hundred claims. The 
 Indians have reached anotlier claim much furtlier up whicli they call 
 Too Mm-li (Jold creek, on wliicli tlie gold is so plentiful tlie miners say 
 in Joke, 'You have to mix gravel Avitli it to sluice it.' Op to date notii- 
 Inp definite has been heanl from tills creek. 
 
 "From all this wo tiiink we have liere a district wiiich will give 
 1000 claims of 400 feet In length each. Now 1000 such claims will 
 re<piire at least 3000 men to work them properly, and as wages foi- 
 working in tlie mines are from $8 to $10 per day, we have every reason 
 to assume tiiat tliis particular territory will in a year or two contain 
 10,000 souls at least, for the news has gone out to the East, and an 
 unprecedented intlux is anticipated next spring. 
 
 "And this is not all, for a large creek called Indian creek .^ilns 
 the Yukon midway between Klondike and Stewart rivers, and ail along 
 this creek good pay dirt may be found. .Ml that stood In the way of 
 working lu'retofore has been the scarcity of iirovislons and tlic ditli- 
 culty of getting them up there. Indian creek is quite a large strc.uii. 
 and it Is probable It will yield .^)00 or 600 claims." 
 
 "Furtlier smith yet lie the i-iuis of several branches of Stewart 
 river, on which some jirosiieeting has been done and g(X)d indications 
 fouiiil, but the want of jirovlslons prevented development. .Now gohl 
 has been found In several of ilie streams .joining Telly river, and also 
 along the IlootalliiMua. In the line of these finds further south are tlie 
 Casslar gold llclds In Ib'itlsh ("obimbla. so the presumption Is that we 
 have In our territory along the easterly bram-hes of the Yukon a gold- 
 bearing belt of Indellnlle width and upward of 300 miles long, exclusive 
 of the Hrllish Columbia pan. (iuarlz of gtMtd «niality is reported In the 
 hills around Hoiianza <rcek. but of this I will be able to sjieaU more 
 fully after my i>ropos«'d survey. 
 
 "It is pretty certain from Information 1 have got from prosjieclors 
 that all or nearly all of the northerly branch of White river Is on our 
 side of tlie line, and cop|(cr Is found on it. I liave also seen a specimen 
 of sliver ore said to have lieen picked up in a creek fiowing Into Hen- 
 nett lake, about 14 miles down It on the eastern side. 
 
 "Wlieii ii was fairly establlslied that Ho)ian>;n creek was rich In 
 gold there was a rush from Forty .Mile. The town was almost deserted. 
 .Men who lia<l been In a <'lironie state of drnnkeiincss for weeks were 
 press»'d into boats as ballast and taken up to stake themselves a claim, 
 and chilniH were staked liy men for tlieir friends who were not In the 
 <'ountry at the time." 
 

 Chapter IV 
 
 General Conditions in the Gold Fields 
 
 Joseph Ladue, the founder of Dawson City, in an Interview pub- 
 lished in the September number of McClure's Magazine, spealis as 
 follows of conditions In that region and of mining methods: 
 
 "Worliiug a claim can go on at all seasons of the year, and part of 
 the process is best in winter, but prospecting Is good only in summer, 
 when the water Is flowing and the ground loose. That is another I'ea- 
 son why it is useless for new hands to go in now. They cannot do any- 
 thing except worli for others till spring. Then they can prospect with 
 water flowing and the ground soft. If they strilio it they can stake 
 out their claim, clear a patch of trees, underbrush, and stones, and 
 work the surface till winter sots in. We quit the 'pan' or 'haud* 
 method then. The 'rocker' Is almost never used except in 'sniping,' 
 which is a liglit surface search on unclaimed laud or on a claim that 
 is not being Avorked for enough to pay expenses or to raise a 'grub- 
 stake.' As soon as the water freezes so that it won't flow in on a 
 man, we begin to dig to the bedrock, sometimes forty feet down. The 
 ground is frozen, too, in Avlnd r, of course, but by •burning' it, as we 
 say, we can soften it eiiougli to let pick and sliovel in. All the dirt la 
 piled on one side, and when spring opens again, releasing the water, 
 we put up our sluices and wasli it all sununer or till we have enough. 
 There has not been iiiiy quartz mining yet on tlie Yukon, but back of 
 the placers, in tlie hills whloh have not been prospected, the original 
 ledges must be holding good things for the capitalist. 
 
 "Life on tiie Klondike is pretty (luiet. Most of the men there are 
 hard workers; but the climate, witli tlie long winter nights, forces us 
 to be Idle a great deal, and miners are miners, of course. And there 
 is very little government. The point Is, however, that such govern- 
 ment as tliere is, is good. I like tlie Canadian ofllcers, the Canadian 
 laws, and the Canucks themselves. The police are strict and etflcient. 
 The captain was a line man, liut lie had more than he could do this 
 last season, when the rusii for the Klondike came. Tliat began in 
 Augtist a year ago, and as the rumor spread up a.ul down the Yukon, 
 the towns and mining camps were deserted by everybody who could 
 get away. Men left the women to come on after tliem. and hurrietl 
 off to the Klondike 1o lay out claims. Circle City was cleaned out. 
 There wasn't room enough on tlie steamer to take all who wanted to 
 get away u> the new diggings, and many a good-iiaying claim was 
 abandoned for the still better ones on the creeks that make the Klon- 
 dike. The captain of the police had only a few men without horses to 
 detail around over the ciaiiiis, and. liesldes lils regular duties, lie had 
 
 .Ji 
 
^ields 
 
 Interview pub- 
 zine, speaks as 
 tliods : 
 
 ear, and part of 
 )nly in summer, 
 ; Is another rea- 
 y cannot do any- 
 n prospect with 
 
 they can stake 
 ind stones, and 
 
 'pan' or 'hand' 
 ept in 'sniping,' 
 on a claim that 
 o raise a 'grub- 
 I't flow in on a 
 foot down. The 
 ruing' it, as we 
 All the dirt is 
 
 sing the water, 
 
 e iiave enough. 
 
 on, but back of 
 
 ed, the original 
 
 men there are 
 ights, forces us 
 rso. And there 
 It such govern- 
 s. tlio Canadian 
 ct and etHcient. 
 could do this 
 Tiiat began in 
 invn the Yukon, 
 )()(iy who could 
 111, and hurriiHl 
 iiH cleaned out. 
 wlio wanted to 
 yiiig claiiii was 
 iiiiikc the Klou- 
 itliout horses to 
 
 (1 lilies, lie Imd 
 
 '"2 
 o 
 
 5 
 
 O 
 T3 
 
 O 
 
 LU 
 
 C 
 
 o 
 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
I 'ijl 
 
 ■11 ■' 
 
 ' t"' i 
 
 
 I 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 to act as register of claims and settle disputes that were brouglit to 
 him. And there were a good many of these. The need of civil of^cers 
 is very great, espcially of a surveyor. 
 
 "The miners on tlie Yulion are shrewd, experienced men, and 
 sometimes they are tricky. I do not lilic the Icind of government they 
 set up for themselves, except in the very lirst stages. It is all by 
 miners' meetings. They begin by being fair, but after a wliile cliques 
 are formed, which run things to suit the men who are in them, or, 
 which is Just as bad, they turn the sessions into fun. Nobody can get 
 justice from a miners' meeting when women are on one side. 
 
 "When Bonanza Creek was opened up some of the claims got 
 mixed up in the rush, and the measurements were all Avrong. Notices 
 were posted on the store doors and on the houses, calling a miners' 
 meeting to settle the boundaries of claims. As was usual in such 
 meetings, a committee was selected to mark off tlio claims all the way 
 up the creek with a tif ty-foot rope. Somehow a rope only forty feet 
 long was sneaked in, and tliat made all the claims short. Tlie space 
 that was left over was grabbed by tlio fellows who wore in tlie game. 
 
 "Sometimes in winter, when tliore is plenty of time, a dispute that 
 is left to the miner.s' meeting grows into a regular trial, witli lawyers 
 (there are several among the miners) engageil for a fee, a committee 
 in place of the judge, and a regular jury. Witnesses are examined, 
 the lawyers make speeches, and tlie trial lasts till nobody who listens 
 to it all, knows what to think. I never liked it. The best way, ac- 
 cording to my experience, for two men who can't agree, to liave a 
 settlement is to choose their own coniniittee, each side picking a rep- 
 resentative and both selecting a third. Then the committee Is fair, 
 and generally the decision is satisfactory. 
 
 "Most of the time wlien the men cannot work is spent in gaiiiliUng. 
 The saloons are kept up in style, wltli mirrors, decorations, and flue, 
 polished, liardwood bars. No cheating is allowed, and none is tried. 
 The saloon-keepers won't have it in their places. Nobiuly goes armed, 
 for it is no use. Some of the men are tlie kind that would take nntur- 
 aliy to shooting, but they don't try It on the Yukmi. Tli(> o •ise 
 that 1 know of was when James Croiiister shot Wiislihurn, auu that 
 didn't amount to anything, because Washburn was a bad man. There 
 was a jury trial, but the venlict was tliat Cronistcr was justified. 
 
 "The only society or organization for any imrixtse besides business 
 in there is the Yukon Pioneers. 1 tloii'l iK'long to that, so I don't know 
 much al)OUt it. It is soniellilng like tlie Callfoinla I'iuneers of '49. 
 They liave a gold badge In the sliajie of a triangle with V. l\ on It and 
 the date '89. To be a niemlur you iiiiist have conic Into the country 
 before 1889. 
 
 "We need a great many things liesldes gold. We have no coin. 
 Gold dust and nuggets [)ass curreiil l)y welglii at about fifteen dollars 
 and fifty cents to the ounce. It is pretty rough recUoiiing, as. for In- 
 stance, wlien a man lirlngs In a nugget mixed wilti t\\i:\ri7.. Then wo 
 take it altogether, gravel and gohl, lor pure golil, and make it up on 
 
34 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 the goods. Carpenters, blacksmiths — all the trades — are wanted, and 
 men who can work at them can make much more than the average 
 miner. They can't make what a lucky miner can, but if they are en- 
 terprising they can make a good stake. Wages are $15 a day, but a 
 man who works for himself can make much more than that. I have 
 gone into the logging business with a mill at Dawson. The spruce 
 trees are thirty inches through, and after rafting them down from 
 Ogilvie and Forty Mile, you get $130 a thousand foot for them sawed 
 into boai'ds. Then there is butchering for the man who will drive 
 sheep over in the summer. It has been done, and is to be done again. 
 But it is useless for me to go on telling all the occupations that would 
 pay high profits. The future of the Northwest country is not so long as 
 that of a country tliat can look forward to other industries than min- 
 ing and the business that depends on mining, but it is longer than the 
 lifetime of any of us. The surface has been pricked in a few places, 
 but 1 do not know that the best has been found, and I am quite sure 
 no one has any idea of the tremendous extent of the placer dir gs, 
 to say notliing of the quartz tliat is sure to follow. Then, all tl <^r 
 
 metals, silver and copper and iron, have been turned up, while . is 
 plentiful. I believe thoroughly in the country. All I have doubt about 
 is tlie character of some of the men Avho are rushing in to get rich by 
 just picking up the gold." 
 
 The conditions in the mines about Dawson in July, 1897, are thus 
 described by Charles Haines, in a letter from that city: 
 
 "The ricli diggings have been comparatively idle during the sum- 
 mer, altliougli the output from Eldorado and Bonanza creeks was enor- 
 mous, and tliere is plenty of gold in sight. There is every prospect of 
 an iumiense output of gold from the district next spring. The total 
 output this season is, as near as I can judge, about $7,000,000, but very 
 little ground has been worked, and the dumps will, like some of the 
 tailings of old California placers, pan out thousrtnds of dollars when 
 worked wifli Improved machinery. Tlie placers are the most puzzling 
 and deceiving I iiave ever seen. Imagine a man working on 'good color' 
 and finding the ground worth only a few dollars per day, and then 
 turning to a waste of mud and moss, with no surface indications, and 
 unearthing a bonanza. That is the situation here, and all over Alaska. 
 
 "The man who comes here to mine does so at the expense of health 
 and happiness, and it is with him a question of making a fortune 
 quickly or taking chances with death. 
 
 "About me are scores of men wiio can welgli their gold by the 
 bufketful, and who value tlieir claims at millions. Four hundred val- 
 uable diggings along the creeks, and every digging is a fabulous mine 
 of gold, yet tliere are weary men who have gone and are returning to 
 Dawson after sonrdiing tlie great country liereabout, and never a nug- 
 get do they show for their toll, having made a long tramp over broken 
 •.rround, and into a country whose natural disadvantages are exceeded 
 by no other place on earth. 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 35 
 
 -are wanted, and 
 than the average 
 ut if they are en- 
 
 $15 a day, but a 
 han that. I have 
 rson. The spruce 
 them down from 
 t for them sawed 
 n who will drive 
 
 to be done again. 
 >atlons that would 
 y is not so long as 
 iustrles than min- 
 is longer than the 
 d in a few places, 
 d I am quite sure 
 18 placer dir gs, 
 rhen, all tl <?r 
 
 1 up, while . is 
 : have doubt about 
 ; In to get rich by 
 
 uly, 1897, are thus 
 
 ty: 
 
 e during the sum- 
 
 a creeljs was enor- 
 
 every prospect of 
 sprinsr. The total 
 !7,000,000, but very 
 
 lllie some of the 
 s of dollars when 
 the most puzzling 
 Ing on 'good color' 
 aer day, and then 
 ?e indications, and 
 id all over Alaslin. 
 
 expense of health 
 maliing a fortune 
 
 their gold by the 
 Four hundred vai- 
 ls a fabulous mine 
 d are returning to 
 and never a nug- 
 trnmp over brolien 
 igcs are exceeded 
 
 i-f 
 
 "This Alaska-Northwest Territory gold field is an odd prize-draw- 
 ing proposition that i can liken to nothing that admits of a better com- 
 parison than a lottery. A number of spots are selected on the creeks 
 and the rivers, and for one year the miner labors. The year closes, 
 the water runs, and the season's output barely pays expenses. Not two 
 miles away from the unfortunate one works a man who has taken 
 from an uninviting bit of earth a sackful of gold. The lucky one did 
 not strike the pocket because of his ability as a miner; chance favored 
 him, and that was all. In short, the miner guesses at it and locates 
 any and everywhere. In 19 cases out of 20 he misses it, and has to 
 wait another year for a new trial. 
 
 "Dawson is merely a collection oi log huts, saloons and a mass of 
 tents, about 600 in number. When the long nights come, and the glass 
 goes down to 65 degrees below zero, there will be intense suffering here, 
 and I shudder to think of the results. 
 
 "Provisions are going to be very scarce, an 1 there is little reason 
 to doubt that the entire town will have to go on short rations during 
 the winter, and that scui-vy will be rampant. 
 
 "The gold that will go down the river for sidpment out this year 
 will amount to about $2,000,000. There is a lot of gold that will remain 
 in camp, for it is used as an equivalent of money, and is legal tender 
 at $17 per ounce. Of the 3000 or 4000 inhabitants, only a couple of hun- 
 dred at the most have made big strikes. There is plenty of work at 
 from $15 to $20 per day, and many men have paid $2.50 per day or less 
 for living, and savetl the balance. 
 
 "Reports of other strikes are constantly received here, and many 
 are authentic, so far as Stewart and Pelly rivers are concerned, but 
 nothing like so rich as the Klondike has been reported. Quite a num- 
 ber of people are preparing to leave here for Juneau in case the steam- 
 ers do not get through with provisions, and the outlook for a good 
 grub supply is uot encouraging 
 
 "In conclusion, the Alaska and Northwest Territory gold fields will 
 be developetl slowly. Ten thousand men may come here, but they will 
 be lost in the vast country when they spread out to prospect. Not more 
 than 500 of them will strike a mine. When they do strike pay gravel, 
 their fortune is made. In years to come, when at the sacrifice of human 
 life and energy, the treasures of this great land are located, the wealth 
 of the Northwest will be something beyond comprehension." 
 
 Milton Misamoro, ^^hose trip down the Yukon is described else- 
 where in this volume, llius speaks of the state of affairs at Dawson 
 upon his arrival in June, 1897: 
 
 "When we reached here we found that the reported mines were not 
 fakes. These are probably tlie richest placer diggings in tlie world. 
 They claim tliat as much as $800 has been taken out of one pan of 
 gravel. All the men working for wages last winter in the mines re- 
 ceived $l.r,0 an liour, and are now receiving $15 a day, with no likeli- 
 hood of wages being reduced. Carpenters employed here receive the 
 same sum, and no wages are less than $10 a day. There are two 
 
f'il*^.>^ 
 
 86 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDOKADO 
 
 stores, with a cousldei-able stock of goods each. There is another Im- 
 meuso store in course of construction. There is plenty of all kinds of 
 provisions here now, with tiie exception of bacon and dried fruit. All 
 bacon brought in over the trnil brings 50 cents a pound very readily. 
 Flour is cheap, selliuf nt $24 a barrel. Dry granulated sugar brings 30 
 cents, brown sugar 25 cents, d/ied apples 25 cents, beans 13 cents, bak 
 ing powder $1.50 a pound, butter $1.50 n roll. Hair cutting costs $1.00 
 and sliaving 50 cents; common boarding house meals are $1.00, whisky 
 50 cents a drink, cigars 50 cents. There are more saloons tlian any 
 other kinds of business. There Is one dance house with four or five 
 girls, and more coming. There are a dozen or more faro tables run- 
 ning, wlilch recognize no other limit tlian tlie roof, Avhlch is 16 feet, 
 and some of the higli rollers nearly play the limit. There are numer- 
 ous businesses repr(>seiited liere. su<'li as doctoi's, vntolunaivers, brok- 
 ers, laundry, tinner, l)lacksmitli, etc. Nearly ail luisinoss is being done 
 in tents, framed wltli timbers. Tiiere is a small mill hero, but "e out- 
 put is nothing compared witli tiie demand for lumber. r-und)er is 
 Silling at $150 a Diousand and logs $4r) a tJioiisand. with such a scarcity 
 ftf the latter that the mill cannot kee]) running nil the time. 
 
 "The cltv is locatcHl on the Yukon, (me-half mile from the niuutii of 
 the Klondike The Klondlk(> is aititut tlie size of tiie riackainas river, 
 and tlie Yukon is fully a mile wide here, 'i'lie mines are wonderfully 
 licli. On Eldorado creek they took •'lom a prospect hole 4 by 7 feet 
 $3100. No. 32 got from four Ituekels of grr. el $3200. tills quantity 
 being aliont 40 pans, making II aliout <30 to tlie jiaii. No. "'* took out 
 of their siulie-ltox 100 iiounds of gold in six hours, two nieii ,-nly being 
 emiiloyed In tiie shoveling. .Many oliiers are said to be doing .:• well. 
 Tlie:.,' (Mree mines are on the Eldorado creek r.JMtnt 20 miles from Haw- 
 son <'ily. ICIdorailo is n Iraiieh lliat (iiipties Into the lt(in..nza .which 
 latter empties Into tlie Klondike. All Hie mines are on lint, Imggy 
 ground, and ean.ioi lie worked siii ■•essfiilly while Hie weather is warm, 
 as Uie streams are high and niucli drainage water runs Into them. 
 Tlu-re are few Hunimer mines here now, and they are doing Utile, as 
 there Is not enough water to run their sluices now. The nearest mines 
 to tills place are live or si.\ miles distant, and no one seems to know 
 how ninny ehiims ''uve Ihkmi staked oul. Ev«>ry bit of ground for 35 or 
 40 miles on the Klondike Is claimed, most of wlileli will be worked this 
 wiiiler. It Is llie geiiei'iil opinion here ilial there will lie plenty of work 
 for everyliody, and some nre of the opinion that some of the mines 
 will pay as high as $20 befoi,' the winter Is over. 
 
 "It Is necessiiiy thai wages slionid be high In some of llieni, as 
 food is high. 4 Ml Kidoriido creek at the nearest point flour Is worth $20 
 a sack, blow n simur iKi ceiitw, beiins 4(1 cents, etc. The '''ites for pack- 
 ing from Dawson City are about $1.50 a hundred for eiuli mile of dls- 
 tnnce. The nioutli of Eldorado creek Is 10 miles distant, nniklng freight 
 $25 to ihat point, and to the em! of the trail $30, which Is as far as 
 '<N>ds can lie packed now. At present liorseM are iinihI some, a good 
 horse being capable of carrying 250 pounds. In winter dogs and 
 
lere Is another Ini- 
 iity of all kinds of 
 1(1 (liietl fruit. All 
 ound very readily, 
 ed sujiar brinps 30 
 eaiis 13 cents, bale 
 cutting costs $1.00 
 s are $1.00, wliisky 
 
 saloous tiian any 
 ■ with four or five 
 •0 faro tahlos run- 
 , Avliicli is 16 feet. 
 
 There are uuuicr- 
 'atchninKcrM, hrok- 
 iiioss is beiuf; dop.e 
 I hero, but ' e out- 
 n\lK>r. liUniber is 
 ith suoli 11 scarcity 
 le time. 
 
 from tlie niouth of 
 e Clackaiiins river, 
 I's are wondiM'fully 
 't hole 4 by 7 feet 
 5200, tills quantity 
 1. No. "'* took out 
 wo meii .,nly beinn 
 ) be (loiiiK .!• nell. 
 10 luilt's from I>a\v- 
 le lloii.iUza .wlilcli 
 are on Mat. bojrtfy 
 > weatlier is warm, 
 •r runs li>)(> tlu'in. 
 lire doiii^ lillle, as 
 
 'I'lie nearest mines 
 me seems to Uiiitw 
 
 »r niduiid for Hfi or 
 vlll l)e worked tills 
 
 lie plenty (if Willi; 
 (ome of the mines 
 
 some III' tliem, IIS 
 t lluiii' Is wiirtli $20 
 'lie ••'lies for piiek- 
 r eiMli mile (if ills- 
 int. ninkiiiK frelKiit 
 \\ lileli is as I'tir IIS 
 used some, a Kood 
 
 winter do^s aud 
 
 Skaguay as Seen from the Steaniei 
 
iii 
 
 ♦^ 
 
 »'> 
 
 IP 
 
 «»***fr- 
 
 1 k* 
 
 I 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDOIIADO 
 
 37 
 
 %i 
 
 sledges nre used. It will be at least two and one-half months before 
 there Is much dciunnd for labor, and It is no time to prospect, as the 
 large rivers are all high. 
 
 "It lias been very warm ever since 1 slrudc tlie Yulcon, and mny 
 get much warmer yet during the coming montli. .Tust as soon as the 
 sun goes down it begins to freeze, forming quite a scum of ice over 
 pools during the time tiiat the sun is below tiie liorizon. We have net 
 had any niglit for llie last month, nor won't have for the same time 
 to come. The mosiiultos are very bad, aitliough tliere are less of them 
 here in town tlian on tlie Hats. It seems strange tliat wliere the sun 
 shines hot so continuously the ground siiould remain frozen, but It 
 is tlie case. Here in Dawson the ground is frozen solidly to witiiln six 
 Indies of the surface." 
 
 The conditions of life along the Yulvou are thus described by W. 
 W. Caldwell ,of Itochester, Mo., who came out of the country this year 
 witli a large quaiHity of gold dtist after two years of iiard experience. 
 He owns an Intcresi in tiiive valuable claims on the Klondike. He 
 says: 
 
 "1 remember the lime in I»awson City wlien it was a common sight 
 to see bottles, tin cans, luickets and every avnilalile vessel, wood or 
 metal, standing about on sliflvcs, tables, in «<>i lu-rs. ev»>ry\\ here, in 
 <»l)en slglit, full of gold, thousands upon t imls of dollars* worth in 
 
 every sliack and store. .Nobody ever thoukoi i>i' Inslng any of It or hav- 
 ing any of it stolen. f«>r there is an uinvrltten iiiiii' is \i\\\ lliat is more 
 potent than any on your stattites. Ne.M spring, li-.^- vcr, wlien tin- 
 big crowd gels in there, they'll not leave it He arouuii sn loosel 
 tliougli It would be folly for any crook to attempt to g<i away witli 
 anyliodys gold, foi' be could never get out of the country with It, and 
 of course when cauglit his trial and execution would be short md 
 certain. 
 
 "I can't Iniagliie what all the people who intend to go up ne\' vear 
 Intend to do, for all the claims on tlic Klondike, Eldorado and Hotuiir/.a 
 nre taken, and imless they work for otliers or buy claims I don't i- 
 anything for them to do. exicpt to strike otit In new direcllon^ u" ' 
 proMpccI for otiier gold beds. If iiiaii.x will do lliis, nnd llicre will c 
 nothing else for liiciii to do. It will tend to develop many new fields, 
 and the ones who will be nearest lln' new discoveries will be the 
 foi'tiimile oiieH lor the time being, and so on it will go for years, many 
 making failures of It and a few striking It rich. I nin afraid tliere are 
 too mail.', men going In there pliyslealiy uiiipialllled for the work, more 
 than lor the severity of the winter. TlieHi' will drop out by the liiin- 
 driHls. either dying there or If iilile will get baek to <ivll|-/.ation. My 
 ndvlee would be to (hose luivliiit the Klondike fever to hold a sort of 
 self coiiiiiiiinloii, and lliid out If they are willing to undergo the soil 
 tilde, the dnrkneNN, eoarse food and hard iiinnual work iiltendliig a 
 winter's diggings on a claim. It iiieaiiM not only urit, but patience of 
 the heroic order. Iiir the oiids are always against yon ll> oiigh It all. 
 In NUniiiu'r, after locating your claim, you have to llgiue on llie aniouiil 
 
If •'TP'sat 
 
 I 
 
 II 
 
 38 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDOKADO 
 
 of work you are going to do and ninuber of men you propose to employ, 
 and then calouIait» on tlio number of cords of wood you will need dur- 
 ing the tivo months' digging. All this wood must be cut In the sum- 
 mer and taken to your claim, handy for ready use. In other words, it 
 is hard work from one end of the year to the other, and at the end you 
 may have haidly enough to pay for your grub. 
 
 "The climate Is not ho severe as people Imagine. It is a dry, clear, 
 bracing, licallliy fold tliut gives one a ravenous appetite and fits a 
 man to do tlie work of two ordinary men in a more temperate climate. 
 Ten hours Is the regulation day's work, and three square meals, and 
 if a man is anyways regular and cooks his foo<l the danger from 
 scurvy is small. There liave been but few cases of scurvy, and these 
 among men who were too lazy to cook their food and were generally 
 careless about themselves. 
 
 "During tlic winter months there are only from two to four hours 
 of twilight, it being liglit enough to see, but not to read by. Candles 
 are used all the time, and sometimes have to be used in the middle 
 of the day to eat your dinner by. The snowfall is not heavy — not near 
 so heavy as in Montiina — nor are there many storms. The cold, how- 
 ever, is bitter, and the mercury goes down pretty low. 
 
 "All provisions liavo (o be cached on a high platform built on posts, 
 sonieeiglit or ten feet from tlie ground, in order to protect them from 
 dogs, wolves and bears. In liie morning tli<; day's provisions are taken 
 ont l)y means of n ladder, and the bacon or meat and other stuff placed 
 near tlie lire, wliero it tliaws." 
 
 Milton Misamore, of Portlnnd, who has Just returned from the 
 Yukon country, thus speaks of condiflons as they exist there: 
 
 "A man to liave even a reasonably complete outfit must not Hgurt' 
 on less than 100 ])ounils of eat.ibles for each montii of Ids contemplated 
 stay. Now, you woulii say tli t 1200 poiuuls of provisions would be a 
 year's su|)iily; yet It would imi he enough If you expected to slay a 
 year, liecause If you were to stay so long, you could not get away for a 
 nunduM' of months longer. Thus, If you leave here ne.xt spring and 
 remain In the Alaskan Interior tnitll the following winter, you could 
 not get away from there tlxii until the following si)rlng, by whlcii 
 time your supply of provisions wo\dd be exhausttHl. and you woidd 
 have nothing to get out with tinless you buy more there. So 1200 
 pounds Is less than you need, if you expet-t to slay over a winter, and 
 nu>re than yoti tie( d If you expect to return the same season. Hesldes 
 this weight of food alone y«»u must llguie upon several linndred pounds 
 of tools and other supplies, and In this c luiectlon I want to speak of 
 weapons. TIds little pocket kidfe Im nil the weajion I have carried or 
 had any use for. I have been ^eadln^• ni Interview with a yoiifh who 
 lately came out of the Vid<on country, and he Is ipioled as saying that 
 a man can shoot all the game he wants to there. Now. I have traveled 
 over that region about as much as a man riudd do in the tlni<' I had, 
 and tht'only game I saw In the Yukon country was a solitary porcu 
 pine. V(ni tiin't take time to hunt gnnu' If you go to hunt iioU\, and 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 89 
 
 i-opose to employ, 
 911 win need dui- 
 cut in the suni- 
 n other words, it 
 id at the end you 
 
 It is a dry, clear, 
 •petite and fits a 
 einperate climate, 
 quare meals, and 
 the danger from 
 scurvy, and these 
 id were generally 
 
 two to four hours 
 read by. Candles 
 Bed in the middle 
 it heavy— not near 
 s. The cold, how- 
 
 r 
 
 orm built on posts. 
 
 protect them from 
 
 •ovlsions are taltcn 
 
 other stuff placed 
 
 eturned from the 
 
 xlst there; 
 
 fit must not ligurc 
 
 Ills contemplated 
 islons woidd be a 
 X pec ted to stay a 
 lilt get Hway for a 
 
 next spring niid 
 winter, you could 
 
 Hpring. by wlilch 
 (1. and you would 
 
 re iliere, 
 
 So 1200 
 
 over a winter, and 
 season. licsldt'H 
 •al liuiidred poimtln 
 
 want to speaU of 
 I have carried ov 
 
 with a youth wlio 
 >tiMl as saying that 
 iw. I have traveled 
 
 in the tliiii- I had, 
 iH a solitary punti- 
 , to hunt gold, and 
 
 you would belter pack an extra pick or sliovel than a shooting Iron. 
 Nothing stems more absurd to the old prospectors in tiiere than the 
 arrival «tf tenderfeet loaded down with belts full of jilstols. 
 
 "Now. I have endeavored to make the niont careful Inquiries of 
 others who have made the trip, and, as a result of this, together with 
 what 1 personally olmerved, I am led to the eonservatlve estimate of 
 an average loss of 25 per cent, of th«< outtlis taken In, And In that 
 country thoso who have most ninsi part with at least a little to those 
 who have lost. I'or example, a party of six that went down tht> rnplds 
 
f 
 
 40 
 
 ALASKA. THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 i 
 
 jit the same time that I did lost their boat and entire outtit, by bump- 
 ing against a rock. With my llailted outtit, I could look after but two 
 of them, which 1 was glad to do, as far as Dawson, and even then the 
 latch string was out until they were able to do for themselves. Others 
 who came along liolped tiie rest of the party. I understand the prac- 
 tice is somewhat ditfercnt witli some of those who have gone In since 
 tlie big rush began, but a man's meanness in that country does not 
 easily escape liim. The moaner lie is tlie sooner he is likely to be sorry 
 for it. By tlie way. now, you know, or, that is, since the stores closed 
 up there, the miners' commltlee looks after every pound of food that 
 enters the region. They see tliat the man wlio brings it is left enough 
 to last lilm through, but the rest is taken from lilm (tliough he is paid 
 the best i)rice for it) and put Into the common stock. The same will 
 lie done with such provisions as get up the river on tlie steamers. The 
 government by miners is better In tliat region, I Itelieve, tlian that of 
 llie provincial police. Tlie latter may arrest a man for stealing an- 
 other's grub, which is equivalent to murder in starvation times, and the 
 pcllce shut lilm in the guard house, where lie is well fed. The commit- 
 tee would do better than that." 
 
 "Don't think of taking furs. You don't need tlieni. They are 
 heavy and otlierwlse cumbersome, and one sweats under them as 
 under rubber garments. I have talked with scores of Yukoners, many 
 of whom had spent many winters In the country, and all agree that one 
 should (ln>ss so as to allow of as much freedom of iii(*vement as possi- 
 ble, coiiipallble with warmth. These men wear two suits of the 
 heaviest underwear, and over tills overalls of heavy drilling, and a 
 cape or hooded Juniper of the same material, called a 'parka.' A 
 woolen or other warm cap Is worn on the head, and over this In the 
 coldest weather the hood of the parka Is drawn. The close-woven tex- 
 tiiieof the drilling shields the wind from tlM> llgure. and the undercloth- 
 ing keeps the body warm. The drilling Is cheap, and weais well. No 
 coal Is worn witli this, the working dress of the miner. No leather 
 or rubber footwear is worn. It cramps the feet and It Is extremely 
 essential that the extremities have the gicntcsl freedom of circulation. 
 Therefore. Yukoners universally wear winter moccasins, called 'muck- 
 lucks,' maile gcneniliy by the Indians. They are worn much too 
 large for the feet, so as to peiiiilt the wearing of at least two pairs 
 of heavy socks ami a piece <»f woolen doth over the Hoeks. Kor sum- 
 mer traveling over the wet, swampy <oniilry, where an ordinary pair 
 of boots would lie soakctl through In no time. th)>y wear 'water muck- 
 lucks.' For working In the sluices they wear. wln>n they can get them, 
 high-grade rubber bools, with rubber soles, I took a pair of them tip 
 tliere .wore them nearly out, and then sohl tin in for |2 more than they 
 cost me. 
 
 "Tlie climate Is not espt>clally trying. If one takes care of one's 
 self, except 111 siicli places as Dawson City, which Is built right on the 
 clear lee of a fro/.cn swamp. There Is no drainage In such a place, and 
 (he refuse of the canijm slays right In (he iiiohh and inml of the surface. 
 
■m 
 
 outfit, by bump- 
 )ok after but two 
 ind even then the 
 jmselves. Others 
 erstand the pvac- 
 ave gone in since 
 country does not 
 liUcly to be sorry 
 
 the stores closed 
 )und of food that 
 ? it is left enough 
 though he Is paid 
 i. The same will 
 hi' stoaniors. The 
 ieve, llian that of 
 1 for stealing an- 
 ion times, and the 
 fed. The oommit- 
 
 them. They are 
 s luulur them as 
 f Yulioners, many 
 all agree that one 
 Kivcinont as possi- 
 two suits of the 
 'y drilling, and a 
 'd a 'parka.' A 
 I uviM' tills In the 
 (•h)He-wovtMi tox- 
 nd tiic undercloth- 
 1 wi'iirs well. No 
 incr. No leather 
 id it Is extremely 
 lUi of eirculallou. 
 Ins. called 'muck- 
 worn mucli too 
 t least two pairs 
 socks. For Hum- 
 an ()i'*lliiary palr 
 ciir 'water muck- 
 liey can gel them, 
 1 pair of them up 
 i'2 more than they 
 
 Ues care of one's 
 Imllt right on the 
 siK'li a place, and 
 
 iiid of the HJirface. 
 
 U 
 
 a 
 
 u 
 
 B 
 
 rt 
 U 
 
 t> 
 
 JZ 
 
 B 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 n 
 
 -1 
 
•■'.■'f 
 ■',* 
 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEAV ELDOKADO 
 
 41 
 
 Consequently there Is much typhoid. I know no better remedy for it or 
 rnther preventative, than to swallow a good dose of quinine and whis- 
 ky upon the first symptoms of Its presence in one's self." 
 
 In regard to his success in packing In his outfit of 900 pounds 
 alone, while others failed, ho says: 
 
 "It is not that I am of more than average strength, or endurance. 
 I was simply careful not to overtax myself. Why, I used to see great, 
 stout, luisky fellows passing me with their 100 to 175 pounds on their 
 backs and smiling at my little pack of 50 pounds, which I dropped at 
 tlie end of a few hxmdred yards; then I went back for more. Some of 
 them would walk tliree or four miles or more with those heavy weights 
 and only let go when they could carry no longer. Then the long walk 
 back would tire them almost as much. My experience in packing lias 
 tauglit me the value of stopping before exhaustion. Tiius, by carry- 
 ing a light weight a sliort distance, one Is able to recover or rest on 
 the short return walk, and I say that, if one will work one's entire 
 outfit a short distance each day, witliout allowing himself to overdo, 
 he will make much faster progress in tlie long run tlmn a far stronger 
 man wlio strives to pack the heaviest weiglit the greatest distance, and 
 so scatters his outfit all along the trail, where he cannot look after it. 
 I saw men, great, strong fellows, wlio. unlike me, had nil their llve» 
 been used to iuird outdoor work, yet wlien they liad got as far as the 
 foot of tlie pass they would sit down and weep witli discouragement, 
 having so overtaxed their strengtli on the (>asy stretches they had none 
 left for tlie hardest part of the journey. 1 tell you, there is nothing in 
 it when a man works so liard one day that he must lay off four to 
 recuperate." 
 
 .Tnnies .McMalion. of Tncnmn. thus speaks of his experience In the 
 Klondike last wlntt'r. on Adams creek: 
 
 "Four men of us worke<l nearly four months during the winter 
 tnUiiig gravel from the creek bed. We made an excavation seventy- 
 two feet long, sixty-one feet wide and sixteen feet de(»p. reaching Iied- 
 roc'k. Wlien tlie creek thawed we washed the gravel in sluice boxes 
 In three or four weeks. My share of the clean-up was »i65.000. In the 
 winter we picke<1 up nuggets on tlie dump ranging In value from 50 
 cents to $.')00, aiuountliig to |1,500. The goM-benrlng gravel lies on the 
 <'reek bottom, and is reached by sinking a hole through the ice In the 
 river, which freezes solid. Then tires ar(> built to tliaw the earth and 
 ♦irlfi work done to I'eacli the liciiest giiivcl. I'or nine days we were 
 unable to leave our cabins Iumihisc nf llu> cold. Tli(> thermometer was 
 75 degrees below zero. It Is no Inn ll\ in;^' in smli ji coiinlr.v. 1 li!i\i> a. 
 c'laiin on Hunker creek, tweiily-tlve miles from wliere the stream emp- 
 ties into the Klondike. 1 have two men working there, and imy them 
 $15 a (lay. The gravel .vields froin 2(» cents to $!•.()() to tlie pan. 1 have 
 a t'laini on Indian creek, tliat yields rroni !U) ccnls to $5.00 to tlie pan." 
 
 I-'roni tlu' reports of returning iiilin>rs the condition of Oawson City 
 early the past summer Is sumniarlzed as follows: 
 
Ifff 
 
 Wr^rw^semmmmm 
 
 42 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 Dawson Is situated ou the north side of the junction of the Klon- 
 dike and Yukon rivers, right at the angle. The Yukon is 600 yards 
 wide at this point and the Klondike about the same. Across the Klon- 
 dike river there Is a little Indian village called Louse Town, which is 
 known on the map as Klondike. The Indians are of the tribe of Gems 
 de Fou, or Foolish people. 
 
 There are about seventy-five women at Dawson, some wives of 
 miners, some in the dance hall kept by Harry Ash. The women get 
 a percentage of the receipts for dancing with the miners. Frequently 
 when the miners feel flush, they give the women nuggets. 
 
 One of the bars there cost $760 in San Francisco. It belongs to 
 Leach & Ashby. Joseph Cooper has a bar, bought in San I'rancisco 
 last spring wlilch cost about the same, %7-o. It is a fine thing, with 
 mirrors and everything. 
 
 There are ten saloons and three restaurants. One restaurant be- 
 longs to a barber, one to an Italian and one to r.n iron monger. They 
 charge $1.50 for a meal, which consists of bacon, beans, brpad, coffee, 
 a piece of cheese and dried fruit. The restaurants are well patron- 
 ized. They sell everything they can rake or scrape. 
 
 The currency there is mostly gold dust and paying is done by 
 weight. Each establishment has its scales. The man who makes a 
 purchase throws his sack of dust over the counter and the keeper of 
 the store weights it out. The basis is $17 to one ounce. 
 
 T^^o of the transportation companies keep general stores. This 
 summer flour was $12 a hundred jwunds; sugar 20 to 25 cents — 20 cents 
 for brown and 25 cents for granulated; rice is 20 cents a pound, oat- 
 meal 25 cents; condensed milk is 60 cents a can, butter is $1.50 a roll, 
 beans are 12% cents, salt is 15 cents, dried fruit 25 to 30 cents; apricots 
 are 35 cents a pound; tobacco sells for $1.50 a pound — chewing and 
 fancy brands for smoking; plug cut is $2.00 a pound, cigars wholesale 
 there for $90.00 per 1000. Blankets run all the way — for a good blan- 
 ket whicli a white uiau would use— from $16.00 to $30.00 a pair. Hud- 
 son Bay blankt'ls sell for $30.00, whicli would be got for about $4.00 in 
 England. A good linen sliht will cost $5.00, a suit of underwear about 
 $10.00. canvas overalls from $2.00 (o $2.50, l)oo(s from $10.00 to $12.00. 
 The common stogy shoes are wortli $5.00 to $7.50. A suit of cloths 
 brings $30,000 to $50.00. TlH>re are no tailors tliere yet. Those clothes 
 are ctistom made winter tlotlu's, tlie same as they keep lu the cities. 
 They are largely reinnnnls of clothing dealers' old stock. There are a 
 number of sewing machines in tlie c(nintry. 
 
 There are batlis in Dawson. The bath li(»useH are made out of 
 logs. There is an aicli built of rocU. and tills arch is flred until the 
 rock Is hot; tli«>n llie Are Is put out and a barrel of cold water is thrown 
 on tlie rock until the house Is IIIIcmI full of steam. You can then get 
 uj) on a shelf or lie on the floor and get any temperature ytni want. It 
 Is a g(K)d sweat bath, ami is all right too, for cleaning. Tliere are a 
 iinmber of bath tubs, also. 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDOKADO 
 
 48 
 
 Ion of the Klou- 
 on is 600 yards 
 icross the Klon- 
 Town, which is 
 le tribe of Gems 
 
 some wives of 
 The women get 
 
 ers. Frequently 
 
 [ets. 
 
 ). It belongs to 
 
 ti San Francisco 
 line thing, with 
 
 le restaurant be- 
 a monger. They 
 np, bread, coffee, 
 are well patron- 
 
 ying is done by 
 in who makes a 
 nd the keeper of 
 e. 
 
 ■ral stores. This 
 
 15 cents— 20 cents 
 
 Its a pound, oat- 
 
 er is $1.50 a roll, 
 
 30 cents; apricots 
 
 ad — chewing and 
 
 cigars wholesale 
 
 for a good blan- 
 
 .00 a pair. Hud- 
 
 for about $4.00 in 
 
 \ui(lerwoar about 
 
 .1 $10.00 to $12.00. 
 
 A suit of cloths 
 
 [^t. Those clothes 
 
 (M'p in the cities. 
 
 Dfk. There are a 
 
 nic nuide out of 
 Is (Iri'd until the 
 il water la thrown 
 You ciin thou got 
 inv yt)U want. It 
 lug. There are a 
 
 01 
 
 -5 
 a 
 o 
 
 5 
 
 a 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 a 
 s 
 
 03 
 
4i 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 There is a school at Circle City and one is being built in Dawson 
 this year. The ti'ucher in Circle City was an American from Nebraska. 
 
 At Dawson tliere will be a Catholic church built this summer. 
 There will probably be also an English church and a Presbyterian 
 church, too. Bishop Howe, of Boston, has the latter in charge. 
 
 There is a theatrical company at Circle City. The leading actor 
 and manager of it is George Snow. His wife is the leading lady. 
 They gave all sort of plays — "Uncle Tom's Cabin" one night, "Old 
 Kentucky" the next, "Camille" the next, the "Newsboy" the next. It 
 is a repertoire company. They will have a theater in Dawson this 
 winter. 
 
 Several lawyers are there, and two or three physicians. 
 
 The summer opens about May 15. The ice goes down the river, 
 and by June 1 no snow is seen anywhere. The summer lasts till Sep- 
 tember. The dnys lengtlien and shorten there at the rate of seven 
 minutes a day. The longest day there is June 22. On that day they 
 have the sun for about 20 hours — a clear, warm sun. After the win- 
 ter sets in on the first of September, tlie cold comes gradually. In the 
 months of September and October the climate is fine. The month of 
 October there is about the same as November liere; after that every- 
 thing is closed up. The Yukon river usually closes between the 1st 
 and 10th of November. It is not navigable after that time until the 
 next spring. The ice in the rivers fret»zes five and a half feet thick, 
 according to Mv. Ogilvic, who cut holes for measurement once a month 
 during the winter. From that time until June 15 of the next summer 
 the life the men and women lead is about the same as In any mining 
 camp. In the winter time the nights are spent in playing cards. 
 Among the gamblers tlie great game is poker. Among tiie miners the 
 favorites nre whist, pedro, cribbage and checkers. 
 
 Some claims are worked simply by building long sluices along the 
 creek and bringing water to tliem fr(nu above by u:»>ans of a ditch, the 
 dirt being shoveled into the sluice from the sides. Otliers have the 
 dirt slioveled down to tlie sluices from the benches above. These 
 chiims can only be worked in the summer time wliile the water is run- 
 ning. The claims upon which work is done In the winter time are 
 those on the Hats or boggy niarslii's, wliere n shaft hns to be sunlc to 
 get nt tlie rh'li dirt near the bedrock. Tlie ground Is tliiiwed by means 
 of fires kept Viuriilng in the sliiU't, mid the dirt is sent up to the surface 
 in buckets, where it is piled up on the dump. In the summer time this 
 dirt Is run tlirougli !i sluice iiud tlie >;t>ld taken out of it. Thus it will 
 be seen that actual washing i)f gold iroui the dirt can be done only for 
 a short lime each year, iiinl thai it' a man puts in his time in tlie win- 
 ter piling up the pay dirt near his shaft for washing the iit<xt summer, 
 lie may not be alile to niakf a cle.'in up of it all the next suniiner in 
 time to get out of the (oniilry thill year, being thus compelled to re- 
 main another wliit(>r. Tills is also true of one who has a claim re- 
 quiring summer working, for when the mining season Is over it Is too 
 late to go down the river or over the trail to the coast. 
 
built In Dawson 
 I from Nebraska, 
 lit this summer, 
 a Presbyterian 
 1 charge, 
 lie leading actor 
 lie leading lady, 
 one night, "Old 
 )y" the next. It 
 in Dawson this 
 
 ciaus. 
 
 down the river, 
 ler lasts till Sep- 
 le rate of seven 
 n that day they 
 
 After the win- 
 •adually. In the 
 . The month of 
 ifter that every- 
 between the 1st 
 it time until the 
 
 half feet thiclc, 
 nt once a month 
 he next summer 
 IS in any mining 
 1 playing cards. 
 i the miners the 
 
 sluices along the 
 18 of a ditcli, the 
 Others have the 
 s above. These 
 lie water is run- 
 winter time are 
 fis to be sunlc to 
 liawod by means 
 lip to the surface 
 umnier time this 
 
 it. Tims it will 
 be done only for 
 time in tlio wiu- 
 lie next suminor, 
 
 next suminor in 
 (oinpellcd lo ro- 
 
 liiis a cl.'Um re- 
 
 is over It is too 
 
 
 ::-.z~i',i»-' 
 
 "^tk 
 
 
 \., 
 
 "V 
 
 H% 
 
 Indians l^ickini; Over Chilkoot Pass. 
 
"'ifim-mt^ 
 
 t 
 
Chapter V 
 
 Routes to the Yukon Mines 
 
 Of I'qujil iiiiportiuH'i' to tlio st'ltHtioii of ii sutHcicut and proper out- 
 flt is tlio quesiioti of whni roiito shall bo taken to reacli the Interior 
 from the toast, tiiul this sliotild bo docidod l)olo.e (he outlit is pur- 
 i/h:isi'»l, sinoe tlio loute to be followed detonniues iu several important 
 luirticulnrs the nature of the eciiiipnient necessary. 
 
 In the liisi i)liioe it may be said tiiat Dawson City, tiie commercial 
 point of llie Klondllvo rejilon, may be readied from I'ortland by an all- 
 water route by the wny of the month of the Yulvon river, or by water 
 to some point on tlie southern coast of Alasliii. and (hence overland on 
 foot to tlie lieadwattM'8 ot the Yulvon and by Ijoat down (lie river, or 
 by still longer overland trails. Kacb of these routes will be considered 
 separately, tiionnrh it is proper to (luailfy In advance anylliin>r (liat may 
 be >aid, by tite advice (o leave (lie decision of this matter until spring, 
 since new developiuenis and added facilities provided before that time 
 may so radically clianne the prcs»>n( coinlKloiis in regard to some of 
 tile routes as materially to affect tlie decision. Tills is a (piestion that 
 nilnlit well lie detcrinlned after iirrlvinn lii rorthind, btit before pur- 
 chasing an oultit, taldiif; advantatre of (lie very latest inl\>nniition on 
 tiie subject, since there iire rallro.'id and otlier projects on fool (liat 
 have no( yet devclciicd. 
 
 ST. MICll.MOi.H AND YIKDN KOl'TE. 
 
 I'lidcr present conditions, and until a railroad is built from some 
 point on (liecoas( (o coipu-it with steamers on the upper waters of (ho 
 Vulvon, (hceiislesi i'ou(e is by ocean steanuM* to Ht. Mlcliaels, near the 
 nioutli of tlie Yul<oii, and (hence l>y river s("aiiier up (he siream (o 
 Dawson. The dislances by (his rou(e are as follows: 
 
 I'ortland (o St. Michaels 2350 miles 
 
 . St. Mlcliaels (o Circh' City BOO miles 
 
 Circle Clly (o lMir(y Mile 350 miles 
 
 Korty-Mlle to Dawson 60 ni lies 
 
 Tlie s(«'ame:' route (o S(. .Michaels euls aeioss the northeas( corner 
 of the raclllc, as sIio\mi on (he acconipaiiyiiiK mti|), passes (hrouKh the 
 Aleutian archlpehiKo a( DiKch Marluir. rmilaska, and crosseH Kehr- 
 IllK s(>a (o S(. Michaels, wlih Ii Is lot atcd mi an Isliiiid SO miles north 
 of the Vukoii's niouili. Hecause of (he sliallowneHs of tlie wa(er ocean 
 '-teaiiiers ciinnot enter tlie Yukon, and passetiKers and frelKht are 
 iransferred (o liuht diar( river s(eiiiiierM a( Ht. Michaels. 'I'lie chief 
 objecdon (odds rt>u(e is (lie sliortiiesK of the navlKiidoii season on the 
 Yukon, tieint; only alHUit three months each year. DnrliiK (lie odier 
 
46 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 I 
 
 nine months one can get In and out only by one of the overland routes. 
 Ice breaks up in the Yukon botweep May 15 and the first of June, but 
 the inoutli of the river Is often blocked with ice for some time after 
 the river above Is navigable. It la customary for such steamers as are 
 near the mouth of the river to winter at a point about 75 miles up the 
 stream, ^^'hon released from the loe they start up the river, while 
 those frozen in at the head of navigation start down stream. By the 
 time the latter reach the mouth of the river tlie ice is gone, and they 
 can get to St. Michaels, wheie tliey find llie first lot of passengers 
 that liave urived from the south Hint season. By this time it is 
 file first of June, or later. The last boats to go clear up the river 
 must leave St. Mlclinels not much later than the first of Septeml)er, as 
 the river gen«'rally freezes l)et\veen the tenth and twentletli of the 
 montli. This leaves only tliree months of actual travel in or out. 
 
 At present both the .Mnska Commercial Company and the North 
 American Trading and Transportation Company have steamers on the 
 river, and endi lias trading posts at St. Michaels and at vai'ious points 
 In the Interior. The present year tliese Iwiats have been unable to 
 carry in the supplies required for tlie greatly liicrea8e<l population of 
 the mining regions, and upon this fact Is l)as(Hl the prediction of short- 
 ness of provisions and great liiirdship In the mining region i)efore 
 spring. Notliing but an enormous increase in the number of river 
 boats will give the facilities flint will be (lemnndtHl by travel and 
 frelglit seeking this route in 18}>8. II Is very doubtful If tlie provis- 
 ion that will be made will be at all ad(>(|uate to the demand, and this 
 may result In a very high rale cliaigt'd for Inivel by lliis route. There 
 area great many projects on foot lo gel new Nlcniners upon tlio Yukon. 
 Some of them ronlemplate llie sending of miilerlal already prepariMl, 
 lo be put togelher on llie river Itank, while others plan lo take boats 
 already bulll, elUjer lowed In Ihe water or resling on llie decks of 
 ocean vesHt«ls. Wluil of these many cnterprlHes will Hucceecl and wliat 
 will fall It is liiipoNslble to )M'e*llct, but It may safely be said that In 
 one way or aiioiher lln>re will he a large atldlllon to Ihe Yukon river 
 Heel In 1S!)K. yei proliably no! HUlililent lo llie deniandH of travel. 
 
 Hteamers iiavigaling the Yukon iniisl nil llieir own fuel from tbo 
 timber growing along the river. The conipanleH now having boats 
 there liave wood eiii and )>iled up on the luink, but new companies 
 would liave lo cut their own iis they went along. The river Is nav- 
 lgabl»> for ordinary river sleaniers without intich dirtlctilty, except for 
 11)0 miles below the mouth of the roieiipliH*, where It is qtilte shallow, 
 owing to Nedliiieiit deposited from Ihe latter river. Iler(> at tinies the 
 channel Is only four feet In <leplh. The river could |irobnbly bo nar- 
 Igaled to the Lewis and up that Nireani as far as the While IIoi'so 
 rapids, or by the llooinllih|nii river to Luke TcHliii, i\>* Is (diilemplated 
 III the Hlhkeeii ronl«>. I'elly, Stewart. Tahkeeiin, I'orcuplne, TnnaiiH. 
 Ko.Mikiik. .\nlvk, While. Illnli, Hnlinoii and others ar)< also navigable, 
 making In all several tlutusand miles of navigable water on the Yukon 
 
ALASKA. THE NEW ELDOKADO 
 
 47 
 
 overland routes. 
 Irst of June, but 
 some time after 
 
 steamers as arc 
 
 75 miles up the 
 the river, while 
 stream. By the 
 8 gone, ami they 
 ot of passouKers 
 
 IhlH time it la 
 L^ar up the river 
 of September, as 
 twentieth of the 
 }l in or out. 
 y and the North 
 ! stonmers on the 
 at vai'lous points 
 J been unable to 
 sie<l population of 
 •etlictlon of short- 
 i\\t roRlon before 
 number of river 
 m1 by travel ami 
 fnl If the provls- 
 demaiul, and this 
 Ihls route. Tliero 
 < upon thf Ynlion. 
 nlreiidy preparwl, 
 inn to tnlie boats 
 
 on fli<» dcflis of 
 HiU'ceed and what 
 be said that In 
 ) tiic Yiilion river 
 Is of travel. 
 
 i\\ II fuel from tho 
 i>\\ liavliiK liontH 
 
 II m>\v companleR 
 The river In nav- 
 lliulty. except for 
 I JM «pille shallow, 
 Hire at lliiu's the 
 
 probiibly be nav- 
 tlie Willie Horse 
 N Is contemplated 
 orcuplne, Tnnnna. 
 rt> iiIho navlktiible. 
 
 III CI' on the Yukon 
 
 
 Nciir tlic .*<iimiiiil of Wliltc Tass. 
 
 and Its branches, all of which may be rendered nvailnble by the (level- 
 opnient of the country ulthlr. a very few yciirs. 
 
 cHiU'tior .\\i» wiini' PASSES. 
 
 It Is ImpoHMililo to Hcpiirate tlicNc two roeti-s acrcss llie ('oaat 
 motinlnliiH In consldcrlnii tiie cntrnncc of the Yukon country by wny of 
 the upper hikes. TIiIn In the mute tnken by the Ihoiisiindr who ruslunl 
 to tli«> Kotd ticlds III the liilc suinnier of lSi)7. Iloth start from the head 
 of Kyea (Tiii.vu. or Tyn. as It is .iirlously Hpelledt. or Clilleoot. lulut, a 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDOUADO 
 
 branch of I.yun cnual, suiiu' 100 niilos north of Juneau. The head of 
 the ink^t is *'urko<l, the t'hilcoot river flowing Into the west, or Dyea, 
 fork, and the Skaguay river tlowing Into the east, or Skaguay, fork. 
 From tlie former Xlw Chlleoot pass leads across the mountains 27 miles 
 to Lake Linderman, and from the latter the White pass leads also 
 across (lie sumnUt about 4C miles, either to Lake Bennett or Lake 
 Taglsh. 
 
 The resp'jctive merits of Iheso tw() passes have been much dis- 
 puted tlie i»ast summer, owing to the experiences of those who tried to 
 go over lliem. Heretofore tlie Chilcoot pass has been the route used, 
 Indians being employe<l to pack goods over Its steep summit, the price 
 imtil the present season for that service l)eing about 15 cents per 
 pound. An Indian man will carry at one time from 90 in 150 pounds, 
 a squaw from 50 to 75 poun<ls, a boy of 15 years from 40 to 75 pounds, 
 and a dog about 40 pounds. Tlie load is lashed upon the Indian's back, 
 so that the straps go over liis slioulders, while a band is passed under 
 the pack and over the man's head, coming across his forehead. With 
 such a load tliey will triivel tiic rugged tniii. wading swift streams, 
 clambering over rough liouiilcis iiiid sniliiig icy steeps, wliere an inex- 
 perienccHl while man could not go witli a (piarter of tlie weight. Fred- 
 erick Tliurston thus describes tlie trip over tills pass in April. 1893: 
 
 "Every two or tlire(> Iniiidrt'd ,\anls tin- entire party stopped to 
 rest. At one o'clock \vc n-iiclied I lie forks of the river, seven miles 
 from our starting point, and tiic Indians said we would camp for the 
 night, 'I'liey were complciciy exiuiustcd by tlouiulering tlirough the 
 soft snow under their heavy packs. Halt of the next day was spent In 
 wnding through snow from three to hI.\ feet deei», {o the place known 
 as Sheep ciiiiip, uidy live miles. (Mir camp for tlie second night was at 
 the foot of tlie dreaded pass and only 12 miles from the i-oast. In the 
 early morning we started. Looking for a couple of miles up a large 
 gorge, Hanked by precipitous snow covereil uiouiitalns, we <'o»dd see 
 at the suiiimit, tiioiisands of feel above, the little notch known as 
 Chlleoot pass. The IndlaiiH, striiggllng under their heavy loads, 
 stopped for Itreath every few nilniiles. We four white men had the 
 «>\aspei'atliig task of diiiggliig aloiiu; two empty sl«>ds. .\t eleven 
 o'c'lock we had reached the fiMit of the ascent. From here to the sum- 
 mit Is only luiir II mile, hut the angle of the slope is about 45 degrees. 
 As soon IIS the liidlans learned that the erust of the snow was hai'd 
 and iiiiyieldliig. they divided the piieks, leaving nearly half their loads 
 nt the foot of the ascent for n second trip. One of the men, producing 
 a strong plaited line of niwhliles. about 100 feet long, passed it under 
 every iiiiin's liell. lushing the nine of iim together, 10 feet apart. The 
 man at the head of the line earrl*>d ii natchet, and as we advan«-ed, <>ut 
 fiHilholds In the lee iind liai'd ptieUed snow, Tlii> slope being too steep 
 for direct iiNeeiit, we resorted to "/.lg/,iigglng,' and our progreHS was 
 painfully slow, as we had to cut every step. Tluri* was no opportunity 
 to sit down or rest, and we kept pegging iiway until nt last we stood on 
 the I'rest of snow and Ice that divides the valley of the Yukon from thw 
 
 ♦ 
 
u. The head of 
 <: west, or Dyea, 
 • Skaguay, fork, 
 luutains 27 miles 
 pass leads also 
 Jeunett or Lake 
 
 been much dls- 
 ose who tried to 
 tlio route used, 
 iimmit, the price 
 ut 15 cents per 
 
 to 150 pounds, 
 40 to 75 pounds, 
 le Indian's back, 
 
 is passed under 
 forehead. With 
 X swift streams, 
 , wlicre an inex- 
 e wcIkIi'. Fred- 
 
 1 April, 1893: 
 
 >ar(y stopped to 
 
 rer, seven miles 
 
 Id camp for the 
 
 \un (lu-oujrli the 
 
 lay was sik>iiI In 
 
 I he )tiace knowu 
 
 lud nljflit was at 
 
 le <-(iast. In tlie 
 
 uiU's up a larKe 
 
 s, we could see 
 
 iiotcli knowu as 
 
 r heavy loads, 
 
 te men liad tlie 
 
 I'ds. \\ eievcn 
 
 liere to llie sum- 
 
 lioiil 45 (ieitrees, 
 
 Miiow was liard 
 
 liall' tlieir loads 
 
 men, pmducinK 
 
 pasHfd It under 
 
 feel apart. The 
 
 re advanced, cut 
 
 lii'lnjr loo Mlecp 
 
 ir pronrcMs was 
 
 H no opportunity 
 
 last we stood on 
 
 Yukon rroni titu 
 
 a 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 u 
 
 In 
 It 
 
 ■u 
 
 -n 
 
 X! 
 C 
 
 8 
 
 in 
 
1 1; 
 
 irn 
 
 I 
 
 91 
 
 1 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 49 
 
 sea. tlirce hours iifter lasliing ourselves together. On the summit we 
 threw ourselves down upon the snow and remained motionless for half 
 an hour. Then the Indians went back after the remainder of the 
 paolvs, returning in tAvo hours. 
 
 "The use of the two sleds that linil been brouglit along empty was 
 now ai>parent, and on them was loaded and securely strapped down 
 the thousand pounds of stuff the Indians had carried to the summit. 
 Down grade we started on tlie northern side of the range. For the 
 first half mile down the glassy slope it was a wild ride. The sleds, 
 each witli two men in addition to its load of 500 pounds, tlevv down 
 grade witii the speed of an express train. It was well they were of oak 
 and tile runners shod with steel, for sometimes tliey would clear the 
 snow for 30 feet at u bound. The sled ahead of the one I was on 
 struclc an uneven ))lace and went over. Its lashings broke, and for a 
 few brh'f seccmds tlie air was tilled witli roils of blankets, sides of 
 bacon, mining tools and earnest, soulful profanity. Our sled, coming 
 on to a gentler slope, and softer snow, was evenniaiiy stopped without 
 tlj.xaster. In half an hour the otlier sled was reloaded and .|oine<l us. 
 We were now out of the g«n'ge «»n a sm-t of bench, or tiat, covered 
 witli soft snow. We got into the liarness and. pushing and pulling, 
 struggleil on in tlie liop«' of reaclilng Lake Linderman before night. 
 When night came the air was full of tiying snow, and we were so 
 weakened by iiunger that we decided to abandon tlic sleds until the 
 next day. Taking eacli a roll of blankets we struck down a ravine 
 whi<'h we correctly .i\iilged was a tributary of Lake Linderman." 
 
 riiat iilglit tliey camited in the snow, wltli nothing to eat. went 
 bat k lor their sleds the lU'xt day and were all day getting them down 
 to the camping place, where they had their llrst meal for 37 hours. 
 Tlic next day. by great exertion, tiiey dragge<l both sleds to the bank 
 i<{ Lake Linderman. tlie liea«l of tiie Yukon system of lakes and rivers. 
 Hn the fro7i4>n surface of tiie lakes they made good progress, covering 
 its entire length and the short portage to Lake Hennett. 20 miles, hi 
 one day. The next day. rigging up nails from t«'nt files, they propelled 
 their sleds by wind 20 miles aeross Lake Hennett, and then dragge<l 
 them along the bank of the small stream <-onnectlng it with Lake 
 .N'ares. Two days of hard work took I hem over Lake Taglsh and to 
 the shore of Lake .Marsh, where, the snow becoming soft and tlie ice 
 beginning to break up. they went Into camp and built a boat from lum- 
 ber whip sawed out of ilie surrounding trees, in which they made the 
 remainder of the Journey down the lakes and river to ForlyMlle, their 
 destination, 
 
 III eoiislderlng the above aecoiiiil of •inHsliig liie r|illl<<iui pass. It 
 must not be forgotten that the journey was made at the most favora- 
 ble time of the year The crossing in summer, when the rains protluee 
 deep mud. ili< roughness of the trail Is ex|iosed by disappearance of 
 the snow and sl«><ls euniiot he used Cor «lrawing the supplies, Is a far 
 more dlltlcult task. It Is this which rendered It st. dlfllcnlt for the thou 
 sandK who ruslu'd to Iiyea to «:et ovi-r the summit with ilieir tons of 
 
If-' "Trf* 
 
 RH 
 
 
 50 
 
 ALASKA, tub: XKW ELDORADO 
 
 freight. Much move packing was necessary, white men unused to tlie 
 worli could pacli but little, and there were not enough Indians to do the 
 work. The Indians began by charging 17 cents a pound and ended by 
 putting tlie price up to 40 cents. Tliose wiio had but little stult' and 
 could pay the price were taken over. The otliers had to make such 
 shift as tliey could for themselves. Many succeeded in getting over 
 witli a portion only, and still others did not get over at all. In the 
 spring, after tlie fierce storms have ceaseil. tliose remaining and the 
 tiiosuands who will join tliem will be able to get over much more easily 
 and be at tiie lakes by the time the ice breaks up. so that they can go 
 tlowii tlie river. Tliere is a project on foot to build a trnimvay at the 
 summit of tlie pass, to haul goods up tlie steeliest place, and if this is 
 done, it will simplify matters materially. 
 
 As to tile AN'hite jiass, the experience tliere was disastrous. Being 
 altout a tliousaiid feet lower tliaii the ("liilUoot. it was at once supjiostMl 
 tlijit is was easier t(» cross, notwiliistanding the exiterienced Indian 
 packers never use it. Even if it were not. the crowding of the (.'liilkoot 
 |iass and the exactions i>f tiie Indian packiM's were enough to send the 
 <'ro\vd to Skaguay, where, also, freiglit fould be iiiucli more easily and 
 safely hinded from tlif steamer. II wiis soon found tliat the Skaguay 
 trail led across marshes, wliiili were soon rendered impassiible by in- 
 cessant iiilii :iiid coiisinul use, up i,'orges < rewii with rough boulders 
 that a horse could scircely be led over in. ;iloiig steep precipices, 
 wlii'fe a misstep would siMiil horse and (pack to di'stniclion. and up 
 ascents aliiiosi as sleep as ilial of the CliilUoot sunimll. No less than 
 5.000 persons, unorganized and each iii:in VMUking for himself, with 
 more than ii tlioiisiind p:ick animals, crowded the trail iind for a long 
 time couhl make im pidgres>. The man h was corduntyed, but the logs 
 could not be ke|>t in place. Hundreds of aniiMals mired down and 
 were shot or left to dii' as they were. Others f(>ll over precipices. .Men 
 were heartless and iiuel. Some of the more energetic formed a com 
 mitte(>and proceeded to work <tii the irall. Boulders were blasted and 
 the marsh was corduroyed to liett'-r efl'ect. .\s a result of three 
 nionllis of elToft a few hiitidieds of ',lie most active and best equipped 
 HiH'ceeded in celling over with .-ill their outllt. and otiiers by aiiiindoii 
 lug a portion, while the great majority, having niadi> but little progress, 
 reinined as best tliey could to liie new town of Skiigiiay. to .Iiineau, 
 and even further south, either abnidoning the Journey entirely or to 
 wait until spring. 
 
 After an exaiiilniitioii of the Skaguay trull. 1{. II. Stretch, a min- 
 ing engliieer. iliiis repotted upon it late in .\iigust: 
 
 "Skaguay valley was once occupied by a huge glacl«>r. Near the 
 lower end. llie rocks are aiiclcni sedimeiiliiiv or stiatllied deposits, 
 with inniiiiierable dikes anil sirliiucrs of granite asphalt, bill all the 
 upper portloiiH of the valley, and the Hiiinmit of the range, are noihing 
 but a very coarse granlle. witlioul any trace o| ;iiiy siructure. but wiili 
 very strongly marked, nearly horl/.onial. I)eddinn jilaces. t-ut liy nearly 
 vertical sle<lge joints. 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 51 
 
 eu uuused to the 
 Indians to do the 
 nd and ended by 
 It litth^ stuff and 
 !ul to make such 
 1 In getting over 
 er at all. In the 
 eniaining and the 
 much nioro easily 
 that lliey can uo 
 a tramway at the 
 ace. and if tlds is 
 
 disastrous. Being 
 s at once supposed 
 •xiiorienced Indian 
 ing of tlie Chilkoot 
 Miougli to send tlie 
 •li more easily and 
 I that the Skaguay 
 
 impassable by In- 
 ^■ith rough l)oulders 
 ig steep precipices, 
 cstruction. and up 
 unit. No less than 
 : lor lilmsclf, with 
 rail iiiid for a h)ng 
 ii'oycti. Imi tiic logs 
 s iiilrcd down anil 
 
 i'V precipices. .Men 
 ctir fofinctl a com 
 
 ■s were lilasted ami 
 a rcsttlt of three 
 and l>cst etiuippcd 
 
 titlii'is l»y aliiindon- 
 iMit mile progress, 
 
 kaguay. to .luncati. 
 
 nn>y entirely or (o 
 
 U. Stretch, a n\in- 
 
 i> glacier. Near the 
 stralllicd deposits, 
 
 isphall. t'lil i>" ""' 
 i. range, arc noihlnu 
 strnciure. hut «•"' 
 laces, cttt by itearly 
 
 lUrdseye View of Dyeii and ."^iiagtiay and liic I'ass, 
 
 "'riieaeilon of the let' w hicli luriin'il\ piiiiigiied its way <lown the 
 valley, has grniind tia'sc roeks to pdlislicd siiifaics. tlie vertical facfs 
 supporting only a few llcii(>iis, wiille the liorlzotital benches, before the 
 
52 
 
 ALASKA. THE NT^V KLDOllADO 
 
 advent of the gold seekers, were covereil with a thick onrpet of inofss 
 and lichens, which, though with but a very frail hold on the rocks, 
 gave a sure and satisfnctorj footliold. Only In a lew places are there 
 pebbles or boulders, and but few rock slides, but where these do exist. 
 the individual boulders are so large and niaased so irregularly, that 
 travel over them is more dlfliciUt than over the solid unbroken benches. 
 Of earth there is practically none, but in tlic course of ages a black 
 vegetable muck has accumulated in some of the crevices and in pot- 
 holes along the river bottom. Scrubby timber, spruce, birch, and aider. 
 finds a foothold in tlic crevices, the latter diieflj' in the wetter bottoms. 
 and over such material tlie trail finds its way. Distances from SU.i- 
 guay are as foHows: I-Mrsl crossing nf river. IV^ miles; end of road. 
 31/^ miles; Small lake. 5 iuiles; rorcui> creek. 7Vi miles; second cross- 
 ing of riv«'r bridge, ll^^^ ndles; thinl crossing of river bridge. 13Vi 
 miles; fourtli crossing of river bridge, 14% miles; fifth crossing of river, 
 lord. ITVi miles; summit. 19 miles; Meadows. 26 miles; Lake Bennett, 
 42 miles. 
 
 "IMve mih's out. at th«' lake, tlie elevation is 4(>0 feet; the trail 
 quickly ascends to 810 feet; tlien siid<s to 470 at Porcupine creek. In 
 a sliort distance, the elevation is 1400. and the patli zigzags down to the 
 second <'rossing. 100 feet elevation. The fourth ridge is 1400 feet al)ove 
 tlie sea. and tlie trail almost at once goes upward to 2100 feet. A de- 
 scent is tlien made to the ford. 1800 feet liigli, ami tlieii <'omes tlie climb 
 to ilie summit, an elevation «)f 2600 feet. I'rom tliis point to the lakes 
 the trail is not cxtrt'mely difti( iilt." 
 
 Mr. Strelcli says tliere is no danger to linman life in making the 
 trip. 
 
 Oyea trail was reported on about tlie same lime by .Tohii .^. ^filler, 
 a railroad engineer. 
 
 ■■.\ good road." lie says, "extciids for ciglit miles; then it gets 
 miidtly. bill not very bad. I'aik trains of horses make the round trip 
 \i> Sliccp ('aiiip. 14 Miilcs. in ii day. carrying 250 iionnds. From there 
 to I lie loot of till' lilll tlic road is not so good, and here Is wliere the 
 "-ci'kers for (.'old are dela.xcd on tliis trail. I'or about two miles tlie dif- 
 liciiliics to be overcome are ctpiall.v as liad as on the Skagtiay trail, but. 
 liavlng once gotten over the sunimil. the trail is comparatively easy. 
 
 ".\fter talking with reliabh* men. who have nothing at stake and 
 who have been over both trails; after talking with Indians, who know 
 every Inch of the conntiy. and aflei- my own experience on the two 
 trails. I can o)ily come lo one conclusion, and that is. at the present 
 time tlie Dyea trail Is the only practical one. and ll is getting too late 
 to attempt thai now." 
 
 A plain but trntliful account <>f the actual condition of affairs on 
 the two trails during the llilrd week In .Viigiist, at the height of the 
 rush. Is given by S. neiison. of rortlaiid. Me is manager of the Henson 
 Logging t'ompaiiy. and went up to see if ll was |irar-tlcal to employ 
 ''nnie of (lie devices used in lotr^in^ to transport gotnls over the passes. 
 He went over ('hllkooi pass to Lake Llnderman and returnwl by 
 
iri)et of moss 
 on the rocks, 
 ices are there 
 hese do exist, 
 ■egularly. that 
 •okeu benches, 
 ngcs a bhu'k 
 ■s and in i>ot- 
 •ch, and alder, 
 etter bottoms, 
 ces from Ska- 
 end of road. 
 ; second cross- 
 M- bridge. 13V^ 
 •t>ssiug of river. 
 Lake Bennett. 
 
 feet; the trail 
 ipine creek. In 
 nfis down to the 
 
 1400 feet aliove 
 100 feet. A de- 
 comes tlie clind) 
 )int to the hikes 
 
 p in making the 
 
 V .b)lm A. Miller. 
 
 ii's; then it ^ets 
 ;e the round trip 
 ids. From lliere 
 ore is wliere tlie 
 wo miles tiic dlf- 
 Ua;;mi.v trail. Ixi'. 
 nparatively easy, 
 inn 111 stake and 
 idinns, who kimw 
 Iciice on the two 
 is, at the present 
 H KetthiK too late 
 
 •Ion of affairs on 
 tlie heluhl of liie 
 m'r of the Ik'tison 
 •aelieal to emi'loy 
 IH over the passes, 
 and retunuMl by 
 
 <u 
 
 CQ 
 
 o 
 CQ 
 
 OQ 
 
 <v 
 
If I 
 
ALASKA, Tin: NKW KLKOUADO 
 
 63 
 
 White's pass, lie is of the opinion tliat Chillvoot pass, tboujrli steeper, 
 is the most praotital. Tliougli he found a greater numbei" on the 
 Sltaguay trail, the ditticulties were so much greater than on the other 
 they were making poor i)rogress. while on the Chilkoot trail the men 
 were getting along fairly well. He has reported favorably on a tram- 
 way for Chilkoot pass, and one may be put in by the company he rep- 
 resents. He said of tlie two passes: 
 
 "I reached Sheep Camp, the main slopping place on this side of 
 the summit of the Chilkoot pass, easily, as 1 had no burden. I found 
 probably 1100 persons and 45 horses on the trail between the summit 
 and Dyea. I walked across the trail from salt water to Lake Linder- 
 lunu. a distance estimated to be 27 miles, in 14 hours. The trail is 
 extremely rougli, and not passable for liorscs for a distance of SVg 
 miles on the Dyea side of tlie summit. The animals are made to carry 
 packs to the Ijcginning of this point, where the loads are taken off 
 and carried over by luinuui beings, the horses being driven over loose. 
 The packs are rei)laced when the summit is passed and carried by the 
 liorses until Lake Underman is readied. Between the Yukon side 
 of the summit and Lake Linderman there were about 75 persons, and 
 at Lake Linderman tliere were 125 campers. These latter were maii- 
 Ing tlieir l)oats and water craft for the trip down tlie lakes and river. 
 Altliougli limber seems scarce, tiiere is sutiicient to supply the demand 
 for Ixiat lumber. Tlie largest tree I saw was eight inches in diameter 
 at tile butt. All here were whii)sawliig. and it reciuired a good strong 
 man .•'l;t!V.: ihn ;■ d.-iys to get his out!it ready for the voyage. I went to 
 L.iUe Bennett and t'oiind a sin':!! sawmill oiierating there. Tlie owner 
 told me he had orders to keeii him niniiing lor six weeks. 
 
 •"I'rom Lake Bennett I started back over the Skaguay trail, walk- 
 ing a distaiii-e of 28 miles in 12*^ hours. My lirst day's .journey brought 
 me near the summit, where I camped for the night and vainly tried to 
 sleep. When I rose In the morning my covers were wlilte with frost. 
 1 I'uiiiid very tew jieople had notteii tlirongli. although there was a 
 liost on the oilier side making the endeavor. Next morning I crossed 
 llie summit .-ind erossed down on this side. The lirst tiling I struck 
 wiis a river, knee deep, that had to be forded, wiiieh was the coldest 
 water I ever tell. From near the stunniit down on the coast side there 
 \va«^ a mass ol' men and horses, working, slrnggling Jiiid straining to 
 reaeii the top. 1 i-oimti'd maiiy iind estimaleil the remainder, iilaeing 
 tlie wliole number of persons trying this trial at between 3200 and 3500, 
 with .•iboiit KiOO horses. .Moiig the trail wt>re numerous dead horses, 
 where they had lallen over rocks or stiidv »'xhausted in tlie mire. I 
 never saw men work like those people did. Their siilrlts seemed high, 
 but they w»>re laboring like demons from early until late. .Men wlio 
 were Ifom stores and imiised to niaiiii.il labor were geiiiiii; into the 
 harness with a vigor that seemed impossible. 
 
 "It Is hard to deseribe the dltfleiillies tliat were encountered on 
 this trail and were impedinir tiiat mass of humanity so that tln> dis- 
 lauee from the coast to the summit (d" 20 miles was retiuiring a long 
 
 !i 
 
54 
 
 ALASKA. THE NKW ELPOLAI.O 
 
 tliuo to rover. 'JIu' tnill lends nlong n canyon that lins in the bed a 
 Kninll but swift nnci tfrrlbly cold Ktrcnin. Tlic road is not in tln» ))ot- 
 toni. It winds iilonjr ilu* side hillH, piobalil.v 1600 feet above llie water, 
 then dii)s down neross the bottom and np the other side to about the 
 >ianie elevation. Tnis eban^e from one side to tlie other taltes plaee 
 tliree or four times, thus makiuK one clind) a threat deal more Idlls tiiau 
 is neoessnry on 11 e Chllkoot pass. The surfaee of the hillsides presents 
 the jrreniest ditlliidtl«'s. 'I'lie trail for the mosi part is on a bi'd of 
 bould'iH that aie etreniely hard to climb over. At places between 
 them there will be formed a veritable mire, which Is not soil, but n 
 Kn wth of niKHs nnd iical that (|ulckly becomes mud l)cneatii tramping- 
 In the bottom of these udres will be a bed of sharp stones ti>at cut tlie 
 hofseH frlKlitfully while they are walh.v.lnjr through them. Much time 
 is also lost in the passing of uuln^r and relnrnln^ horses. All of a 
 nian's pack Is not on one animal, and when li(> p>es a distance lie un- 
 loads an<l returns to net the icmalndcr. 'I'hls ( auses one slrin«r of 
 horses to be pimninK buck while there is another koIuk forward. 'Pbere 
 ar»' only few places wluM'e lliey can pass eaili other, and you will see 
 lines of 400 and .'00 horses slandinu waitiUK for others to pass. In this 
 manner some ai-e kepi waiting; nearly all the time. I do not believe 
 that more than a vt'vy small per cent, of these men on the Ska«;uay 
 trail will reach tlie summit before snow tiles. II Is an impossibility 
 for niiiiiy to do so. and ibc remainder will have a wild hope before 
 them 
 
 ixnVN rilK YIKON. 
 
 Wliclher one reaches ilic lake :m the head of the Yukon by the 
 <'hllk(M)i or While pass, the remainder of Hie Journey to Ixiwson is the 
 same, lie miisi build a boat and descend the chain of lakes and the 
 Lewis and VuKmi livers, a dislanci' of about fiHO mih-s. There is 
 niilliinK specially dlttlcult or daiiKernus about this liiurney. eM-tt|>t a 
 few short porlajfcs. and Ihe passaKe of Ml'es canyon and Wliite l|i>rsc 
 rapids, yet it Is necessar.\ In exercise care and comnmii sense alonu th*t 
 eiUlre roule. 
 
 riie ilrsi tliluK necessary is to consiriiet a boat. A rafi shouhl not 
 be trusted. Miners have always iaki>n whipsaws almiK to une In cut- 
 tint; <ip timber for boal-<. The trees are small and It takes about a 
 Meek to cut up the timber iiml anollici to bulhl the boat Nail> and 
 oakum sliiiuld be a part of cM>rv out III by this route. Th«<re In now a 
 small sin\iiiill oil l.iil.c Kctin- but is was this ycai cniirdy unable 
 to supply lumber for all the boals needed, and most of iIm> miners had 
 to build their own. Ilonts sold at lli'iO to $:ioii on Lake Itennetl. Hie 
 flniber near the head of the hil>e has all been cut imd one now has to 
 
 ii» back l\^o or iliiee miles for timber, >r pay a u I price In have his 
 
 stuff frelir'.i.ed in n scow bi the foot of Ihe hike, where limber 1* still 
 plentiful. .\ Kic'il many boats mi-ic taken to hyea and Skii«uay, ? lUne 
 In Meetloiis and some In plei ts, but so far as has been Icarnetl, tvw If 
 miy of these were In ken aeroNs the siunnilt, nn<1 the mi) vice of those 
 
tl 
 
 I the bed a 
 in tlip bot- 
 ' Iho wnter. 
 (> about tlie 
 liikos plncH 
 •(• hills fhnn 
 Ics prost'iitK 
 )ii n bed of 
 
 fS l)(>t\V»>tMl 
 
 soil, 1)iit n 
 li triiuiping. 
 
 Illlll ••lit tlH» 
 
 M licit time 
 
 All of n 
 
 iliinc*' lu' uii- 
 
 iii<> sti'iiiu: of 
 
 wiinl. There 
 
 yon will see 
 
 MISS. In tlliK 
 
 o not believe 
 
 the SUa«:nii,v 
 
 inipoHNlblllty 
 
 liope before 
 
 knkon bv ilie 
 >iiwHon h the 
 liikeH and the 
 i»H. There In 
 
 ley, e\e«pt a 
 
 White iloiMe 
 
 nNr ainnu thtt 
 
 (ft slmnld not 
 to nHe In itii 
 akeH iiltoiil a 
 It Nails atid 
 liere Is now a 
 illrely nnalile 
 le niiners had 
 >teiiiM>tl. The 
 le now liiiH to 
 •e to liave Ills 
 llndier l» niIII 
 katfuiiy. > <mu' 
 ained, few if 
 Ivlee of tliose 
 
 roOT5t;LKIQK|"v ^ ^ 
 
 MFl.KS CANYON ANP 
 
 hand at A and exaniiil 
 e\a<tly in the center In 
 linK llii'onKli IiiikI at II 
 ('. CroMM river to l» an( 
 Make porlaue to I' and i 
 .nn Die rapIdH steer Hira 
 n( V. 
 
 om Dy(\i ;MiJ Skn^uiiy 
 
MHH 
 
 HHMMI 
 
 North 
 
 
 L;iko ;iiul HiV( 
 
MIIJvS CANYON A Nit WIHTK IKllt.SK HAI'IHS. 
 
 I.iiiiil 111 A iiihI cxiimlm' miiyoii Ih'I'ihm' niiiiiintr. !''..m'|> 
 t'Xnrtl.v In tlii' «'ciit«'r In riiiintnK tl»<> fiinyrui. Allrr tfof- 
 lliiK nu'oiiuli liiiiil ill n niiil 1<-t Ixiiii down with ii lln<> to 
 »'. Cnws liver to l> iiixl h-l Iwiil iluw n wllli lint' li» 10. 
 Miik<< iiiii'itiKi' to I'' oixl orop l><»)* ^vitli liiu' cniiil.v. If yoit 
 inn tlH< rtipl<lH Htrer NlriilM:lit Tor llit> ci'tiicr iiinl iImmi IiiikI 
 III K. 
 
 Ai't'e /a i/ii/ii'if'/ 
 
 Lake and Kivoi Ruuic i (.in Dyea and SlNa>;ua>' Id uic Yukuii 
 
roQT^fcLKlftKf^ ^ a. 
 
 "(AMn 
 
wm 
 
TW 
 
 ALASKA. THK NEW ELIKIHAHO 
 
 55 
 
 who liiivf I'Xiiiniiu'd iln^ conditions nnd returnetl or written of their 
 experiences, is not to nttenipt to take boats over the pass, but to l)uilrt 
 theui on the In lies:. 
 
 Tliose who KO in t-arly in the spring can build their boats, put theiu 
 on runners and draw or sail theni on the Ice of the lakes till the river 
 is reached and the ice breaks up, as was done by tho Funston party, 
 previously sjioken of. Those who reach the lakes later can use both 
 sail and oar. The boat must be made strong to endure the strain it 
 will receive. In mivipitlnn the lakes and rivers the aecoinpanyinp map 
 will be found useful, the directions it gives beinn explicit. The route 
 leads through Lake Lindernuin, six miles, a portage to Lake Bennett 
 of one mile, down the lake 24 ndles, through Cariboo crossing to Lake 
 Tagish twd miles, down the lake 19 miles, by river to Lake Marsh six 
 miles, across tlie lake 19 miles, down river to Miles canyon 25 miles, 
 three-quarters of a. miU- through the ea».:'on, to White IIo»'.ie rapids 
 two miles and a lialf a mile tlirough tluMU, to Lake I/cKarge 30 miles, 
 down the hike 31 miles, down the Lewis and Yi'kun rivers, passing 
 IIoot)ilim|iia river at 30 ndles, HIg Salmon 34 uiiler. Little Salmon 37 
 ndles. Five Finger rapids ♦i2 ndles. Kink rai>i«1« fiV^ miles, IVlly river 
 bT, ndles, Wldle river i)l miles, Stewart river 9 miles, Sixty-Mile river 
 21 miles, Hawson City 50 ndles, Fortv->fil' ..1 ndles, Circle (Mty .150 
 ndles, 
 
 Theaciual exiK'ricn<cs of a parly making tlic louriiey from Lake 
 Llndernian to Dawson in .lune, 1897, is given In the following letter 
 from .Milton .Misaiiiore, of I'lntland: 
 
 "We campiKl eight days at the head of Lake Linderman. Imild- 
 Ing a boat. We were compelled to go back two «ir three miles for 
 Kiiitable timber for the lumber, as the trees iliere are small. an<l tliose 
 tit till' lumber are scarce. We lliially gut aboard our craft and headed 
 down the lake wi>li a strong wind at tnir ImckH. The wind wax a little 
 too strong, and we Mhlp)*ed Mcxeral wiillecapx before \vc reached the 
 foot of the lake, six miles distant. «\ hicli was covered In two lioiirs 
 Heie wc were compelled to portage across to Lake Heiiniii. a distance 
 of tlii'ee-i|iiariers of a mile, riic stream coiinecling tlic two lakes is 
 small, veiy >\\iri and sirewii with boulders, w liicli endiingcr a boat. 
 We guided oms iliion, li with the aid of ropes, after paiKing our gtsxlH 
 to tlu' desired spot. ' 
 
 ".M the head of Lake Heiniett, we found ijiiltc a village of tents, 
 belonging to <tiiOpers iiigagcd in building lioats for the Joiuiiey down 
 the lakes ami rivers. I'liis lias lieeii the phuc for Imilillng boats to 
 naMnaie these stieanis for many years, and the timber for cither 
 b«ials or rafts has been used n|i for several ndles btou. I'mther down 
 the lake, about 20 mih's. ilicre Is an abundance of line timber. There 
 Is a •>miill portable sawmill at ilie iiead of ' ake llcnneii. Inn (lie 
 demand last spring was so great for lumber that it could not near 
 till It. We were detained here one day by head winds, but on the after- 
 n<Mtn of .hiiie 12 we pidlei! out ilown the lake, using our oars all the 
 wav down and thus making the 2»; miles to the foot by next mornln;r. 
 
 If 
 
66 
 
 AI.AWKA. JHK NEW ELDORADO 
 
 "Horo we entered a small stream eonnectiug Lakes Beuuett aud 
 Tagish, ami were carried by a strong current down to the head of the 
 latter, just four miles, very quickly. Proceeding down this last lake 
 a few miles, we came abreast of Windy Arm, of which we had been 
 warned. This Is a long arm coming Into the lake from the southeast, 
 and the country formation Is such that a strong wind strikes the lake 
 from this direction. In accordance with our Instructions, we kept well 
 to the opposite side, and when the wind struck us, had plenty of sea 
 room to sail straight through. Some of the boats we fell in with did 
 not take tills precaution, and were blown to the shore, where they were 
 compelled to pull with tlieir oars for several hours before getting clear. 
 
 "Erom Lake Tagish we drifted down to another lake, named Lake 
 Mmsli. Tills Is a long, shallow body of water, and our boat struck 
 l)ottoui several times even when the lake was live miles wide . In trav- 
 eling its distance of 20 miles, we saw many flsh, but they would not 
 bite. 
 
 "Erom tliLs \a\n' we entered the river of terrors. When we had 
 left Lake Marsli about 26 miles, we saw a red tlag floating on the 
 right sliore. and several bandana handkerchiefs uaileil to posts aud 
 trees. We recognized this as a warning that we were entering the 
 dreaded Miles canyon. The current was very strong here, and it was 
 witli dlrtliulty that we succeeded in iajiding our liont a few liuudred 
 feet above tlie iiiovitli of tlie canyon. Here we foiind some otlier l)oat8 
 that liiid landed to taice ii look liefore tlie leap (a tliiim wldcli every one 
 goinglhnnigh lliin place sliould do). The more we looked the less we 
 llk<(l the aspect, but as tlic only alleriiatlve is ii nu-k ridge portage of 
 :i mile In leiitftli. ivhicli few will undertake, wr at lasl shoved out into 
 ilie slnjiiii :iiid lieaded i'i»i liie iiiidille of Hie i-anyon's mouth. Phe 
 suspense was very bri«i fur we were slioothm Ihroiigb llie canyon lu 
 a moment. We ijdi tlin>iigli iill riglit. with luii little water In (lie l)oat. 
 b«t enough to land nntl ball out. T1»e cnnyon Is three-qtnu'ters of a 
 mile long. .'Mid ilie sides an- |ierpemllcn';ir bbilVs from 200 to UOO feet 
 high. The water iti the middle cf th(> channel is much higher than at 
 the sides, snd a iMiat must be kept as near it as iiosslble, as, If II siriUcs 
 any of the r<ick< on the sides, golnir at the rate of tliree-ipiarlers of a 
 mih> In two iiiliiiites, it would lie dashed to pieces. The boat must be 
 kept liead on, ilso, as the water rolls np stream lUu' the breakers of 
 the oiMMUi. If ii boat of ordinary size gets sldewlse, It Ih Ulirp to Upset. 
 'I'he river for two miles below the rapids Is inti liillill lll'llt'f than 
 the ireaiii wliile in ilie iiiliyoii. When we laiiiirlied ilgHlll and started 
 on. wo struck neveral binildeis with iiioie or less force, alt of which we 
 found It liiipoNsible to iivolil. We coiiiineiired liiiiiiedlalely to pidl for 
 llir li'li bank, and ii-aclied It alMHii Iwm miles beltiw, Just as we imue 
 onto another of tli(> odious ted tings. This wuh lhi> Nlgmil tli;it the 
 While Ilmse iiiplds w ere aliiMiil. .\s we had had enough excitement for 
 one day. we camped l'oi- the nighl. 
 
 "We h'ariuMl that four IhiiiIn had rtin the W Idle Morse ra|dds the 
 day before, ••iitd that twn move wotild tiv it In the morning. The tlrst 
 
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 11 
 
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ALASKA. THE NEW ELDOHAItO 
 
 6T 
 
 to rry It was a batteau, aljout 25 tVet loiijj;, coutaiuiug four men aud a 
 ton of provisions, ^^'e watched them no tlirough. which was done 
 apiinrontly in good style, but when they got below the falls, they pulled 
 for shore in great hasto. Upon investigation it was found they had 
 shjpjied enough water to damage a quantity of their freight. The 
 second was a large scow with several men aboard, and eight or ten 
 tons of provisions. They went over, but by the time they could reach 
 the shore below, they were settling in the svater badly. They had 
 knocked a large hole in the bottom. While standing below the rapids 
 we saw a lot of stutf come floating down, which was evidence that 
 sonje unfortunate had been upset. We got .>^ome to shore safely, but 
 saw a valise that we afterwards learned contained $250 float right near 
 and sink. Tlie wreck was the remnants of a party of two and tjieir 
 boat that had come from the rapids we had Just passed. Their boat 
 was too light for them and sank in the Miles rapids. They clung to 
 tile overturned boat until luckily rescued, but lost boat, outfit and 
 everything else save their lives. 
 
 "The siglit of these things persuaded us not to attempt White 
 Horse rapids, aud with the assistance of otliers, who were aided in 
 a like manner by us. we let our l>oat down to within 100 feet of the 
 falls with a long rope, and then took it onto a point of land and 
 scooted it over to the river lielow, wltliout any loss whatever. The 
 
 crowd that was there mutually aiding cacli other all got over in this 
 manniT in Ave hours. 
 
 "I'lieso rapids are tiuee-fourths of a ndie long. After passing them 
 \vc drift«>d down the river 25 miles, until we reached Lake LaBarge. 
 Tills is th(> largest of the lakes we passed tlirough. V)eing 35 miles long 
 by 10 wide. We encountered head winds here, making us just 48 
 liours in getting tlirough. I'pon leaving this lake we entered Thirty- 
 Mile river, so called from its lt>ngtli. Tliis stream and tiie Hootaiinqua 
 ar their confluence form tiic Lewis. Tliirty-Miie river, wlien we passed, 
 was aliout th(> Avidtii of the Willamette, and the nootalinq\ia was 
 aliout the width of the Columbia, the two together nuU<ing a mighty 
 strciiiii. Thirty-Mile Is V(>ry rapid, and has some sunken boulders that 
 iiiiikf it tiangeroiis if ciiution Is not exercised. The Hootaiinqua was 
 on tlie warpath > ! "n we reached it. running like a ndllrace. and very 
 muddy. We ca ii\mi. nmediately aitcr reaching tlie Hootalin(|iia. rnd 
 the next day ra l<> u bin four miles of Fivc-l'inger rapids, ji distance 
 of 125 miles in l,-- iioii.s. Flve-Finger rai)lds are conceded to be more 
 dangerous than JNii'cs rapids, whicli we iiad run. 
 
 i'^lve hundred and ten miles from .Tuiieau the F-ewis and Pelly 
 rlvei's tiow together, foriiiiiig tiie ^iikoii, one of I lie grciilcsi rivers on 
 the American continent. In many places it is more than five miles In 
 MJdfli. and In others narrower, but deep, and flowing with a strong 
 cum lit. You ciiniiot liy any means go to sleep and let your boat drift. 
 There are a iindtitnde of Islands, sometimes four or five abreast of 
 eacli Miller, and as maii.\' clijiiinels, some of wliieh are very deep and 
 
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 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
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 :t ii£ llilio 
 
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 ALASKA, THE XEW ELDORADO 
 
 clenr of drift, while otliers are slinllow or narrow and full of drift. 
 Sncli channels must be avoided. 
 
 "After leaving the lak<»s we made a daily niu of over 100 miles, 
 until Dawson City was reaclie<l. We niiched this i)lace .Tune 22. just 
 62 days from I'ortland, This time was Just 20 days longer than 1 cal- 
 culated on, and was 32 days longer than Is usually necessary to malce 
 the trip. A person <'an make the trip from Portland in 30 days." 
 
 Tiie passage of Miles canyon in May. 1893. is tlius descril)ed l)y 
 Frederick Funston. in the article previously quoted from: 
 
 "We knew Ihat we must now l)c near Miles canyon, and kept a 
 sharp lookout. We had gone scarcely a mile when we whirled aroinid 
 a Itcnd and saw a low, brown rocky ridge, divided by a slit less than 
 f.O feet wide, and at the same time heanl tiie roar of the river In Its 
 wild rush tln-ough the canyon. With one impulse we pulled frantically 
 tor the bank, and got a line ashore and aroiiml a tree Just In the nick 
 of time. 
 
 "This canyon was named by tlie late Lieutenant Frederick 
 Schwatka, in honor of Nelson .\. .Miles, wlio had been Instrumental in 
 sending him on his trip to tlie Yukon in 1883. Tlie river, widcli lias 
 l>een aliout 300 feet wide, suddenly contracts to ab(»ut a tentli of that 
 wldtli, ami. Increasing its vekxily to 20 ndles an hour, rushes with 
 terrific fctn-e ilirougli a canyon with absolutely i»eriiendlcular walls 
 KKt feet lilgli. The canyon Is oidy tlnee quarters of a mile long, ;intl 
 at its lower end tlu* river spiu'ads out into a series of rapids, <'uimlnat- 
 ing three udles iielow In the White Horse. There nic I wo ways of 
 l>asslng iMs canyon, one l>y portaging over the hill on llic cast Itank 
 and the oilier by boldly running tlinuigh. Some of the iiicu wluiiii we 
 found encamped tiiere weie utilizing the former mctliiHl. 'I'lic boats 
 were nidoaded and diagged out of the water, and by niciins of a wind- 
 lass hauled up the hill slope 1(1(1 I'cet high, and I lien pidlcd on wooden 
 rcdlers for thrc<>-quarters of a mile, being tiually slid down another 
 hill lo the river. 'I'he contents of the boats were carried over by the 
 men on their backs. It is the most slavish work Imaginable, and useM 
 up the belt«'r part of fotir dayH. 
 
 "We had seen both ways of jiasslng .Miles canyon, (Uie re(|iililiig 
 four diiyti and tlu< other two minutes. We looked at each other In an 
 inquiring sort of wiiy, and then, without a word walked down to 
 whei'*>the Nam y Hanks was moored against the bank, .Ml took ilieir 
 idaces. kneeling and facing the bow, .MeConnell In the stern. .Matteiii 
 amiilslilps and I forward. The oars were placed on board, and each of 
 lis used an ordinary canoe paddle. I must confess that 1 m>ver felt 
 Kicker In niy life than as we shoved awtiy from slime and started for 
 the eiili'iiiM e. It wiis all over so qiiii'klv Ihat we hiirdly i.iiew how It 
 happened, Marely missing tlie big rock at the mouth of the canyon, 
 the boat slutted on Its wild ride. The wiills seemed lo fairly Il\ past 
 us. and after starling, \\v heard a elieer I'i'oin the roeUs above iis, Inn 
 (lid not dare lo<d< up, Hy fraiitle padilllim we kept In the middle, and 
 off frmn the canyon walls. T'le seiisallon was akin to Hint of rldlnu 
 
^ 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 B» 
 
 a Inu'kiiig broncho. Tlu've avjis not ii dry spot on one of lis when we 
 got throngli, and the boat U>ok so much water that she nearly foun- 
 dered before we oculd bail her out. But a great weight was off our 
 minds, for Miles canyon, more than all other thlng.s, is dreaded by 
 Yukon travelers. Including those If st In 1894, an even dozen of men 
 have had their boats swamped or crushed like egg shells against the 
 cany«)n walls, and not one of them has come alive out of that wild 
 maelstrom of water." 
 
 TAKTJ ROUTE. 
 
 Much Interest is being taken in n projjosed route from Taku Inlet 
 to Liiko Teslin. The Yukon Mining. Trading and Transportation Com- 
 pany is sur\ eying a railroad over this route, a brandi of which Is to 
 be extended 29 miles up llie coast to Juneau. Application has been 
 made to the T'nited States and Canadian governments for charters, 
 as the route starts in the United States territory, but for the greater 
 portion of t'.w way is in Canada. Tlie road would be 130 miles long. 
 It Is proi)osed to have small steamers on Lake Teslin, which will pass 
 from the lake to the Lewis and Yukon by way of Ilootalinqua river. 
 Tills would render jiacklng unnecessary, as one could land from the 
 ocean steamer, go by cars to tlie lake and there board a steamer that 
 wouhl land him at any jtoliit along the Yukon desired. If this enter- 
 l»rise is successfid a1 'cast a year must t-lapse before it could be carried 
 out. .Meanwhile' efforts will be made to pack over this trial, going 
 part way np the Taku in a steamer. .V i>arty lias gone in by that route 
 this fall, intending to eam|i for tlie winter on Lake T*>slln. 
 
 .Imieau is the siarlliig-point for the 'i'*aku. Steamers make the 
 trip to the head of the lidet: llieme the route is on foot straight uj* the 
 river to lieadwaters In a chain of small lakes nearly or quite connect- 
 ing with Lakj' Teslin. In th" winter time heavily loaded sleds can be 
 ilrawn the entire distance. There Is plenty of limber for boats on 
 Lake Teslin. 
 
 IMstances on this rout<>. as shown by the I'nlted States and British 
 government maps, are, nearly as ran be shown, as IoIIowm: 
 
 Mllei. 
 
 ,luneau to entrance of Takti Inlet 10 
 
 rp I'aKu Iidel to river 82 
 
 I'p Takn nver to head of canoe navigation 60 
 
 Portage to mouth of Silver Salmon 10 
 
 I'orlage lip Sliver Siilmnn 8 
 
 I'linage ilieiiee aeross I, like Teslttl 80 
 
 I.aki- I'eslln (luirrow and long) 70 
 
 lliMitallmpia river i<> Lewis 100 
 
 Total 400 
 
 STIC KEEN HOITK. 
 
 .Xinitlier practleable route Is by wa,\ of Stickeen river, which Is 
 navigable to 'Telegraph ereek, inn milex, and nlieady ha** a steamer 
 
60 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 plying Its waters. From Telegrapn oreek there is a practicable route 
 for stages and frelglit wagons nortli to Lalie Teslin, from which point 
 tlie steamer would be used as described for the Talcu route. It Is re- 
 ported that arrangements are now being made to build steamers oa 
 Lake Teslin, to put on a stage line and to open up this route to travel 
 in the spring, also to l)uild a railroad over the stage route as speedily 
 as possible. This may be made the Canadian mail ruote next year. 
 
 DALTON TRAIL. 
 
 From Pyramid harbor there Is an overland route to the Yukon 
 below Fort Selkirk, on through the Chilkat pass, lying to the west of 
 Chilkoot pass, and generally called the Dalton trail, because several 
 times used by a man named Jack Dalton in taking horses into tiio inte- 
 rior. Dalton has a trading post on this trail. Several miners came out 
 to the coast by this trail the past summer. In going over this route it 
 is necessary to pack to the Tahkeena river, wlien :i raft or boat may be 
 nswl in descending the stream to tlie T/Cwis. Tiie long distance to paclc 
 is what renders it impracticable for one with a large outfit to tnki' in, 
 unless he has plenty of pa<'k animals. It is claimed a man can ride 
 a liorse all tliroiigli ami tliai tlierc is plenty of grass. Cattle and slieep 
 were driven over tlie i.:ill tlie i>ast summer. Tliis is also the route of 
 a proposed telegraph line to Dawson, the wires to be laid along the 
 ground, 
 
 OTllint ROITKS. 
 
 Altiiougii little is known of the region lying ltd ween the Copper 
 river and (lie Yukon. 1( is claimed that by a short i»ortag<' one can go 
 from llie head wjilcrs of the Copper river to tributaries of the Yukon, 
 find it Is possible that travel may sometime go liy liiat route. A prac- 
 ilciible route by Wliiie river. Just east of Mount St. Klias, Is also 
 claimed, and tills route Is now lielug ('.xpioied. 
 
 'I'liere Is i>ri>lialtl\ a practical route in the interior from the Car- 
 riltoo and Ctisslar inliiiiig districts In the northern end of Itritlsii Co- 
 lumbia to Dease river and tlieiii-e by the I'elly to tlie Yukon. It Is also 
 lUDliiibly possible to g»» north along llie eastern iiase of the Itocky 
 luoiinlaliis. fi'oni Ivliiioiitdii. on the Caiiadlaii I'licliic, tn .Mliiiltasca iind 
 the fieaseaiiil Teliy rivers, it Is said that liolli of these routes are 
 Iteliig tried tills year, liiii they ire long and It would seem liiipractlciible 
 to use them for freight. It Is also asserted that It is practlciii to go by 
 the way of Creal Siav(> lake, descend the .Mackenzie river nearly to 
 the Arctic ocean, and llieii iiscend llie I'eel river and miilvc a short 
 portage ton trlbiiliiry of the ViiUon. Ail sucii routes are impracticable 
 compared with those from Hie coast and by the way of Si. MIcliaels, 
 and will receive little conslderatiiui iit the Imnds of gold seekers for 
 severiil yeiirs at h'ast. 
 
i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 i : 
 
 1 
 
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 1^ 
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Chapter VI 
 
 H 
 
 Mines on the American Side 
 
 Altliougli interest is now centered in the Klondike and other min- 
 iiitr districts on the Canndiim side of the international line, undoubt- 
 <Mlly fiilnro devciopnionts on the American side of the line will be very 
 iiiiporiiint. The iiolicy of tlie Canadian government in reserving one 
 lialf tlie claims for its own purposes and of exacting a heavy royalty 
 on tlie gold talviMi out of other claims, will have the natural effect of 
 (Iriving Aincricau prospectors across the line into their own country, 
 where the mining laws are more liberal and every foot of mineral laud 
 is subject to (Mitiy, Avitli no royalty s(iueezed from the miners by the 
 government. 
 
 Altlioiigli tliere iiave for several years been good mines ou Birch 
 creelc. Miller crcelv, and otlier streams, of whicli Circle City is the com- 
 mercial point, tiiere is a vast area of Alasiia as yet unprospected, in- 
 fludliig a great nuuiy tributaries of the Yukon and Its chief branches. 
 .Millers iiie leiirnlng tliat the heavier gold dejiosits are on the small 
 streams, and as tiie headwaters of tlie Yukon's alHuents are prospected 
 tliere will doubtless be many rich tllscoverles made. To locate aud 
 develop iliest> new districts will ju- tlie task of the thousands of eager 
 gdld-liunlers now pouring Into Alaska. 
 
 In regard to the opportunities for the prospector on the American 
 side of tlie line the experience of Mlilon Mlsamore may be taken as an 
 example, lie w(>nt to Klondike in tlie spring, but came out this fall 
 because he believeil there would be a scarcity of provisions. He will 
 return iigalii in tiie spring. lie says tiie Held on the American side is 
 every whit lis goml as across tlie border, lie left Dawson shortly after 
 arriving tliei" hist ,iuiie. and procee<ied with liiti boat and outfit to 
 Circh'CKy, linving found tiial everything of value had been stake<l out 
 in tiie Klondike regUui. I'rom Circle City lie crossed overland south to 
 HIrcli creek, which nearly parallels the Yukon for some distance. Af- 
 ter spending some timi' In that region Inking in the MasttKlon, Miller. 
 l»eadwo<Ml, Kagle and Oreeiihorn creeks, he came back to Circle City, 
 and, loading his boat, proceeded about 400 miles di>wn stream to the 
 MuniMiU. where new gold diseoveripH had been reported. Here he lo- 
 cated 11 cliilni an<l would have remained, but t'ound tliiit he could not 
 gt't supjdles. 
 
 .Mong the streams entering the Areth-, Mehring sea and the Paelflc 
 there Is as gocnl prospect of discovering rich diggings as on the Yukon. 
 • Jold liiiH been t'oiiiul on the Sehiwlk. Muckland and Kowak rivers, en- 
 tering KatKbiic sound. I>ut no attemjit has been made to work the 
 placers there Tooli's Inlet has been partially i>rospecte<l. and l««t 
 
 1i' 
 
 ■i- 1 
 

 i 11 T 
 
 
 t- : ( 
 
 62 
 
 ALASKA. THE NEW ELDOKADO 
 
 Lake Keiiiit'tt, from tlic SkiiKHiiy Trail. 
 
 winter 300 uiiner.s wore at \\orIv tli(>ro, jsoine of tlieiii, liowover, liavluj; 
 since left for tlie Kloiullive, under tlie Inipulso so cliaracteristlo of 
 miners, to desert dlK^inKs wortli |10 a day wliemver lliey iiear of any- 
 tldng better. However, (lulle a numljer of otiiers liave j^one to Coolc's 
 inlet this year. Tlie goM found tiu>re is coarse. As there is a vast 
 unexplored rej^ioii around the inlei, it would seem tiiat tlie prospect 
 before tlie searcher for jfold tliere must be as ko(m1 as is olfered in tlie 
 interior, which is so niudi more dilllcult to leacli, so much more expen- 
 sive as a place of residciKc and lias sucli dlsadvaiilaKes of rllmate. 
 The same may be said of tlie rei^lon of Copper river and Its numerous 
 triluitaries in tlie vi<'lnily of I'rince William sound. Here is anotiier 
 l)romisiiifi^ tield for exploitation. wliei'(> Kold has already been found, 
 t/ulte a ninnb(>r liave none into tlial rewloii lliis year. 
 
 AlouK the coast at Lituya liay discoveries have Ikhmi nuide. also in 
 the beach sandH for 30 inileH near Kaliulai, In ruby and bla<'k saiid, 
 wliere considerable work has been done, 'i'lie region Inland lia>. been 
 liractlcally unexplored. On I'litfa island a line iiuiiriz ledRc has been 
 uncovered and a teii-stami) mill was erccled a few years ago, 
 luce Increased to forty stamps. This mme ulves promise of payiiiK 
 large dividends, notwilhstandiiiK the threat i>Npense of working a 
 mine HO far from any base of supplies. On <iolofnlii bay, in Norton 
 Hound, a rich silver ledge was discovered twelve years ago. .V sliip 
 load of quartz taken to San I'raiicjscM proved so rich that a <M)mpMiiy 
 
ALASKA. THE NEW ELDOUADO 
 
 was oi-gut-ized In 1892 and $60,000 were expended iii developmeut.s. 
 The ore still proved to be rich, Init trouble In the company for several 
 years prevented further work. 
 
 The region generally known as Southeast Alaska, embracing the 
 coast and adjacent islands soutli of Mount St. Elias, has been mined 
 more or less for the past twenty years. Gold was discovered near 
 Sitka in 1873. and prospecting then began; in 1880 gold was discovered 
 in the vicinity of Juneau, and soon prosi)ectors were scattered all along 
 tlie coast and began to work their way inland. The town of .Tuneau. 
 so called in honor of .losepli Juneau, the lirst man to develop mines in 
 tliat region, sprang into existence as a result of the discovery of plac- 
 ers on (!old creek, from which considerable gold has been taken. 
 W'liile tlie excitement of these discoveries was still drawing miners to 
 Alaska, it became known that Ji man known in the camp as French 
 I'ete, liad discovered a Iarg(> Ie<lge of (juarlz on a liigli mountain side 
 on I>ouglass island, across the l»ay from .Juneau. Tliis was purchased 
 t)y John Treadwell for $400. Tlirough a series of years there has been 
 a stedy development of lliis property, until now it has the largest 
 stamp mill in the world, containing 300 stam(is, and arrangements are 
 on foot to Increase the number to 500. Tliis is a low-grade ore, but so 
 favorably is the ledge situated for clieap working, so easy is the ore to 
 work and so wide is tlie ledge, that it is said tlie ore can be mined and 
 milled for 50 cents a ton, and that great protit is being made on ore 
 ruimlng less than $2 to the ton, and an ouli»ut of $100,000 a montli 
 produci'd. Ill connection with this mtne it is necessary to speak of the 
 Hear's Nest mine swindle, wliicli. for several years had su( h an 
 iiiifa\()ra!>li> "ITect upon the mineral development of Alaska. Tliis 
 was nothing less than the organization of a company to work a ledge 
 adjtiining the Treadwell. which ledge was artistically "salted" for the 
 heiiellt of experts Ity substituting Treadwell ore for tlie barren rode 
 taken out of the lU-ar's Nest. Large blocks of stock were .sold, chiefly 
 In Kngland, and many i)(H)ple were swindled, with the result that 
 .Miiska was looked upon unfavorably as a tield for mining Investments 
 for a number of years. 
 
 Thougli capitalists were tiiiis frightened away, the indefatigable 
 proiqiector contiiHied Ills work and many placer claims and quartz 
 locations, liotii gold and silver, were made. Now that conlUlence in 
 Alaskan mines lias been restoreil by the wonderful discoveries in the 
 Yukon region, capital may be expected to lake hold of these numerous 
 (|uartz ledges along the coast. A dozen stamp mills are at work on 
 <iold creek, Sheeii creek, Sum iMim and at other iioints within a few 
 miles of ,luiieMU, and new ones are being erecte<l every year. The 
 most noted of the mines, besides the Treadwll, are the Mexico, Heady 
 lUilliuii. Silver C^ueen and Hahl Kagle. There are rich ledges on Ber- 
 iier's bay. Lynn canal, and on Kunta bay, .Vdmiralty Island, also on the 
 I'amous tiUu'ier bay, where rich galena has been found. Further to 
 the soutli. on .Vniiette island and on Prince of Wales Island very rich 
 iliiarlz has lieeii (llscovercd, but as yet little has been doue to develop 
 the ledgea. 
 
 til , 
 
 1 
 
 i}^ 
 
 in 
 
64 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 On tho whole, it would seoni. Avhether capitalist or prospector, it is 
 wholly unueoessary to neglect the opportunities offered by the quartz 
 locations alrercJy made and the vast area of unexplored country on the 
 American side of the line and join the throng rushing into tho Gana- 
 rlian gold fields on the Yukon, ^^'hore only half of the claims are sub- 
 ject to entry and a royalty is exacted upon the gold taken from the 
 earth. 
 
 The output of gold in 1896 is given below, to show the develop- 
 ment of mines other than those on the Yukon. That which is credited 
 to Y'ukon placers nearly all oaine from the American side of the line. 
 Birch creek being on that side as well as many of the other districts 
 lumpetl together in one total: 
 
 Nowell fiold Mining Company. 35 stamps $ 160.000 
 
 Berner's Bay Mining and Milling Company. 40 stamps 125.000 
 
 Alaska. Treadwell Gold Mining Company. 240 stamps 800.000 
 
 Alaska :srexican Gold Mining Company, 120 stamps 4.50.000 
 
 Alaska Commercial '.'ompany, 40 stamps 500.000 
 
 Bald Eagle Mining Company. 4 stamps 200.000 
 
 Ebner Gold Mining Company. 10 stamps 35.000 
 
 Juneau Gold Mining Company. 30 stamp.s 35.000 
 
 Julian Gold Mining Company, 10 stamps 20.000 
 
 Alaska AVillouglil)y Gold Mining Company. 10 stamps 15,000 
 
 (Jrecn mine. Norton Sound, 10 stamps 15.000 
 
 Total output of quartz mines $2,355,000 
 
 Lltuya Itay placer mines 15,000 
 
 C(M)k Inlet placer mines 175,000 
 
 Binli ireek district. Yukon mines 1.300,000 
 
 Other Yukon districts 800,000 
 
 From several small creeks in van'fius jiarts of tlie territory... 25,000 
 
 'I'oial output 14.670.000 
 
 Chapter VII 
 
 How and Where to Outfit 
 
 What to take and where to >i\iy it are two important (Hic-^tjons 
 every person starting lor Alaska must determine, i lie tlrst <iep>Mids 
 much upon th.e route by which it is jhu'pokjkI to enter the gohl fields, 
 wlille the second sliotild be settled by tlie condltlctns «if eonvenletlce 
 and eiu'onomy. 
 
 In regartl to wliere an «>iitllt shuui<l tie jirtKured. there Ih niMhing 
 clearer than the fact that it Is an act of lolly to ptirehase It In any of 
 
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 ii 
 
 ■jfi' 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 m 
 
 
 the Eastern cities and pay for its transportation across tlie continent, 
 since it can be procured in Portland fully as cheaply and the extra 
 cost and bother be avoided. Thus economy suggests a delay in this 
 matter till the coast is reached. Economy, however, is not the only 
 reason for pursuing this course. No Eastern city is prepared to sup- 
 ply just the things necessary, nor do the merchants there know what 
 is required nor how it should be packed for transportation. This latter 
 is a matter of vital importance, for if o. . provisions are spoiled or 
 lost during the hard trip across the pnsse/ :md down the lakes and 
 rivers, or even in the hold of the vessel gohif north, it may mean com- 
 plete failure to the gold-hunter. The FtMdy tlie merchants of Portland 
 have given this subject and the ex^o 'ience they liave had and the 
 special attention they have given to laying in stocks of the special 
 things requii'ed, render that city a desirai.le jjlace in wliicli to procure 
 an outfit. 
 
 Portland is the chief commercial point of the Pacific Northwest. 
 In business transacted, baulc clearings, foreign commerce, etc., it 
 equals all the other cities of that i-ogion combined. It ha^ regular 
 steamer lines to Alaska, to San Francisco and to Japan and Cliina, and 
 is the terminus of more lines of transcontinental railroad than any 
 other city on the Pacific coast. Stocks of grods are so large and com- 
 petition is so free and strong, that Alaska outfits may be purcliased at 
 the lowest possible figure. The man who outfits in person will be cer- 
 tain of getting the best quality of goods at the lowest prices, will have 
 the benefit of experience in selection and packing, and will not be 
 likely to purchase a lot of things not needed or unsuitable to the condi- 
 tions as he will find them in Alaska. Experience this year shows that 
 outfits can be purchased in Portland cheaper than at any ether point 
 on the Pacific coast and at a considerable saving over cost and trans- 
 portation from the East. 
 
 If one is going in by the St. Michaels route he will not require 
 those things necessary to get J.is outfit over the passes and down the 
 lakes and rivers, but his stock of provisions and clothing would be the 
 same for either route. As to provisions, one sliould either take enough 
 for six months or eighteen months, because if he remains longer than 
 six months he must remain a whole year longer, and can not dejtend 
 upon being able to buy provisions. Those who went into the mines 
 this year short of supplies, expecting to purchase them, are now in 
 danger of starvation, and the governi'.ent is endeavoring to find a way 
 of sending in supplies to their relief, ^ ''h small prospect of being able 
 to do 80. A man without ample supplies can accomj)llsh nothing. He 
 cannot go out on a prospt»eting trip, which may take him a year, nor 
 can be procure work in mines already located, since the owners will 
 not hire men who can not subsist themselves, as they would bo obliged 
 to feed them from their own scant stores. It has been impossible for 
 the river steamers to take in enough supplies for those dependent upon 
 them this year, and this will doubtless be the condition of affairs next 
 year, for, although there will certainly be a large increase of steamers 
 
 ■il ■; 
 
 i 
 
til 
 
 66 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 on the liver next season, there will be a proportionate Increaso In the 
 population dependent upon purchasing supplies In the mines. Every 
 consideration of prudence and foresight demands that the gold-bunter 
 take with him both food and clothing for at least eighteen months. 
 
 The question of what food to take and how much must be settled 
 by the requirements of the climate. In the first place allowance must 
 be made for the fact that In that cold climate, with the physical exer- 
 tion the gold-hunter will be subject to, a great deal more food per day 
 will be consumed than at home. The system denuinds In that climate 
 an excessive amount of food, especially fat, such as bacon, which Is 
 the staple article of diet. A man of long experience In the Yukon says 
 that the estimate of food should be at least 100 jiouuds per month for 
 one man. It is a waste of time and money and a possible Imperiling 
 of life to take anything but the best quality of gootls. On this basis, 
 supplies for eighteen moutlis. witli tlielr cost in Portland, based upon 
 the very best (luallty of goods, would be as given in the table at the 
 end of this chapter. 
 
 So far ns elotlilng Is concerned, one can take what meets his own 
 ideas, provided he Includes in liis list not less tlian one pair of gum 
 boots, one pair of heavy leatlier shoes, half a dozen pairs of heavy 
 woolen socks, half a doxen pairs of woolen mitts and lleece-lined 
 leatlier mitts, two lieavy woolen shirts, three suits of heavy woolen 
 underwear, a heavy mackinaw coat, two pairs of mackinaw pants, 
 three itnirs of overalls, three pairs of ten-pound blankets, of wlilcli the 
 Oregon-iiiake art- tlie best, several yards of mosciuito netting, as nios- 
 <]ultoes are a pest there, a pair of simw glasses to protect the eyes 
 from snow blindness, a (Jinvas sleeping bag or n rubber blanket to sleep 
 on, a turpiinlin to cover supplies witli a?id a tent to live in. If sleeping 
 Itags ai'' laUeii the blankets will not be necessary, or not so many will 
 be re(|ulre<l. I''or sliciilng lings one cnn gel !i plain canvas bag, or one 
 lined with iiiarUlnaw or pelt, or a double bag of heavy woolen and 
 ciuvas. (Jenerally speaking, the sleei)lng bag posst'sses more warmth 
 for tlie same wi«iglit than plain blankets. ,\s to foot wear, the .Vlnska 
 "mmklncks" air worn most of the llnii'. being a sort of moccasin boot 
 made by the Indians and to be had only in Alaska. Leather slio<>s 
 crack and are mined in a short (hue, and gum boots are worn only 
 while at work in the wet. Tlie Importance of buying tlic best (luallty 
 of (>vi'r,\ tiling can not be too strongly Insistt-d upon, and this applies to 
 clothing fully as ninch as to groceries. Not to do so niany mean dis- 
 tress and even failiwe. 
 
 The matter of packing sujiplics on the owner's back is one not to 
 bo overlooked. Although one may be nbic to lilic his packing don(> In 
 going In, cither by Ikh'sc, dogs or Indians, tliere will be many times 
 when lie will be conipelled to do this Kind ^,\' work for hiniself, and he 
 should erpilj) himself for It. The Merrlain pack, which suii|H)rls most 
 of the weight on the hips. Is a splendid device. The Yukon packing 
 Iratiie Is also a line thing, the weight being put on the Khiuilders and 
 head, t'oinnion packing straps are of little nne. 
 
ALASKA. THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 67 
 
 If one Is going by the -overland route by the lakes and river, he 
 should take an equipment foi building a boat, including oakum, oars, 
 etc. In any event he should have a set of ordinary tools, with nails, 
 etc., for use in minini,, building cabins and other work. For cooking 
 utensils the essentials are a small steel stove, and granlteware pots, 
 pans, pails, cups, etc., as this is the most durable and easiest to keep 
 clean. If horses or dogs are taken for packing or drawing sleds, care 
 should be taken to get proper pack saddles, harness, etc. As to boats, 
 the experience this year has been that it is better to build them at the 
 lakes than to attempt to take them over the pass. Hundreds of boats 
 were taken nortli, either complete or knocked down, and were sold or 
 abandoned. When it was almost impossible to get the necessaries of 
 life and mining over tlie passes, Imats and other things had to be left 
 behind. Next spring, perliaps, such tilings cr»n be taken In more easily 
 over the snow. With such numbers going in at one time it would cer- 
 tainly be better to take in a boat, specially constructed for the pur- 
 pose, if arrangements can be made for getting It over the pass. For use 
 over tlie snow sleds will be recjuired, and they sliould be made very 
 strong, tliough as liglit as possil)le consisl-Mit witli strengtii, and tdiod 
 witli steel runners. Only the franco of a sled is necessary. Plenty of 
 rope should be taken for lashing and for other purposes. 
 
 To sum up the whole matter of e<iulpment in a few words, do not 
 attemi>t (o select it unlll you reacli I'ortland and have fully determined 
 upon tiie route by whicli you will reach the mines, a matter which you 
 will be beticr able to setlle there and at tliiit time, tlian at liome, be- 
 ciiiise th(> latest and most autlientic information will be at your com- 
 mand. Having determined tiiis (|uestiou, buy nn outfit suitable to the 
 route you are lu travt'l, get oidy tlie best (lualhy of everytlilng. and 
 avail yourself fully of tlie valuable knowledge and experience of the 
 rortlaiid merchants in making your selections and In packing your 
 outllt so that It will '^tiind the Joiirne.v In good condition and be packe<l 
 in the most coin-cnlenl form for handling. 
 
 Uegular steamer lines have been established between Port'and and 
 tlu> north, end the best ecpilpped vessels in the Alaska trade will make 
 trips as freiiiiently as once a week In the spi'liig and suinmi r. One 
 ran go to rorlland with only the niont'y necessary for mi oiittlt. spend 
 a few days there selecting Just what h retiulred, and then start north 
 llioroughly <'(|iilpped for the task before him and with less nnccrtaliity 
 as to the snitnlilllty of liis outllt, at less cxpciiN ' lo lilnist'lf than by 
 pursuing any other etuu'se. Sailing dnlrs of steamers will bo pub- 
 lished by llifdregon Hallway tV Navluiilion ("oinpfiiiy in ample tlmt> 
 In rhr spring. .\ bl monihly line to .hmcau, Sitka. l»yea i^nd Skaguay 
 will run all winter. 
 
 Sailing dates of steamers and other Information may be secured 
 later by addressing the Secretary of the 'rransporlalloii rummlttee, 
 t^hamber of Coinnn'rce. Portland. Oregon. 
 
 M 
 
wf^BmmmBBBammmmmmm' 
 
 68 
 
 ALASKA. THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 l'( 
 
 HEALTH AND MEDICINES. 
 
 In regard to what to take in the way of medicines and what to ex 
 pect In the matter of diseases, etc., a prominent physician gives the 
 following advice: 
 
 To give absolutely safe medical advice on the Subject of who 
 should and who should not go to the Klondilie is a hard task. There is 
 much exaggeration current about the risks involved in the journey. 
 The common talk about tlie fatal effects of Arctic cold may be dis- 
 counted largely Man — especially man reared In tlie temperate zone — 
 has the power of assimilating himself with climatic changes more than 
 any other mammal. Clianges from hot to cold, from moist to dry, from 
 hlgli altitudes to sea const and the reverse are found beneficial In In- 
 dividual cases in the higliest degree. For many constitutions tlie brac- 
 ing effect of a trip to northern latitudes is positively beneficial. Snow 
 and ice arc not in themselves by any means Injurious to the pliyslcal 
 health of the average native of tlie temperate zone. They mr.y bo dis- 
 agreeable, but they are not unhenlthlul, unless the soil of the district 
 where they occur is of a nature' to retain dampness. Clays are bad in 
 this respect; gravelly soils are safe. Scientific records have well estab- 
 lislied that llio average duration of human life is greater In proportion 
 as the residence Is advanced from the eijuator towards the poles. 
 There are exceptions, of course, but only such as prove the general 
 rule. There is more risk of disease by far in a voyage to India or 
 Panama llian In one to llehrliig stralls. Climate, however, is not the 
 only thing lo be considered when 'here Is (piestlon. In a medical sense, 
 of the risks of a distant and lii()orlous exptMllllon undertaken by a 
 multitude of persons widely dllVerlng, as all multitudes must. In the 
 capacity of Individuals for standing hardship and privations. 
 
 To the weak, or those disposed lo special allnieiits, conditions 
 which are only Invigorating to the man in average health are often 
 absolutely fatal. Weak hearts and w(>nk lungs cnniiot face northern 
 blasts or tciiiptMiilures below zero, HheumatlNiu and its klndit'd alTec- 
 tlons are etiually lll-lllted for such tests. Nor ar(> sucli persons, 
 wh(>ther young or old, as have b"eii long accustomed to purely seden- 
 tary (ie<'iipalloiis, or to lives of ease and luxury, physically lilted for 
 tho hardslilim of the Klondike. In the former the vital and resistive 
 powevs have never been developed In the lalt(>r they have been sai>ped. 
 Wea < eyes woulil be severely tested by the glare id' a snow covered 
 land, and blindness Is but one of the dangers to b(> feared by Arctic 
 explorers. Snow glasses should be a part of every iiiairs eipilpinent, 
 
 hi brief, I would say that persons sul)Ject to troubles of the heart, 
 throat or lungs should stay away from tho Klondike. Physical ex- 
 haust Ion. colds, scurvy, rheuninllsin and snow lillndness are the ciilef 
 dangers l(» be aiipreheiided on the trip from a medical standpoint. 
 Citric neld 1h a gmxl suhstlttite for lemons as a preventative «tf scurvy. 
 Lime juice Is also goiMJ, I'or the healthy In oIIiit respects than those 
 mentioned there Is no more danger to be dreaded than in any onllnary 
 change of roHldencu'. Alaska is not In Itself more unhealthful than 
 

 i 
 
 !|i 
 
 II 
 
 :1 
 
 Dock Sa'iie Ik'toiv Sailiiiji ot an Alaska Steamer. 
 
 i I I 
 
w> 
 
 ■f 
 
 •# 
 
 SPPI 
 
 >->■ • 
 
 * 
 
 
■i 
 
 ALASKA. THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 69 
 
 lUinoiB, Norway or the northern parts of Scotland. Only those that 
 are able to bear hardships should face them, but as far as hygienic 
 conditions go there need be no special apprehension on the score of 
 Alaska. In conclusion I would say to those of weak lungs and weak 
 hearts, and sedentary people generally, stay at home. The others may 
 balance their chances without need of doctors' advice. I would ad- 
 vise all persons who contemplate going to the Klondike region to In- 
 clude in their outtitw a medicine chest composed of the following drugs, 
 the cost of whicl' sliould be within |10: 
 
 Quinine pills, 50; compound cathartic pills, 50; acetauilide tablets, 
 three dozen; citric acid, four ounces; lime juice, one quart; chlorate 
 potash, one box; mustard plasters, six; belladona plasters, six; carbolic 
 salve, four ounces; chloroform liniment, eiglit ounces; Witch Hazel, 
 one pint; essence ginger, four ounces; paregoric, four ounces; laud- 
 anum, one ounce; borax, four ounces; tincture iodine, one ounce; spirits 
 nitre, two ounces; tincture iron, one ounce; cougli mixture, eight 
 ounces; toothacli drops, (uie l)ott]e; viiseliiu'. one bottle; iodoform, two 
 drams; lint, two yards; assorted bandages, one-half dozen; rubber ad- 
 hesive plasters, two feet; absorbent cotton, four ounces; Monsell's salts 
 for liemorrhages — In (luantilles In accordnnct' witli the person's liabil- 
 ity to attacks of the trouble, needles and silk thread. 
 
 For those who use the iunneopathlc remedies a complete Klondike 
 medicine chest has been prepared, including bandages, etc. 
 
 I 
 
 ,ii 
 
 A WAV Sr(i«;KSTl()NvS. 
 
 Experience Is the best teaclier, and tliere are enough experienced 
 yiUvon»>rs who have returneil from the mines to make the best of ad- 
 vice available. From them tiie following suggest loiis liave been 
 gatliered: 
 
 A i)ariner Is almost necessary, but It Is belter to have none than 
 to select one you -an not tr>ist Implicitly and with whom you can not 
 get along well under lhi> most trying clrciimsiances. I'arties of moi'e 
 than two or three rarely get along well together and soon split up, 
 
 1U> agreeable to all and helpful to the really unfortunate, for there 
 Is no telling wiien yon may netMl help yomself, Imt do not be lmi)osed 
 upon and di> not give your conlldeiue to strangers. Ite friemlly to all 
 but be extrt'mely careful with whom you are Inthnate. The man who 
 Is sober, Indusdious and frugal will have liie same advantages over 
 the protllgate there as elsewhere. 
 
 In dealing with the Indians make a plain aureement with then) 
 and pay them all you agree to. Do not try to cheat them and do not 
 let them Impose upon yon. They will work for the highest bidder. 
 They will not look at any money Imt coin. Paper money Is useless In 
 the VldvOU. 
 
 Tak(> i\eedles, thread, buttons, comb, bnisli, looking glass and such 
 other tnilet and dnniestle inlleles as ynn need, also a ball of twine, 
 Rnll needles and wax. Make a canvas ease with pockets to hold all 
 
 i 
 
 k 
 
70 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 these things, one that can be rolled up and tied. Suit your own Ideas 
 as to smoking and chewing tobacco, but remember that it Is almost as 
 good as money and you can scarcely take too much. 
 
 Fine wove mosquito bar Is necessary, as mosquitoes swarm there 
 in the summer time. Gnats are also a pest, and carbolic salve is good 
 for their bites. Flees are plentiful. 
 
 Take fishing tackle with you, as there is plenty of flsh. A short gun 
 is desirable for ducks and grouse, though it adds to the burden to be 
 carried and there is little time to hunt. 
 
 You neetl not take traps, as it is against the law for white men to 
 trap fur-bearing animals in Alaska. 
 
 Granite ware or aluminum cooking utensils are the best and eas- 
 iest to keep clean, but the latter cost more than the former, and both 
 more than steel. 
 
 Do not use oiled canvas for packs, nor rely upon oiled clothing. 
 The extreme cold makes oiled cloth crack and your outfit may be 
 spoiled. Heavy canvas, either plain or parafllned, known as "aqua- 
 pelle," should be used for packs and outside sleeping bags. Pack your 
 stuff in these sacks as nearly 50 pounds in each as possible. Number 
 the sacks and keep a list of their contents. Such necessaries as 
 matches, candles, etc., should be divided among several sacks, so that 
 the loss of a portion of your outfit will not deprive you of them en- 
 tirely. Put your matclips in tin cans. Put a roll of butter in the mid- 
 dle of a saok of flour. It will keep well there. Butter keeps best in 
 sealed cans. 
 
 Be sparing and careful in using your supplies and do not waste in 
 cooking. Keep things and yourself clean. Cook carefully and avcU 
 and you will be in better health for work. 
 
 Do not sit around after becoming heated with work without put- 
 ting on an extra coat or something else. Pneumonia and rheumatism 
 await the one who neglects this advice. 
 
 Do not wear wet clothing. Dry it every night. Sheep skin sleep- 
 ing bags and coats are not desirable, as they get dirty and full of flees 
 and are damp. 
 
 A little vegetable garden can be made In sunnner, and such seed 
 as beets. cabbagcH. radlslics. lettuce. turnli)H, carrots, etc., should be 
 taken. Fresh vegetables are a bixury and a preservative of health. 
 
 A sail for your boat iiiny be made by i)uttlng eyelets In your can- 
 viis tarpaulin or cover for supplies, or in your doul)le sleeping bag, If 
 you take one. You will want a wooden block and 150 feet of rope. 
 
 For dog sleds tlio best that can be had are the reg\ilar Esquhno 
 dogs, but these are scarce. The best to be found In the States arc 
 Scotch collies and long-haired setters. HIg do^s eat too much and 
 short haired dogs are useless, 
 
 .Never overdo yourself In paeUlng. but stop befon« you are ex- 
 hausted. It Is better to pack small (imiiitltles at a time and' take them 
 only a short distance. In this way .viiu keep your outfit together and 
 

 k, 
 
 ALASKA. THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 71 
 
 do not get it scattered along the trail, and you lieep yourself in good 
 condition for worli. Pursue the same policy with pack animals and 
 dogs. See that they are not overloaded, that their packs are properly 
 adjusted and securely tied, that no saddle, strap or wrinkle in a 
 blanket galls or chafes them, give them plenty of time to rest, and feed 
 them regularly. The better care you take of your animals the better 
 work they will do. When hungry dogs will chew leather harness. Can- 
 vas harness is therefore preferable for them. Do not pack a horse till 
 you learn how. Learn to make the diamond hitch. 
 
 Take paper to write on and stamped government envelopes, both 
 Canadian and United States, also pen and ink and pencils. A few 
 books to read are worth their M'eight. 
 
 Of quicksilver you will want about five pounds. This is very little 
 In bulk. It should be packed in an iron bottle, so that there will be no 
 danger of breaking. Be careful in handling it, as it spills easily. A 
 bottle can be made of iron pipe, with a screw top. 
 
 Do not forget that the old adage "The more haste the less speed," 
 is still a good one. Get the best advice you can, but take advice only 
 from those who speak from experience. 
 
 Finally, in outfitting, do not scorn the advice or assistance of the 
 Portland merchants with whom you trade. They have experience and 
 knowledge that will be valuable to you and are reliable and trust- 
 worthy. 
 
 PORTLAND GROCERY PRICE LIST. 
 
 Flour, rbs 
 
 Bacon, lbs 
 
 Beans, ITis 
 
 Sugar, gran'led, YbB . 
 
 Cornmeal, lbs 
 
 RoUetl Oats, lbs 
 
 Rice, lbs 
 
 Baking powder, lbs. 
 Yeast cakes, pkgs... 
 
 Candles, ms 
 
 Pepper, H) 
 
 Mustard, lb 
 
 Ginger, IT) 
 
 Milk, con., do/, 
 
 Soap, laundry, bars . 
 MatclicM, packages . 
 Butter, RcnltMl cmmh. 
 Extraclbeef,2 oz Jars 
 
 
 (October 1, 1897.) 
 
 
 
 Sup pi 
 
 es for etgbleen months. 
 
 
 
 600 
 
 bl $4.40 
 
 Soups, 1T)S 20 
 
 can 
 
 .25 
 
 300 
 
 It) 
 
 .09 
 
 Tobacco, as desired. 
 
 
 
 150 
 
 lb 
 
 .02% 
 
 all grades in stock. 
 
 
 
 150 
 
 lb 
 
 .05% 
 
 Klondike sausage, lb 20 
 
 lb 
 
 .10 
 
 75 
 
 lb 
 
 .02 
 
 Dried beef, lbs 20 
 
 m 
 
 .20 
 
 75 
 
 lb 
 
 .03 
 
 Lime .lulce, qt 1 
 
 qt 
 
 .40 
 
 50 
 
 lb 
 
 .05% 
 
 Quicksilver, lbs 5 
 
 lb 
 
 .70 
 
 12 
 
 lb 
 
 .35 
 
 Kxnporated fruits ..100 
 
 lb 
 
 .07% 
 
 8 
 
 pk 
 
 .05 
 
 rruncH, 1T)8 50 
 
 It) 
 
 .06 
 
 50 
 
 m 
 
 .10 
 
 Uaislns, 1T)S 10 
 
 lb 
 
 .06 
 
 1 
 
 IT) 
 
 .25 
 
 Evai,. potatoes, lbs.. 75 
 
 lb 
 
 .10 
 
 % 
 
 IT) 
 
 .25 
 
 Kvnp. onions, lbs... 75 
 
 lb 
 
 .40 
 
 V* 
 
 lb 
 
 .25 
 
 Dried fish, lbs 30 
 
 It) 
 
 .10 
 
 6 
 
 dz 
 
 1.25 
 
 Coffee. 1T)8 40 
 
 lb 
 
 .20 
 
 fi 
 
 lb 
 pk 
 
 .04 
 .02 
 
 Ten. IT)M 5 
 
 It) 
 m 
 
 35 
 
 80 
 
 Salt. HiH 20 
 
 .01 
 
 .S5 
 
 IT) 
 
 .25 
 4.40 
 
 Soda, ITiH 3 
 
 lb 
 
 .05 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 J ■ 
 
 • 
 
nm 
 
 72 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 PORTLAND GENERAL PRICE LIST. 
 (October 1, 1897.) 
 
 Oregon blankets, 10-lb. .$8.50@10.00 
 
 Heavy leather shoes 2.50@ 4.00 
 
 Gum boots 3.50@ 4.50 
 
 Gum boots, leather soles 5.50@ 6.50 
 Woolen underwear, suit 2.50@ 5.00 
 
 Woolen shirts L00@ 2.50 
 
 Woolen socks, pair 25@ .50 
 
 Woolen mitts 50@ 1.00 
 
 Leather mitts, wool lined .75@ 1.50 
 
 Mackinaw coat 2.50@ 4.00 
 
 Mackinaw pants 2.50@ 4.00 
 
 Overalls 50® .75 
 
 Overalls, wool lined 1,00® 1.50 
 
 Towels 25® .50 
 
 Oilskin suit 
 Porpoise shoestrings, dz 
 Sleeping bag, pelt-lined. 
 Sleeping bag, Maclvinaw 
 
 lined 
 
 Sleeping bag, Aquapelle. 
 Sleeping bag, Kenwood, 
 
 tlire<» pieces 
 
 Rubber blanket 
 
 Rul)ber blkt, pelt-back.. 
 Waterproof sack for 
 
 clothing 
 
 .90 
 .40 
 15.00 
 
 10.00 
 5.00 
 
 13.00 
 1.50 
 2.50 
 
 1.00 
 
 Tieatlier 
 lined 
 
 Canvas 
 
 Duck, 
 lined. 
 
 Woolen 
 
 Woolen 
 
 Soft 
 
 Pelt 
 
 coat, corduroy 
 
 coat, pelt-lined. 5.00® 
 coat, blanket- 
 rubber sheeting 
 
 sweater 1.00® 
 
 cap 50® 
 
 felt hat 1.00® 
 
 liood 
 
 f T'! 
 
 Felt boots 75® 
 
 Pur cap 2.00® 
 
 Canvas sacks, 50 rtis.doz. . 
 Canvas sacks, 100 lbs, 
 
 per dozen 
 
 .\quai)ene s'ks, 50 ITis, doz . '. 
 Canvas outllt cover and 
 
 sail. 7.\t0 
 
 Wall tent, 10x12. ridge ♦ 
 
 rope 7.00® 
 
 Merriam pack 
 
 Yukon jiacklng frame.. 
 Manila rope, per lb. . . . 
 
 Hoiit cotton, per It) 20'??^ 
 
 Sal! needles {}2((fi 
 
 Twine, per !b '. . .2)® 
 
 Oaktnn. per lb 
 
 6.00 
 6.00 
 
 3.50 
 3.00 
 1.00 
 3.00 
 1.50 
 1.00 
 5.00 
 3.50 
 
 5.00 
 5.00 
 
 2.00 
 
 9.00 
 4.75 
 3.00 
 .08 
 .25 
 .05 
 .30 
 .10 
 
 Pitch, per lb 
 
 Oars, per foot 
 
 Rowlocks, per pair 
 
 Life preservers 1 
 
 Calking iron 
 
 Wood blocks, 4-in., per 
 
 pair 1 
 
 Snow slioes 
 
 Yukon stove 
 
 Nest camp kettles, 3, 
 
 steel 
 
 Nest camp kettles, 3, 
 
 granite 
 
 Fry pan, steel 
 
 Bake pan 
 
 Water bucket, granite.. 
 Plates, granite, each... 
 
 Plates, tin. three 
 
 Cup and saucer, granite. 
 
 Cu)t. tin 
 
 Coffee pot 
 
 Knives and forks, 6 each 
 
 Table spoons, doz 
 
 Tea spoons, doz 
 
 Large si)oons, two 
 
 Hutdier knife 
 
 Driftlngpick and handle 
 Round point shovel.... 
 
 (iold |)an 
 
 Cold scale 
 
 Miignifying glass 
 
 Comixiss 
 
 Goggles, or snow glasses 
 
 Shoe calks 
 
 Ciilk set 
 
 SiioeniaktM's" outfit 
 
 Whip saw, goose neck.. 
 
 Hand saw 
 
 .flick plane 
 
 Draw knife 
 
 .\xe, with extra handle 
 
 Cliiw li.'Mchet 
 
 Miimuier 
 
 S(|Uiire 
 
 Chisel. Vz inch 
 
 Files for saws, two. . . . 
 
 Wlu'tstoii(> 
 
 Nulls, wire, per It) 
 
 Nulls, galvaidzed. 1T».... 
 Hulibcr cenient, patches 
 
 Garden seeds 
 
 Cliiilk line and chalk... 
 
 .04 
 .08 
 .25 
 15@ 1.50 
 .50 
 
 ,65® 2.00 
 6.00 
 5.00 
 
 .86 
 
 1.60 
 .86 
 .20 
 .86 
 .20 
 .20 
 .80 
 .10 
 .86 
 .46 
 .20 
 .10 
 .26 
 .45 
 
 1.00 
 .75 
 .50 
 
 1.25 
 .50 
 
 1.2i 
 
 .50 
 
 .26 
 
 1.25 
 
 6.50 
 
 1.50 
 
 .90 
 
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Chapter VIII 
 
 Natives, Missions and Towns 
 
 Much speculation has beeu Indulged in by scientists as to the origin 
 of the native tribes of Alaska, particularly the Eslvinios, or Innults, and 
 those occupying the southeast coast and adjacent islands and the 
 islands of tlie Aleutian archipelago. Whether the natives were driven 
 west or north from the more easterly and soutlierly regions of Amer- 
 ica, or emigrated to this continent from Asia, is the mooted question. 
 There are many indications that the Innnits and coast Indians at least 
 are of Mongolian origin, or liave liad a mingling of Mongolian blood. 
 Tlie stature, eyes. jxTsonal ai)iiearance. complexion, hair and i)ersonal 
 characteristics and traits of tlie Innnits bring them closer to the Jap- 
 anese than to the Indians of America. 
 
 QMie coast tribes are a very imitative people and have great slcill in 
 carving. The most strilcing objects of tlieir artistic sl;ill are the huge 
 totem poles, carved from cedar, that stand in front of their houses. 
 These are ancestral coats of arms, as well as commemorative tablets. 
 Each family has its distinctive crest, such as the whale, beaver, crow, 
 eagle, etc., and the blending of these on a totem constitute a genealogy. 
 The Indians of tiuecn Cliarlotte islands carve s''"'ler totems in stone 
 with much art and nicety. All Idnds of utensils and objects of utility, 
 including tlielr liuge canoes, aic carved from cedar and highly orna- 
 mented. 
 
 Tlie Indians liand down tlieir religion and liistory by oral tradi- 
 tions, They lielieve in witchcraft, and tlie witch doctor, or shamin, is 
 a iiowerful autocrat. Evil spirits are exorcised out of the sidi, accom- 
 paided often by the life of the invalid, while occasionally a witch Is 
 tortured and killed. The work of the missionaries and the strong iiand 
 of tlie government are doing mncii to i>ut an end to the power and 
 cruelties of the sliainins. ("rematiiHi of the dead is universal among 
 tlie trilies. The misslouiiries are trying to eradicate tills custom, 
 thotigh to what goo<l jiurpose is not t-lear. When not cremated, the 
 bodies are usually placed in boxes or canoes in a sitting position and 
 then deposited on a iiigli point or far tip juiioiig tiie brandies of a liuge 
 tree, surrounded by such tilings as might add to comfort and iiappiness 
 in the spirit land. Eornu'ily slaves weri' killed uimhi tlie deatii of a 
 clilef, to minister to lils wants in tli(> unknown country, (■annlballsm 
 was practiced at times, more as a religious rite than for pleasure, or by 
 the shamlns for tiie ptirpose of gaining control ov<>r spirits. Indians 
 are inveterate gamblers, and in tlieir native game (»f sticks often lose 
 all they possess, Including the <'iotlies (Ui llu>ir backs and their scjuaws. 
 
 They are expert In the making of baskets and the weaving of 
 
 ! 
 
 » 1 
 
 : 
 1 
 
 * 
 i 
 
 11: 
 
 y. 
 
74 
 
 ALASKA. THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 blankets on a hand loom from the wool of the moimtaiu sheep. These 
 are Avell made aud of beautiful pattern, and represent six months' 
 labor by a squaw. They are sold as high as a hundred dollars each, 
 and the demand has so outrun the supply tliat tourists are now im- 
 posed upon by articles not strictly Renuine. This is true also of Alaska 
 curios in general. They often go up on a steamer as freight and return 
 on the same vessel as highly prizeil curios in the possession of tourists. 
 The Indian canoe is often large enough for 40 men and is a tine piece 
 of woi'kmanship. They generally have high and tinely carved prows 
 and sterns. The small canoe of the Eskimo and of the Aleuts is made 
 of skin and Is called a kyak or bidauka. The Eskimos make a large 
 boat of skin, called a oomiax, with mast and sail. Wooden canoes, 
 totems and other carvings are painted red and black with a paint made 
 by them from a soft rock. 
 
 In Southeast Alaska the Indians live in board houses hewn from 
 trees or in log houses. An open fire is built in the center of the room, 
 on a gravel foundation, and the smoke escapes through an adjustable 
 opening in the roof, made to suit the direction of the wind. Bunks 
 around the sides of the room serve for beds for all the family. The 
 Aleuts live in houses which are partially dug out of the ground and 
 partially constructed of sod aud roofed with grass. The Eskimos live 
 in housetj built of logs in an excavation in the ground, the top being 
 level with the ground and roofed with moss and dirt, except a small 
 space covered with walrus intestine, so transparent as to serve as a 
 window. Entrance is had through a passage leading from an adjoining 
 excavation. This hut is air tight and is warmed easily by a lamp of 
 native manufacture which burns seal oil on a wick of cotton gathered 
 from a wild shrub. The only ventilation is had by the hole in the roof. 
 
 On the route by the passes and the lakes and river, the gold-hunter 
 will encounter 10 tribes of Indians, each of which numbers but a few, 
 the total not much exceeding 1000. The most numerous and po^yerful 
 are the Chilkats, or Thlinkits, along Lynn canal. It is they who do the 
 packing over the passes. They are shrewd and tricky and have to be 
 held to their bi.rgaius, but tiiey are most accomplished packers and 
 have proveil indispensable to Yukoners. When railroads or tramways 
 overcome the dittleulties lying between the coast and lakes, the Indians 
 will lose their importance and under the demoralisation of their asso- 
 ciations will soon disappear. The next tribe, the one coming in direct 
 contact with the Clilikafs. is the Sticks, and beyond them, at Intervals 
 along the river to its mouth, tlie other small tribes are located. There 
 are a number of missions along the river, aud the Indians make tliem- 
 selvcs useful by sawing wood and doing other work around the mis- 
 sions and trading pcKsts. They used to depend entirely upon tlsli aud 
 game for subsistence. l)iit now they excliange furs at tlie trading posts 
 for supplies of food, clothing, li(iuor, tobacco, guns, ammuuitlon and 
 ornaments. On the lower river the Indians are not so vigorous nor so 
 skillful in hunting. They live in little hovels and subsist ui)on tlsh, 
 seal oil, berries, etc.. and are t'Xtremely tindean In their hal)lts. All 
 
ALASKA. THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 75 
 
 communication with Indians is by use of tlie Clilnoolt jargon, tlie 
 composite language used by tlie Hudson's Eay Company in its dealing 
 with the natives in every portion of North America where that com- 
 pany has done business. 
 
 MISSIONS AND SCHOOLS. 
 
 Almost from the earliest settlement of Alaska, missiouaries have 
 been at worli among the natives, beginning with priests of the Greek 
 church, who accompanied the convicts sent out as colonists, followed 
 by Lutheran ministers, and since the acquisition of the territory by the 
 United States by representatives of the Catholic, Episcopalian, Presby- 
 terian, Methodist and Congregational churches. The Russian priests 
 established missions at various points along the coast and in the in- 
 terior, but they did little towards teaching the natives, their schools 
 being attended chiefly by the children of the white and half-breed em- 
 ployees of the fur company. A church w^as built at Sitka which is one 
 of the chief objects of interest to tourists. It has a chime of bells and 
 its altar decorations are extremely rich and elaborate. It has sever;^l 
 costly paintings set in frames of gold and silver, that of the Madonna 
 being especially tine. The Lutheran mission was established in 1845, 
 but was discontinued when the transfer of the territory was made in 
 1867, the Swedes, Fins and other Lutheran employees of the Russian 
 company having departed. A Greek priest still remains in charge of 
 the old Greek church, to which many of tlie natives belong. 
 
 Real missionary work begun when Dr. Slieldon Jackson first visited 
 Alaska in 1884. Mrs. A. R. McFarland was induced by him to begin 
 teaching tlie natives at Fort Wrangell. A few years later she located 
 on Prince of Wales island, where she is still doing her gootl work. In 
 1885 Dr. Jackson was appointtnl general agent of education for Alaska 
 by the president, and has continued his work in all portions of tlie ter- 
 ritory to the present time. He lias established schools at various points 
 and has apportioned the school appropriation made by congress among 
 the s^iiools establisiied by the various cliurches at their missions. It 
 was he who induced the government fo domesticate reindeer in Alaska 
 for the benefit of the natives, sometliing wliich now promises to be of 
 still greater benefit to the white men. 
 
 Tliere are missions now by the various denominations mentioned, 
 both along the coast and In the interior. The Catholis iiave a liospital 
 at Juneau. Tlie government supports 16 scliools, wliile tiiere are 19 sup- 
 ported by tlie missions. Tiiere are tiiree industrial schools, tluit of 
 WlUiani Duncan, at New Metiakahtla being the most important. Tiie 
 Presliyterians iiave one at Sitka and ' j catholics one at Koserefsky 
 on the Yukon. 
 
 THE TOWNS OF ALASKA. 
 
 Sitka, tlie Alaskan capital, is situated on Baranott' ishind. and was 
 known as New Arcliangel by the HusHlans. It was founded by Alex- 
 ander Raianoft'. tlie autocratic governor of tlie Russian Fur Company, 
 
 ^i 
 
 ^/ 
 
76 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 1^ 
 
 lu 1799, and tlic capital was roiuoved there from Kadlali lu 1804. With 
 a brief interval it has been the seat of government ever since. Here the 
 United States ottlcials reside. The white population is about 500, and 
 the natives nunilter nearly twice as many, living In a town by them- 
 selves. Besides the (Sreek el .. ch, the chief object of interest until it 
 was destroyed by tire a few years ago, was Baranoff castle, a huge log 
 structure, built by the autocratic Baranotf in 1813. The industrial 
 school is located half a mile from the city, and near It is the museum of 
 Alaska curios coUect.Ml by Dr. Jackson. A weekly paper, the "Alas- 
 kan," Is published at Sltka. and Is the oldest in Alaska. The mountains 
 back of Sitka are very picturesque, especially the Alpine peak, Edge- 
 cumb, to the nortli, and add much to the charm of the scenery. 
 
 Though not the capital, the chief commercial city of Alaska is 
 Juneau, about 100 nines north of Sitka and situated on tlie mainland, at 
 the foot of steep motuitalns. It Is the chief local outlUt!ng iind starting 
 point for ttie Yukon mines, and enjoyed a monopoly of the trade until 
 tlie rush of tlie past sniinncr sent gold-hunters, already ecinijjped, by 
 steamer direct t(> Dyea and Skaguay. .luneau has water works, electric 
 ligiits. sulistanllal bididings. cliurclies and wharves, liotels and stores 
 carrying large stocks of goods. It has a com-t house and city hall, as 
 well as sahtons, nol\vltiistan<llng the Interdict against lUpior. II Is the 
 center of (lulte extensive <|uartz and plac(«r mining inieresis, and the 
 famous Treadwell mill and ndne are but two miles distant, mi Dougla.><s 
 Island, .luneau has a varying pupnlalion, reaching several thousand at 
 times. It Is a favorite wintering place for ndners. The proposed rail- 
 road up the 'I'aku t(i Lake Teslln Is expected to terminate at Juneau. 
 Thre(> weekly i»apers thrive and Iind busliu'ss and plenty of material 
 for their lu'ws columns. First called llarrlsburg and then Rockwell, It 
 was In 1881 named Juneau, at a mir.ers' meeting. In honor of Joseph 
 Jum>au, who, with Kidiard Harris, tliS'overetl gold then' the year be- 
 fore. 
 
 The other towns of Soullienstern Alaska are New Metlakahtla, on 
 .\inielleisland, nl the extieiiie Noulheiii bo\mdary, and I'orl Wrangell.at 
 the nioulli of the Sllckeen river. Tlie former is ilie Dinicau mission and 
 Industrial colony, and tiie latter was formerly an Important trading 
 point foi' t lie miners in the interior, In the nortliein portion of Itritisli 
 Columbia, It has a nundier of stores, a church, a saw mill and a 
 Inlled Slates bonded w areiioiiHc. 
 
 SI, Paul, on Kadlak Island. 500 ndles west of Sitka, has always 
 lit en an Important point since the tlrst settlement of the territory. 
 Here Is ilie thief sent of the salmon packim; Industry. I'nalaska. or 
 1 Mitch Harbor, Is siinated on one of tlie .Meiitlan IslandK. at the chief 
 pass through them on the voyagt* to the ViiKon o: the At'cttc. .\ deputy 
 collector of customs and a comnilsNloner are Ntilltineil here. 
 
 St, .Michaels, on the Island of the Miinie n:ii le. Is the location of the 
 trading posts and siippl.v depots of the .Musi, a Comiiierelal t'ompany 
 and the North .\inerlciin Trading \ Transportation t'oinpany, .\s the 
 transfer point for passengers and freight to iind from the Yukon steam- 
 
iiH 
 
 
 Alaska Indian Shamiii, oi Witcli Doctor. 
 
 H 
 
 U 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 77 
 
 ers it has now become a very imiiortant place. A company of soldiers 
 has been sent there and it will probably have a deputy collector, com- 
 missioner and postmaster. 
 
 There are a number of trading posts belonginie to the two com- 
 panies along th(> Yukon, the cldef point being Circle City, on the Yukon 
 tiats. It was founded in 1894, and was nametl because of its location, 
 but a few n)ilt's s(mth of tlie Arctic Circle. It Is the commercial point 
 for the rich mines on Kirch creek, as well as other mining districts on 
 the American side of the line. In 1895 it had a popul.ition of 500, ' .it 
 in 1896 was nearly deserted by the rush to the Klondike. However, 
 the minluj,' Interests on the American side are too lmi)ortant not to 
 cause Circle City to Increase conslderab'y In population and business. 
 
 The chief points on the Yukcm. on the Canadian side are Forty-Mile 
 and Dawson. The former is close to the boundary line, 150 miles fnun 
 Circle City and 50 miles from Dawson. It has stores, sal(M)ns. opera 
 house, Itakerles, and several breweries and distilleries, all built of logs. 
 Near It is Fort Cudahy, a trading post of one of the companies. As to 
 Dawson, situated In the .junction of the YMdvon and Klondike. Its char- 
 acter and history are fully given in the second and third <'iiai)ters. Other 
 towns and trading points will doubtlessly spring up as new mining dis- 
 tricts are discovered and developed. 
 
 Chapter IX 
 
 The Mining Laws 
 
 One going to the Yukon country must bear In n>lnd that on tho 
 American side of the boundary line the mining laws of the CtdtcHl 
 Htates are in force, wlille tlie Canadian laws govern mining in Nortli- 
 west territory, where tiie more recent discoveries, an- located. Ab 
 B(M>n as the rnsli to tlie Klondike liegim in July, the Canndlan govern- 
 ment at one«> issued supplenitMitary mining regulations, given in full 
 below, by which each allernale claim shall belong to the governnumt, 
 and a royalty )>•> a also pniil by all niitiers en tlu> gold taken out of 
 their elalniH. Tlu>re was Instant and lou<l protest, both by AnH^rleiinii 
 and CaiiadiauH. and the otilclals were advised that it was not praelleni 
 to enforce such regulallons, iiarllc\ilarly llie eoUei'llon of r(»yalty. 
 However, the government adhereil to Uh decision, und has pnblislied 
 tlie regnliitioiis In the oillcial gazette. The Canadian iiiiiiiiig laws are 
 as follows, all the legal Ioiiiin iiieiiti«ined being olilalnahle fnun the 
 gold et>ninilHNloner: 
 
 
78 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 MINIXCr REOI'LATIONS OF NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 
 
 1. "Bnr dlfjsliigs." a strip of land 100 feet wlfU' at high water 
 mark and theiioo oxtonding into the rivor to its h)wi'st water level. 
 
 2. The sides of a ehiiui for l>ar digging shall be two parallel lines 
 run as nearly as iiossible at right angles to the stream, nnd shall be 
 niarlved by four legal posts, one at each end of tlie elaiui at or about 
 tlie edge of tlie water. One of tlie posts iit higli water niarlc shall bo 
 legibly nuirlted with the name of the miner and tlie date upon which 
 the claim was stalied. 
 
 3. Dry diggings shall bo 100 f(>el s(iuare and shall have plaoe<l at 
 each of its four corners a legal post, upon one of whleli shall be legibly 
 marked tlie name of tiie miner and the date upon which tlie claim 
 was staked. 
 
 4. Creek nnd river clnlniH shall be 500 [reduetnl to 100 feet by the 
 new regulations] feet long, measured in the direction of tlie general 
 course of the stream, and shall extend in Width from base to base of 
 the hill or bench on each side, but when the hills or benches are less 
 than 100 f((>t apart the claim may be 100 feet In depth. The sides of 
 the claim shall be two i)arall«>l Uiu's run as nearly as possible at riglit 
 angles to the stream. The sides shall be mavked with legal posts at 
 or about the edge of (he water and at th<> rear boundaries of the claim. 
 One of tlic legal jtosts at the stream shall be legll)ly marked wltli the 
 name of tlie miner and the date upon which the claim was staked. 
 
 5. Heiich claims shall be 100 feet square. 
 
 G. In dellning the size of claims they shall be measured horl/.on- 
 lally, Irrespective of intMpialllii's on tlie surface of the gmiind. 
 
 7. If any per.son or persons HJiaii discover a new mine and such 
 discovery sliall be establlslied to the satist'actlon of the gold commis- 
 sioner, a claim for bar diggings 750 | (Mliiced by the new regulations 
 to 200 feet and made to apply to creek and river cialmsl feet in length 
 may be granted, 
 
 .V new stratum of auriferous earth or gravel situated in a locality 
 where the claims .-ire abandoned shall for this purpose be d(>eine*I a 
 new mine, allliougli the same locality sliall have liecn previously 
 worked nl a illtVcrenl level, 
 
 8. The forms of ap|)llcatlon lor a grant for placer milling and the 
 giant of the same slmll be those contained In forms "11" and "I" In the 
 s< licdiile hereto. 
 
 9. A elnliii slinil be recorded with the gold commissioner In whose 
 dislrh't II Is situated wlllilii three days after tlii< hHatliui thereur. if it 
 Is located w llliiii ten miles of the commissioner's otllc(>. One extra da> 
 uliiill be allowed for making such record for every ten miles or fraction 
 thereof, 
 
 |0. Ill the event of the iiliseiice of the gold coiiiiiiJNsiolier fioiii his 
 otilee, entry by a claim may be granled by tiny person whom he may 
 appoint to perform lils (liitleH In his nbseiice. 
 
 II. Entry shall iioi lie uiniMed tor ti <'liiiiii wlilcli has not been 
 Mtaked by the applicant In person in the manner specllled In these 
 
ALASKA. THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 Ti 
 
 regulntions. An nltidnvit tliat tlio clniiu was staked out by the appli- 
 cant shall bo (Miibodied in form "H" of the seliedule hereto. 
 
 12. An entry fee of $15 shall be charged the first year, and an an- 
 nual fee of $100 [reduced to $15 by tlis new regulations] for each of 
 the following years. Tills |>rovision shall apply to looations for which 
 entries have already been granted. 
 
 13. After the recording of a claim tlie removal of any i)ost by the 
 holder hereof, or by any jxTson acting in his l)elialf, for tlie purjioso of 
 changing the iMmndarit's of his claim, siiall act as a forfeiture of tlie 
 claim. 
 
 14. Tlie entry of every liolder of a grant for placer mining must 
 bo renewed and liis receipt relliKiuislied and replaced every year, the 
 entry fee being iiald each time. 
 
 15. No miner shall receive a grant of more than one mining claim 
 in the same locality, but tlie same miner may iiold any numlier of 
 claims by jmrcliase, and any number of miners may unite to work 
 their <-laliiis In common ui»on sucli terms iis tliey may arrange, pro- 
 vided sucli agreement be registt'ied wltli the gold commissUmer and a 
 fee of live dollars lu> paid for «>acli n>glstralloii. 
 
 16. Any miner or ml:iers may sell, mortgage or dispose of lils or 
 their claims, providt'd such disposal Ite registered with, and a fe«> of 
 two dollars paid to the gold coiiimlssloiier. who shall thei-eiipoii give 
 the assignee a certificate in form ".I" in tlie schedule hereto. 
 
 17. Every miner sliall, during the continuance of his grant, have 
 tho exclusive right of entry upon his own claim, for the mlner-Uke 
 working thereof, and the construction of a residence thereon, and shall 
 1m> entlticil exclusively to all the jtroceeds realized tlierefiom; but lie 
 shall have no surface rlglits therein; and tlie gold commissioner tuny 
 grant to the holders of ail.laceiit claims such rlglit of entry thereon ns 
 may be ai..<oliitely necessary for the working of their claims, iipou such 
 terms as may to him seem reasonable. lie may also grant permits to 
 miners to cut timber thereon for their own use, npoii payiiiiMit of the 
 dues ]a'escrllie<l by the regulations In that behalf. 
 
 18. Every miner shall be entitled to the uso of so iimch of the 
 water nalnrally llowlng through or iiasi his claim, and not already law- 
 fully appropriated, as shall. In the o]iliiion of the gold commlsslonur. 
 be neeesHary for the due working thereof; and shall be entitled to 
 draiti Ills own claim free of charge- 
 
 lit. ,\ claim shall lie deemed to 1m> altandoiied and open to oeeti- 
 pallon and entry liy any pri's<in when the same shall have remained 
 unworUed on working days by the grantee or by some |iers.>ii on his 
 behalf for I lie space of se\enty two hours, unless slckiiiss or other 
 I'easonalile cause be shown to the saUsiiiction of the gold commls- 
 Mloner, or unless the grantee Is absent on leave given by the eomiiils- 
 sloner, and tli<> u'old eoinmlssloiier upon oliialnlng e\'ideiiri> satisfac- 
 tory to himselt that tlih pi'o\ Islon Is not being complied with may cuu- 
 eel the entry given fttr a claim. 
 
 !t 
 
 «l 
 
80 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 20. If the laud upon which a ehiim has been located Is not the 
 property of the crown, it will be necessary for the person who applied 
 for entry to furnish proof that he has acquired from the owner of the 
 land the surface rights before entry can be granted. 
 
 21. If the occupier of the lands lias not received a patent there- 
 for, the purchase money of the surfaqe rights must be paid to the 
 crown, and a patent of the surface rights will issue to the party who 
 acquired the mining rlglits. Tlie money so collected will either be 
 refunded to tlie occupier of the land, when he is entitled to a patent 
 therefor, or will be credited to him on account of payment for land. 
 
 22. When the party obtaining the mining rights to lands cannot 
 make an arrangement with the owner or his agent or the occupant 
 thereof for the acquisition of his surface rights, it shall be lawful for 
 him to give notice to tlie owner or his agent or the occupier to appoint 
 an arbitrator to act with another arbitrator named by him, in order to 
 award tlieamountof compensation to whicli the owner or occupantshall 
 be entitled. Tlie notice mentioned In tills section shall be according to a 
 form to be obtained upon application from the gold commissioner for 
 the district in which tlie lands in (luestion He, and shall, when practi- 
 cable, be personally served on such owner, or his agent If known, or 
 occupant; and after reasoiialile efforts have been made to effect per- 
 sonal service, Mitliout success, tlieii such notice shall be serve<l by 
 leaving at, or sending by registered letter to, the last place of abode 
 of the owner, agent or oi-cupaiit. Sucli notice shall be served upon the 
 owner or agent within a perhul to be llxed by the gold commissioner 
 before the expiration of the time limited In such notice. If tlie pro- 
 prlei'or refuses or (ieclliies to iii»iK»lnt an arbitrator, or wlieii. for any 
 other reason, no arbitrator Is appolnteil by the proprietor In the time 
 limited llierel'or In tlu' notice provided for by this section, the gold com- 
 missioner for the district In which the lauds In »iuestlon He, shall, on 
 being satisfied by atlldavlt tliat sueli notice has come to the knowUnlge 
 of such owner, agent or occupant, or that sueli owner, agent or occu- 
 pant wilfully eva<lcs the service of sudi i otlce, or cannot be found, 
 and that reasonable efforts have been made to effe<'t such service, and 
 that the uoth'e was left at tlie last iilnce of alxxle of such owner, agent 
 or occiq)aiit, appoint an arbitrator on Ins behalf. 
 
 23. (a). All the arbitrators appointed under the autliorily of these 
 regulations shall be sworn before a Justice of the peace to ilie Impar- 
 tial discharge of the duties assigned to them, and they shall forthwith 
 proceed to estimate tlie reMsonabl(> (hiiiiages which tlie owner or occu- 
 pant of such lands, acfonling to tlidr several Interests therein, shall 
 sustain by reason of such pi'im|iectiiig and mining oiterations. 
 
 (bi. In estimating such damages, the arbitrators .shall determluu 
 the value of the land lrr»>spectlvely of any enhancement therefrom 
 from the e.\lstt>nce of mlticials therein. 
 
 Id. In cast- such arbllraloiN cannot agree, they may select a third 
 arbitrator, and when the two arbitrators cannot agree upon u third 
 
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 G 
 
 Com 
 
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 ! 
 
ALASKA. THE NEW ELDOKADO 
 
 81 
 
 ivrbitnitoi-, the gold coiiiniissioiKJr for the district hi which the lands in 
 (luestlon He shall select Huch third arbitrator. 
 
 (d). The award of any two such arbitrators made in writing shall 
 be final, and sliall be Hhnl witli the gold commissioner for the district 
 in which the lands lie. 
 
 "Bar diggings" shall mean any part of a river over wliich the 
 water extends when the water is in its flooded state and which is not 
 covered at low water. 
 
 Mines on bendies shall b(> Icnown as "bench diggings," and shall, 
 for the purpose of defining tlie size of such claims, be exempted from 
 dry diggings. 
 
 "Dry diggings" sliall mean any mine over wliidi a river never ex- 
 tends. 
 
 "Miner" sliall mciin a male or female over the age of eighteen, but 
 not under that age. 
 
 "Claim" sliall mean tlie personal riglit of property in a placer mine 
 or diggings during the time for which the grant of such mine or dig- 
 gings is made. 
 
 "Legal post" shall mean a staice standing not less than four feet 
 above the ground and sipiared on four sides for at least one foot from 
 tiie top. The sides so sipiared sliail measure at least four indies across 
 the face. It shall also mean any stump or tree cut off or squared or 
 faced to the above heiglit and size. 
 
 "Close season" sliall mean tlie period of tlie y(>ar during which 
 pla<*er mining is generally susi)i'iide(l. 'i'iic jx'riod to be tix«Ml by the 
 gold commissioner in wlio.se district tlie daiiii is situated. 
 
 "Locality" shall mean tli'.> territory along a river (tributary of the 
 Yniion river) and its adiuenls. 
 
 "Mineral" siiall include all minerals wliatsoever otlier tlian coal. 
 
 In any cases arising t'oi- wliicii no provision is made in tiiese reg- 
 ulations, tlie i»rovisions of llie regulations governing the disposal of 
 mineral lands other than coal lands. ai>proved by his excellency the 
 governor in council on I lie 91 li of Novemlier. 1889, sliall apply. 
 
 The reguiatioiiN foiiiinlated by the Dominion government covering 
 the collection of a royalty on gold mined in the Yukon are jaibllshed 
 in tlie oHldal gazette Just Issued, 'i'iiey are as follows: 
 
 "Tliat upon all g()i<i mined on the da 1ms referri'd to In tiie regula- 
 tions for the government of placer mining along the Yukon riv«'r and 
 its triltutarles. a royally of 10 per cent, sluill be levied and colIectiMl 
 by olllcers to l>" ai»point(Ml for the puriiose. provided tiiat the amount 
 mined and taken out from a single claim d(H's not exceed $500 per 
 week, and In rase the amount mined and taken from any singh> claim 
 does (>xcecd $500 per week, there shall be levied and <*ollectetl a roy- 
 alty of ten per cent, upon the amount so taken out up to $500, and 
 upon the ex<eHs or amount taken from any single dalin over $500 per 
 week there shall lie levied :iiid collected a royally of 20 per cent., such 
 royalty to form part of (lie lonsolldated rc\eiiue. aiui to be accounted 
 for by IheotHcers wlio collt>cl the sanu' in tine course. 
 
 1^! 
 
 1, 
 
 I 
 
 t 
 
82 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 "The time and manner in which royalty shall be collected and the 
 persons who shall collect the same shall be provided for by the regula- 
 tions to be made by the gold commissioner, and that the gold commis- 
 sioner be and is hereby given authority to malie such regulations and 
 rules accordingly. 
 
 "That default in payment of such royalty, if continued for ten 
 days after notice has been posted upon the claim in respect of whicli 
 it is demanded, or in tlie A'iclnity of sudi claim, by the gold commis- 
 sioner or his agent, sliall l)e followed by the cancellation of the claim. 
 
 "That any attempt to defraud the ciown by withholding any rev- 
 enue thus provided for, by malving false statements of the amount taken 
 out, may be punisliable by cancellation of the claim in respect of whicli 
 such fraud or false statements have been committed or made, and 
 that in respect of facts as to sucli a fraud or false statement or non- 
 payment of royalty, the decision of the gold commissioner shall be 
 final." 
 
 The regulations governing the disposal of placer mining claims 
 along the Yukon river and its tributaries are amended so that entry 
 can only be granted for alternate claims, known as creek claims, bench 
 claims, bar diggings and dry diggings, and that the other alternate 
 claims be reserved for tlie crown, to be disposed of as may be decided 
 by the minister of the interior. 
 
 Tlie penalty for trespassing on a claim reserved for tlie crown is 
 immediate cancellation by tlie gold commissioner of any entry and 
 entries which the person trespassing may have obtained, wliether by 
 original entry or l»y purcliase for a mining claim, and the refuanl by 
 the gold commissioner of tlie acceptance of any application wliich tlie 
 person trespassing may at any time make for claims, and that in addi- 
 tion to sucli penalty tlie mounled police, upon recpilsition from tlio gold 
 commissioner to tliat effect, may take tlie necessary steps to eject the 
 trespasser. 
 
 UNITED STATES IMININCJ LAWS. 
 
 r.: 
 
 Tlie Act of Congress of May 17, 18M'. providing a civil government 
 for Alaska, provides (iiat: '"I'lie laws of tlie United States relating to 
 mining claims and (lie riglils iiiciiient tlierelo, sliall, from and after 
 tlie passage of this act, Ik* in full force and elVect in said district." 
 Tile fnrtlier mining laws )ippllciil)le are as follows: 
 
 Thiited Stales IJeviscd Slatiiles.— Sec 2318. In all cases lands val- 
 ualde for minerals shiill lie reservcHl from sale, except as otherwise? 
 dir«'cted l>y law. 
 
 Sec. 2319. All viihiiililc inliienii (Ifposlts in lands lieloiigiiig to the 
 United States, both suiveycd iind uiisuiveye<l, are herel)y declared to 
 bo free and open to e.\i>lorall(Hi and punliase, and the hinds In which 
 tiiey ar(! found to occupiilion and imicliase, b.v citl/,(>ns of tluv United 
 States and those who have declared their int<>ntion 1o lu'conie such, 
 under regulations piescrllied Ity law, and according to the local cus- 
 toms or rules of miners In tlie several mining districts, so far as the 
 
 . 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO M' 
 
 (isime are applicable and not inconsistent with tlie laws of the United 
 States. 
 
 Sec. 3230. Mining claims upon veins or lodes or quartz or other 
 rociv in place, bi^avins gold, silver, cinnabar, lead, tin, copper, or other 
 valuable depo.sits heretofore located, shall be governed as to length 
 along the vein or lode by the customs, regulations, and laws in force 
 at the date of location. A mining claim located after the tenth day of 
 May, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, whether located by one or 
 more persons, may e(|ual, but shall not exceed, one theusand five hun- 
 dred feet in h'ugth along the vein or lode; but no location of a mining 
 claim sliall be made until tlie di-scovery of tlie vein or lode within tlie 
 limits of tlie claim located. No claim shall extend more than three 
 liundred feet on cacli side of the middle of the vein at the surface, nor 
 sliall any chiim be limited liy any mining regulation to less than 
 twenty-live feet on eucli side; of the middle of the vein at the surface, 
 except wlien> adverse riglits existing on the tenth day of May, eight- 
 een liundicd and seventy-two, render such limitation necessary. The 
 end lines of eacli claim sliall be parallel to each otlier. 
 
 Sec. 2322. The locators of all mining locations heretofore made or 
 wliicli sliall hereafter be made, on any mineral vein, lode, or ledge, 
 situated on the public domain, tlieir lieirs and assigns, where no ad- 
 verse claim exists on the tenth day of May, eighteen hundred and sev- 
 enty-two, so long as tliey comply with the laws of the United States, 
 and with state, territorial, and local regulations not in conllict with the 
 laws of the United States governing tlieir possessory title, shall have 
 tlie exclusive riglit of possession and enjoyment of all the surface 
 included witliin tlie lines of tlieir locations, and of all veins, lodes, and 
 h'dges llirougliout their entire depth, the top of apex of whicli lies 
 insidi' of sucli surface li;ies extended doAvnward vertically, although 
 such veins, lodes, or ledges may so far depai't from a perpendicular 
 in tlieir course dowuAvard as to extend outside the vertical side lines of 
 sucli surface locations, lint their riglit of possession to such outside 
 parts of sucli veins or lodes shall be confined to such portions as lie 
 between vertical jilanes drawn downward as above described, through 
 the end lines of tlieir locations, so continued In their own diroctiou 
 tliat sucli planes will intersect such exterior parts of such veins or 
 ledges. And iiotliing in tliis section sliall authorize the locator or pos- 
 sessor of a vein or lode wliich extends in its downward course beyond 
 the vertical lines of his claim to enter upon tlie surface of a claim 
 owned or possessed by another. 
 
 Sec. 2324. Tlie miners of each mining district may make regula- 
 tions not ill ((tiiliict with liie laws of the United States, or with the 
 laws of llie state or territory in which the district is situated, govern- 
 ing the location, manner of recording, amount of worli necessary to 
 licid possesion of a milling claim, subject to tlie following require: 
 meiits: Tlic location must be distinctly niariu'd on the ground, so that 
 its boundaries can be readily traced. All records of mining claims 
 iiereafti-r made sliall contain the name or names of the locators, the 
 
 i 
 
 : ; 
 
84 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 date of the locntion, aufl such descriptlou of the claim or claims located 
 by reference to some natural object or permanent monument as will 
 Identify the claim. On each claim locatetl after the tenth day of May, 
 eighteen hundred and seventy-two, and until a patent lias been issued 
 therefor, not less tlian one Iiundred dollars' wortli of labor shall be 
 perforuunl or Improvements made durinR each year. On all claims 
 located prior to tiie tentli day of ^lay, eiyliteen iiundred and seventy- 
 two, ten dollars' worth of labor shall be performed or improvements 
 made by the tentii day of June, eigliteen hundred and seventy-four, 
 and eacli year tliereafter, for each one liundrwl feet in lengtli along the 
 vein, until a patent lias been issutnl tlierefor; but where sucli claims 
 are lieid in common, sucli expenditure may be made upon any one 
 claim; and upon a failure to conijily Avitli tliese conditions, the claim 
 or mine upon wliidi sucli failure (K-curred shall be opened to relocation 
 In tlie same manner as if no location of the same had ever been made: 
 Provided ,That the original locators, tlielr iieirs, assigns, or legal rep 
 resentatives, liave not resunuMl worlv ui)on tlio claim after failure and 
 before sudi location. l'i)oii tlie failure of any one of several co-owners 
 to coiuribute his proportion of tiie expenditures required liereby, the 
 ce-owners who liave pertorined tlie ialmr or made tlie improvements 
 may, at tlie explrati(m of tlie year, give siurli delinquent co-owner per- 
 sonal notice in writing or notice by publication in the newspaper pub- 
 llslied nearest tlie claim, for at least once a weelc for ninety days, and 
 if at rlie expiration of ninety days after such notice in writing or by 
 publication sucli <leliii(iuent siiouid fail or refuse to <(mtribute his pro- 
 jiortion of tlie expenditure recpiired liy tliis se(;tioii. Ills interest in the 
 claim sliall liecome tlie pr^iti'ity of his co-owners, wlio have made the 
 expenditures. 
 
 Sec. 2336. Wliore two w i.iore veins intersect or cross each other, 
 priority of title shall govern, and such prior location shall be entitled 
 to all ore or mineral coii(../ii' d within the space of intersection but 
 tlie subs(!(iuent location siiali have the right of way through tlie space 
 of intersection for ilie jiurpose of the convenient woriilng of tlie mine. 
 And wliere two or more veins unite, the oldest or in-lov location sliall 
 talve the vein below the point of union, including all the space of inter- 
 section. 
 
 Sec. 2335. A patent for any land claimed and located for valuable 
 d(!positH may be olitained In the following manner: Any person, asso- 
 ciation, or corjiorat Ion authorized to locate a claim uiaier tills chapter, 
 liaving claimed and located a i»iece of land for siu-li purposes, wlio has, 
 or have, complied with tlie terms of tliis chaiiter, may tile in tlie proper 
 land otilce an aiipilcntlon tor a itiilciit. under oatli. showing such com- 
 pliance, together with a pint and lleld-notes of the claim or claims in 
 common, made by or under the direct hm of the United States Sur- 
 veyor-<;i'iieral. showing a<(iirately the liouiidaries of the claim or 
 claims, wlilcli shall lie distinctly marUdl iiy iiionnments on the ground, 
 and shall post a copy of such (ilat, together witli a notice of sucli appli- 
 cation lor a patiiil, lii a coiispicuoiis place on the land t-mbraced In 
 

 "5. 
 U 
 
 
 4" 
 
wrmmi^'mmmmm 
 
 I 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 85 
 
 such plat, previous to tlu» filluR of the iipplicntioii for n pntiMit, luul 
 shall tile an attiduvit of at least two persons that such notice lias Ikhmi 
 duly posteil, and shall file a copy of llie notict> in sucii land ottice, and 
 shall thereupon be entltUnl to a patent for tlie land in tlie manner fol- 
 io. .ins: llie re|i?ister of tl>e land ofiice, upon tlie llliiiK of sncli appli- 
 cation, plat, field-notes, notices, and attidavits, sliall puliiisli a notice 
 that such application has Imh'u made, for tlie period of sixty days ,in a 
 newspaper to be by him designated as puldisiied nearest to siicli claim; 
 and lie sliall also post such notice In liis ollice for the same i»eriod 
 Tile claimant at tlu- time of liliiiK ids application, or at any time tliere- 
 after, within sixty «lays of publication, sliall tlie with tiie register a 
 certificate of the T'nited States Surveyorticiieral tliat $500 wortli 
 of labor has been exiieiided .»n iiii|»roveiiiciils made uiiou the 
 «'lalm by himself or grantors; that tiie piat is correct, with such further 
 descrlpti(»n by sm-li relcreu •<• to natural ol),|ects or peiiiiaiieiit iiKmu- 
 ments as sliall identify tl: • claliii, and fnriiisli an accunile description, 
 to be iiicoiiiorated In tlie patent. At tiie expiiation of rlie sixty days 
 of jtubiication tlie claimant shall tile ids atlidavlt, showing that tlie 
 jilat and notice liave lM'<>n posted In a conspicuous (tlace on the claim 
 dining such period of piililication. If no adverse claim shall liav(> lie(>n 
 llU'd witli tlie register and the receiver of the proper lanit olHce at flie 
 expiration of the sixty days of publication. It shall )><■ .issiimed that the 
 a|>pllcant Is entitled to u ,i,!tent. upon llie ptivnient to the |ii'o|icr 
 otticer of tiv<' dollars per acre, and that no adverse claim exists; and 
 thereafter no objection from third parties to the Issuance of a patent 
 shall b<> heard except it be shown that the a|ipli(iinl has failed to coin- 
 ply Willi the terms of this chaitter. 
 
 Sec. u;52V. The dcs( ripllor of vein or lod< chilms, upoji siu'veyed 
 lands, shall designate the hxatloii of the claim with reference to the 
 lines of the public surveys, but need not conform tlierewith; but where 
 a itateiil shall be Issued for claims upon iiiisiirveyed lands, tli(> sur- 
 veyor geiii'ial. In extending the surveys, shall adjust the same to the 
 boiindtirles ot such paient<>d claim, according to the plat or d<>scrlptioii 
 therof, liut so as In no <ase to Interfere „l;ii or cliange tlii' location 
 of any stich paten;->d claim. 
 
 Act of CongreHS of .laiiuary 22. 1R80. .\ii .\el to .Kmeiid seetlmis 
 tw«>nly-three hundred -ind twenty-four atio twenty-three liundred ami 
 twenty live oi' the Hevlsed Statutes ef the riille<I Slates concerning 
 mineral liiiids. 
 
 Melt eiiacleil. elc.. That section twenty-three liundred niiil twenty- 
 live of the Hevlsid Staiites of tin rnlted Slates be ameiii'ed by adding 
 hereto the lolliiw hig words: "rinvlded, Tliat where the chilmant for 
 a patent Is not a resident of or wllhin the land distrlcl wherein Hie 
 vein, lode, ledge, or deposit siiii^lit to be palente<l Is located, the iippll 
 cation for patent and the alDdavlls reipilred to ;>e made In this Hcctiun 
 by the chiliii.iiit for such patent may be made by his, her, or Its aiilh 
 orlxed agent, vliere siihl agent In ciuiwrHant with the facts snught to 
 
 1 1 
 
 !! 
 
86 
 
 AT.ASKA, THE NEW ELDOnADO 
 
 I: ' 
 
 11 1 
 
 ; i 
 
 mir: 
 
 11 
 
 bo estnblisliLMl l)y said iiriidiivits: And itrovldt'd, That this soction shall 
 iipitly lo all applicalioiis now iiciidiiij;' l"i)r patcnls to niincriil lands." 
 
 Sec. 2. Tlial scrtioii twcuty-tliiTc hinidri'd and twi-nty-fonr of tlic 
 Kt'vi8»»d Stntidi's oC tlic rn'tcd States be anioiuled by adding tlicroto 
 tlu' followin;; words: "rrovldcd. 'I'liat liu' pt'riod witliin wlilcli tlit' 
 worlv nMiniri'd lo lie done annually on all nnpatcntod claims sliall coni- 
 nicnce on (he first day ot .lannary snccccding the diito of location of 
 such claim, and liiis section sliall apply (o all claims located sinc(> tlie 
 tenth day of Aiay, Anno Dondni ei>,'.iteen liundrcd and seventy two." 
 
 Act of ("oiifiress of Febniaiy 11, 1875. — \n act to anieid He '"U 
 two thousand tiirce hundred and Iwenty-fonr of llie Heviscii ■-!»< '»- 
 rehitinj:; to tlie development of tlu' ndning I'esources of ilie t < .K.'d 
 States. 
 
 He it enacted, etc.. That section two lliousand tliree hundred .iiid 
 twenty-lour of the Revised Slalutes of Ihe I'ldted States be, and 'iio 
 same Is hereby, amended so that where a person or com|»any has or 
 ma.v run a tunnel for the iiurpose <if developing a lo<le or lodes, owned 
 by said person or coniiiaiiy, the money so e.\iu>nde(l In said tunnel shall 
 be taken and considered as expended on said lode or lodes, whether 
 located prior lo or since the passa;:e of said act, and such person or 
 company shall not be recpilred to perform work on the surface of said 
 lode or lodes in order to hold the siime as require<l by said act. 
 Itaye la.) 
 
 rnlled Stiiles l-aw." See. 2323. Where a tunnel is run for Ihe 
 development of a vein or lode, or for the discovery of mines, the 
 owners of such tunnel shall have the rlvthl of pctssession of all veins or 
 lodes willdn three thousand feet from the face of sucli lunnet on the 
 line thereof, not previously known lo exist, discovered in such tunnel, 
 to Ihe same extent as If discovered from the sun ;■; and locations 
 on tlie line of su< h tunnel of veins or lodes, not appearing on llie siir 
 lace .made liy oilier parlies after the coiniiKMiceinent of Ihe tunnt'., and 
 while tlie same Is belliK piosecuied with reasonable diligence, shall be 
 Invalid; but failure to proseciile Ihe work on the tunnel for six months 
 shall bt> considered as an abandonment of tlie riKlit to all undiscovered 
 veins on the Hue >f sudi iuihk 1. 
 
 Sec. 2:12!). ClalniH usually called "placers." lucludii. ' tirms of 
 tieposll, except liiK vi Ins of ipiarl/., or other rock In phice ,Hhnll he sub 
 Jeet to entry and patent, under like elrcumsiances and <-ondilions, aii' 
 upon slndlar pid< eedliiKs, as are provided for vein or hxle claims; but 
 where Hie lands have been previously HlM'M'ye<l by the I'lilltd Stales, 
 the entry In Its exterior llnilis shall conform to the le^al Si.lMilvlslens 
 of the public lands, 
 
 I'lilletl Slates Law- See. 2330. I.e^al MdMllvlsIci' i| forty acres 
 may lie subdivided Into I'U acre tracts; and two or u.ori' imm'soiih, or 
 assiKlalloUH of pt'i'soiis, having; contluuous rlalms oi' iin.v hI/.c. although 
 such claims may be less than ten acres each, may make Joint entry 
 theivof; hut no loeiitloiijif ii placer elalin, iiitide after lht> ninth day of 
 
 i 
 
ALASKA, THE NEW ELOOUADO 
 
 87 
 
 July, pi^urciMi IiuiidnMl jind scvciily. slinll (^xcccd one IhiikIihmI niid 
 sixty ncrcs for any one pi rsou or nssociiitioii of iMTsttiis, which 
 location shall conform to tlio T'nitod Stiit«>s surveys; and nothin^i: in 
 this section contained sliall (icfeat or ini|iair any l)ona fide pre-emption 
 or liomestead claim upon agricultural lands, or anllioriz(- the sale of 
 the imi»rovements of any Iii)na tide settler to any purciuiser. 
 
 See. 2331. Wliere placor-chiims are upon suiveyed lands, iiud coii- 
 foi'iu to lefial sulidivisions, no furtlier survey or plat sluill lie re(iuire<l, 
 and all placei" iidniu^i' claims located after tlie teiilli day of May, ei>;lit 
 een hundred and s(>veiity-t\vo. sliall couforiu iis near as iiractlcable 
 will) tlie I'niled Slates system of jtulilic l:mil surveys, .lud tlie rectan- 
 K'.'.iiir snl)divisions of sudi surveys for eacli idividual claimant; but 
 v.liere placer-claims cannot be conformed to ley;al subdivisions, survey 
 and plat shall be m;ide as on vinsurveyed lands: :ind where by the 
 sejiicjralion of ndncriil lands in any lepil subdivision a (piiiiitity of 
 agricultural laud less than forty acres renniins. such fractional por- 
 tions of a>:ricultur;il l.-ind may 1m> entered by iiuy party (piiililled by 
 law, for homestead or i(re-t>mption puri)oses. 
 
 I'ldted Slates I<mw. — Sec. 2333. Wliere tie same iierson. assooln- 
 tiun, or corporation is in iiosHessioii of a plac(>r-claini, and :il<o a vein 
 ov lode Included within the boundaries thei'eof. aiiiiliciitio'.i sliall be 
 made fiM' a patent for the placei' cl.-ilm. with lhi> slalen.ent that it 
 Includes such vein or lode, and in sui'h case a |tatent shr.ll Issue for a 
 placer-claim, subject to (he i»rovlslous of tliis diapler. Im-ludinn such 
 vein or lode, 'ipoii the paynieut of live dolla's per acre for such \cln or 
 lode claim, aufi Iwcniy-llve feel oi suifan nn ea<'h side thereof. Tlii- 
 reinaiuder of tlie placer cliilin, or any plarrdfilm uol cinbrachi;: any 
 x'cin or lode claim, shall be |iald foi- at the rale of I wo dollars and llfty 
 cents per iicre, to^'elher with u\\ costs of proceedlntrs; and whcic a vein 
 or lode, such as described In sedlon I wenly three hundred .-ind twenty, 
 Is liiiown to exist within ,iie boinidaries of a placer claim, an applica- 
 tion for M patent for such p'i.eer-claim v hhii does not incltitle an appli- 
 cation for the vein or lode claim sh-,11 be conslrned as a conclusive 
 decia rat 1)11 that the clalirant *f 111' placi>r claim has no riulil of pos 
 hohmIoii of ihe vein or lode claim; but wheie the exlHtenee of a vein 
 or lode ill a placer ( i.iim Is not liuown. a patent for the placer claim 
 Hhall convey all valuable mineral and other deposits within the bouu 
 •liirleH thereof, 
 
 I'nKed Stales I,aw. See. 2332. Where such person or assocladon, 
 they and their urantors, have held and worked their claims for a 
 period ei|ual to Ihe time prescribed by the statute of llmilatloiis for 
 mining claims of the state or territory where ihe Hnme miiy he hU- 
 uated, evidence of such possession and wiukiiiK of the clalniH for such 
 pi'iiod shall be snlllclent to establish a riKht to a patent thereto under 
 thiN chapter. In the nliKeiiee of any adverse claim; but nolhinu: In this 
 chapter shall be deemed to Impair any lien which may have attached 
 In any way whatexer to any nilninu cliilm or property thereto allaehed 
 proir to the iHNuaiice td' a patent. ' 
 
 1 1 
 i 1 
 
 i \ 
 
 u 
 
r^ 
 
 ir 
 
 :' '\ 
 
 S8 
 
 ALASKA, THE NEW ELDORADO 
 
 Uniti'd Stiit«'.s Law.— Sec. 2321. I'roof of cltizeushii), mder this 
 ehiiph'i limy consist, in tlio ciiso of an individual, of Ids own affidavit 
 tlioruof; in tli« caso of an association of persons unincorporated, of tlie 
 affidavit of tlieir autliorizcd iigent, made on Ids own linovvle<lge, or 
 ui)on information and belief; an<l in tiie case of a corporation organized 
 under tlie laws of tlie linite<l States, or of iiny state or territory there- 
 of, by the filing of a certlfiiil copy of tlieir charter or certificate of 
 incori sHon. 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
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