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T O
KLONDYKE FACTS
BEING A COMPLETE
GUIDE BOOK TO THE GOLD REGIONS
OF THE GREAT
CANADIAN NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
AND
ALASKA
BY JOSEPH LADUE
AUTHOR OF " KLONDYKE NUGGETS," AND FOUNDER OF DAWSON CITY, N.W.T,
^
'Vj^W
NEW YORK
AMERICAN TECHNICAL BOOK CO.,
45 Vesey Street.
V
Copyright, 1897,
By AMERICAN TECHNICAL BOOK CO.
All Rizhts Reserved
No extracts can be made without the permission of the Publishers/
0-.
^>-
/ K^^
if
PUBLISHER\S NOTE.
The intense excitement ciiused by the marvellous discov-
eries of gold in Alaska and the great Canadian Northwest
makes it necessary that authentic facts regarding this
region should be supplied to the reading public.
It is with pleasure that Ave introduce Mr. Joseph Ladue,
the pioneer prospector and founder of Dawson City, N.
^■y. T., the central point of the gold region, as the author
• f this valuable work of reliable information.
There is probably no man living who is better posted on
Alaska and the great Northwest than Mr. Joseph Ladue.
He has just returned from that country to his old home in
Schuyler Falls, N. Y., where he passed a large portion of
his boyhood and early nuinhood. Mr. Ladue left his home
nearly twenty years ago to seek his fortune in the "West,
going first to the Black Hills, where he was successful in
gold mining, thence to Arizona and the Pacific Coast, and
finally located in Alaska and the Northwest Territories,
where he has been since 1883. Mr. Ladue is a typical
pioneer, strong, hardy and resolute, a man of iron, as one
must needs be to go through the hardships he has and
come out with a constitution unbroken and unimpaired at
the age of about forty-three. Mr. Ladue has not only
worked his muscles to good advantage to himself with the
result of an abundance of this world's goods, but he has
evidently all this time been closely observing the conditions
of that strange country, the Yukon Valley, which has so
suddenly become one of the great centres upon which
human interest throughout the world is focussed.
3
4 PUBLISHER'S NOTE.
When the wonderful stories began to come down from
the Yukon country it was naturally concluded that it was
at least half exaggeration. That any such amount of gold
could be taken in so short a time from a country like
that under the most unfavorable conditions was held to be
incredible. But when the great bags of virgin gold began
to be poured out upon the mint counters in San Francisco
under the eyes of the whole world (for modern journalism
does this annihilating of time and space) people began to
wonder, and the wonder grew day by day as the real facts
were disclosed ; and now people who are well informed as to
the facts declare that half the truth has not been told of
the golden treasures of the Yukon Yalley.
As we have already said, there is probably no man to-day
alive Avho knows more about this wonderful country than
does Mr. Ladue. What makes his talk of it specially
interesting and reliable is the fact that his knowledge of
it is practical. It has not been gained from hearsay nor
from desultory visits made now and then at certain favorable
seasons of the year, but from steady living there through
the long summer days and the long winter nights, year in
and year out, for fifteen years, where he now owns thirteen
of the best mining claims on the Klondyke and 173 acres
of land at Dawson City.
In presenting this work to the })ul-)lic we do so knowing
that it is by an authority on the subject of which he
writes.
THE rUBLISIlEES
THIS MAP SUOWfe TUE STREAM ON \^HICH THE TLACEK CLAIMS /RE LOCATED
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
Publishers' Note 3
Introduction 7
I. Historical and GeograiAieal 9
II. Routes, Distances and Transportation 21
III. Advices to Beginners 86
IV. Outfit for Miners 89
V. How to stake out a Mining Claim 93
VI. Placer Mining 95
VII. Mining Law and Order 101
VIII. Mining Returns 107
IX. Game, Agriculture and Timber 110
X. Mortality and Climate 120
XI, Cost of Living and Wages Paid 125
XII. Miners' Luck 127
XIII. Klondyke Facts 150
Appendix.
Excerpts from thelMiningLawsof the Canadian Northwest
Territory 191
INTRODUCTION.
Much has appeared in the newspapers of the world re-
garding the newly discovered gold-fields of Alaska and
the great Canadian Northwest.
To one who has prospected and lived in these territories
for the past fifteen years, it is deplorable that so much un-
reliable information has appeared.
My object is not to induce any one to go to that remote
country at the j^resent time ; until better means of com-
munication are established, a man undertakes serious risks
in going there unless he has sufficient resources to tide
over the long winter. After September, egress from the
country is practically impossible until the following June,
and a person who has not been successful in locating a pay-
ing claim has to depend for his subsistence upon finding
employment. Wages are at times abnormally high, but
the labor market is very narrow and easily overstocked.
It is estimated that up to the middle of May 1,500 to IjCOO
people had crossed the Taiya Pass this year. Whether em-
ployment Avill be available for all and for the considerable
population already in the district is somewhat doul)tful ;
it will therefore be wise for those who contemplate going
to the Yukon District to give serious consideration to the
matter before coming to a decision.
Having recently returned for a short time to my old
home I find myself deluged with letters from all classes
of men eagerly seeking facts relative to the new gold region.
As it is impossible to reply to all these letters in a manner
8 INTBOBUCTION.
that would be adequate and complete, I have decided to
publish some of my observations and experiences in the
land that is yet comparatively unexplored. I will give the
actual facts and such information as I think will be valu-
able to the intending prospectors of the new gold regions.
JOSEPH LADUE.
KLONDYKE FACTS.
CHAPTER I.
HISTORICAL AXD GEOGRAPHICAL.
The discovery of tlie great Yukon River and tlie territory
drained by it is due to the Hudson Bay Company and the
adventurous officers wlio directed its interests in British
North America. Indeed, the discovery of the Yukon it-
self is due to Robert Campbell, an employe of the company,
who named it the Pelley River in honor of Sir H. Pelley,
a governor of the company.
In 18G7 Frank E. Ketchum, of St. John, N. B., and
Michael Labarge of Montreal, explorers in the emjjloy of
the Western Union Telegraph Company, ascended the Yu-
kon from Fort Yukon to the mouth of the Lewes, return-
ing down the river, and in the same year Michael Byrnes, in
the same employ, made a trip from the direction of the
Stikine and reached the Hootolinqua, not the river subse-
quently so called by the miners, but that on the survey map
of Canada.
Mr. Whymper in 18G9, in his work. '^Travels iu
Alaska and on the Yukon," makes the first distinct men-
tion in print of the discovery of gold. The report of
Campbell to the Hudson Bay Company directors was made
orally. Mr. Whymper in his book says : " It is worthy
10 KLONBYKE FACTS.
of mention that minute specks of gold have been found by
some of the Hudson Bay Company's men in the Yukon,
but not in quantities to warrant a **rush " to the locality/'
George Holt, who afterward was murdered by Indians
at Cook's Inlet, was the first white man who crossed from
the coast to the headwaters of the Lewes, with no purpose
other than prospecting the country. The date is variously
set from 1872 to 1878, but the preponderance of testimony
makes the latter date the more probable one. He was
accompanied by two Indians and crossed by the Chilkoot
Pass. On his return he reported the discovery of "^ coarse
gold." His trip was authenticated by inquiry among
miners who had followed the routes he told them of.
The Yukon district is not the entirely wild, savage, un-
known land which romancists have been painting it. Gold,
in paying quantities has been found there for over a decade.
In 1887 a hundred and fifty hardy miners, making no secret
of the wealth of the drift they washed, amassed fortunes
there.
The Yukon District has been growing, as access to the
country became more easy and the output has been the
greater only because the placer diggings have been extend-
ed and have been worked by more hands. Add to the
present comparative facility of reaching there the general
diffusion of knowledge of the wealth of the mineral
through the newsi^apers and the consequent interest ex-
cited, and you have explained the difference between the
excitement of 1897 and the languor of 1887. And yet, in
1887, Dr. George M. Dawson, the chief of an exjjloring
party sent by the Canadian Government into the Yukon
district made a report confirming in the fullest the pres-
ence of gold in great quantities. Dawson, City, N. W. T,,
the principal mining camp in the Klondyke region, was
named in his honor.
Possibly the conjecture, accej^ted as a fact, that this
ELONDYKE FACTS. U
land, in the language of a late Canadian cabinet minister,
was " the home of the bear and the wolf, and fit only to be
the home of such," had something to do with the indiffer-
ence. With the Yukon, snow that was practically perpet-
ual, and great mountains of ice seemed indissolubly con-
nected. It was taken for granted that it was a land not
lit to live in and that stories from it had to be accepted
with great allowance for the extravagance of language in
which men who lived in Arctic lands are likely to indulge
Avhen they reach territory, where the sun gives warmth,
for warmth is conducive to garrulity and exuberance of
thought.
In 1859 negotiations were commenced between Russia
and the United States with the view of the United States
purchasing Russian America, or Alaska, a territory of over
five hundred thousand square miles.
In March, 18G7, Secretary Seward made an offer of
17,200,000, on condition that the cession be " free and un-
encumbered by any reservations, privileges, franchises,
grants or possessions, by associated or unassociated com-
panies whether corporated or unincorporated, Russian or
any other."
In May the treaty was ratified, and on the 20th of July
1867 the usual proclamation was issued by the President of
the United States,
On the 18th of October, 18G7, the formal transfer of
Alaska was made at Sitka to General Rousseau representa-
tive of the United States.
The treaty between Russia and the United States, estab-
lishes the eastern and southern boundary lines as arranged
hy Russia and (ireat Britain in 1825. The western line in-
cludes the whole of the Aleutian Islands. Attou is dis-
tinctly named as the most westerly island ceded. The
northern boundary is only limited by the ice and snow of
the Arctic.
12 ELONDYEE FACTS.
THE TUKON RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES.
" What the Amazon is to South America, the Mississippi
to the central portion of the United States, the Yukon is
to Alaska. It is a great inland highway, which will make
it possible for the explorer to j^enetrate the mysterious fast-
nesses of that still unknown region. The Yukon has its
source in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and
the Coast Range Mountains in southeastern Alaska, about
125 miles from the city of Juneau, which is the present
metropolis of Alaska. But it is only known as the Yukon
River at the point where the Pelly River, the branch that
heads in British Columbia, meets with the Lewes River,
which heads in southeastern Alaska. This point of con-
fluence is at Fort Selkirk, in the Northwest Territory,
about 125 miles southeast of the Klondyke. The Yukon
proper is 2,044 miles in length. From Fort Selkirk it
flows northwest 400 miles, just touching the Arctic circle ;
^lience southward for a distance of 1,600 miles, where it
empties into Behring Sea. It drains more than 000,000
square miles of territory, and discharges one-third more
water into Behring Sea than does the Mississippi into the
Gulf of Mexico. At its moutli it is sixty miles wide.
About 1,500 miles inland it widens out from one to ten
miles. A thousand islands send the channel in as many
different directions. Only natives who are thoroughly
familiar with tlie river are entrusted with the piloting of
boats up the stream during the season of low water. Even
at the season of high water it is still so shallow as not to
be navigable anywhere by seagoing vessels, but only by flat-
bottomed boats with a carrying capacity of four to five
hundred tons. The draft of steamers on the Yukon
should not exceed three and a half feet.
KLONDYKE FACTS. 13
^'The Yukon district, which is within the jurisdiction
of the Canadian Government and in which tlie bulk of the
gold has been found, has a total area, approximately, of
192,000 square miles, of whicli 150, 7G8 square miles are
included in the watershed of the Yukon. Illustrating this,
so that it may appeal with definiteness to the reader, it
may be said that tliis territory is greater by 71,100 square
miles than the area of Great Britain, and is nearly three
times that of all the New England States combined.
"A further fact must be borne in mind. The Yukon
Eiver is absolutely closed to navigation during the
winter months. In the winter the frost-king asserts his
dominion and locks up all approaches with impenetrable
ice, and the summer is of the briefest. It endures only
for twelve to fourteen weeks, from about the first of
June to the middle of September. Then an unend-
ing panorama of extraordinary picturesqueness is unfolded
to the voyager. The banks are fringed with flowers,
carpeted with the all-pervading moss or tundra. Birds
countless in numbers and of infinite variety in plumage,
sing out a welcome from every treetop. Pitch your tent
where you will in midsummer, a bed of roses, a clump of
poppies and a bunch of bluebells will adorn your camping.
But high above this paradise of almost tropical exuberance
giant glaciers sleep in the summit of the mountain wall,
Avhich rises up from a bed of roses. By September every-
thing is changed. The bed of roses has disappeared be-
fore the icy breath of the winter king, which sends the
thermometer down sometimes to seventy degrees below
freezing point. The birds fly to the southland and the
bear to his sleeping chamber in the mountains. Every
stream becomes a sheet of ice, mountain and valley alike are
covered with snow till the following May.
'• That part of the basin of the Yukon in which gold in
gi-eater or less quantities has actually been found lies partly
14 KLONDYKE FACTS.
in Alaska and partly in British territory. It covers an area
of some 50,000 square miles. But so far the infinitely
richest spot lies some one hundred miles east of the
American boundary, in the region drained by the Klondyke
and its tributaries. This is some three hundred miles by
river from Circle City.
" "VVe have described some of the beauties of the Yukon
basin in the summer season, but this radiant picture has
its obverse side.
" Horseflies, gnats and mosquitoes add to the joys of liv-
ing throughout the entire length of the Yukon valley.
The horsefly is larger and more poignantly assertive than
the insect which we know by that name. In dressing or
undressing, it has a pleasant habit of detecting any bare
spot in the body and biting out a piece of flesh, leaving a
Avound which a few days later looks like an incipient boil.
Schwatka reports that one of his party, so bitten was com-
pletely disabled for a week. ' At the moment of infliction.'
he adds, ' it was hard to believe that one was not disabled
for life.'
" The mosquitoes according to the same authority are
equally distressing. They are especially fond of cattle,
but without any reciprocity of affection. ' According to
the general terms of the survival of the flttest and the
growth of muscles most used to the detriment of others,'
says the lieutenant in an unusual burst of humor, ''a band
of cattle inhabiting this district, in the far future, would be
all tail and no body, unless the mosquitoes should ex^ierience
a change of numbers.' "
I am indebted to Wm. Ogilvie, Esq., for the following
valuable information relative to The Yukon District.
*' Tlie Yukon District comprises, speaking generally, tliat
part of the Northwest Territories lying west of the water
shed of the Mackenzie River ; most of it is drained by the
Yukon River and its tributaries. It covers a distance
KLONBYKE FACTS. 15
of about 650 miles along the river from the coast range of
mountains.
" In 1848 Campbell established Fort Selkirk at the conflu-
ence of the Pelly and Lewes Rivers ; it was plundered and
destro3'ed in 1852 by the Coast Indians, and only the ruins
nov,' exist of what was at one time the most important post
of the Hudson's Bay Company to the west of the Rocky
Mountains in the far north. In 1809 the Hudson's Bay
Company's oflicer was expelled from Fort Yukon by the
United States Government, they liaving ascertained by as-
tronomical observations that the post was not located in
British territory. The officer thereupon ascended the
Porcupine to a point which was supposed to be within
British jurisdiction, where he established Rampart House ;
but in 1800 Mr. J. II. Turner of the United [States Coast
Survey found it to be 20 miles within the lines of the
United States. Consequently in 1801 the post was moved
20 miles further up the river to be Avithin British territor3\
" The next people to enter the country for trading pur-
poses were Messrs. Harper and McQuestion. They have
been trading in the country since 1873 aiul have occupied
numerous posts all .dong the river, the greater number of
which have been abandoned. ]\Ir. IL.irpcr is now located
as a trader at Fort Selkirk, with ^Ir. Joseph Laduc under
the firm name of Harper & Ladue, ;'.nd }.Ir. McQuestion is
in the employ of the Alaska Commercial Company at
Circle City, which is tlie distributing point for the vast
regions surrounding Birch Creek, Alaska. In 1883 a
number of miners entered the Yukon country by the
Taiya Pass ; it is still the only route used to any extent by
the miners, and is shorter than the other passes though
not the lowest. In 1883 Lieutenant Schwatka crossed
this same pass and descended the Lewes and Yukon
Rivers to the ocean.
''The explorers found that in proximity to the boundary
16 KLONDYKE FACTS.
line there existed extensive and valuable placer gold mines,
in Avhicli even then as many as three hundred miners
were at work. Mr. Ogilvie determined, by a series of lunar
observations, the point at which the Yukon River is in-
tersected by the 141st meridian, and marked the same on
the ground. He also determined and marked the point at
which the western affluent of the Yukon, known as Forty
Mile Creek, is crossed by the same meridian line, that
point being situated at a distance of about twenty-three
miles from the mouth of the creek. This survey proved
that the place which had been selected as the most con-
venient, owing to the physical conformation of the region,
from which to distribute the supplies imjaorted for the
various mining camps, and from which to conduct the
other business incident to the mining operations — a place
situate at the confluence of the Forty Mile Creek and the
Yukon, and to which the name of Fort Cudahy has been
given — is well within Canadian territory. The greater
proportion of the mines then being worked Mr. Ogilvie
found to be on the Canadian side of the international
boundary line, but he reported the existence of some min-
ing fields to the south, the exact position of which with
respect to the boundary he did not have the opportunity
to fix.
" The number of persons engaged in mining in the
locality mentioned has steadily increased year by year since
the date of Mr. Ogilvie's survey, and it is estimated that at
the commencement of the j^ast season not less than one
thousand men were so employed. Incident to this mineral
development there must follow a corresjoonding growth in
the volume of business of all descrijitions, particularly the
importation of dutiable goods, and the occupation of tracts
of the public lands for mining purposes which according
to the mining regulations are subject to the payment of
certain prescribed dues and charges. The Alaska Com-
KLONDTKE FACTS. 17
mercial Company, for many years subsequent to the retire-
ment of the Hudson's Bay Company, had a practical
monopoly of tlio trade of the Yukon, carrying into the
country and delivering ?;t various points along the river,
without regard to the international boundary line or the
customs laws and regulations of Canada, such articles of
commerce as were required for the prosecution of the fur
trade and latterly of placer mining, these being the only
two existing industries. With the discovery of gold, how-
ever, came the organization of a competing company known
as the North American Transportation and Trading Com-
pany, having its headquarters in Chicago and its chief
trading and distributing post at Cudahy. This company
has been engaged in this trade for over three years, and
during the past season despatched two ocean steamers
from San Francisco to St. Michael, at the mouth of the
Yukon, the merchandise from which was, at the last men-
tioned point, transhipped into river steamers and carried
to points inland, but chiefly to the comjiany's distributing
centre within Canadian territory. Imj)ortations of con-
siderable value, consisting of the immediately requisite
supplies of the miners, and their tools, also reach the
Canadian portion of the Yukon District from Juneau, in
the United States, byway of the Taiya Inlet, the mountain
passes, and the chain of waterways leading therefrom to
Cudahy. Upon none of these importations had any duty
been collected, except a sum of 13,248.80 paid to Inspector
Constantine in 1894, by the North American Transj)orta-
tion and Trading Company and others, and it is safe to
conclude, especially when it is remembered that the coun-
try produces none of the articles consumed within it ex-
cept fresh meat, that a large revenue was being lost to
the public exchequer under the then existing conditions.
" For the purpose of ascertaining officially and author-
itatively the condition of affairs to which the correspond-
18 KLONDYKE FACTS.
ence referred to in tlie next preceding paragraph relates,
the Honorable the President of the Privy Council, dur-
ing the spring of 1894, despatched Inspector Charles Con-
stantine, of the Northwest Mounted Police Force, accom-
panied by Sergeant Brown, to Fort Cudahy and the
mining camps in its vicinity. The report made by Mr.
Constantino on his return, established the substantial
accuracy of the representations already referred to. The
value of the total output of gold for the season of 1894 he
estimated at 1300,000.
" The facts recited clearly establish — first, that the time
had arrived when it became the duty of the Government
of Canada to make more efficient j^rovision for the main-
tenance of order, the enforcement of the laws, and the
administration of justice in the Yukon country, especially
in that section of it in which placer mining for gold is be-
ing prosecuted upon such an extensive scale, situated near
to the boundary separating the NortliAvest Territories from
the possessions of the United States in Alaska ; and,
second, that while such measures as Avere necessary to that
end were called for in the interests of humanity, and par-
ticularly for the security and safety of the lives and property
of the Canadian subjects of Her Majesty resident in that
country who are engaged in legitimate business pursuits,
it was evident that the revenue justly due to the Govern-
ment of Canada, under its customs, excise and land laws,
and which would go a long way to pay the expenses of
government, w^as being lost for the want of adequate
machinery for its collection.
" Accordingly in June last a detachment * of twenty
members of the Mounted Police Force including officers
*The detachment was made uji as follows : — Inspector C. Con-
stantine, Officer Commanding Yukon Detacliment N. W. M.
Police ; Inspector, D. A. E, Strickland ; Assistant Surgeon, A. E.
Wills ; 2 Staff Sergeants ; 3 Corporals ; 13 Constables.
ELONBTKE FACTS. 19
was detailed for service in that portion of the Northwest
Territories. The officer in command, in addition to the
magisterial and other duties he is required to perform hy
virtue of his office and under instructions from the Depart-
ment of Mounted Police, was duly authorized to represent
where necessary, and until other arrangements can be
made, all the departments of the government haviug in-
terests in that region. Particularly he is authorized to
perform the duties of Dominion lands agent, collector of
customs, and collector of inland revenue. At the same
time instructions were given Mr. William Ogilvie, the sur-
veyor referred to as having, with Dr. Dawson, been en-
trusted with the conduct of the first government exjiedi-
tion to the Yukon, to proceed again to that district for the
purpose of continuing and extending the work of deter-
mining the 14:1st meridian, of laying out building lots and
mining claims, and generally of performing such duties as
may be entrusted to him from time to time. Mr. Ogilvie's
qualifications as a surveyor, and his previous experience
as explorer of this section of the Northwest, peculiarly fit
him for the task.
"As it appears quite certain, from the report made by
Mr. Ogilvie on his return to Ottawa, in 1889, and from
the report of iVIr. Constantino, that the operations of the
miners are being conducted upon streams which have their
sources in the United States Territory of Alaska, and flow
into Canada on their way to Join the Yukon, and as doubt-
less some of the placer diggings under development are
situated on the United States side of the boundary it is
highly desirable, both for the purpose of settling definitely
to which country any land occupied for mining or other
purposes actually belongs, and in order that the jurisdic-
tion of the courts and officers of the United States and
Canada, for both civil and criminal purposes, may be estab-
lished, that the determination of the 141st meridian west
20 KL OND YKE FA CTS.
of Greenwich from the point of its intersection with the
Yukon, as marked by Mr. Ogilvie in 1887-88, for a con-
siderable distance south of the river, and possibly also for
some distance to the north, should be proceeded with at
once. Mr. Ogilvie's instructions require him to go on with
the survey with all convenient speed, but in order that this
work may be effective for the accomplishment of the object
in view the co-operation of the Government of the United
States is necessary. Correspondence is in progress through
the proper authorities with a view to obtaining this co-
operation. It may be mentioned that a United States
surveyor has also determined the points at which the
Yukon Eiver and Forty Mile Creek are intersected by the
14st meridian."
KLONDYKE FACTS. 21
CHAPTER II.
ROUTES, DISTANCES, AXD TRAXSPORTATIOX.
After considerable experience I have decided tliat tlie
best route for a man to take to the gold regions is from
Seattle, "Washington, to Juneau, Alaska, and then to Daw-
son City, by the pass and waterways, and I will therefore
describe this route more in detail than any of the others.
I am devoting a special chapter to the outfit for travellers,
and will therefore deal in this chapter with the route only.
The traveller having paid his fare to Seattle should
on arrival there have not less than ^500. This is the
minimum sum necessary to pay his fare from Seattle to
Juneau, purchase his outfit and supplies for one year and
pay his necessary expenses in the gold region for that length
of time.
I think it deplorable that so many are starting at this time
for the gold-fields. I do not recommend starting before
March 15. I will return at that time to ray claims on the
Klondyke, if it Avere wise to go sooner, I should certainly
go-
The reason March 15 is best is that the season is better
then. If a man has only, say, $500 and wants to do his
own packing over the Taiya Pass, it gives him time to do it
by starting March 15, as he will then be in Juneau April
1st. I fear a great deal of hardship for those who started
out so as to reach Juneau for winter travel.
Of course while I say 1500 is sufficient to go to Daw-
son City, a man should take $1,000 or even more if pes-
22 KLONDTKE FACTS.
sible as he will have many opportunities to invest the
surplus.
While prices will undoubtedly advance at Dawson City
owing to the large influx of people, I do not think the ad-
vance will be excessive. It has never been the policy of
the two trading companies to take advantage of the miners.
The traveller having arrived in Juneau from Seattle, a
journey of 725 miles by water, immediately purchases his
complete outfit as described in another chapter. He then
loses no time in leaving Juneau for Dyea, taking a small
steamboat which runs regularly to this port via the Lynn
Canal. Dyea has recently been made a customs port of
entry and the head of navigation this side of the Taiya
Pass. The distance between Juneau and Dyea is about one
hundred miles.
From Dyea, which is the timber-line, he packs his outfit
to the foot of the Taiya Pass — the length of which to the
summit is about 15 miles. He must now carry his outfit
up the Pass, which he generally does in two or more trips
according to the weight of his outfit, unless he is able
hire Indians or mules ; but so far there are very few to
Indians to be hired and still fewer mules.
He now starts for Lake Lindoman from the head of the
Pass, a distance of eight miles — the distance from Dyea to
Lake Lindeman being 31 miles.
At Lake Lindeman he commences to make his boat, for
which he has bronglit the proper supplies in his outfit,
with the exception of the timber, which he finds at Lake
Lindeman. Ho spends one Avcek at Lake Lindeman mak-
ing his boat and getting ready for the long trip down the
waterways to Dawson City, the heart of the Klondyke re-
gion. The trip through Lake Lindeman is short, the
lake being only five miles long. At the foot of the lake
he must portage to Lake Bennet, the portage however be-
ing very short, less than a mile.
\
^
THE ASCKNT OF TAITA PASS
KLONBTKE FACTS. 23
Lake Bennet is 28 miles long, while going tlirovigli this
lake the traveller crosses the boundary between British
Columbia and the Xorthwest Territory.
After going down Lake Bennet the traveller comes to
Caribou Crossing — about four miles long, which takes him
to Lake Tagish, twenty miles in length. After leaving
Tagisli he finds himself in Mud or Marsh Lake, 24 miles
long, then into the Lynx River, on which he continues for
27 miles till he comes to Miles Canyon, five-eighths of a
mile long.
Lnmediately on leaving Miles Canyon he has three miles
of what is called bad river work, which, while not hazard-
ous, is dangerous from the swift current aiul from being
very rocky. Great care has to be taken in going down this
part of the river.
He uoAV finds himself in "White Horse Canyon the rapids
of which are three-eighths of a mile in length and one of
the most dangerous places oh the trip, a man is here
guarded by a sign, "Keej) a good lookout."
No stranger or novice should try to run the White Horse
Rapids alone in a boat. He should let his boat drop down
the river guided by a rope with which he has iirovided
himself in his outfit and which should be 150 feet long.
It would be better if the traveller should portage here, the
miners having constructed a portage road on the Avest side
and put down roller-ways in some places on which they
roll their boats over. They have also made some wind-
lasses with which they haul their boat up the hill till they
are at the foot of the canyon. The White Horse Canyon
is very rocky and dangerous aiul the current extremely
swift.
After leaving the White Horse Canyon he goes down the
river to the head of Lake Labarge, a distance of 14 miles.
He can sit down and steer with the current, as he is going
down the stream all the way. It is for this reason that in
24 KLONDYKE FACTS.
returning from the diggings he should take another route,
of wliich lie will get full particulars before leaving Dawson ;
therefore I do not take the time to give a full description
of the return trip via the Yukon to St. Michael. He now
goes through Lake Labarge — for 31 miles — till he strikes
the Lewes Eiver, this taking him down to Hootalinqua.
He is now in the Lewes Eiver which takes him for 25 miles
to Big Salmon Eiver and from Big Salmon Eiver 45 miles
to Little Salmon Eiver — the current all this time taking
him down at the rate of five miles an hour. Of course in
the canyons it is very much swifter.
The Little Salmon Eiver takes him to Five Finger
Eapids, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles. In
the Five Finger Eapids the voyage should be made on the
right side of the river, going with the current. These
rapids are considered safe by careful management, but the
novice will already have had sufficient experience in guid-
ing his boat before reaching them.
From Five Finger Eapids the traveller goes six miles
below, down the Lewes, to the Eink Eaj)ids. On going
through the Eink Eapids, he continues on the Lewes Eiver
to Fort Selkirk, the trading post of Harper and Ladue,
where the Pelly and Lewes, at their junction, form the
headwaters of the Yukon. You are now at the head of
the Yukon Eiver, and the worst j^art of your trip is over.
You now commence to go down the Yukon, and after a
trip of ninety-eight miles, you are in the White Eiver.
You keep on the White Eiver for ten miles, to the Stewart
Eiver, and then twenty-five miles to Fort Ogilvie. Yon
are now only forty miles from Dawson City.
Your journey is now almost ended. After a forty-mile
trip on the Yukon, you arrive at Dawson City, where the
Klondyke empties in the Yukon.
All through this trip you have been going through a
mountainous country, the trees there being pine, a small
KLONDYKE FACTS. 25
amount of spruce, cottonwood and bircli. You have not
seen much game, if any, as it is growing scarce along tliat
line of river, and very hard to find. The traveller had
therefore better make prej)aration to depend on the pro-
visions he has brought with him. If he has stopped to
fish, he may have been successful in catching whitefish,
grayling and lake trout, along the lakes and rivers.
The total Journey from Seattle to Dawson City luis taken
about two months. In connection with this trip from
Juneau to Dawson City, it is perhaps better to give the
reader the benefit of the trip of ISlv. William Stewart,
who Avrites from Lake Lindeman, May 31st, 1897, as fol-
lows : —
" We arrived here at the south end of the lake last night
by boat. We have had an awful time of it. The Taiya
Pass is not a pass at all, but a climb right over the moun-
tains. We left Juneau on Thursday, the twentieth, on
a little boat smaller than the ferry at Ottawa. There were
over sixty aboard, all in one room about ten by fourteen.
There was baggage piled up in one end so that the floor-
space was only about eight by eight. We went aboard
about three o'clock in the afternoon and went ashore at
Dyea at seven o'clock Friday night. We got the Indians
to pack all our stuff up to the summit, but about fifty
pounds each ; I had forty-eight pounds and my gun.
" We left Dyea, an Indian village, Sunday, but only got
up the river one mile. We towed all the stuff up the
river seven miles, and then packed it to Sheep Camp.
We reached Sheep Camp about seven o'clock at night,
on the Queen's Birthday. A beautiful time we had, I can
tell you, climbing hills with fifty pounds on our backs.
It would not be so bad if Ave could strap it on rightly.
"AVe left Sheep Camp next morning at four o'clock,
and reached the summit at half-past seven. It Avas an
aAvful climb — an angle of about fifty-five degrees. AVe
26 KLONBYKE FACTS.
could kcci^ our lumds touching the trtiil all the way up.
It was blowing and snowing up there. We paid off the
Indians, and got some sleighs and sleighed the stuff down
the hill. This hill goes down pretty swif t^, and then drops
at an angle of fifty-five degrees for about forty feet, and
we had to rough-lock our sleighs and let them go. There
was an awful fog, and we could not see where we were
going. Some fellows helped us down with the first load,
or there would have been nothing left of us. When we
lot a sleigh go from the top it jumps about fifty feet clear,
and comes down in pieces. AVe loaded up the sleighs with
some of our stuff, about tv.o hundred and twenty-five
pounds each, and started across the lakes. The trail was
awful, and we v/aded through water and slush two and
three feet deep. We got to the mouth of the canyon at
about eight o'clock at night, done out. We left there that
night, and pushed on again until morning. We got to
the bottom of an av.-ful hill, and packed all our stuff from
tliere to the hill above the lake. We had about two and
a half miles over hills, in snow and slusli. I carried about
five hundred 2)ounds over that part of the trail. We had
to get dogs to bring the stuff down from the summit to
the head of the canyon.
We worked two days bringing the stuff over from the
canyon to the hill above the lake. Saturday we worked all
day packing down the hill to the lake, and came here on
a scow. We were out yesterday morning cutting down
trees to build a boat. The timber is small, and I don't
think we can get more than four-inch stuff. It rained all
afternoon, and we couldn't do anything. There are about
fifty boats of all sorts on Lake Bennet, which is about half
a mile from here. I have long rubber boots up to the hips,
and I did not have them on coming from the summit down,
but I have worn them ever since.
We met Barwell and Lewis, of Ottawa, to-day. They
ELONDYKE FACTS. 27
were out looking for knees for their boats. They left
Ottawa six weeks ago, and have not got any farther than
we have. There was a little saw-mill going here, and they
have their lumber sawn. We have it that warm some days
here that you would fairly roast, and the next day you
would be looking for your overcoat. Everybody here
seems to be taking in enough food to do them a couple of
years.
AVe are now in Canadian territory, after we passed the
summit. I will have to catch somebody going through to
Dyea to give him this letter, but I don't know how long
before I can get any one going through. This is the last
you will hear from me until I get down to the Klon-
dyke."
Mr. Stewart adds : '' I wrote this in the tent at 11 o'clock
at night during twilight."
If you take this trip in winter, however, you have to pur-
chase a sled at Juneau, and sled it over the frozen water-
ways to Dawson City.
For the benefit of my readers in Canada and for parties
leaving for the great Xorthwest Territory for the gold fields,
I take pleasure in quoting the following description of a
Canadian route : —
" Canadians should awaken to the fact that they have
emphatically ' the inside track ' to their own gold fields,
a route not half the distance, largely covered by railways
and steamboats, with supply stations at convenient inter-
vals all the way. By this route the gold-fields can be
reached in two months or six Aveeks, and the cost of travel
is ridiculously cheap — nearly anybody can afford to go even
now, and by the spring it should be fitted out for the ac-
commodation of any amount of traffic.
The details of the information in the following article
are given by Mr. A. H. H. Heming, the artist who ac-
28 KLONDYEE FACTS.
companied Mr. Whitney in his journey towards the Barren
Lands, and the data may be accepted as correct;, as they
were secured from the Hudson Bay officials.
The details of the inland Canadian route, briefly, are as
follows : By C. P. R. to Calgary, and thence north by
rail to Edmonton ; from there by stage to Athabasca Land-
ing, 40 miles ; then, there is a continuous waterway for
canoe travel to Fort Macpherson, at the mouth of the
Mackenzie Eiver, from which point the Peel River lies
southward to the gold region. The exact figures are as
follows :
MILES.
Edmonton to Athabasca Landing 40
To Fort McMurray 240
Fort Chippew3^an 185
Smith Landing 102
Fort Smith 16
Fort Resolution 194
Fort Providence 1G8
Fort Simpson 101
Fort Wrigley 130
Fort Norman 184
Fort Good Hope 174
Fort Macpherson 282
Total.... 1882
There are only two jiortages on this route of any size —
that from Edmonton to Athabasca Landing, over which
there is a stage and wagon line, and at Smith Landing, six-
teen miles, over which the Hudson Bay Company has a tram-
way. There are four or live other portages of a few hun-
dred yards, but Avith these exceptions there is a fine '* down
grade" water route all the way. It is the old Ihidson
Bay trunk line to the north that has been in use for nearly
KLONDYKE FACTS. 29
a century. AVlierever thei'e is a lake or a long stretch of
deep water river navigation the company has small freight
steamers which ply back and forward during the summer
between the portage points or shallows. With compara-
tively little expenditure the company or the Government
can improve the facilities along the line so that any amount
of freight or any number of passengers can be taken into
the gold region at less than half the time and cost that it
takes Americans to reach it from Port St. Michael, at the
mouth of the Yukon to the Klondyke, exclusive of the
steamer trip of 2500 miles from Seattle to Port St.
Michael.
Canadians can leave here on a Monday at 11.15 A.M.,
and reach Edmonton on Friday at 7 p.m. From that
point, a party of three men with a canoe, should reach Fort
Macpherson easily in from 50 to GO days, provided they
are able-bodied young fellows Avith experience in that sort
of travel. They will need to take canoes from here, unless
they propose to hire Indians with large birch bark canoes
to carry them. Birch bark canoes can be secured of any
size up to the big ones manned by ten Indians that carry
three tons. But birch barks are not reliable unless Indians
are taken along to doctor them, and keep them from get-
ting water-logged. The Hudson Bay Company will also
contract to take freight northward on their steamers until
tlie close of navigation. Travellers to the gold mines
leaving now would probably reach Fort Macpherson before
navigation closed.
The letter from Eev. Mr. Stringer, the missionary, pub-
lished in the Spectator on July 2, shows that the ice had
only commenced to run in the Peel Eiver, which is the
Avater route south-east from Fort Macpherson into the gold
region, on September 30 last year.
Any Canadians who are anxious to get into the Klon-
dyke ahead of the Americans can leave between now and
30 KLONBTKE FACTS.
August 1, reach Fort Macpherson, and if winter comes on
they can exchange their canoes for dog trains, and reach
tlie Klondyke without half the difficulty that would be
experienced on the Alaska route. The great advantage of
the inland route is that it is an organized line of communi-
cation. Travellers need not carry any more food than
will take them from one Hudson Bay post to the next, and
then there is abundance of fish and wild fowl en route.
They can also be in touch with such civilization as prevails
up there, can always get assistance at the posts, and will
have some place to stay should they fall sick or meet with
an accident. If they are lucky enough to make their pile
in the Klondyke, they can come back by tlie dog sled
route during the winter. (There is one winter mail to
Fort Macpherson in winter.) Dogs for teams can be pur-
chased at nearly any of the line of Hudson Bay posts that
form a chain of road-houses on the trip.
Parties travelling alone will not need to employ guides
until they get near Fort Macpherson, and from there on
to the Klondyke, as the rest of the route from Edmonton
is so well defined, having been travelled for years, that no
guides are required.
You don't need a coujdIc of thousand dollars to start for
Klondyke to-morrow by the Edmonton route. All you
need is a good constitution, some experience in boating
and camping, and about 1150. Suppose a party of three
decide to start. First they will need to purchase a canoe,
about 135 or less ; first-class ticket from Hamilton to Ed-
monton, $71.40 ; second class, ditto, $40.90 ; cost of food
at Edmonton for three men for two months (should consist
of pork, flour, tea and baking-powder), $35 ; freight on
canoe to Edmonton, $23. Total for three men from Ham-
ilton to Fort Macpherson, provided they travel second-
class on the C. P. E. will be $318.70. These figures are
furnished by Mr. Heming, who has been over the route
KLONDYKE FACTS. 31
400 miles north of Edmonton, and got the rest of his data
from the Hudson Bay officials.
If three men chip in 1150 each they Avould have a mar-
gin of over 1300 for purchasing their tools and for trans-
port from Fort Macpherson to the Klondyke. This is how
it may be done on the cheap, though Mr. Heming con-
siders it ample for any party starting this summer. Prices
will likely rise on the route when the rush begins. If the
Hudson Bay peoj^le are alive to their interests they will
forward a large amount of supplies for Fort Macpherson
immediately and make it the base of su^iplies for the Klon-
dyke during the coming winter.
Parties should consist of three men each, as that is the
crew of a canoe. It will take GOO pounds of food to carry
three men over the route. Passengers on the C. P. E,
are entitled to carry 600 pounds of baggage. The paddling
is all down stream, except when they turn south up Peel
River, and sails should be taken, as there is often a favor-
able wind for days.
There are large scows on the line, manned by ten men
each and known as ' sturgeon heads.'' They are like
canal boats, but are punted along and are used by the
Hudson Bay people for taking forward supplies to the
forts.
The return trip to the United States is usually made
by the Yukon steamers from Dawson City direct to St.
Michael via the Yukon and Anvik River, thence by ocean
steamer from St. Michael to San Francisco.^'
The following letter is interesting to the jirospector as
showing the difficulties to overcome uji the Taiya Pass to
Lake Lindeman.
Winnipeg, July 27, 1897.
A letter has been received from George McLeod, one of
the members of the Winnipeg party of gold hunters that
32 KLONDYKE FACTS.
left here recently for the Yukon. He wrote from Lake
Lindeman under date of July 4, and states that the party
expected to leave on the journey from the river a week
later. They had a fine boat, with a freight capacity of
two tons about completed. The real work of the expedi-
tion started when the small steamer which conveyed the
party from Juneau arrived at Dyea. The men had to
transfer their goods to a lighter one mile from shore, each
man looking after his own joackages. After getting every-
thing ashore the party was organized for ascent of the
mountain pass, which at the hardest point is 3,000 feet
above sea level. McLeod and his chum, to save time and
money too, engaged 35 Indians to pack their supplies
over the mountains, but they had to carry their own bed-
ding and grub to keep them on the road. It is fifteen
miles to the summit of the pass and the jaarty made twelve
miles the first day, going into camp at night tired from
climbing over rocks, stumps, logs and hills, working
through rivers and creeks and pushing their way through
brush. At the end of twelve miles they thought they had
gone fifty. On the second day out they began to scale the
summit of the mountain. Hill after hill confronted them,
each one being steeper than the last. There was snow on
the top of the mountain, and rain was falling, and this added
greatly to the difficulties of the ascent. In many places
the men had to crawl on their hands and knees, so pre-
cipitous was the mountain side. Time after time the rnen
Avould slij) back several inches, but they recovered them-
selves and went at it again.
Finally, the summit was gained, McLeod being the first
of the party to reach the top. After resting and chang-
ing their clothes the descent was commenced. j\IcLeod
and his chums purchased sleighs, on which they loaded
their goods and hauled for five miles. This was extremely
laborious work, and the men were so used up working in
KLONDYKE FACTS. 33
the scorching sun that tliey were compelled to work at
nights and sleep during the day. Two days after the de-
scent hegan the sleiglis were abandoned, and the men
packed the goods for three miles and a half. They were
fortunate in securing the services of a man who had two
horses to convey the goods to Lake Lindeman.
McLeod says the worry in getting over the pass is terri-
ble, and he has no desire to repeat the experience. He
advises all who go in to have their goods packed all the
way from Dyea to Lake Lindeman. It costs 17 or 18
cents per pound for packing.
j\IcLeod expected that Klondyke would not be reached
before July 25.
I think it specially valuable for the reader to give him
the approximate distances to Fort Cudahy, Avhich is below
Dawson City via the various routes.
This table of distances has been prepared by Mr. James
Ogilvie, and I also give a number of his notes which will
be of great value to the traveller when making tlie trip
from Juneau to Dawson City.
APPROXIMATE DISTANCES TO FORT CUDAHY.
VIA ST, MICHAEL.
Miles.
San Francisco to Dutch Harbor 2,400
Seattle or Victoria to Dutch Harbor 3.000
Dutch Harbor to St. Michael 750
St. Michael to Cudahy 1,600
VIA TAIYA PASS.
Victoria to Taiya 1,000
Taiya to Cudaliy 650
VIA STIKIXE RIVER.
Victoria to "Wrangell 750
Wrangell to Telegraph Creek 150
Telegraph Creek to Teslin Lake 150
Teslin Lake to Cudahv 650
3
g4 KL ON DYKE FACTS.
DISTANCES FROM HEAD OF TAIYA INLET.
Miles.
Head of canoe navigation, Taiya River 5-90
Forks of Taiya River 8-38
Summit of Taiya Pass 14-76
Landing at Lake Lindeman 23-06
Foot of Lake Lindeman 37-49
Head of Lake Bennet 28-09
Boundary line B. C. and N. W. T. (Lat 60°) 38-09
Foot of Lake Bennet 53-85
Foot of Caribou Crossing (Lake Nares) 56*44
Foot of Tagish Lake 73-25
Head of Marsli Lake 78-15
Foot of Marsh Lake 97-21
Head of Miles Canon 122-94
Foot of Miles Canon 123-56
Head of White Horse Rapids 124-95
Foot of White Horse Rapids 125-33
Tahkeena River 139-92
Head of Lake Labarge 15307
Foot of Lake Labarge 184-22
Teslintoo River 215-88
Big Salmon River 24933
Little Salmon River 285-54
Five Finger Rapids 344 83
Pelly River 403.29
White River 499-11
Stewart River 508-91
Sixty-Mile Creek 530-41
Dawson City — The Principal Mining Town 575-70
Fort Reliance 582-20
Forty-Mile River 627-08
Boundary Line 667-43
" Another route is now being explored between Telegraph
Creek and Teslin Lake and will soon be opened. Telegraph
Creek is the head of steamer navigation on the Stikine
River and is about 150 miles from Teslin Lake. The
Yukon is navigable for steamers from its mouth to Teslin
Lake, a distance of 2,300 miles. A road is being located
KLONbYKE FACTS. 36
by the Dominion Government. A grant of $2,000 has
been made by the province of British Columbia for open-
ing it.
'^ J. Dalton^ a trader, lias used a route overland from
Chilkat Inlet to Fort Selkirk. Going up the Chilkat and
Klaheela Rivers, he crosses the divide to the Tahkeena
River and continues northward over a fairly open country
practicable for horses. The distance from the sea to Fort
Selkirk is 350 miles.
'^ Last summer a Juneau butcher sent 40 head of cattle to
Cudaliy. G. Bounds, the man in charge, crossed the di-
vide over the Chilkat Pass, followed the shore of Lake Ar-
kell and, keeping to the east of Dalton's trail, reached the
Yukon just belo^v the Rink Rapids. Here the cattle were
slaughtered and the meat floated down on a raft to Cudahy,
where it retailed at II a pound.
" It is proposed to establish a winter road somewhere across
the country travelled over by Dalton and Bounds. The
Yukon cannot be followed, the ice being too much broken,
so that any winter road will have to be overland. A
thorough exploration is now being made of all the passes
at the head of X/ynn Canal and of the upper waters of the
Yukon. In a few months it is expected that the best routes
for reaching the district from Lynn Canal will be definitely
known.
*' It is said by those familiar with the locality that the
storms which rage in the upper altitudes of the coast range
during the greater part of the time, from October to March,
are terrific. A man caught in one of them runs the risk
of losing his life, unless he can reach shelter in a short
time. During the summer there is nearly always a wind
blowing from the sea up Chatham Strait and Lynn Canal,
which lie in almost a straight line with each other, and
at the head of Lynn Canal are Chilkat and Chilkoot Inlets.
The distance from the coast down these channels to the
36 kLonjdyke facTB.
open sea is about 380 miles. The mountains on each side
of the water confine the currents of air, and deflect inclined
currents in the direction of the axis of the channel, so
that tliere is nearly always a strong wind blowing up the
channel. Coming from the sea, this wind is heavily
charged with moisture, which is precipitated when the air
currents strike the mountains, and the fall of rain and snow
is consequently very heavy.
" In Chilkat Inlet there is not much shelter from the
south wind, which renders it unsafe for ships calling
there. Capt. Hunter told me he would rather visit any
other part of the coast than Chilkat.
"To carry the survey from the island across to Chilkoot
Inlet I had to get up on the mountains north of Haines
mission, and from there could see both inlets. Owing to
the bad weather I could get no observation for azimuth,
and had to produce the survey from Pyramid Island to
Taiya Inlet by reading the angles of deflection between the
courses. At Taiya Inlet I got my first observation, and
deduced the azimuths of my courses up to that point.
Taiya Inlet has evidently been the valley of a glacier ; its
sides are steep and smooth from glacial action ; and this,
with the wind almost constantly blowing landward, renders
getting upon the shore difficult. Some long sights were
therefore necessary. The survey was made up to the head
of the Inlet on the 2d of June. Preparations were then
commenced for taking the supplies and instruments over
the coast range of mountains to the head of Lake Linde-
man on the Lewes River. Commander Newell kindly
aided me in making arrangements with the Indians, and
did all he could to induce them to be reasonable in their
demands. This, however, neither he nor any one else
could accomplish. They refused to carry to the lake for
less than $20 per hundred pounds, and as they had learned
that the expedition was an English one, the second chief
TUB BOLNDAUY LINE BErWtEN AEASKA AND NOKTIIWEST TEURIToKIES
SHOWING OVERLAND TRIP TO DAWSON CITY FnOJI LAKE BKNNET
KLONDYKE FACTS. 37
of the Chilkoot ludians recalled some memories of an old
quarrel which the tribe had with the English many years
ago, in which an uncle of his was killed, and he thought
we should pay for the loss of his uncle by being charged an
exorbitant price for our packing, of which he had the sole
control. Commander Newell told him I had a permit from
the Great Fatber at Washington to pass through his coun-
try safely, that he would see that I did so, and if the In-
dians interfered with me they would be punished for doing
so. After much talk they consented to carry our stuff to
the summit of tlie mountain for $10 per hundred pounds.
This is about two-thirds of the whole distance, includes
all the climbing and all the Avoods, and is by far the most
difficult part of the way.
" On the Gth of June 120 Indians, men, women and chil-
dren, started for the summit. I sent two of my party with
them to see the goods delivered at the place agreed upon.
Each carrier when given a pack also got a ticket, on which
was inscribed the contents of the pack, its weight, and the
amount the individual was to get for carrying it. They
were made to understand that they had to produce these
tickets on delivering their packs, but were not told for
what reason. As each pack was delivered one of my men
receipted the ticket and returned it. The Indians did not
seem to understand the import of this ; a fcAV of them pre-
tended to have lost their tickets ; and as they could not
get paid Avithout them, my assistant, who had duplicates
of every ticket, furnished them Avith receipted copies,
after examining their packs.
" "While they Avere packing to the summit I was producing
the survey, and I met them on their return at the foot of
the canon, about eight miles from the coast, Avhere I paid
them. They came to the camp in the early morning before
I Avas up, and for about tAvo hours there was quite a hub-
bub. "When paying them I tried to get their names, but
38 KLONBYEE FACTS.
very few of them would give any Indian name, nearly all,
after a little reflection, giving some common English name.
My list contained little else than Jack, Tom, Joe, Charlie,
&c. some of which were duplicated three and four times.
I then found why some of them had pretended to lose
their tickets at the summit. Three or four who had thus
acted presented themselves twice for payment, producing
first the receipted ticket, afterwards the one they claimed
to have lost, demanding pay for both. They were much
taken aback when they found that their duplicity had
been discovered.
" These Indians are perfectly heartless. They will not
render even the smallest aid to each other without j)ay-
ment ; and if not to each other, much less to a white man.
I got one of them, whom I had previously assisted with
his pack, to take me and two of my party over a small
creek in his canoe. After putting us across lie asked for
money, and I gave him half a dollar. Another man
stepped up and demanded pay, stating that the canoe was
his. To see what the result would be, I gave to him the
same amount as to the first. Immediately there were three
or four more claimants for the canoe. I dismissed them
with a blessing, and made up my mind that I would wade
the next creek.
'' While paying them I was a little apprehensive of trouble,
for they insisted on crowding into my tent, and for m}--
self and the four men who were Avith me to have attempted
to eject them would have been to invite trouble. I am
strongly of the opinion that these Indians would have been
much more difficult to deal with if they had not known
that Commander Newell remained in the inlet to see that
I got through without accident.
" While making the survey from the head of tide water I
took the azimuths and altitudes of several of the highest
peaks around the head of the inlet, in order to locate
KLONBYKE FACTS. 39
them, and obtain an idea of the general height of the
peaks in the coast range. As it does not appear to have
been done before, I have taken the opportunity of naming
all the peaks, the positions of Avhich I fixed in the above
way. The names and altitudes appear on my map.
*' While going up from the head of canoe navigation on
the Taiya River I took the angles of elevation of each
station from the preceding one. I would have done this
from tide water up, but found many of the courses so short
and with so little increase in height that with the instru-
ment I had it Avas inappreciable. From these angles I
have computed the height of the summit of the Taiya
Pass,* above the head of canoe navigation, as it appeared
to me in June, 1887, and find it to be 3,378 feet. What
depth of snow there was I cannot say. The head of canoe
navigation I estimate at about 120 feet above tide water.
Dr. Dawson gives it as 124 feet.
''I determined the descent from the summit to Lake
Lindeman by carrying the aneroid from the lake to the
summit and back again, the interval of time from start to
return being about eight hours. Taking the mean of the
readings at the lake, start and return, and the single read-
ing at the summit, the height of the summit above the lake
was found to be 1,237 feet. While making the survey
from the summit down to the lake I took the angles of de-
pression of each station from the preceding one, and from
these angles I deduced the difference of height, which I
found to be 1,354 feet, or 117 feet more than that found
* The distance from the head of Taiya Inlet to the summit of
the pass is 15 miles, and the whole length of tlie pass to Lake
Lindeman is 23 niiles. Messrs. Healy and Wilson, dealers in
general merchandise and miners' supplies at Taiya, have a train
of pack horses carrying freight from the head of Lynn Canal to
the summit. They hope to be able to take freight through to
Lake Lindeman with their horses during the present season.
40 KLONDYKE FACTS.
by the aneroid. This is quite a large difference ; but
when we consider the altitude of the place, the sudden
changes of temperature, and the atmospheric conditions^
it is not more than one might expect.
" "While at Juneau I heard reports of a low pass from the
head of Chilkoot Inlet to the head waters of Lewes Eiver.
During the time I was at the head of Taiya Inlet I made
inquiries regarding it, and found that there was such a
pass, but could learn nothing definite about it from either
whites or Indians. As Capt. Moore, who accompanied
me, was very anxious to go through it, and as the reports
of the Taiya Pass indicated that no wagon road or railroad
could ever be built through it, while the new pass appeared,
from what little knowledge I could get of it, to be much
lower and possibly feasible for a wagon road, I determined
to send the captain by that Avay, if I could get an Indian
to accompany him. This, I found, would be difficult to
do. None of the Chilkoots ap^jeared to knoAV anything of
the pass, and I concluded that they wished to keep its
existence and condition a secret. The Tagish, or Stick
Indians, as the interior Indians are locally called, are afraid
to do anything in opposition to the wishes of the Chilkoots ;
so it was difficult to get any of them to join Capt. Moore ;
but after much talk and encouragement from the whites
around, one of them named "Jim" was induced to go.
He had been through this pass before, and proved reliable
and useful. The information obtained from Capt. Moore's
exploration I have incorporated in my plan of the survey
from Taiya Inlet, but it is not as complete as I would
have liked. I have named this pass '' White Pass," in
honor of the late Hon. Thos. White, Minister of the
Interior, under whose authority the expedition Avas organ-
ized. Commencing at Taiya Inlet, about two miles south
of its north end, it follows up the valley of the Shkagway
River to its source, and thence down the valley of another
KLONDYKE FACTS. 41
river which Capt. Moore reijortecl to empty into the Takone
or Wiudy Arm of Bove Lake (Schwatka). Dr. Dawson
says this stream empties into Taku Arm, and in that
event Capt. Moore is mistaken. Capt. Moore did not go
all the way through to the lake, but assumed from reports
he heard from tlie miners and others that the stream flowed
into Windy iVrm, and this also was the idea of the Indian
'^Jim" from Avhat I could gather from his remarks in
broken English and Chinook. Capt. Moore estimates the
distance from tide water to the summit at about 18 miles,
and from the summit to the lake at about 22 to 23 miles.
He reports the pass as thickly timbered all the way through.
" The timber line on the south side of the Taiya Pass, as
determined by barometer reading, is about 2,300 feet
above the sea, while on the north side it is about 1,000 feet
below the summit. This large difference is due, I think,
to the different conditions in the two places. On the
south side the valley is narrow and deep, and the sun can-
not produce its full effect. The snow also is much deeper
there, owing to the quantity Avhich drifts in from the sur-
rounding mountains. On the north side the surface is
sloping, and more exposed to the sun's rays. On the south
side the timber is of the class peculiar to the coast, and
on the north that joeculiar to the interior. The latter
Avould grow at a greater altitude than the coast timber.
It is possible that the summit of "White Pass is not higher
than the timber line on the north of the Taiya Pass,
or about 2,500 feet above tide water, and it is possibly
even lower than this, as the timber in a valley such as the
White Pass would hardly live at the same altitude as on
the open slope on the north side.
" Capt. Moore has had considerable experience in building
roads in mountainous countries. He considers that this
would be an easy route for a wagon road compared with
some roads he has seen in British Columbia. Assuminff
42 KLONDYKE FACTS.
liis distances to be correct, and the height of the pass to be
probably about correctly indicated, the grades would not
be very steep, and a railroad could easily be carried through
if necessary.
''After completing the survey down to the lake, I set
about getting my baggage down too. Of all the Indians
who came to the summit with packs, only four or five could
be induced to remain and pack down to the lake, although
I was paying them at the rate of 14 per hundred pounds.
After one trip down only two men remained, and they only
in hopes of stealing something. One of them appropriated
a pair of boots, and was much surprised to find that he
had to pay for them on being settled with. I could not
blame them much for not caring to work, as the weather
was very disagreeable — it rained or snowed almost continu-
ously. After the Indians left I tried to get down the stuff
with the aid of my own men, but it was slavish and un-
healthy labor, and after the first trip one of them was
laid up with what appeared to be inflammatory rheumatism.
The first time the party crossed, the sun was sliining
brightly, and this brought on snow blindness, the pain of
which only those who have suffered from this complaint
can realize. I had two sleds with me which were made in
Juneau specially for the work of getting over the mount-
ains and down the lakes on the ice. AVitli these I suc-
ceeded in bringing about a ton and a-half to the lakes, but
found that the time it would take to get all down in this
way would seriously interfere with the programme arranged
with Dr. Dawson, to say nothing of the suffering of the
men and myself, and the liability to sickness which pro-
tracted physical exertion under such uncomfortable con-
ditions and continued suffering from snow blindness ex-
pose us to. I had with me a white man who lived at the
head of the inlet with a Tagish Indian woman. This man
had a good deal of influence with the Tagish tribe, of
EL Oyi) YKE FA CTS. 43
whom the greater number were then in the neighborhood
Avhere he resided, trj'ing to get some odd jobs of work,
iind I sent liim to the head of the inlet to try and induce
tlie Tagish Indians to undertake the transj)ortation, offer-
ing them So per hundred pounds. In the meantime Capt.
Moore and the Indian ''Jim" had rejoined me. I had
their assistance for a day or two, and "Jim's" presence
aided indirectly in inducing the Indians to come to my
relief.
" The Tagish are little more than slaves to the more power-
ful coast tribes, and are in constant dread of offending
them in any way. One of the j)rivileges Avhicli the coast
tribes claim is the exclusive right to all Avork on the coast
or in its vicinity, and the Tagish are afraid to dis2)ute this
claim. When my Avhite man asked the Tagish to come
over and pack they objected on the grounds mentioned.
After considerable ridicule of their cowardice, and explana-
tion of the fact that they had the exclusive right to all
work in their own country, the country on the side of the
north side of the coast range being admitted by the coast
Indians to belong to the Tagish tribe just as the coast
tribes had the privilege of doing all the work on the
coast side of the mountains, and that one of their num-
ber was already working with me unmolested, and likely
to continue so, nine of them came over, and in fear
and trembling began to pack down to the lake. After
they were at work for a few days some of the Chilkoots
came out and also started to work. Soon I had quite a
number at work and was getting my stuff down quite fast.
But this good fortune Avas not .to continue. Owing to the
prevailing wet, cold Aveather on the mountains, and the
ditticulty of getting through the soft AvetsnoAv, the Indians
soon began to quit Avork for a day or two at a time, and to
gamble Avith one another for the Avages already earned.
Many of them Avanted to be paid in full, but this I posi-
4-1 KLONBYKE FACTS.
tively refused, knowing that to do so was to have them all
apjjly for their earnings and leave me until necessity com-
pelled them to go to work again. I once for all made them
distinctly understand that I would not pay any of them
until the whole of the stuff was down. As many of them
had already earned from twelve to fifteen dollars each, to
lose which Avas a serious matter to them, they reluctantly
resumed work and kept at it until all was delivered. This
done, I paid them off, and set about getting my outfit across
the lake, which I did with my own party and the two
Peterborough canoes which I had with me.
" These two canoes travelled about 3,000 miles by rail and
about 1,000 miles by steamship before being brought into
service. They did considerable work on Chilkoot and
Tagish Inlets, and were then packed over to the head of
Lewes River (Lake Lindeman), from where they were used
in making the survey of Lewes and Yukon Rivers. In this
work they made about 650 landings. They were then
transported on sleighs from the boundary on the Yukon to
navigable water on the Porcupine.
*'In the spring of 1888 they descended the hitter river,
heavily loaded, and through much rough water, to the
mouth of BelFs River, and up it to McDougall's Pass.
They were then carried over the pass to Pophir River and
were used in going down the latter to Peel River, and thence
up Mackenzie River 1,400 miles ; or, exclusive of railway
and ship carriage, they were carried about 170 miles and
did about 2,500 miles of work for the expedition, making
in all about 1,700 landings in no easy manner and going
through some very bad water. I left them at Fort Chipe-
wyan in fairly good condition, and, with a little j^aint-
ing, they would go through the same ordeal again.
After getting all my outfit over to the foot of Lake Linde-
man I set some of the party to pack it to the head of Lake
Bennet.
KLONDYKE FACTS. 45
" I employed the rest of the party in looking for timber
to build n boat to carry my outfit of j)rovisions and imple-
ments down the river to the vicinity of the international
boundary, a distance of about 700 miles. It took several
days to find a tree large enough to make j)lank for the
boat I wanted, as the timber around the upper end of the
lake is small and scrubby. My boat was finished on the
evejiing of the 11th of July, and on the 12th I started a
portion of the party to load it and go ahead with it and
the outfit to the canon. They had instructions to examine
the cafion and, if necessary, to carry a part of the outfit
past it — in any case, enough to support the party back to
the coast should accident necessitate such procedure. With
the rest of the party I started to carry on the survey, which
may now be said to have fairly started ahead on the lakes.
This proved tedious work, on account of the stormy
weather.
" In the summer months there is nearly always a wind
blowing in from the coast ; it blows down the lakes and
produces quite a heavy swell. This would not prevent the
canoes going with the decks on, but, as we had to land every
mile or so, the rollers breaking on the generally flat beach
proved very troublesome. On this account I found I
could not average more than ten miles per day on the
lakes, little more than half of what could be done on the
river.
" The survey was completed to the canon on the 20th of
July. There I found the party with the large boat had
arrived on the 18th, having carried a j)art of the supplies
past the canon, and were awaiting my arrival to run through
it with the rest in the boat. Before doing so, however, I
made an examination of the cafion. The rapids below it,
particularly the last rapid of the series (called the White
Horse by the miners), I found would not be safe to run.
I sent two men through the cafion in one of the canoes to
46 KLONDYKE FACTS.
await the arrival of the boat, and to be ready in case of an
accident to pick us up. Every man in the party was sup-
plied with a life-preserver, so that should a casualty occur
we Avould all have floated. Those in the canoe got through
all right ; but they would not have liked to rej)eat the
trip. They said the canoe jumped about a great deal more
than they thought it would, and I had the same experience
when going through in the boat.
" The passage through is made in about three minutes, or
at the rate of about 12|^ miles an hour. If the boat is kept
clear of the sides there is not much danger in high water ;
but in low water there is a rock in the middle of the channel,
near the upper end of the canon, that renders the passage
more difficult. I did not see this rock myself, but got my
information from some miners I met in the interior, who
described it as being about 150 yards down from the head
and a little to the west of the middle of the channel. In
low water it barely projects above the surface. When I
passed through there was no indication of it, either from
the bank above or from the boat.
" The distance from the head to the foot of the canon is
five-eighths of a mile. There is a basin about midway in it
about 150 yards in diameter. This basin is circular in
form, with steep sloping sides about 100 feet high. The
lower jDart of the canon is much rougher to run through
than the upper part, the fall being apparently much
greater. The sides are generally perpendicular, about 80
to 100 feet high, and consist of basalt, in some places
showing hexagonal columns.
" The White Horse Rapids are about three-eighths of a
mile long. They are the most dangerous rapids on the
river, and are never run through in boats except by ac-
cident. They are confined by low basaltic banks, which,
at the foot, suddenly close in and make the channel about
30 yards wide. It is here the danger lies, as there is a
KLONDYKE FACTS. 47
sudden drop and the water rushes through at a tremen-
dous rate, leaping and seething like a cataract. The
miners have constructed a portage road on the west side,
and put down rollways in some places on whicli to shove
their boats over. They have also made some windlasses
with which to haul their boats up hill, notably one at the
foot of the canon. This roadway and windlasses must have
cost them many hours of hard labor. Should it ever be
necessary, a tramway could be built past the canon on tlie
east side with no great difficulty. With the exception
of the Five Finger Eapids these appear to be the only
serious rapids on the whole length of the river.
" Five Finger Kapidsare formed by several islands stand-
ing in the channel and backing up the Avater so much as
to raise it about a foot, causing a swell below for a few
yards. The islands are composed of conglomerate rock,
similar to the cliffs on each side of the river, whence one
would infer that there has been a fall here in past ages.
For about two miles below the rapids there is a pretty swift
current, but not enough to prevent the ascent of a steam-
boat of moderate power, and the rapids themselves I do
not think would present any serious obstacle to the ascent
of a good boat. In very high water warping miglit bo re-
quired. Six miles below these rapids are what are known
as ' Rink Eapids.' This is simply a barrier of rocks, which
extends from the westerly side of the river about half way
across. Over this barrier there is a ripple which would
offer no great obstacle to the descent of a good canoe. On
the easterly sides there is no ripple, and the current is
smooth and the water apparently deep. I tried with a 6
foot paddle, but could not reach the bottom.
" On the 11th of August I met a party of miners coming
out who had passed Stewart River a few days before.
They saw no sign of Dr. Dawson having been there. This
was welcome news for me, as I expected he would have
48 KLONDYEE FACTS.
reached that point long before I arrived, on account of the
many delays I had met with on the coast range. These
miners also gave me the pleasant news that the story told
at the coast about the fight with the Indians at Stewart
River was false, and stated substantially what I have
already repeated concerning it. The same evening I met
more miners on their way out, and the next day met three
boats, each containing four men. In the crew of one of them
was a son of Capt. Moore, from whom the captain got such
information as induced him to turn back and accompany
them out.
'' Next day, the 13th, I got to the mouth of the Pelly, and
found that Dr. Dawson had arrived there on the 11th.
The doctor also had experienced many delays, and had
heard the same story of the Indian uprising in the interior.
I was pleased to find that he was in no immediate want of
provisions, the fear of which had caused me a great deal of
uneasiness on the way down the river, as it was arranged
between us in Victoria that I Avas to take with me provi-
sions for his party to do them until their return to the
coast. The doctor was so much behind the time arranged
to meet me that he determined to start for the coast at
once. I therefore set about making a short report and
plan of my survey to this point ; and, as I was not likely
to get another opportunity of writing at such length for a
year, I applied myself to a correspondence designed to
satisfy my friends and acquaintances for the ensuing
twelve months. This necessitated three days' hard work.
" On the morning of the 17tli the doctor left for the out-
side world, leaving me with a feeling of loneliness that only
those Avho have experienced it can realize. I remained
at the mouth of the Pelly during the next day taking mag-
netic and astronomical observations, and making some
measurements of the river. On the 19tli I resumed the
survey and reached White Eiver on the 25th. Here I spent
KL OXD YKE FA CTS. 49
most of a day trying to ascend this river, but found it im-
practicable, on account of the swift current and shallow
and very muddy water. The water is so muddy that it is
impossible to see through one-eighth of an inch of it.
The current is very strong, probably eight miles or more
per hour, and the numerous bars in the bed are constantly
changing place. After trying for several hours, the base
men succeeded in doing about half a mile only, and I came
to the conclusion that it was useless to try to get up this
stream to the boundary with canoes. Had it proved
feasible I had intended making a survey of this stream to
the boundary, to discover more esj^ecially the facilities it
offered for the transport of supplies in the event of a
survey of the International Boundary being undertaken.
'' I reached Stewart River on the 26th. Here I remained
a day taking magnetic observations, and getting informa-
tion from a miner, named McDonald, about the country
up that river. McDonald had s^^ent the summer up the
river prospecting and exploring. His information will be
given in detail further on.
" Fort Reliance was reached on the 1st of September, and
Forty Mile River (Cone-Hill River of Schwatka) on the
7th. In the interval between Fort Reliance and Forty
^lile River there were several days lost by rain.
''At Forty Mile River I made some arrangements with
the traders there (]Messrs. Harper & McQuestion) about
supplies during the winter, and about getting Indians to
assist me in crossing from the Yukon to the head of the
Porcupine, or perhaps on to the Peel River. I then made
a survey of the Forty Mile River up to the canon. I
found the canon would be difficult of ascent, and dangerous
to descend, and therefore, concluded to defer further
operations until the winter, and until after I had deter-
mined the longitude of my winter post near the boundary,
when I would be in a much better position to locate the
4
50 KLONDYKE FACTS.
intersection of the International Boundary with this river,
a point important to determine on account of the number
and richness of the mining claims on the river.
" I left Forty Mile Eiver for the boundary line between
Alaska and the Northwest Territories on the 12th Sep-
tember, and finished the survey to that point on the 14th.
I then spent two days in examining the valley of the river
in the vicinity of the boundary to get the most extensive
view of the horizon possible, and to find a tree large enough
to serve for a transit stand.
" Before leaving Toronto I got Mr, Foster to make large
brass plates with V's on them, which could be screwed
firmly to a stump, and thus be made to serve as a transit
stand. I required a stump at least 22 inches in diameter
to make a base large enough for the plates Avhen properly
placed for the transit. In a search which covered about
four miles of the river bank, on both sides, I found only
one tree as large as 18 inches. I mention this fact to give
an idea of the size of the trees along the river in this
vicinity. I had this stump enlarged by firmly fixing pieces
on the sides so as to bring it up to the requisite size. This
done, I built around the stump a small transit house of
the ordinary form and then mounted and adjusted my
transit. Meanwhile, most of the party were busy prepar-
ing our winter quarters and building a magnetic observa-
tory. As I had been led to expect extremely low temper-
atures during the winter, I adopted precautionary measures,
so as to be as comfortable as circumstances would permit
during our stay there.
DESCKIPTIOX OF THE YUKOX, ITS AFFLUENT STREAMS,
AND THE ADJACENT COUNTRY.
^' I will now give, from my own observation and from
information received, a more detailed description of the
KLOSBYKE FACTS. 51
Lewes Eiver, its affluent streams, and the resources of the
adjacent country.
'*' For the purpose of navigation a description of the
Lewes River begins at the head of Lake Bennet. Above
that point, and between it and Lake Lindeman, there is
only about three-quarters of a mile of river, which is not
more than fifty or sixty yards wide, and two or three feet
deep, and is so swift and rough that navigation is out of
the question,
"Lake Lindeman is about five miles long and half a mile
wide. It is deep enough for all ordinary purposes. Lake
Bennet * is twenty-six and a quarter miles long, for the
upper fourteen of which it is about half a mile wide.
About midway in its length an arm comes in from the
west, which Schwatka appears to have mistaken for a
river, and named Wheaton River. This arm is wider than
the other arm down to that point, and is reported by
Indians to be longer and heading in a glacier which lies in
the pass at the head of Chilkoot Inlet. This arm is, as
far as seen, surrounded by high mountains, apparently
much higher than those on the arm we travelled down.
Below the junction of the two arms the lake is about one
and a half miles wide, with deep water. Above the forks
the water of the east branch is muddy. This is c:iused by
the streams from the numerous glaciers on the head of
the tributaries of Lake Lindeman.
'• A stream which flows into Lake Bennet at the south-
west corner is also very dirty, and has shoaled quite a large
portion of the lake at its mouth. The beach at the lower
end of this lake is comparatively flat and the water shoal.
* A small saw-mill has been erected at the head of Lake Ben-
net : lumber for boat building sells at .§100 per M. Boats 25 feet
long and 5 feet beam are $60 each. Last year the ice broke up
in the lake on the 12th June, but this season is earlier and the
boats are expected to go down the lake about the 1st of June.
52 KLONBYKE FACTS.
A deep, wide valley extends northwards from the north
end of the lake, apparently reaching to the canon, or a
short distance above it. This may have been originally a
course for the waters of the river. The bottom of the
valley is wide and sandy, and covered with scrubby timber,
principally poplar and pitcli-pine. The waters of the lake
empty at the extreme north-east angle through a channel
not more than one hundred yards wide, which soon expands
into what Schwatka called Lake Nares.* Through tliis
narrow channel there is quite a current, and more than 7
feet of water, as a 6 foot paddle and a foot of arm added
to its length did not reach the bottom.
"The hills at the upper end of Lake Lindeman rise
abruptly from the water's edge. At the lower end they are
neither so steep nor so high.
" Lake Nares is only two and a half miles long, and its
greatest width is about a mile ; it is not deep, but is navi-
gable for boats drav/ing 5 or C feet of water ; it is separated
from Lake Bennet by a shallow sandy point of not more
than 200 yards in length.
"No streams of any consequence empty into either of
these lakes. A small river flows into Lake Bennet on the
west side, a short distance north of the fork, and another
at the extreme north-west angle, but neither of them is of
any consequence in a navigable sense.
" LakeNares flows through a narrow curved channel into
Bove Lake (Schwatka). This channel is not more than
GOO or 700 yards long, and the water in it appears to be suf-
ficiently deep for boats that could navigate the lake. The
land between the lakes along this channel is low, swampy,
and covered with willows, and, at the stage in which I saw
it, did not rise more than 3 feet above the water. The
hills on the southwest side slope up easily, and are not
*The connecting waters between Lake Bennet and Tagish
Lake constitute what is now called Caribou Crossing.
KLONDYKE FACTS. 53
high ; on the nortli side the deep valley already referred to
borders it ; and on the east side the mountains rise abruptly
from the lake shore.
" Bove Lake (called Tagish Lake by Dr. Dawson) is
about a mile wide for the first two miles of its length, when
it is joined by what the miners have called the Windy Arm.
One of the Tagish Indians informed me they called it
Takone Lake. Here the lake expands to a width of about
two miles for a distance of some three miles, when it sud-
denly narrows to about half a mile for a distance of a little
over a mile, after which it widens again to about a mile
and a half or more.
*' Ten miles from the head of the lake it is joined by the
Taku Arm from the south. This arm must be of consider-
able length, as it can be seen for a long distance, and its
valley can be traced through the mountains much farther
than the lake itself can be seen. It is apparently over a
mile wide at its mouth or junction.
" Dr. Dawson includes Bove Lake and these two arms
under the common name of Tagish Lake. This is much
more simple and comprehensive than the various names
given them by travellers. These Avaters collectively are
the fishing and hunting grounds of the Tagish Indians, and
as they are really one body of water, there is no reason why
they should not be all included under one name.
'-' From the junction with the Taku Arm to the north end
of the lake the distance is about six miles, the greater part
being over two miles wide. The west side is very flat and
shallow, so much so that it was impossible in many places
to get our canoes to the shore, and quite a distance out in
the lake there was not more than 5 feet of water. The
members of my party who were in charge of the large boat
and outfit, went down the east side of the lake and reported
the depth about the same as I found on the west side, with
many large rocks. They passed through it in the night in
54 KLONBYKE FACTS.
a rainstorm, and were much alarmed for the safety of the
boat and provisions. It would appear that this part of the
lake requires some improvement to make it in keeping
with the rest of the water system with which it is con-
nected.
"Where the river debouches from it, it is about 150
yards wide, and for a short distance not more than 5 or 6
feet deep. The depth is, however, soon increased to 10
feet or more, and so continues down to what Schwatka
calls Marsh Lake. The miners call it Mud Lake, but on
this name they do not appear to be agreed, many of them
calling the lower part of Tagish or Bove Lake " Mud
Lake," on account of its shallowness and flat muddy shores,
as seen along the west side, the side nearly always travelled,
as it is more sheltered from the prevailing southerly winds.
The term "Mud Lake" is, however, not applicable to this
lake, as only a comparatively small part of it is shallow or
muddy ; and it is nearly as inapplicable to Marsh Lake, as
the latter is not markedly muddy along the west side, and
from the appearance of the east shore one would not judge
it to be so, as the banks appear to be high and gravelly.
" Marsh Lake is a little over nineteen miles long, and
averages about two miles in width. I tried to determine
the width of it as I Avent along with my survey, by taking
azimuths of points on the eastern shore from different
stations of the survey ; but in only one case did I succeed,
as there were no jirominent marks on that shore which
could be identified from more than one place. The piece
of river connecting Tagish and Marsh Lakes is about five
miles long, and averages 150 to 200 yards in width, and, as
already mentioned, is deep, except for a short distance at the
head. On it are situated the only Indian houses to be found
in the interior with any pretension to skill in construction.
They show much more labor and imitativeness than one
knowing anything about the Indian in his native state
KLONBYKE FACTS. 55
would expect. The plan is evidently taken from the Indian
houses on the coast, which appear to me to be a poor copy
of the houses which the Hudson's Bay Comjjany's servants
build around their trading posts. These houses do not
appear to have been used for some time past, and are almost
in ruins. The Tagish Indians are now generally on the
coast, as they find it much easier to live there than in their
own country. As a matter of fact, what they make
in their own country is taken from them by the Coast
Indians, so that there is little inducement for them to
remain.
'^ The Lewes River, where it leaves Marsh Lake, is about
200 yards wide, and averages this Avidth as far as the canon.
I did not try to find bottom anywhere as I went along, ex-
cept where I had reason to think it shallow, and there I
always tried with my paddle. I did not anywhere find
bottom with this, which shows that there is no part of this
stretch of the river with less than six feet of water at
medium height, at which stage it appeared to me the river
was at that time.
''From the head of Lake Bennet to the canon the cor-
rected distance is ninety-five miles, all of which is navigable
for boats drawing 5 feet or more. Add to this the westerly
arm of Lake Bennet, and the Takone or Windy Arm of
Tagish Lake, each about fifteen miles in length, and the
Taku Arm of the latter lake, of unknown length, but prob-
ably not less than thirty miles, and Ave have a stretch of
water of upwards of one hundred miles in length, all easily
navigable ; and, as has been pointed out, easily connected
with Taiya Inlet through the White Pass.
'' No streams of any importance enter any of these lakes
so far as I know. A river, called by Schwatka " McClin-
tock River,'' enters Marsh Lake at the loAver end from the
east. It occupies a large valley, as seen from the westerly
side of the lake, but the stream is apparently unimportant.
56 KLONhYKE FACTS.
Another small stream, apparently only a creek, enters the
south-east angle of the lake. It is not probable tliat any
stream coming from the east side of the lake is of import-
ance, as the strip of country between the Ijcwes and Teslin-
too is not more than than thirty or forty miles in width at
this point.
'* The Taku Arm of Tagish Lake, is, so far, with the ex-
ception of reports from Indians, unknown ; but it is equally
improbable that any river of importance enters it, as it is
so near the source of the waters flowing northwards. How-
ever, this is a question that can only be decided by a proper
exploration. The canon I have already described and will
only add that it is five-eighths of a mile long, about 100 feet
wide, with perpendicular banks of basaltic rock from 60 to
100 feet high.
" Below the canon proper there is a stretch of rapids for
about a mile ; then about half a mile of smooth water, fol-
lowing which are the AVhite Horse Rapids, which are three-
eighths of a mile long, and unsafe for boats.
"The total fall in the caiion and succeeding rapids was
measured and found to be 3::^ feet. Were it ever necessary
to make this i)art of the river navigable it will be no easy
task to overcome the obstacles at this point ; but a tram or
raihvay could, with very little difficulty, be constructed
along the east side of the river past the canon.
*' For some distance below the AVhite Horse Kapids the
current is swift and the river wide, with many gravel bars.
The reach between these rapids and Lake Labarge, a dis-
tance of twenty-seven and a half miles, is all smooth water,
with a strong current. The average width is about 150
yards. There is no impediment to navigation other than
the swift current, and this is no stronger than on tlie lower
part of the river, which is already navigated : nor is it
worse than on the Saskatchewan and Eed Rivers in the
more eastern part of our territory.
KLONDYKE FACTS. 57
" About midway iu this stretch the Tahkeena River *
Joins the Lewes. This river is, apparently, about half the
size of the latter. Its waters are muddy, indicating the
passage through a clayey district. I got some indefinite
information about this river from an Indian who happened
to meet me just below its mouth, but I could not readily
nuike him understand me, and his replies were a compound
of Chinook, Tagish, and signs, and therefore largely unin-
telligible. From what I could understand Avith any cer-
tainty, the river was easy to descend, there being no bad
rapids, and it came out of a lake much larger than any I
had yet passed.
' ' Here I may remark that I have invariably found it
difficult to get reliable or definite information from Indians,
The reasons for this are many. Most of the Indians it has
been my lot to meet are expecting to make something, and
consequent]}' are very chary about doing or saying anything
unless they think they will be Avell rewarded for it. They
are naturally very suspicious of strangers, and it takes some
tinu', and some knowledge of their language, to overcome
this suspicion and gain their confidence. If you begin at
once to ask questions about their country, Avithout pre-
viously having thenrunderstand that you have no unfriend-
ly motive in doing so, they become alarmed, and altliough
you may not meet with a positive refusal to ansAver ques-
tions, you make A'ery little progress in getting desired in-
formation. On the other hand I have met cases Avhere,
either through fear or hope of rcAvard, they Avere only too
anxious to impart all they kncAV or had heard, and even
more if they thouglifc it Avould jjlease their hearer, I need
hardly say that such information is often not at all in ac-
cordance Avitli the facts.
* The Tahkeeua was formerly much used by the Chilkat Indians
as a means of reaching the interior, but ncAer by the miners
OAvint? to the distance from the sea to its head.
58 ELONDYKE FACTS.
" I have several times found that some act of mine when
in their presence lias aroused either their fear, superstition
or cupidity. As an instance : on the Bell Eiver I met some
Indiaiis coming down stream as I was going up. "VYe were
ashore at the time, and invited them to join us. They
started to come in, but very slowly, and all the time kept
a watchful eye on us. I noticed that my double-barrelled
shot gun was lying at my feet, loaded, and picked it up to
unload it, as I knew they would be handling it after land-
ing. This alarmed them so much that it was some time
before they came in, and I don't think they would have
come ashore at all had they not heard that a joarty of
white men of whom we answered the description, were com-
ing through that way (they had learned this from the
Hudson's Bay Company's officers), and concluded we were
the party described to them. After drinking some of our
tea, and getting a supply for themselves, they became quite
friendly and communicative.
" I cite these as instances of what one meets with Avho
comes in contact with Indians, and of how trifles affect
them. A sojourn of two or three days with them and the
assistance of a common friend would do much to disabuse
them of such ideas, but when you have no such aids you
must not expect to make much progress.
" Lake Labarge is thirty-one miles long. In the upjier
thirteen it varies from three to four miles in width ; it then
narrows to about two miles for a distance of seven miles,
when it begins to widen again, and gi'adually expands to
about two and a-half or three miles, the lower six miles of
it maintaining the latter width. The survey was carried
along the western shore, and while so engaged I deter-
mined the Avidth of the upper wide part by triangulation
at two points, the width of the narrow middle part at three
points, and the width of the lower part at three points.
Dr. Dawson on his way out made a track survey of the
KLONDYKE FACTS. 59
(fjistern shore. The western sliore is irregular in many
places, being indented by large bays, especially at the upper
and lower ends. These bays are, as a rule, shallow, more
especially those at the lower end.
" Just above where the lake narrows in the middle there
hi a large island. It is three and a-half miles long and
about half a mile in width. It is shown on Schwatka's
ma}) as a peninsula, and called by liim Richtofcn Rocks.
How he came to tliink it a peninsula I cannot understand,
as it is well out in the lake ; the nearest point of it to tlie
western shore is u])wur(ls (d' half a mile distant, and tlie
extreme width of the lake hvvc. is not more than five miles,
wliic.h includes the depth of tlie deepest bays on the western
side. It is therefore difficult to understand that he did not
see it as an island. The upper half of this island is gravelly,
and does not rise very high above the lake. The lower end
is rocky and high, the rock being of a bright red color.
"At the lower end of the lake there is a large valley ex-
tending northwards, which has evidently at one time been
the outlet of the lake. Dr. Dawson has noted it and its
peculiarities. His remarks regarding it will be found on
pages 150-160 of his report entitled ' Yukon District and
Northern portion of British Columbia,' puldished in 1arge the river, for a distance
of about five miles, preserves a generally uniform width
and an easy current of about four miles per hour. It then
makes a short turn round a low gravel point, and flows in
exactly the opposite of its general course for a mile when it
again turns sharply to its general direction. The current
around this curve and for some distance below it — in all
four or five miles — is very swift. I timed it in several
places and found it from six to seven miles an hour. It
then moderates te four or live, and continues so until the
Teslintoo River is reached, thirty-one and seven tenths
miles from Lake Labarge. Tlie average width of this part
of the river is about 150 yards, and the depth is sufficient
to afford passage for boats drawing at least 5 feet. It is, as
a rule, crooked, and consequently a little difficult to navi-
gate.
" The Teslintoo * was so called by Dr. Dawson — this, ac-
*Tlie limited amount of prospecting that has been done on this
river is said to be very satisfactory, fine gold having been found
in all jiarts of the triver. The lack of supplies is the great draw-
back to its development, and this will not be overcoaie to any ex-
k'LONbVKE FACTS. %\
fcording to iuforniation obtained by him, being the Indian
name. It is called by tlie miners * Hootalinkwa ' or
HotaliiK|iia. and was called l)y S(dnvatka, who appears to
have bestowed no other attention to it, the Xewberry, al-
though it is apparently much larger than the Lewes. This
was so apparent that in my interim reports I stated it as a
fact. Owing to circumstances already narrated. 1 liad not
time wliile at the moutli to make any measurement to de-
termine the relative size of tlie rivers : but on his Avay out
Dr. Dawson nuide these measurements, and his report, be-
fore referred to, gives the following values of the cross sec-
tions of each stream : Lewes, 3,015 feet ; Teslintoo, 3,809
feet. In the same connection he states that the Lewes ap-
peared to be about 1 foot above its lowest summer level,
while the Teslintoo a[)peared to lie fit its lowest level.
Assuming tliis to be so, and taking his widths as our data,
it would reduce his cross section of the Lewes to 2,595 feet.
Owing, however, to the current in the Lewes, as determined
by Dr. Dawson, being just double that of the Teslintoo,
the figures being 5*0iit ,u'avc him the privilege of
leaving the place within twenty-four hours, after which
lie Avas informed that he was lial)le to be shot if seen by
them in the h)cality. 'I'iicy then j)illaged the place and
set fire to it, leaving nothing but the remains of the tAVo
chimneys which are still standing. This raid and capture
took place on the 1st August. 18.V*.
•* Mr. Campbell droppcil down tlie river, and met some of
the local Indians who returned with him. but the robbers
had made their escape. 1 have lu'ard that the local Indians
Avished to pursue and overtake them, but to this Mr.
Campbell would iu)t consent. Had they done so it is
probable not many of the i-aidcrs would have escaped, as
the superior h)ca] knowledge of the natives Avould have
given them an advantage difficult to estimate, and the
confidence and spirit derived fnjm the aid and presence of
a Avliite man or tAvo Avould be Avorth much in such a
conflict.
*' Mr. Campbell Avent on doAvn the river until he met the
outfit for his post on its way up from Fort Yukon, Avhich
he turned back. He then ascended the Pelly, crossed to
the Liard, and reached Fort Simpson, on the Mackenzie,
late in October.
•■'Mr. Campbell's first visit to the site of Fort Selkirk
Avas mjwle in 1840, under instructions from Sir George
KLONBYKE FACTS. 71
Simpson, then Governor of the lliidsson'.s Buy Company.
He crossed from the head waters of the Liard to the waters
of the Pelly. It appears tlie Pelly, wliere lie struek it, was a
stream of considerable size, for lie speaks of its appearance
when he first saw it from ' Pelly Jianks,' the name given
the bank from which he first beheld it, as a ' splendid
river in the distance.' In Jnne, 1843, he descended the
Pelly to its continence with the larger stream, which he
named the * Lewes.' Here he fonnd many families of the
native Indians — 'AVood Indians,' he called them. These
people conveyed to him, as best they could by word and
sign, the dangers that would attend a further descent of
the river, rejiresenting that the country below theirs was
inhabited by a tribe of fierce cannibals, who would assuredly
kill and eat them. This so terrified his men that he had
to return by the way he came, pursued, as he aftcu'wards
learned, by the Indians, who would have murdered him-
self and party had they got a favorable opportunity. Thus
it was not nntil 1850 that he could establish, what he says
he all along believed, 'that the Pelly and Yukon were
identical.' This he did Ijy descending the river to where
the i'orcupine joins it. and where in ]S47 Fort Yukon
"Was established by Mr. A. U. .Murray for tiie Hudson's liay
Company.
" With reference to the tales told him by the Indians
of bad people outside of their country, I may say that
^Mackenzie tells i)retty much the same story of the Indians
on the Mackenzie when he discovered and explored that
river in 1789. He had the advantage of having Indians
along with him whose language was radically the same as
that of the people he was coming among, and his state-
ments are more explicit and detailed. Everywhere he
came in contact with them they manifested, first, dread of
himself and party, and when friendship and confidence
were established they nearly always tried to detain him by
72 ELONDYKE FACTS.
representing the peopl(! in IIk; direction he was going an
unnaturally bloodthirsty and cruel, sometimes asserting
the existence of monsters with supernatural powers, as ni
Manitou Island, ;i few miles below the present, i'orl (iood
Hope, and the people on a very large river far to the west
of the Mackenzie, 2)robably the Yukon, they descril)ed to
him as monsters in size, power and cruelty.
" In our own time, after the intercourse that thci-e has
been between them and the whites, rju)re than a suspicion
of KiHih unknown, cruel pe()[)l(! lurks in the minds of numy
of the Indians. It would be futih; for me to try to ascribe
an origin for these fears, my knowlcflge of their language
and idiosyncrasies being so limited.
"Nothing more was ever done in the; vi(-inity (jf Fort
Selkirk * by the Hudson's Bay Company after these events,
and in 1809 the Company was onhu'cd by (Japt. Charles
W. Kaymond, who represented the United States (Jovern-
ment, to evacuate the post at Fort Yukon, he having
found that it was west of the 141st meridian. The jirtst
was occupied by the Company, however, for some time
after the receipt of this order, and until Rampart House
was built, which was intended to be on British territory,
and to take the trade previously done at Fort Yukon.
*' Under present conditions the Company cannot very
well compete with the Alaska Commercial Company,
whose agents do the only trade in the district, f and they
appear to have abandoned — for the present at least — all
* This is now a vi'inter port for steamboats of the North Ameri-
can Transportation and Trading Company, \>\ying the Yukon and
its tributaries. There is also a trading post liere owned by
Harper & Ladue.
f Since tlie date of this report the North American Transport-
ation and Trading Company, better known in the Yukon valley
as " Captain Healy's Company," has established a number of posts
on the river.
KLOyjjYKE FACTS. 73
attempt to do any trarle nearer to it than Kampart Homje
to which point, notwithistanding the distance and difficul-
ties in the way, many of the Indians on the Yukon make
a trip every two or three years to procure goods in ex-
change for their fare. "JTie clothing and blankets brought
in by the Hti^' " " ' claim arc much
U.-tter than th^ '-.r by the Ameri-
cans. Those of them that 1 saw who had any English
xhibited them with pride, and ■ ' ' I'good.'
-■, to an American blanket in c . with the
remark *no good,* and speak of their clothing in the
ime way.
"On many maps of Alaska a place named *Beed's
House ' is shown on or near the upper waters of Stewart
River. I made enquiries of all whom I thought likely to
know anything concerning this post, but failed to elicit
any information showirig that there ever had been such a
place. I enquired of Mr, lieid, who was in the Company's
service with Mr. CampV^ell at Fort Selkirk, and after
whom I thought, possibly, the place had been called, but
he told rae he knew of no such p<:^t, but that there was a
small lake at some distance in a northerly direction from
Fort Selkirk, wher -ed. A sort '
ha^l been made at • ^ fishermen, ;
furs might have been obtained there, but it was never
regarded as a trading post.
'• Below Fort Selkirk, the Yukon River is from five to
-ix hundred yards broad, and maintains this width down
to ASliite River, a distance of ninety-six miles. Islands
are numerous, so much so that there are verj' few j/arts of
•lie river where there are not one or more in sight. Many
of them are of considerable size, and nearly all are well
timl>erean is considered good any-
where else, and will pay well in the clean up.
A biCt deal.
San Francisco, August 2. — 0. O. Howard, jr., the
mining expert and son of Gen. 0. 0. Howard, telegraphed
to a Wall Street syndicate on Friday : "I have secured
an option on Clarence Perry's controlling interest in four
best claims at Klondyke price #2,000,000, 10 per cent, to
to be paid immediately : this sum to be forfeited if conti'ol
isn't carried through, and balance paid in six months.
Forty square feet actually produced ^i^l 30,000, of which
$00,000 in nuggets is here."
On the 17tli ult., the steamer Portland, of the N. A.
Transportation and Trading Co., arrived at Seattle, bring-
ing a large party of miners from Klondyke via St. Michael,
who brought out over $970,000 in gold dust, as that
amount has been definitely located as having been shipped
by the express comi^anies and banks of Seattle, while it is
possible considerably more than that was brought out, in-
asmuch as many individuals took nway without shipment
more or less gold. Several Seattle parties were among
this number, one of whom, Mr. Stanley, who went into
Yukon eleven months ago, brought witli him $112,000 in
gold. Others brought out dust in sums ranging from five
to seventy or eighty thousand dollars.
These parties brought marvellous stories of the richness
of the placers in that country. Some of them had taken
these amounts out of a very small portion of their claims.
HAD AN EARLY TIP.
North Tonawanda, N. Y., August 2. — The news of
KLONDYKE FACTS. 131
the great gold discoveries in the Kloiidyke region was told
in tiie Toiiawanihis h)ng before it l)ecanie isnown to the
world at large through the newspapei's. A small, thick-
set man walked into the Hotel Hheldon in this city on
April 2, and registered under the name ol* C F. Leaven-
worth, iSpokane, Wash. M. B. Pierce, the proprietor of tiie
hotel, recognized in the stranger his cousin, whom he had
not seen since IBiJ-i.
As hoys. Pierce and Leavenworth had been chums at
their old home in liochester, but they separated in 1804,
Leavenworth entering the L'"nited States Army, while
Pierce, who was then but seventeen years old, left for the
coal regions of Pennsylvania.
After the two men had hugged each other, each naturally
became curious to learn how the other had fared during
the thirty-three years in which they had not seen each
other. Both had a long story to tell, and it took several
days in which to inform Pierce of the woiulerful sights
seen by Leavenworth. He had been around the world, and
had visited every country and clime on the face of the
globe. The last two years of his life, however, had been
spent in the gold fields ^of Alaska, where he had accumu-
lated a fortune.
'' Why, Pierce," he said, in an ecstasy of enthusiasm, gn
the second day after his arrival, ''the gold in the district
where my claim is located is thicker than coal in the coal
fields of Pennsylvania."
After hearing his story. Pierce began to pity his cousin.
When the two men were together with other friends of the
proprietor, Leavenworth would begin to talk of the gold in
the Klondyke. This was not appreciated by Mr. Pierce as
much as one would suppose. He did not relish the idea of
other people learning of the affliction of his cousin, and he
frequently cautioned him to let that Klondyke story alone.
132 KLOyUYKE FACTS.
Souu after the arrival of Leavenworth at the hotel,
C'oliu Mcintosh, of Tacoma, Washington, arrived in town,
^fcliitosh was Leavenworth's boon companion during his
I rip llirough Alaska, and he corroborated Leavenworth's
story regarding the richness of the Yukon Valley. The
nien were on their way back from New York to Seattle
from where they were to take the first steamer to leave for
the gold fields. While at the hotel in this city they ex-
hil»ited small quautities of gold-dust and several small
luiggels. 'IMicy seemed to have money to burn, and they
spent it Ireely. All these things finally convinced Leaven-
worth's friends that he was not daft.
William Kolju, a Finlunder. has arrived home after an
absence of 18 months, bringing with him ll'TjOOO in gold
nuggets from the Klondyke. In P'ebruary last he was on
the verge of starvaticm and had no money to buy food. A
.-hort time after this his fortune brightened. He struck
pay dirt and began taking it out and packing his sluice
boxes. This required arduous labor, as the pay ground
lay on the bedrock beneath the frozen soil.
In ^lay the water came in torrents. Mr. Kolju began
sluicing his dirt and met with success. He at once set
a|>()ut cleaning up as much of liis dirt as possible, taking
out a little more than ^K,000 in gold dust, which he
brought home with him. lie sold his claim for $20,000.
Prof. Lippy, formerly secretary of the Y. M. C. A, at
Seattle, returned from the Klondyke with IG7,000 in gold
dust, and also J. 0. Hestwood, of Seattle, brought out
over #7,000. Quite a number of California people had
sums ranging from $5,000 to 150,000.
More news of rich finds was brought into San Francisco,
KLONDYEE FACTS. 133
by the steamer Walla Walla, on July 31. Several miners
returned on the AValla Walla, one of them with a bag of
Klondyke nuggets. Beside this gold, the steamer brought
about 150,000 from the famous Treadwell mine on Doug-
lass Island, and about 130,000 from the mines of the
Nowell Grold Mining Company on Derner's Bay.
Another rich strike on a branch of the Klondyke is re-
ported by Harry Fitzgerald, who came direct from Juneau.
lie says that the last mail-carrier from Dawson brought
news that an immense strike had been made by Curley
Monroe, a Seattle man. The exact amount of gold taken
out was unknown.
Fitzgerald brings the news that hundreds of tons of
supplies are stacked wp at Dyea waiting to be carried over
the pass. It will be impossible, he says, to move all the
goods before spring.
Juneau is deserted. Everybody has gone to the Yukon,
and the quartz mines cannot get enough men to run their
mills. Wages are ^2.50 to 13 per day with board, but
only fifty or sixty men are working at Treadwell, where
three hundred were working six months ago.
The most interesting feature of the mail advices that
come from the Klondyke will be the details of the mining
strikes made on Stewart and Pellj'' rivers this summer.
Several times since the arrival of the Klondyke miners
with their nuggets from Bonanza and Eldorado creeks,
stories have been afloat of still richer fields on Stewart Creek
and other creeks further east. None of tlie returned
Klondykers were able to give information on the subject.
Many have mined with limited success on Stewart. Pelly
and other rivers before striking rich dirt on the Klondyke
tributaries.
The only hint of what has been found, comes through
Surveyor Ogilvie in the following news from Ottawa, re-
134 KLONDYKE FACTS.
ceived at Victoria, B. C. : " While the Government
officials are extremely reticent as to the latest advices from
Surveyor Ogilvie and Inspector Constantine, the fact has
leaked out that those officials have assured their depart-
ments tluit scores of miners are deserting the Klondyke
for a richer district further east, believed to be Stewart
river, where it is said still more wonderful deposits have
been discovered this spring." Pelly River is about par-
allel with Stewart River and outers the Yukon about forty
miles higher up. Botli rivers are on the right or east
bank of the Yukon, and are east of Dawson City. The
Pelly has also been prosi:»ected by some Klondykers with
little if any success, but this is no proof that other pros-
pectors have not been more fortunate.
One miner who has been in the country eight or ten
years told me that the experienced miners about Circle
City had sunk their shafts and followed what was supposed
to be an infallil)le rule in placer mining, viz. : that when
they struck the clay they abandoned their claims, consider-
ing them to be valueless, while, as he expressed it, these
tenderfeet went into the Klondyke, and not knowing
enough to stop digging, dug right through the clay, under
which were the richest strikes. He and his companions
have returned to their old diggings to work througli the
clay, hoping to find the same condition as at the Klondyke.
There has been found at the Klondyke what is called a
false bedrock. It would appear that in the glacial action
the gold was deposited on true bedrock and subsequently
by either volcanic action or extraordinary glacial action,
what appeared to be another bedrock Avas deposited on top
of this gold deiJosit, and parties who have gone through
this false bedrock have found rich pay streaks between it
and true bedrock.
It is reported by parties Avho brought down large
KLOXDYKE FACTS. 135
amounts on the Portland that there are two million dollars
in dust now in the country which will be brought out by
the owners when they have occasion to come out. The
security of possession of the gold dust there is absolute, and
unless the persons are coming out they feel they are per-
fectly secure in its possession. Only such come at this
season of the year — at which the most work is being done
— as have to get more provisions or materials ; or those who
have struck extraordinarily rich claims and have left friends
or relatives in possession to work the claims Avhile they
come down with the dust they have, and to make provi-
sion for their friends and relatives here.
That the country is marvellously rich in gold there can
he no doubt, and if the steamei's from the north via St.
^Michael or Dyea will on their trips in August and Sept-
ember confirm the stories of the miners who come out from
there and bring out gold in the quantities it is expected
they will, I estimate there will be no less than 50,000
people exclusive of excursionists going into Alaska next
spring or the early summer.
A FEMALE GOLD HUNTER.
Pauline Kellogg, the daughter of Judge Kellogg, an old
miner of Colorado, who now lives here, is about to start
for the Klondyke to engage in mining on her own account.
She was born at Breckinridge, Col., and lived all during
her youth in an atmosphere of mining speculation. Al-
though young and delicate, she is determined to brave the
hardships of camp life on the Yukon, and is only waiting
till she can start with some friends. She says :
" I am not going to look on there. I shall take up a
claim, hire help, and superintend the work myself. Of
course, I know it is a life of hardship. I can remember
some of the things we used to go through in the cabin at
Breckinridge when the country was new. There is an
136 KLONDYKE FACTS.
element of clanger in it, bnt I feel able to take care of my-
self. I have known of women in Colorado who did just
this thing, and grew rich. My expectations are moderate,
but I do not see why I could not do the same,"
*' It is stated on good authority that one claim yielded
$90,000 in 45 feet up and down the stream. Clarence
Berry bought out his two partners, paying one $35,000 and
the other 160,000, and has taken up $140,000 from the
winter dump alone. Peter "Wiborg has purchased more
ground. He purchased his partner's interest in a claim,
paying $42,000. A man by the name of "Wall has all he
thinks he wants, and is coming out. He sold his interests
for $50,000. Nearly all the gold is found in the creek bed
on the bed rock, but there are a few good bench diggings.
Perhaps the most interesting reading in the Mining
Record is the letters A\ritten by men in the Klondyke to
friends in Juneau. Here is one from " Casey " Moran :
Dawson, March 20. 1897.
''Friend George : Don't pay any attention to what any
one says, but come in at your earliest opportunity. My
God ! it is appalling to hear the truth, but nevertheless
the world has never jiroduced its equal before. Well,
come. That's all. Your friend,
" Casey."
Burt Shuler, writing fi-om Klondyke under date of
June 5, says :
"We have been here but a short time and we all have
money. Provisions are much higher than they were two
years ago and clothing is clean out of sight. One of the
A. C. Co.'s boats was lost in the spring, and there will be
KLOXDYKF. FACTS. ia7
a shortage of provisions again tliis fall. There is nothing
that a man could eat or wear that he cannot get a good
price for. First-class rubber boots ai-o worth from an ounce
to $25 a pair. Tbe price of flour has been raised from $4
to $6 and it was selling at $50 when we arrived, as it was
being freighted from Forty Mile. Big money can be made
by bringing a small outfit over the trail this fall. Wages
have been $15 per day all winter, though a reduction to
$10 Avas attempted, but the miners quit work. . . . Here
is a creek that is eighteen miles long, and, as far as is
known, without a miss. There are not enough men in the
country to-day to work the claims. Several other creeks
show equal promise, but very little work has been done on
the latter. I have seen gold dust until it seems almost as
cheap as sawdust. If you are coming in, come prepared
to stay two years at least ; bring plenty of clothing and
gooil rubber boots."
Here is a letter from another enthusiast :
Kloxdyke, May 27, 1897.
" Friexd Bill : We landed here the ITth and went
on a stampede the next day. and have just got back. I
I came through the camp and saw a good many friends ;
I saw Burt ; he has a claim on Bonanza Creek. Billy
Leake has bought a claim on Fildorado ; the claim is sup-
posed to be worth a million. There are thirty-four claims
on the same creek which seem to be as good. Bonanza is
good, but not so rich. There are 100 claims on Bonanza
which are good, and there are other creeks which give
good pay. Bill, it is the best camp T ever saw. Wages
are $15 a day ; everything is high : gum boots are selling
at $25. I look for a new strike this summer, as manv men
138 KLONDYKE FACTS.
are out prospecting, and it is the best gold country I ever
saw. I wish you were here ; we will make a stake if we
stay with it ; I will have something before winter. If you
come in this fall don't start after the 15tli of August ; one
can make more here m one year than he can in ten out
there. There will be work the year round ; wages may be
cut to 110, but I don't think it ; I can go to work at any
time, and for as long as I wish at 115. It will pay to
bring anything here which can be carried in ; the demand
is good and prices such that there is money in anything
that can be brought in. Money will hardly buy claims
here now, but men can often get in on a May.' I know
men who took ' lays ' since Feb. 1, and made enough to go
out with as high as 120,000 apiece.
''Andy Heksley."
Oscar Ashby fears that gold will have to be demonetized,
for he says in a letter dated May 18, from Circle City :
"Hereafter address all letters to Klondyke, N. W. Ter-
ritory. I would have stayed here in Alaska, but when I
heard of McKinley's election I pulled my freight, for I
knew that meant gold. I tell you one thing, if they find
a few more Eldorado and Bonanza creeks, they will have
to demonetize gold. Some of the kings here are hurrying
out to spend their money before that is done. However,
I am going to take chances on mine."
Another letter says :
" Circle City is deserted, every one having gone to Klon-
dyke, where the richest strike of the kind ever known in
any country was made last fall. The stories told are not
exaggerated. One hundred dollars to the ©an is very
KLONDYKE FACTS. 139
common. One can hard!}- boliovc it, l)nt it is true, never-
theless.
" Eldorado is staked off into claims for eight or ten
miles, and every claim so far has shown up big. One
claim was sold for 8100,000 three days ago. Bonanza is
good also, and two or three other gulches close by show up
well. Every camp in the Yukon Valley is deserted for
Klondykc. Wages there are $15, while $12 is the prevail-
ing rate lierc. Xo one wants to work for Avages, but all
are prospecting. This is undoubtedly the best poor man's
country in the world to-day. A very hard country to live
in on account of the mosquitoes and poor grub, but healthy
and a show to make a ten-strike. We heard that McCul-
lough, formerly of the Juneiui Hotel, had been drowned
while shooting the White Horse Rapids ; don't know
whether there is any truth in it, as he Avas behind us. A
number of parties were swamped and lost their outfits, but
escaped with their lives. The triji is anything but one of
pleasure, as you will find if you ever make it.
'' Fred Brewster Fay.''
S80,000 IN NINETY DAYS.
San Franc iscn, July 24.
William Stalley, his son, F. Phiscater and C. Worden, all
of whom left Seattle for the mines less than a year ago,
have returned. From their claims they took out gold
worth more than ^80,000 in ninety days, and believe
they have only just begun their work. They intend to
return in March. I know that the above report is correct
and the work was done on claims numbers 25 and 2G each
of 500 feet.
140 KLONDYKE FACTS.
Mr. Misner writes : •' We reached Dawson about 3 o'clock
in the morning, and found one of the liveliest mining-
camps I ever saw. There are about four thousand people
here, and saloons, dance-halls and restaurants never close.
The gambling tables are always crowded, and thousands of
dollars change hands in a remarkably short time. Men
who this time last year did not have a dollar now count
their wealth by thousands. Nearly everybody has a sack
of gold with him as big as a policeman's club.
The sun sinks out of sight noAv about 10.30 p. m. and
comes up about 3 a. m. At midnight, however, it is almost
as light as noonday. There is no night. At Dawson there
is a little saw'mill, and rough houses are going up in all
directions, but for the most part it is a city of tents. On
the shore of the river are hi^ndreds of boats, and others are
getting in every day.
Klondyke has not been one particle overrated. I have
seen gold measured out by the bucketful. Just think of
a man taking $700 out of one pan of dirt. Mrs. Wilson,
wife of the Alaska Commercial Company's agent, panned
$154 out of a single pan in one of the mines I am to take
charge of. This is Avithout doubt the richest gold strike
the world has ever known.
With all the new men in tlie country many miles of
ncAV grounds will be prospected, and from the lay of the
land I think other gold fields are certain to be located.
Of course every foot of rich ground has an owner, so the
newcomers have to depend on new strikes. Every day
rumors of new discoveries reach here, which at once start
stampedes, and hundreds rush out to stake claims.
Wi}nti/H'f/. u)fa)i., July 28.
Commissioner Herchmer, of tlie Xorth-West Mounted
KLOXDYKE FACTS. 141
Police, Regina, is hero on liis way to Ottawa to make
arrangements for a fresli contingent of police that will leave
for the Yukon early in the autumn, lie strongly urges no
one to go this year, but wait till ]March next at least. He
has gathered much useful information from Inspector
Strickland. The latter thinks everything of the country,
and is so anxious to get back that he has volunteered to
take the autumn force. Tiie Commissioner says that al-
ready the police are building new posts at Dawson City and
Stewart River, no light work, when it is pointed out that
they preferred pulling down some buildings forty miles
away to hunting for sufficient logs for their purpose. The
wealth realized is sometliing fabulous, Strickland declared,
though the men will not say where they made it and liow
much it amounts to. One man in tlie force sold out his
half share in a claim for $40,000. Sergt. Telford who is
passing through this week on his way to the East for two
or three months, where he will visit the principal cities,
and then will leave for Ireland, is said to have struck it
rich, though the figures are not given.
Tacoma. WasI/., July 24.
Warren Shea, of New Whatcom, one of the lower Puget
Sound towns, sends the most marvellous news yet received
from the Klondyke. Shea writes to his brother, S. S.
Shea, of New AVhatcom, that the new boat that comes back
from the Klondyke country will bring gold out in fish
barrels holding about twenty-two gallons each.
'■"Two days after the last boat left," Miner Shea writes,
'• one of the stores was closed for the purpose of utilizing
it as a warehouse for shipping gold dust and nuggets. So
great was the quantity of gold offered for shipment that it
was decided to ship it in barrels."
142 KLONBYKE FACTS.
Shea describes the scene as most interesting. The miners
gathered about and speculated on the actual value of their
jars, cans and sacks of gold and told what they would do
with their money when they got back to civilization.
Many gambled and spent their money lavishly for trinkets
and trifles, paying $10 for a pipe that could be purchased
in any tobacco store in this country for less than 25 cents.
Rosshnd, B. C, July 27.
The Miner publishes to-day a long letter from Hart
Ilumber to Charlie Collins, of Rossland. Humber left
Itossland for Klondyke last March, on receipt of first news
of discoveries there. His letter deals with all phases of
life at the mines. It is dated Dawson City, June 18, and
among other things says : "Our trip from Dyea was full of
hairbreadth escapes, and took seventy-five days. I arrived
here June 9, and started work at wages of 11.50 per hour.
After two or three weeks' work with jiick and shovel, same
outfit will give me a job at an ounce per day. Gold dust
fetches $17 per ounce here. There are at least fifty men
going out to-morrow. They all arrived here broke, and are
taking out from $10,000 to $100,000 each. At this season
of the year the best time to travel is at night, as it is cooler
and as light as day. The thermometer was 82 in the shade
to-day. Mosquitoes are awful. There is more money spent
at gambling and for whisky here in night than in Koss-
land in a month. There are more Avays of making money
here than any place I ever saw : drinks 50 cents ; hair-cut
$1 ; shave 50 cents. Packing to mine costs 25 cents per
pound. This is the richest placer camp I ever struck. The
mines are fifteen miles from Dawson City. One Montana
man took out $90,000 from 45 square feet, and another
$100,000 from 85 square feet. Dozens of others here have
KL OND YKE FA CTS. 143
done nearly as well. Old-timers expect to strike new dig-
gings just as rich this winter."
MR. DRUMMOND S WAD.
Il((iiipf()ii, Conn., July ;)1.
One of the first persons to return to New England. IVom
a successful trij) to the xMaskagoldlields is J. J. Drumniond,
of this ])la(!e. Mr. Drutiimoud brought with him a clu'((ue
for |5,00U for gold he carried to San Francisco after about
a month of active woidc in tiie mines. He left a claim
valued at lloOjOOO in the Yukon region, whicli he was
forced to leave on aecujunt of lack of provisions.
He says that the ouly way the richness of the gold terri-
tory became known to the i)ublic was through this lack of
food. The country has been filled Avith miners for many
months, and they would have stayed in the gold region aiul
kept the rich finds a secret if they had been able. But on
returning to the settlements for provisions they found the
stores emptied and were forced to come to the States.
They, therefore, returned to their homes for the winter,
and spread the stories of fabulous finds which have set
so many men starting for Klondyke. In the spring Mr,
Drummond will go back to woi'k his claim, and will prob-
ably be accompanied by his brother in-law.
ran confer, B. C, July 28.
W. J. Sloan has returned from Klondyke. He was
fornun-ly a dry goods clerk, making a small stipend in
Wilson's store. He went away a year ago and returns with
150,000 in gold nuggets, washed from the sand on Bonanza
Creek. He is the lion of the hour and is constantly sur-
144 KLONDYEE FACTS.
rounded by crowds attracted by the huge nuggets he car-
ries in his pockets.
Mr. Sloan says transportation facilities are bad. He ad-
vises the British Columbia merchants to band together and
get a foothold on the trade, which is diverted to the States.
Now is not the time to start, he says, March is the best
month. The route by Telegraph Bay to the Skeena is the
best route for Canadians. There are no rajiids or canons
as in the White Horse Pass. There is no doubt about the
value of the Klondyke diggings, but whether they are the
only ones is hard to say. There are four miles of them all
taken up. They average from $300 to $2,000 per foot.
Mr. Sloan's partner was the first to get a bucket down.
In three bucketfuls they panned 190. It is a dreary coun-
try to winter in. There are hundreds that have not made
it pay ; but very big Avages can be secured, an ounce a day.
Any man can get work.
Dawson City is at tlie junction of the Yukon and Klon-
dyke Rivers. The former river is immense and puts the
Fraser to shame. Tlioreare 3,000 inhabitants. The town
sprang into existence three mouths ago, but there are already
100 saloous. The Mounted Police keep perfect order as is
seen in all Canadian miniug camps.
Last winter the supply of provisions was so scarce that
flour rose to 160 per sack. Gold dust and nuggets are the
only medium of exchange.
A MOUNTAIN FULL OF GOLD.
Santa Rosa, (JaL, July 31.
Professor Otto Fried Debendeleben declares that there is
a mountain of gold iu Alaska, situated at G5 degrees, 2'^
minutes and 11 seconds north latitude, and 172 west Ion-
KLOyUYKE FACTS. 145
gitudc. The mountain is called Mount Debendeleben. in
lienor of tlie {)rofessor, and was named by Professor Geo.
Davidson.
It was in lyGft, while he was a member of the famous
Western Union Telegraph Hu.ssian extension expedition
that Professor Debendeleben lirst saw the mountain. It is
the highest peak in all that region, he says, and is full of
gold.
>[any scientists have btHii df tlu- ojanioii that all the
gold that crops out on t!iis coast came sonic time from a
great deposit in the nortli, ami the ju-ofessor thinks that
mighty floods that moved everytliing before them carried
the golden particles from the mother lode to lields further
south.
It was Professor Debendeleben who })repared the report
on the resources of Alaska, that went to Secretary of State
Seward which Mr. Seward declared !<• be one of the most
comprehensive docuntents of its clKiracter ever compiled.
It was on this report that the Secretary princi})ally relied
when urging the purchase of Alaska from Russia by the
United States.
Wasliiiitituii. July 31.
Moi"e news about big strikes in tlu- Klondyke was re-
ceived to-day by Capt. ('. F. Shoemaker, chief of the
revenue cutter service, in a report from Capt. E. L.
Hooper, commanding the lichring Sea patrol fleet. Capt.
Hooper sent some interesting infornuition about the gold
discoveries recently, which was ])rinted in the Star. His
report is dated Unalaska, July 10. This is what he has to
say about the Klondyke excitement :
" The North American Trading and Transportation
Company's steamer Portland arrived on the 7th from St>
lO
146 KLONJJYKE FACTS.
Michael with about fifty miners from the Yiikmi as jias-
sengers. Those men Avere from tlie new mines referred
to in my last report, and, like those who arrived on the
Excelsior, all have gold in sums varying from Is, ()(»() or
#10,000 to over ii!?150,000. In the aggregate the Porthind
had nearly the same amount as was brought by the Excel-
sior, about half a million. All this and much more that has
not been brought down has been taken out of the mines
since their discovery last August.
" One man, a Mr. Berre, of California, who last 8ep-
temljer was in debt for liis outfit, took out over 1150,000
wliik^ merely prospecting claim No. 40 on Bonanza Creek,
which he had staked out. With part of this gold he
bought an interest in three other claims, which promise
to be as rich as the first one. F. Phiscatei', who previous
to his staking out claim No. 2 on the Eldorado, was a ,
waiter on one of the river steamers, took out $90,000
while merely prospecting his claim, the whole of which is
estimated to be worth over a million dollars. Many similar
cases are reported, which indicate that the new mining
region is the richest yet discovered on this continent. Of
course, all this will attract a great many men, and as the
means of getting provisions to the mines are l>ut little
better than last year, when with only two thousand men
to provide for food was scarce and high, it .Avill probably
result in want."
PROSPEROUS IX 188G.
In 188G few of the men in Forty Mile Creek were content
Avith ground yielding less than ^\-i a day, and several of
them reported to the envoys of the Canadian Government
that several had taken out nearly $100 a day for a short
time. With the fcAV men at work and their exceedingly
KLOXBYKE FACTS. 147
limited f:icilitics this little streum in 1S87 gave up aljuiit
'1^1. 50,000 ill gold. At this time the total number of miners
in the entire territory of the Upper Yukon was less than
two hundred and fifty and none of them wintered there.
SCHOOL TEACHER IN LUCK.
Scot Francisco, July 31.
The latest arrival from the Klondyke is Albert D. Gray
formerly a school teacher in Grand Rapids, Mich. Mr.
Gray got here, bringing $30,000 in nuggets.
He says he is the first man who went to Dawson by the
Stikine Eiver route. lie j^i'edicts tlmt this Avill soon be
the favorite route to the gold diggings. He says that
the entire Northwest is interested in the report that the
Canadian Government is contemplating the building of a
railway from Telegraph Creek to Lake Teslin. From this
lake to Dawson City there would be clear navigation if
the rocks on the Yukon 200 miles above Dawson were
blasted out.
WHAT OXE 15KAVE WOMAX DID.
Mrs. J. T. Wills, of this city, who says she went " through
death " to seek Alaska gold, is a pioneer of the pioneers.
She has pioneered it in New Mexico, Colorado and "Wash-
ington. She is an Iowa woman, and reared three daughters
in Missouri, where she married a num named i\Iercer.
Eight years ago she struck Tacoma during the big
Northwestern boom, and married J. T. Wills, a gun and
lock smith. As the boom subsided it became too quiet in
Washington for Mrs. Wills, and she journeyed to Alaska.
She was the pioneer woman gold-hunter of that section.
148 KLOShyXE FACTS.
At lirst she baked hread and t'oiidiu'ied a laiiudiT at
Circle City. Her stove Avould bake only two loaves at a
time, but at $1 jaer loaf she managed to net ll-i per day.
She also did plain sewiu';- for the miners, and introduced
the fii*st starched shirt into the El Dorado of the far north.
When the word came down the Yukon that there was
fabulously rich pay " dirt '' on the Klondyke, Mrs. Wills
joined the stampede. She went in with a party of cattle-
men. The trip was rough and exciting, but Mrs. Wills
did not complain, and was not a burden to the men who
led the spurt for the new diggings.
On a former occasion, however, she did not fare so well.
On the way into tlie nnnes she became \evy sick, and for
four days it was feared she would die. She Avas tlie only
woman in a pnvty of 1-10 rough miners from all parts of the
world. The miners did not tliink of leaving her behind
while life remained, but, as one of them said on returning
here last spring. " Tf she had died we would have made a
coffin of her blanket and dropped her into a crevice in the
ice, and pushed for wai'd as if nothing iiad hapjiened."
When Mrs. Wills reached Dawson City she made a da^h
with the best of the men for a, claim. But as the value of
the surrounding claims came to l)c worth $"25,000 to
$100,000, claim-jumping began, ami Mi-s. Wills had to
fight like a will-breaker for her pi-operty. It is valued at
at least *-2-">0,000.
While holding on to her chiim Mi-s. Wills spends her
leisure moments earning 115 per day as head cook for the
Alaska-Commercial Company, at Dawson City.
A UONDEKFUL TALE.
Captain Harry Meggs. United States army (retired),
tella a wondc^rful tale of the discovery of gold in Alaska in
KLONDYKE FACTS. 149
the latter part of the sixties. He was ou duty in that
country at that time at a point near Juneau. He says
that even in those early days great lumps of gold were
exhibited by natives.
"Often natives from the interior would come down
A\earing necklaces made of nuggets picked up from creeks
in the interior/' he said : "At one time there was a tribe
which liad been conquered by another, and a penalty was
exacted. Some of the conquered tribe came over Chilkoot
I'ass with a certain amount of gold, which, on being
Aveighed, was found to be short of the price demanded by
the con(|uerors. Several chiefs Avere held as hostages, while
the renuiindcr of the tribe was directed to cross the moun-
tains and procure enough to liberate them. They were
gone several months, and when they came back an amount
mor(^ than needed to pay tlie ransom was brought in. No
one could ascertain whence the gold came, but from the
din>cl ion in which tliey went and the length of time tliey
occupied in nuiking the trip it was believed that they went
many miles inland.
" I believe tliat these men went into the passes of the
Klondyke country and picked up l)y the crude means at
their command the gold needed to complete the ransom.
It was a topic of discussion among those who were detailed
on duty at that time, and many plans were laid to procure
infornuition as to the location of the gold, but the natives
kept the matter secret and Avould never disclose whence
they derived their treasure."
150 KLONDIKE FACTS.
CHAPTER XIII.
K L N D Y K E FACTS.
Klondyke ! Kloud^^ke, the name that has hecome
famous throughout the world and which was not heard of
two short manths ago, is taken from the Indian name
"^ Thron-Diuck," which means " River with plenty of fish."
People in the region, however, do not use the name Klon-
dyke, as used in the East.
(rold was first discovered in the Klondyke region by a
man named Henderson, August 24tli, '96. Prior to that
there was no civilization there whatever.
It was on August 24, when Henderson, who had been
prospecting for four years in Indian Creek, a tributary of
the Yukon, found himself in another little stream bed
known as Gold Bottom, near the Yukon, the high water
having driven him out of Indian Creek.' He was prospect-
ing around, hoping to find something as good as the
ground seemed to contain. After a time he panned out a
little gold and put in a sluice box or two. In a very short
time he ran out of supplies and went back to Fort Ogilvie,
where I was stationed, and reported the find to me. I lost
no time getting myself in readiness to proceed to the spot
at once, and by August 28, I had two men and four
horses in Gold Bottom. In the meantime, Henderson
drifted down the mouth of the Klondyke in a small boat.
KLONDYKE FACTS. 151
uiul found George McCormack, an old friend of his, who
was tisliing for sahnon. limiting \\p his friends when
tiiere was anything in sight seemed to he one of Ilender-
soiTs l)est traits. He got McCormack up to Gold Bottom,
whore he located a claim, i^rospected around a while, and
started back across country for the mouth of tiie Klondyko
ifiver, a distance of twenty miles.
That trip was destined to phi}^ an important part in the
events which followed, for through it occurred one of
tlu^ big finds. McCormack took with him two Chilkat In-
dians, and the three men went off in the direction of Bo-
nanza Creek, where the white man struck gravel that went
8-?. 50 to the pan. According to the mining laws in Cana-
dian possessions, the discoverer can locate an extra claim
for himself as a reward for making the find. So McCor-
mack took up two locations and the Indians one each.
They set to work at once and took out $120 in gold in
three days with little less than a pan. Then they came
down to Fort Ogilvie and reported the find.
That report which was spread by ^McCormack, had the
immediate effect of sending a thrill of excitement along
the Yukon, from the headwaters down to Forty W\\e and
Circle City. As though by magic, the trails were sprinkled
with pack mules, and the river was dotted with small craft
coming up or going down to the new diggings, as the case
may be. In less than ten days there were about 150 miners
at work on new claims.
Strangely enough, and as if by some great good fortune,
I had come down the river about the same time McCormack
left Gold Bottom, and had picked out a tov/n site where
Dawson City now stands, a little more than a mile from
the Bonanza Creek claims. In this respect I was very for-
tunate, as it now stands in the midst of what is called
Bonanza Gold Mining District, and all claims are so record-
152 KL ONI) YKE FA (JTS.
ed. As a matter of fact thei-e is no other suitable place
for a toAvn site, and I consider myself lucky in getting hold
of it. I commenced erecting the first house in that region
on September 1st, 1896, Within six months from that
date there were over five hundred houses erected, Avhich in-
cluded stores, supply stations, hotels, restaurants, saloons,
and residences. The place immediately l)ccame a bee-hive
of vigorous industry, and the minor can detain anything
he requires at Dawson City. I hold 1 78 acres, while the
remaining twenty-two are the property of the (Jovernment.
The Yukon at that point is (lOO yards across and about
thirty-five fathoms deep, with natural advantages for pro-
tection of craft. Dawson City is just below the month of
the Klondyke Eiver. I named it after Dr. Dawson, who es-
tablished the bonndary line that is now recognized as the
correct line dividing Alaska from the Noi'thwest Terri-
tory. It runs due north from i\fount St. Elias to Point
Demarcation to the 141st meridian. That, of course, cuts
all the present location with the exception of those at
Forty Mile out of United States possessions. There is no
cause for dispute on that score at all. It is purely a Cana-
dian section, and is under Canadian laws.
Just as soon as the rush began at Bonanza Creek the
miners called a meeting, and in order tluit the claims be
relocated and made sure of, it was decided to measure them
all off with a rope and reset the stakes that defined them.
Somehow or other the men selected to make the measure-
ments slid in a forty instead of a fifty foot rope, and thus
nnide the claims from fifty to one hundred feet short in the
total. In other words they were condensed, and the inter-
vening ground was literally grabbed. This state of affairs
incensed the miners so that when they made the discovery
of how the measurements were conducted, they petitioned
William Ogilvie. the Dominion Laud Surveyor, to come up
KLOMti'Klil FA('TS. If,;}
to lionanza Creek at onco and settle the complications that
Avere arising. He re-surveyed the whole group of claims
and the matter M'as then adjusted to the satisfaction of ;dl
hands.
It must be remembered that the total gold regions to-day
do not extend over an area of 200 square miles froju DaAv -
son City.
There are good pay diggings at Circle City in Alaska. I
know of at least twenty good claims there ; but the place
has been practically deserted owing to the rush to Klon-
dyke.
Fort Cudahy or Forty Mile Creek is deserted. There
will undoubtedly be new and vahuiblo diggings discovered
next year in the Klondyke region Avhich will create emi-
gration to various points at present unknown.
Dr. W . H. J)all, of the National Museujn of Washing-
ton, is no harebrained enthusiast and says he has spent
much time in the Yukon Valley on geographical expedi-
tions. He is a scientific expert. He has no axe to grind.
He unhesitatingly accepts the reports that come from that
portion of the Yukon N'mIIcv which lies just beyond the
American boundary. He hns known Uw twenty years past
that gold existed in the bed f)f the 'i'ukon IJiver, though,
not in large enough f|u;intities to ni:ike milling very profi-
table, and he has suspected that it existed in infinitely
larger quantities in the various tributaries thnt empty
into the great river. Tie holds that the Klondyke and the
streams that feed it represent but a very snuiU portion of
these gold yielding tributaries. In short, his opinion is
that the gold-deposits exist over a length of five or six hun-
dred miles. He scents no exaggeration in the reports thnt
have come in so far from the comparatively snndl Kbni-
dvke regions.
154 KLONDVKE FACTS.
Everything points to the fact that the gorgeous times
of 1849 are to be repeated on a more prodigious scale.
Tlie folloAving re2)ort made hy Mr. Ogilvie in January,
189G, Avill he of interest to the intending prospector.
CuDAHY, Sth January, 1896.
I have the honor to transmit the following interim report of
my operations since I came into this territory : —
I have already sent out a short report from this place being
fortunate enough to catch the boat here when I came down.
In that report I made some remarks on the town sites in our
territory ; since then I have learned nothing of importance
in that connection, the most noteworthy fact being that gold
bearing quartz has been found in Cone hill which stands mid-
way in the valley of the Forty Mile River, a couple of miles
above the jimction with the Yukon. The quantity in sight
rivals that of the Treadwell mine on the coast, and the quality
is better, so much so that it is thought it will pay well to work
it even under the conditions existing here. Application has
been made to purchase it, and an expert is now engaged in
putting in a tunnel to test the extent. Indications in sight
point to the conclusion that the whole hill is composed of this
metalliferous rock. If the test corroborate this, a stamp mill
will be erected next season, which will have an important bear-
ing on the future of this country. If tliis venture succeeds, (as
it doubtless will, for it is in the hands of parties who are able
to push it) it will give permanent employment to a good many
men, who with their families will form quite a community.
Apart from tliis I cannot see very much of a chance for spec-
ulation in buying or selling town sites ; and my opinion is
confirmed by the present condition of Forty Mile, which now
contains very few people, the great majority of the miners re-
KLONDYKE FACTS. 155
niaining on their claims all winter, coming in only once or
twice for supplies. Even in tlie case of the mine at Cone hill
being worked, only a village would be formed around it.
Outside of all such considerations, the present applicants for
Forty Mile and Cudahy town sites have either directly or in-
directly occupied the present sites for years and spent thou-
sands of dollars improving and building on them. One house
erected in Forty Mile last summer is said to have cost $10,000.
it would cost between two and three thousand in Ottawa.
These improvements cover so much ground that even if it were
decidetl to lay out the town site and convey it in lots the ap-
l)licants would have a claim to most of the ground they ask for.
A couple of coal claims have been staked and applied for,
which I will survey in the spring, and at the same time make
an examination of the coal area w^here they are. I may anti-
cipate this to a certain extent by saying that, a few days after
I reported to you last fall, I went up Coal creek to search for
this coal, to which I referred in my report of 1887 and 1888.
1 found it about 7 miles up the creek overlying a coarse sand-
stone and under drift clay and gravel.
The seam is 1 2 feet 6 inches thick. It seems to me to be
a good quality of lignite. I have packed 30 to 40 pounds of
the best specimens I found a few feet in, and will send them
out to you in the spring, that a test may be made. That ex-
]iosure has now been staked and applied for to the agent here.
I judge from the position of these coal claims that we have quite
an area of coal here. Both exposures furnish, as far as external
features show, the same character of coal, and are about the
same level, so that it is fair to assume they are in the same
156 KLONDYKK FACTS.
seam. I will make a search in the intervening distance to deter-
mine this when I make a survey of the claims. Coal is reported
in the drift on Chandindu, about 30 miles uj) the river from
here, which would go to show that there is another area or a
continuation of this one there.
On my way down the river I saw the copper-bearing vein
near Thron-Diuck Creek above Fort Reliance. It does not
appear to be extensive, but there are several small veins in the
vicinity, and it may l)e that a commercially valuable deposit
may be found ; about 25 miles further down I found a small
vein which indicates that this co]:)])er deposit is extensive.
I found a small seam of rather j^oor asbestos a short distance
from Cudahy, and as there is quite an extensive area of ser-
pentine around here, asbestos may yet be found of commercial
value.
Very rich placer diggings are now being worked on the creeks
flowing into Sixty Mile, part of which are sui)posed to be in
Canada. I shall be able to say definitely when I produce the
line that far where they are and how much we ha\e of them.
Except in the vicinity of Forty Mile there a])pears to be
nothing doing in the way of cpiartz ];rospecting.
i^ast season good placer mines were found on the Hootalin-
qua — Teslin of Dnwson — with coarse gold in them, and there
will probably be a lot of claims worked there next season.
Several miners were wintering there to commence operations
early in the spring. A great deal of improvement has been
introduced in the working of placer diggings, which has much
increased the output. The miner instead of putting in the
winter months in the towns and saloons remains on his claim
all winter, cutting wood in the earlier months, with which he
builds fires and thaws the frozen gravel, piling it up to be
washed as soon .is the flow of water in the spring will permit.
In this way the work is more than doubled, but as the sujdjjIv
klJ>.\ DYKK FA (IS. i:,7
ot wood is ver}' limited except on the main river this cannot
always be done.
The timber fit for buildings and lumber is fast disappearing
along the river, and in a few years there will be none left near
here. There is a portable saw-mill at Fort Ogilvie — lOO miles
above this — and one here, which yearly cut a good deal of
lumber. Were all this utilized in Canada nothing might be
said of it, but some of it goes down the river into American
territory, in addition to which a good deal of wood and logs
are cut on our side and floated into Alaska where it is sold.
Some men make a business of this, and on this at least the
department might collect dues. There is \ery little good tim-
ber on the American side of the line, hence the demand for our
timber.
The police have so far made a very favorable impression,
aud the general policy of the government in connection with
this district is admired.
It is probable the boundaries of the j'jolice jurisdiction mav
h.ave to be extended in the near future, for a good deal of
trading is done on the head waters of the river by parties who
cross the summit of the coast passes with goods from Juneau.
Also the miners on the head waters and on the Hootalinqua
bring in their supplies from Jimeau. Now one of the traders
here — Har])er — has a small steamboat named the " Beaver,"
which he got in last season for the express purpose of reaching
the upper parts of the river and its affluents witli sui:)plies, and,
having jiaid duty on all his foreign goods, expects to be pro-
1 58 KLOND YKE FA CTS.
tected against smuggled goods. Should the Hootalinqua turn
out as expected and promised, a police force will be required
there. Harper will try hard to get up with supplies to it and
Teslin Lake. I fancy he can lay down most things there as
cheaply as they can be brought over the pass. It costs $14 to
if! 1 5 — sometimes more — per 100 pounds to transport from Taiya
to the lakes, which makes flour cost ^16 to ^17, per hundred
at the lake, while it costs or is sold here for $S. Things here
are sold so low now that were I ever coming in from the Paci-
fic again I would bring nothing in quantity but bacon, on which
I might save a dollar or two a hundred, it being sold here for
^30 to ^35 per hundred. * * * *
I have produced the boundary line about five miles north of
where it crosses the Yukon River, which is as far as I thought
needful at present. I have also produced it about 7 miles
south, and about the end of February will resume work and run
it as far as Sixty Mile River. In connection with this I have
occupied six photograph stations and developed all the plates
exposed which have turned out satisfactorily. I have made
a cross section measurement of the Yukon River where the
boundary crosses it.
In the vicinity of the river I have opened out a wide line in
the woods which will remain visible for several years, but I
erected nothing permanent on it.
Up to date our lowest temperature has been 6;^° below zero.
The winter has been unusually windy. Coming up here we had
KLOMJYKE FACTS. 159
to face a strong wind when 52° below zero, and frozen faces
and noses where the rule of the day.
CuDAHY, loth June, 1896.
I submit the following interim report of iiiy operations in the
Yukon District up to date.
After my return there was some fine clear weather in January,
but it was exceedingly cold, more than 60" below zero, one
night 68°5 ; and as I had both my ears pretty badly frozen and
could not go out in such cold without having them covered, so
that I could not hear the chronometer beat, I could not observe
until the end of the month when we had tAvofine nights — 29th
and 30th — mild enough for me to work.
Having reduced all my observations, and the da) s having
attained a reasonable length, I went into camp on the line on
the 20th February, resuming work on the 22nd. But as the
hill tops are all bare and from two to three thousand feet above
the river we lost many days through the fierce winds.
Our progress was necessarily slow for this reason and also
from the fact that I photogi-aphed from several stations, which
took some time. As there were no important creeks between
the Yukon and Forty Mile Rivers I did not cut the line out
continuously, but left it so that any one wishing to can place
himself on or very near to the line. The distance from the
Yukon to Forty Mile River is a little over tAventy-fi\e miles.
IGO KLONBYEE FACTS.
In the valleys along the line the timber was thick, with much
underbrush, but very Utile of it is of much value. Curiously
enough tlie line kept generally in the valleys or on the sides of
them, and very little of it was in the open. Going from point
to point we had to follow as much as possible the hill tops and
ridges. I reached f'orty Mile River with this survey on the
13th March. From this point southwards there are many
streams cut by the line, all of which are more or less gold-
bearing and all have been more or less prospected. This ne-
cessitated my cutting the line out continuously from P'orty Mile
River onwards, which increased our work very much. The
valleys traversed are generally upwards of 1,000 feet deep and
often very steep, so that the work was exceedingly laborious.
Transporting our outfit from cam]) to camp was often a very
hard task as the hills were so steep ever\'thing had to be packed
up them, which in the deep soft snow was anything but easy.
I reached a point within two miles of Sixty Mile River on the
14th April, and as 1 had ]^assed all the creeks of any note, and
many of them were already running water and our way lay
down them, I thought it well to quit work on the line and re-
turn to Forty Mile and Cudahy, and attend to the local sun^eys
there. The weather was line and warm, and so much water
ran in tlie creeks by which we had to return that we could only
travel a few hours in the early morning and forenoon. Had
the season been more favorable I would have ^ isited (llacier
and Miller Creeks which were generally supposed to be in
Alaska, but are found to run in Canada for some distance.
They are the two richest creeks yet found on the Yukon and
are both tributaries of Sixty Mile River. Both creeks are fully
located and worked, each claim being 500 feet along the creek
and the width of the valley or creek bed. There are nearly
100 claims, all of which pay well. One on Miller Creek I
understand will yield 75 to 80 thousand dollars this season,
KLOyDYKK FACTS. 161
and the owner will net, it is said, between 40 and 50 thousand
dollars. He took out, it is reported, nearly half that sum last
year off the same claim, and expects to do equally well next
year. This is much the richest claim yet found, but all on
those creeks do well. There are many other creeks in this
vicinity yet to be prospected and some will, I have no doubt,
pay well. Gold is found all along the valley of Sixty Mile
River, and under more favorable conditions, both mercantile
and climatic, it would yield good results to large enterprises,
liie mercantile conditions will improve ; the climate is a serious
ditificulty but will be surmounted in time, I believe. Along the
last 10 or 12 miles of the line I nin, the mountains consist
principally of quartz and schists, which no doubt originally held
the gold found in the valleys and doubtless hold some yet.
Several men have taken to quartz prospecting, and from indi-
cations which I will dwell on later I believe we are on the eve
of some magnificent discoveries.
The miners on all the creeks referred to have quietly ac-
ce])ted my line as the boundary //7> /rw, and as far as I can
learn at present the general feeling is satisfaction that one can
now know where he is. Even if the line is not final, no one
doubts its being very near the final position. As far as run it
is marked by cairns of stones wherever it was possible to ])ro-
cure them with reasonable time and labor, and is cut through
the woods and blazed so that no one who wants to find it can
mistake it. Another source of satisfaction to all is that they
now know distances and directions. Many miners remark to
me, "We now know how we are going, we can see where south
is." In this high latitude in the summer months it is impossi-
ble to tell when the sun is near the meridian because its change
in altitude is so little for 8 or 9 hours, consequently any point
between east and west was called somewhere near south. This
helps to explain much of the variance in the direction of points
II
162 KLONDYKE FACTS.
as given by miners and others who have no compass or are
unacquainted with the use of one and the apphcation of the
declination.
On my arrival at Cudahy I rented two cabins from the
N. A. T. & T. Co., to house my men and self as I would be
around here probably until I started up the river. I did this
because there are no convenient camping places in the vicinity,
and in the spring all the flats are like lakes along the river
until well into the month of June.
After a couple of days' rest for the party, who had worked
very hard, and after I had developed all my photographs, I
began to attend to the local surveys, first surveying the coal
claims on Coal Creek and making a chain traverse survey of
the creek from the claims down to the Yukon.
I next made a survey of the Cone hill quartz mining claim
and a chain traverse survey of Forty Mile River from the claim
down to the Yukon. I then went to work on the Forty Mile
town site and Cudahy town site. The last I was asked to
block out, which I have done. The manager, Mr. C. H. Ham-
ilton, objected to streets 66 feet wide on such a small plot of
ground (tliere is only about 50 acres). I read him my in-
structions and wrote him an ofificial letter on the subject, but
he insisted on streets only 50 feet wide and assumed all res-
ponsibility, so I did as he desired. I made him a plot of the
work done on the ground, and he understands that he will have
to pay the department for the senice rendered in blocking as
well as the original survey, and wishes a plan of it, which of
course can only be prepared when I go out.
I made a complete survey of Forty Mile, locating and tak-
ing the dimensions of every house in it, and it is the worst
KLONDYKE FACTS. 163
jumble I ever saw. I had to do this though it entailed a great
(leal of work, for there were so many claim holders, and there
appeared to l)e a general distrust in the vicinity ; every man
wants himself on record in evidence as to his claim. I have
taken some, but I have several days' work yet. I made a sur-
vey of the island for the Anglican mission, and of another
island for a man named Gibson. This is in the delta of Forty
Mile Creek, and he intends to make a market garden for the
growth of such vegetables as the country will produce. In my
final report I will deal as fully as my experience here will per-
mit on that phase of the country's character. Many here have
small gardens and are fairly successful with ordinary vegetables.
I have advised many to correspond with the experimental farm
at Ottawa, with a view to learning the best sort of \'egetables
for growth in this climate. There is an application in, and the
purchase money and cost of survey paid, for 80 acres just west
of Cudahy town site, which I will survey in a few days. There
is also an application in for 40 acres containing a hay swamp
on the east side of the river, about 2 miles below here, which
I will stirvey before starting out. There are many other appli-
cations in, but I shall not have time to attend to them, nor
have the i)arties asked for a survey. I think these ap])lications
are simply intended to hold the ground until the future of this
region is forecasted ; it certainly looks promising now. I
would respectfully call the attention of the department to the
fact that the ser\'ices of a surveyor are urgently needed in here
and will be for some years to come, and I would suggest that
one be appointed to look after and take charge of all the land
interests in this district. He will find ])lenty to do, and any
work outside of departmental which he might be asked to do
(and there is much of it, and will be more in the way of
engineering) would help materially to pay his salary which
would of course in here have to be liberal.
164 KLONDYKE FACTS.
I have had several apphcations for engineering surveys, and
I have told the parties I can only make these as an officer of
the department, with whom they will have to settle on the
basis of the time it took and the cost per day of the party and
myself, should I undertake any of it, which is more than doubt-
ful. Any surveyor so appointed will require experience in the
taking of evidence and vvill need to be patient and attentive,
for it is extremely difficult to make some of the people here
understand what the)' want to know.
Another incon\ enience is the want of a trade medium ; there
is very little coin, nearly all business being transacted in gold
dust, which passes current at $17 per ounce troy*, but, as most
of it will not assay that, there is some hardship to those taking
it out, though there may be no actual loss. If enough money were
sent in to pay the North-west mounted police for some time it
would help for a period at least, and would emphasize the exist-
ence of Canada. What coin and bills are here are largely
American.
Another important question is the treatment of the liquor
business, which cannot be ignored much longer ; there are
several saloons in Forty Mile and one in Cudahy, yet there is
no law recognizing them nor regulating them in any way. It
would be almost impossible and very unpopular were any at-
tempt made to close them. Liquor could not be kept out of
the country if the whole North-west mounted ])olice were scat-
tered around the river.
.\nother subject which I have mentioned before is that of the
* The net value of the gold received by the department was found to
be only $16.50 per ounce, gcents of which were silver. Deducting freight,
insurance, mint charges and bank commission, the amount realized is re-
duced to $i5-77- Inspector Constantine, N. W. M. I', quotes assays by
ihe Ignited States office at Helena, Mont., of gold from eight creeks,
ranging from $14.46 for thi' I'pper Lewes to $17.33 for Davis Creek.
The average is $16.12.
KLOyDYKE FACTS. 165
timber. Large quantities of timber are being and have been
cut in our territory and floated down the river to American
territory, where it is used, and Canada derives no benefit.
Were it used to develo]) our country it would matter less ; in
fact, I would encourage such use ; but to see the best of our
timber taken out without any sort of benefit to the country is,
1 think, worthy of some sort of attention. There is very little
useful timber in the country, and much of what does exist is cut
into fuel, while more of it goes beyond the boundary. In the
near future we shall feel the want of it. I have spoken to the
agent about it, but he has no authority to act, and, if he hadj
is disinclined to run u|) and down the river looking after it un-
less he has a steamer.
The merchants here who ])ay duty are naturally dissatisfied
at the smuggling done on the u|)]icr ri\er and ask for some sort
of jirotection. It might be advisable to have a s(]uad of police
and an officer somewhere on the lake to look after that. I am
thoroughly convinced that a road from the coast to some ]:)oint
on the head waters of the river, preferably by the Taku if at
all practicable, would convert all our ])art of the river into a
hive of industry. It may be said there is no com])etition, and
any way in the ])resent conditions of trade things cannot be
sold very much cheaper at a fair ])rofit. Once let a railroad
get from some point on the coast to some point on the river so
that we can have quick, cheap, and certain entrance and exit,
and the whole Yukon basin will be worked. At present the
long haul makes the expense of mining machinery practically
prohibitive, for the cost of transport is often more than the
first cost of the machine.
Assays of the Cone hill ([uartz are very satisfactory, and the
r[uantity good for generations of work ; were it on the coast
the Treadwell mine would l)e diminutive beside it. Five tons
of rock are being sent out from it for a mill test, and should
166 KLONDYKE FACTS.
they prove as satisfactory as the test of a ton sent out last year,
I understand the parties owning it will proceed to develop it.
If it starts and proves reasonably successful there are scores of
other places in the country that may yield as well. An expert
here who prospects for the N. A. T. & T. Co. found a ledge last
spring on the Chandindu River of Schwatka (known as Twelve-
mile Creek here) and located two full claims on it. He told
me the assay he made of my specimens of it was much more
satisfactory than that of Cone hill, and this ledge, he claims, is
where a commencement should be made in quartz milling in
this country and there would be no fear of the result. He ap-
pears to be pretty well versed in mining lore, is a practical as-
sayer — that is his profession — and he says he never saw or read
of anything like it for extent in the world. He informed me
there were extensive deposits of coal about 20 miles up the
creek and this ledge was about 4 miles up. He has no doubt
but that the copper around Fort Reliance will, with better
facilities, yet be a valuable feature of the country. He showed
me a lump of native copper some Indians said they found on
the head of the AVhite River but could not or would not specify
where. Speaking of White River reminds me that it and Sixty
Mile are very close together in the vicinity of the boundary. I
was told it was only a short walk from the creeks of one to the
creeks of the other, but how far from stream to stream is un-
certain.
This expert is an American who has spent many years of his
life in the best mining districts in the United States, and \\2
assures me this country promises better than any he ever sa\/
before, and as an evidence of his satisfaction with it he is going
to spend the rest of his life here.
Great anxiety is felt here about a mail route and regular mail.
Last winter 3 mails left the coast, one by the Taku route, one
by the White Pass, and one via Taiya ; the first two got here
Kin X DYKE FAC'Tfi. 167
in good time, the last, (ours l)y the way) did not, nor is it
hkely to arrive for some time — maybe never. The man in
charge was badly frozen on the summit and had to turn back
leaving the mail behind him and it is now probably buried in
fathoms of snow. An Indian brought the mail in by the Taku
and took the Slocan branch of it to Atlin lake. From what
I learned of this route while up there it may be found to afford
an easier way than by Teslin Lake but it has the disadvantage
of landing on the head of the Lewes instead of the Hootalinqua
or 'I'eslin and so takes in the canyon and White Horse Rapids.
Last winter many of the residents and miners here talked to
me about the mails and what the government intended in that
direction ; of course I could tell them nothing. They made
their views known by getting up a petition to the Minister of
the Interior.
The Alaska Commercial Company are putting a new and
powerful steamer on the river, which will make four, the " Arc-
tic," "Alice," and " Emma, large, and the " Bedon," small,
there is some talk of the N. A. T. & T. Co., putting on a sister
boat to the " Portus B. Weare." All are stern-wheel boats.*
From my camera stations on the boundary I saw manv high
mountains, some of them not less than 8,000 feet, and some I
believe 10,000. Some of the prominent ones I have named
after the pioneers of the country, notably one Mount Campbell
after the late Mr. Robert Campbell of the H. B. Co., who es-
tablished Fort Selkirk. It is about 60 miles due east of here
and is a noteworthy peak in that it stands on top of an exten-
sive well defined range, rising like a lofty pillar about 1,000
feet above the ridge. It is, far as seen, the most remarkable
l)cak in the country. I have not made any computations yet,
* The estimates submitted at the last session of Parliament contain
an item of $5,000 for the purchase of a steamer for the Mounted Police
in the Yukon District.
108 KLOXDYKE FACTS.
but I do not think its summit is much if nny less thnn 10,000
feet above the sea. No one noticed it before for the reason
that it is only about 600 feet wide, is always black, and very
distant from points where it can be seen around here.
CuDAHY, June 25 th, 1896.
Horses could be laid down here for, I would say, about
1^250 per head, and the same animals ought to last the whole
survey. Horses that have been in use here, packing to the
mines in the summer and hauling wood in the winter for several
years, are still serviceable, notwithstanding that they live only
on the coarse grasses of the country. They pack 200 pounds
apiece from Forty Miles River at the mouth of Moore Creek to
the mines on Miller Creek (about 17 1-2 or 18 miles) and
climb some very steep long hills on the way, taking 2 days with
loads and one day without ; all they get to eat is what they
find.
My last report told you of the agent here going to Miller and
Glacier Creeks and collecting fees and making entries ; as he
did not go west of those creeks no complications will arise, for
as you will see by my sketch map tliey are within Canada. I
may say here that one claim on Miller Creek turned out about
^70,000 last winter, and several others have done very well too.
So far nearly all the miners have passed here, going to Circle
City (about 200 miles down) and I have no doubt many of
them will kee]) on going.
About 100 miners are reported on the Hootalinqua this
ki.oxdvkf: facts. 1G9
summer. We shall ])r()bablv soon have to extend law and
order there.
Many here make gardens, using any seed they can get,
and some are going to try grasses for fodder. I would sug-
gest the director of the central experimental farm be asked to
send in seeds of the kinds of ordinary vegetables and grasses
best suited to such a climate as this, to be distributed by the
agent here to those who will make a proper use of them, or
for sale at cost. 1 am quite sure it would be of much service,
and if some hints on the proper care of plants were sent in it
would be more so, as most of the ])eople in here know prac-
tically nothing of gartlening or farming. Besides, it would
improve the feeling among the people here towards our coun-
try and institutions and would cost the country jiractically
nothing.
CuDAHV, August rSth, 1896.
It is now certain that coal extends along the valley of the
Yukon from Coal Creek for 10 or i 2 miles down, and from
Coal Creek up to Twelve Mile Creek, which flows into the
Yukon about 30 miles above here. The latter stretch is cut
off from the river by several miles of hills, as it is about 6
miles direct from the river at Coal Creek and about iS on
Twelve Mile Creek. This is the stream named Chandindu by
Schwatka. There is a seam ou ii about 6 feet thick as re-
ported by an exy)ert who went in search of it. I foimci drift
coal on the south branch of Coal Creek.
On the Cornell claim on Cliff Creek the seam is 5 feet 4
inches thick. I have sent specimens of it out. I found it
necessary to refer to the different creeks so had to name them
170 KLONDYKE FACTS.
" Shell Creek," because I found a stone with a shell impres-
sion at its mouth ; " Cliff Creek," because it enters the river
at the foot of a high cliff ; and " Flat Creek," because it enters
the river in a large flat.
Glacier Greek is turning out very well, and several good
creeks have been discovered up Forty Mile in x\laska.
CuDAHY, 6 th September, 1896.
I have been in hourly expectation of the Canadian mail for
some days now, but it has not arrived yet. The A. C. Co.'s
Steamer " Alice " came up on the fourth instant, but brought
no news for me, so that I am completely in the dark as to my
movements yet, and if I am to go out it is time I was on the
way. I do not wish to remain here another winter unless it is
absolutely necessary ; more especially with my party and all
its expenses. In case I go out, I will try to accompany Mr.
J. Dalton over his trail from the head of Chilkat Inlet to
Selkirk on the Yukon. He has made several trips over that
route with horses and packs and speaks very highly of it. I
will make a rough survey of it and take some photographs
along the route.
I have taken copious notes of it from him, but would like
to see it for myself.
I am very much pleased to be able to inform you that a
most important discovery of gold has been made on a creek
called Bonanza Creek, an affluent of the river known here as
the Klondyke.* It is marked on the maps extant as Deer
River and joins the Yukon a few miles above the site of Fort
Reliance.
The discovery was made by G. W. Cormack, who worked
* The correct name is Thron Diuck,
KLOXDVKE FACTS. 171
with me in 1887 on the coast range. The indications are that
it is very rich, indeed the richest yet found, and as far as work
has been carried on it reahzes expectations. It is only two
weeks since it was known, and already about 200 claims have
been staked on it and the creek is not yet exhausted : it and
its branches are considered good for 300 to 400 claims. Be-
sides there are two other creeks above it which it is confi-
dently expected will yield good pay, and if they do so we have
from 800 to 1 ,000 claims on this river which will require over
2,000 men for their proper working. Between Thron-Diuck
River and Stewart River a large creek called Indian Creek
flows into the Yukon and rich prospects have been found on
it, and no doubt it is in the gold-bearing country between
Thron-Diuck and Stewart Riveis, which is considered by all
the old miners the best and most extensive gold country yet
found. Scores of them would prospect it but for the fact that
they cannot get provisions up there and it is too far to boat
them up from here in small boats.
This new find will necessitate an upward step on the Yukon,
and help the Stewart River region.
News has just arrived from Bonanza Creek that three men
worked out $75 in four hours the other day, and a $12 nugget
has been found, which assures the character of the ground,
namely, coarse gold and plenty of it, as three times this can
be done with sluice boxes. You can fancy the excitement
here. It is claimed that from $100 to $500 per day can be
made off the ground that has been prospected so far. As we
have about too claims on Glacier and Miller Creeks, with
three or four hundred in this vicinity, next year it is impera-
tive that a man be sent in here to look after these claims and
all land matters, and it is almost imperative that the agent be a
sur\-eyor. Already on Bonanza Creek they are disputing
about the size of claims.
172 l^L ONT) YKE FA C'TS.
I would have gone up and laid out the claims properly, but
it would take me ten or twelve days to do so, and meantime
my presence might be more urgently required elsewhere.
Another important matter is the appointment ol" some sort
of legal machinery here. Before the ])olice came miners' meet-
ing administered justice, collected debts, etc., etc. ; now the
magistrates here are expected to do all that, and when it
is found that they do not it causes much dissatisfaction, and
there are several cases of real hardship where parties will not
pav their just debts though able to do so. If a miners' meet-
ing were held and judgment given against the delincpient it
would do no good for he would and does resist jjayment, and
were force resorted to he would ai)])eal to the police for protec-
tion. A continuation of this state of affairs is most undesirable
in the interest of our country, for we have a reputation as a
justice-administering, law-abiding people to maintain, and
I would urge ntlv ])ress this matter on the authorities.
From the indications 1 have mentioned it would be seen
that this corner of the North-west is not going to be the least
important part of it, more especially when we tonsider the fact
that gold-bearing quartz has been found in it at numerous
places and much will no doubt l)e worked. It i^ a])parent
that the revenue and business of the countrv will more than
offset the expense of administration.
I cannot here enter into the reasons for it, but 1 unhesitat-
ingly make the assertion that this corner of our territorv from
the coast strip down and from the 141st meridian eastward
will be found to be a fairlv ri< h and %erv extensi\e mining
region.
As I have already pretty fully reported on coal, I will onlv
add that it is reported in abundance only 8 miles up the
Chandindu River, where a seam over 6 feet thick has been
found of the same (juality as that already described.
KLOXJWKi: r.ifTS. 173
CuDAiiY, November 6th, 1S96.
Your official letter informing me that negotiations for a
joint sursey of the 141st meridian had so far failed, and that I
had better return to Ottawa for the winter, reached me here on
the nth of September. As the Alaska Commercial Com-
pany's steamer "Arctic" was then hourly expected up the
river on her way to Selkirk, I thought it best to wait and go up
on her to that point. Day after day passed witliout anv sign
of her ; wearied of waiting, and hopeless of her arri\al at all
this year, I determined to start out on the 27 th of September,
a late date but with fair conditions feasible. On the 25th a
tremendous storm of snow set in which so chilled the river
that in a few days after it was choked with ice which precluded
all idea of getting u]) the river, and it was equally hopeless
down the river.
Three parties have announced their intention of starting for
the outside world about the ist prox., and I write this con-
templating its transmission by one or other of these parties.
For myself to think of going out in the winter is, 1 think, un-
wise, for the following reasons: — Dogs, the only means of
transport, are scarce and dear, ranging from S30 or $40 to
Si 25 apiece. Dog food, like all other food, is scarce, by
reason of the poor salmon run in the ri\er last season — ])rac-
tically none were caught near here — and the result is the dog
tiwners here have to use bacon for food, which at 25 to 40 cts.
l)er i^ound, is expensive.
I would require a team of eight dogs to take my outfit anil
mv man Fawcett with our jirovisions and the dogs' food as far
as Taiva. There the dogs would have to be abandoned or
killed, as they are worthless on the coast, except to parties
coming in here early in the season. Starting from here say
December ist, it would be February before 1 reached Ottawa,
174 KLONDYKE FACTS.
and during 35 or 40 days of this time we would be exposed to
much cold and hardship and some hazard from storms.
The journey has been made, and I would not hesitate to
undertake it were things more reasonable here and dog food
plentiful, but it would take at least $1,000 to equip me with
transport and outfit, which sum, I think, I can expend more
in the interests of the country by remaining here and making
a survey of the Klondak of the miners — a mispronunciation of
the Indian word or words "Thron-dak" or " diuck," which
means plenty of fish, from the fact that it is a famous salmon
stream. It is marked Tondak on our maps. It joins the
Yukon from the east, a few miles above the site of Fort Re-
liance, about 50 miles above here. As I have already in-
timated, rich placer mines of gold were discovered on the
branches of this stream. The discovery, I believe, was due to
the reports of Indians. A white man named George W. Cor-
mack, who worked with me in 1887, was the first to take ad-
vantage of the rumors and locate a claim on the first branch,
which was named by the miners Bonanza Creek. Cormack
located late in August, but had to cut some logs for the mill
here to get a few pounds of provisions to enable him to begin
work on his claim. The fishing at Thron-Diuck having totally
failed him, he returned with a few weeks' provisions for him-
self, his wife and brother-in-law (Indians) and another Indian
in the last days of August, and immediately set about working
his claim. As he was very short of appliances he could only
put together a rather defective apparatus to wash the gravel
with. The gravel itself he had to carry in a box on his back
from 30 to 100 feet ; notwithstanding this, the three men
working very irregularly, washed out $1,200 in eight days, and
Cormack asserts with reason that had he had proper facilities
it could have been done in two days, besides having several
KLONDYKE FACTS. 175
hundred dollars more gold which was lost in the tailings
through defective apparatus.
On the same creek two men rocked out $75 in about four
hours, and it is asserted that two men in the same creek took
out $4,000 in two days with only two lengths of sluice boxes.
This last is doubted, but Mr. ladue assures me he weighed
that much gold for them, but is not positive where they got it.
They were new comers and had not done much in the country,
so the probabilities are they got it on Bonanza Creek. A
branch of Bonanza named Eldorado has prospected magni-
ficently, and another branch named Tilly Creek has prospected
well ; in all there are some four or five branches to Bonanza
which have given good prospects. There are about 170 claims
staked on the main creek, and the branches are good for about
as many more, aggregating say 350 claims, which will re([uire
over 1,000 men to work properly.
A few miles farther up Bear Creek enters Thron-Diuck, and
it has been prospected and located on. Compared with
Bonanza it is small, and will not afford more than 20 or 30
claims, it is said. About 1 2 miles above the mouth Gold-
bottom Creek joins Thron-Diuck, and on it and a Inanch
named Hunker Creek (after the discoverer) very rich ground
has been found. One man showed me $22.75 he took out in
a few hours on Hunker Creek with a gold pan, ])rospecting his
claim on the surface, taking a handful here and there as fancy
suggested. On Gold-bottom Creek and branches there will
probably be 200 or 300 claims. The Indians have reported
another creek much farther up, which they call " Too much
gold creek," on which the gold is so plentiful that, as the
miners say in joke, " you have to mix gravel with it to
sluice it."
From all this we may, I tliink, infer that we have here a dis-
trict which will give 1,000 claims of 500 feet in length each.
176 KLOyUYKE FACTS.
Now, i,ooo such claims will require at least 3,000 men to
work them properly, and as wages for working in the mines are
from 12 to 15 dollars per day without board, we have every
reason to assume that this ]3art of our territory will in a year or
two contain 10,000 souls at least. For the news has gone out
to the coast and an unprecedented influx is expected next
spring.* And this is not all, for a large creek called Indian
Creek joins the Yukon about midway between Thron-Diuck
and Stewart Rivers, and all along this creek good pay has been
found. All that has stood in the way of working it heretofore
has been the scarcity of provisions and the difficulty of getting
them up there even when here. Indian Creek is quite a large
stream and it is probable it will yield five or six hundred claims.
Further south yet lies the head of several branches of vStewart
River on which some j)rospecting has been done this summer
and good indications found, l)ut tlie want of |)rovisions pre-
vented development. Now gold has been found in several of
the streams joining Pelly River, and also all along the Hoota-
linqua. In the line of these finds farther south is the Cassiar
gold field in British Columbia ; so the presumption is that we
have in our territory along the easterly water-shed of the Yukon
a gold-bearing belt of indefinite width, and upwards of 300
miles long, exclusive of the Uritisli Columbia part of it. On
the westerly side of the Yukon pros]:)ecting has been done on a
creek a short distance abo\e Selkirk with a fair amoimt of suc-
cess, and on a large creek some 30 or 40 miles below Selkirk
fair prospects have been found ; but, as before remarked, the
* A feature of this year's immigration is that it includes many women
and children. The correspondent of a western paper, writing from the
Chilkoot pass at the beginning <>f last numth, says :" To go along the
trail, one would think the peoplr were l)inuKl for a farming country,
there are horses, plonglis, wheelliarrows, three mowing machines, coops
of chickens, etc,'"
KL oyn YKE FA CIS. 177
diffi( ulty of getting supplies here prevents any extensive or
extended j)rosj)ecting.
Dalton informed me he had found good ])rospects on a
small treek nearly midway between the coast range and Selkirk
in his route. His man showed mc some coarse gold, about a
dollar's worth, he found on the head of a branch of the Altsek
River near the head of Chilkat Inlet, which is inside the sum-
mit of the coast range and of course in our territory. From
this you will gather that we ha\c a very large area all more or
less gold-bearing and which will all yet be worked.
Good quartz has been found in places just across the line on
Davis Creek, but of what extent is unknown as it is in the bed
of the creek and covered with gravel, dood (|uart/ is also re-
l)orted on the hills around Bonanza Creek, but o\ this 1 will be
able to si)eak more fully after my ])r()p;)scd survev. It is
l)retty certain from information I have uot from ])rospectors
that all or nearly all of the northerlv branch of White River
is on our side of the line, and copper is found on it, but more
abundantly on the southerly branch of which a great ])ortion is
in our territory also, so it is probable we have that metal too.
I have seen here several hmipsof copper brought by the natives
from White River, but just from what ]iart is uncertain. I have
also seen a s]jecimen of silver ore said to have been ])icked up
in a creek flowing into I.ake Bennet, about 14 miles down it,
on the east side.
I think this is enough to sht)w that we mav look forward
with confitlence to a fairly bright future for this ])art of our
territory'.
When it was fairly established that lionanza Creek was rich
in gold, which took a few days, for Thron-Diuck had been
prospected several times with no encouraging result, there was
a great rush from all over the countrv adjacent to Fortv Mile.
The town was almost deserted : men who had been in a
\2
178 KLONDYKE FACTS.
chronic state of drunkenness for weeks were pitched into boats
as ballast and taken up to stake themselves a claim, and claims
were staked by men for their friends who were not in the
country at the time. All this gave rise to such conflict and
confusion, there being no one present to take charge of matters,
the agent being unable to go up and attend to the thing, and
myself not yet knowing what to do, that the miners held a
meeting, and appointed one of themselves to measure off and
stake the claims, and record the owners' names in connection
therewith, for which he got a fee of $2, it being of course
understood that each claim holder would have to record his
claim with the Dominion agent and pay his fee of ^15.
At the same meeting they discussed our law on mining, and
discovered, as they thought, that it was very defective. They
ai>pointed a committee to wait on the agent and ask him to
ratify their course in appointing the surveyor and recorder to
act />ro tan on the creek and to forward their views on the law
to the department at Ottawa. Now, it appears to me that a
good deal of fault of the law as they found it lay in the fact
that they did not read it all in its proper connection ; and be-
cause the printed law did not start out from a given point and
detail consecutively just what was to be done under every pos-
sible contingency that might arise under that heading they
thought it defective. I believe this to be the case because I
have never had any difficulty in explaining any case that has
been submitted to me for an opinion, and there have been a
good many.
The miners as a rule are dissatisfied with the claims laid out
for them by their own surveyor appointed as I have already
intimated, and many of them are claiming for a remeasurement
now that they know that I am going to make a survey of the
creeks. In fact many of them thought that a survey of the
KLONDYKE FACTS. 179
creeks necessarily meant a survey and adjustment of the claims,
and it took me some time to correct that impression. I made
them understand that as the claims had been laid out by their
own act and had been approved of by the agent I could not
interfere without the consent and approval of all the original
parties to the act, and they would have to meet and discuss the
question and determine whether they would have them ad-
justed or not. If they decide to have it done I made them
understand they would have to assist me at work as I passed
along. If they do not require it I will take the necessary steps
to enable me to plot very closely where every claim is. I may
make a good deal of the survey by photography as I have about
ten dozen good plates yet. In any case I will occupy several
l)hoto stations to enable me to give some idea of the mountain
ranges around — if any — and supplement my views from the
boundary last winter. As soon as this work is done all my
men will take their discharge, Adam Fawcett going into the
service of the Alaska Commercial Company, and all the rest
mining.
If you want any further surveys made in here men will have
to be sent in to do it, for men cannot be had here for less than
from ^5 to ^lo per day. Any man sent in for survey purposes
will reciuire to bring a good canoe with him, say 19 feet long
and 44 inches wide, and 18 to 20 deep. Such a canoe will
bring in 5 or 6 men and their stock of provisions for the trip.
By the time they would arrive here provisions will be plentiful,
for the boats will then be up from Circle City where two of
them are probably wintering. A party crossing the summit
early in June would just about find the lakes open for the run
down. You might warn any such party that they had better
nm no risk at the Canon, White Horse and Five Fingers. The
Canon is not dangerous, but there is a good portage past it.
The rapids between it and the White Horse are rough in high
180 KLONDYKE FACTS.
water but with care are safe. A great many large boats run
the White Horse, but most of them take more or less water ;
many fill altogether, and the owners are often drowned ; in
any case they lose all their effects if they do escape. A care-
ful estimate of those drowned in 1895 places the number at
13, a large percentage, I think of those who tried it. The
Five Fingers are at some stages of the water uncertain. Last
time I came down I found it very nice on the left side — no
danger at all, while boats passing the right side took in water.
In every case the party in charge will do well to carefully examine
beforehand all the points named. Should you deem it advis-
able for myself to return early in the summer, I will have to
make my way around by the mouth, as I will have no men to
help me up stream, and no one will be ascending the river un-
til near September, and indeed very few do at all now. Any
party coming in would reasonably be expected in before I
started down, and I could confer with them on the work to be
done should you deem it advisable to do so.
In the course of a year I believe coal will supersede wood
for fuel, which will relieve the demand as far as the towns and
villages are concerned ; but mining interests will require a lot
of fuel where coal cannot be taken.
The traffic in liquor will have to be taken hold of and reg-
ulated at once ; it is here now and cannot be kept out by any
reasonably practical means. The majority — the great majority
of miners — will have it, and all the more will their predilection
be if it is attempted to stop the entry of it.
In my opinion it is imperative that this business be brought
under control at once, or it may develop phases that will be at
least annoying in the near future.
I have in previous reports intimated that some sort of legal
machinery is now absolutely necessary for the trial of cases of
contract, collection of debts and generally the judicial interests
KLONDYKE FACTS. 181
of the country. There are several cases of hardship now for
the want of a proper court.
If some sort of court to satisfy the necessities of the people
in business here is not at once established serious inconven-
ience will result. The ofificer appointed will require to be a
hale vigorous person, for it is probable he will have to make
journeys of considerable length across unoccui)ie(l country, in
the discharge of his duty.
There have been several applications for land in the vicinity
of the mouth of the Thron-Diuck, and Inspector Constantino
has selected a reserv-e for government purposes at the conflu-
ence of that stream with the Yukon 40 acres in extent.
A court or ofTfice of record in real estate transactions will
require to be opened here at once. A recorder was appointed
in Forty Mile and a plot made in 1884. In anticipation of my
going out this fall I got a meeting held of the property owners
and had them hand the records over to me for the information
of the department. They are in my possession yet, and I will
take them out with me when I go. I'hey are rather crude in
form and require an initiate to understand them. I act as
recorder//-*? tcin.
Before closing I may say that every report that comes in
from Bonanza Creek is more encouraging than the last. Pros-
pecting has only begun, and up to date of mailing, November
2 2d, very rich prospects have been found on the few claims
prospected on : from one dollar to the pan of dirt up to twelve
dollars are reported and no bed rock found yet. This means
from $1,000 to $12,000 per day per man sluicing.
The excitement is intense but at this season of the year it is
naturally very local.
182 KLONDYKE FACTS.
I expect a mail will be starting from here in January and I
will try and send out a short report by it embracing events up
to date.
C//(/a/iy, <)th. December, 1896.
A mail left here for the outside on the 27 th ultimo by which
I sent you an interim report, which will probably reach you in
January. From it you will learn how I came to be caught in
the country and why I have not attempted to get out in the
winter. As you are as likely to get that report as you are this
one, I refrain from repeating more here than to say that should
it be necessary for me to go out before summer I will try
and get out by dog team, starting in the last of February or
early in March when the days are long and the weather mild,
getting out say early in May.
Since my last the prospects on Bonanza Creek and tribu-
taries are increasing in richness and extent until now it is cer-
tain that millions will be taken out of the district in the next
few years.
On some of the claims prospected the pay dirt is of great
extent and very rich. One man told me yesterday that he
washed out a single pan of dirt on one of the claims on Bon-
anza and found ^14.25 in it. Of course that may be an ex-
ceptionally rich pan, but ^5 to $7 per pan is the average on
that claim it is reported, with 5 feet of pay dirt and the width
yet undetermined, but it is known to be 30 feet even at that :
figure the result at 9 to 10 pans to the cubic foot, and 500 feet
long; nearly $4,000,000 at ^^5 per pan — one-fourth of this
would be enormous.
Another claim has been prospected to such an extent that it
is known there is about 5 feet pay dirt averaging $2 per pan
and width not less than 30 feet. Enough prospecting has
KL ONB TKE FA CTS. 183
been done to show that there are at least 15 miles of this
extraordinary richness ; and the indications are that we will
have 3 or 4 times that extent, if not all equal to the above at
least very rich.
I think the department should get large posters printed on
which shall be shown the sections of the law governing the
location and recording of quartz and placer mines, the ex-
tent of each, the duties of miners, in both cases, and the rul-
ings of the department on the questions I have submitted, with
the penalties attached to offences against the law. Some of
these should be printed on stout paper or parchment capable
of standing exposure to the weather, and posted at every im-
])ortant point in the country so that there may be no excuse
hereafter for ignorance.
A large number of copies of the Mining Act, Land Act, and
timber and hay lands regulations should also be sent in.
As to the extent of mining districts they should I think be
made large, and section 2 1 amended to enable a man who has
located a claim which does not pay a reasonable return on
outlay the first season after his claim has been prospected, to
make a second location in the same locality or district provided
he can find one in it. The agent would have to determine
whether or not he had expended the proper amount of labor
on his claim to get reasonable returns ; this I know opens the
door for a lot of trouble and may be fraud, but on the other
hand a great many worthy men suffer from the want of some'
such regulation, and as very few would be in a position to take
advantage of such a provision until after their second season,
there would hardly be anything left for them to take. Enter-
prising industrious men who would work almost continuously
might get some benefit — probably would — but no others, so
such a regulation could not do very much harm and might help
some deserving people. As it is now men stake claims on
184 ELONDYKE FACTS.
nearly every new find, some having several claims in the Thron-
Diuck locality. They know, I believe, that they will not be
able to hold them, but as the localities are not yet clearly de-
fined they can hold on to them for a while and finally by col-
lusion with others acquire an interest in them.
The miners here are I understand getting up a petition to
the Minister asking for aid in opening a way from the south
and building along it shelter for winter travellers, with suitable
supplies scattered along.
As it is now a winter's trip out from here is on account of
the long haul and want of shelter tedious and hazardous, and
their representations are worthy of consideration.
The following letters written so far back as January will prove
most interesting.
Ciidahy, nth January, 1897.
The reports from the Klondyke region are still very encour-
aging ; so much so that all the other creeks around are practi-
cally abandoned, especially those on the head of Forty Mile in
American territory, and nearly one hundred men have made
their way up from Circle City, many of them hauling their sleds
themselves. Those who cannot get claims are buying in on
those already located. Men cannot be got to work for love or
money, and development is consequently slow ; one and a half
dollars per hour is the wages paid the few men who have to
work for hire, and work as many hours as they like. Some of
the claims are so rich that every night a few pans of dirt suf-
fices to pay the hired help when there is any : as high as $204
has been reported to a single pan, but this is not generally
credited. Claim owners are now very reticent about what
they get, so you can hardly credit anything you hear ; but one
thing is certain we have one of the richest mining areas ever
KLONDYKE FACTS. 185
found, with a fair prospect that we have not yet discovered its
limits.
Miller and Glacier Creeks on the head of Sixty Mile River,
which my smvey of the 141st meridian determined to be in
Canada, were thought to be very rich, but they are poor both
in quality and quantity compared with Klondyke.
Chicken Creek on the head of Forty Mile, in Alaska, dis-
covered a year ago and rated very high, is to-day practically
abandoned.
Some quartz prospecting has been done in Klondyke
region, and it is probable that some good veins will be found
there. Coal is found on the upper part of Klondyke ; so
that the facilities for working it if found are good and con-
venient.
Ciidahy, 23d Januar}', 1897.
I have just heard from a reliable source that the quartz men-
tioned above is rich, as tested, over one hundred dollars to the
ton. The lode appears to run from 3 to 8 feet in thickness
and is about 19 miles from the Yukon River. I will likely be
called on to sur%-ey it, and will be able to report fully.
Placer prospects continue more and more encouraging and
extraordinary. It is beyond doubt that 3 pans on different
claims on Eldorado turned out $204, $212, and $2\(i \ but it
must be borne in mind that there were only three such pans,
though there are many running from $10 to $50.
186 KLONDYKE FACTS.
I have been repeatedly asked what I think of the present
rush to the gold regions, and I have to say that I regret it
exceedingly. For this season of the year, I think it very
bad indeed, and that there will be a great amount of hard-
ship and suffering. I do not recommend any one to at-
tempt to make the trip until March 15.
There is unquestionably room for a great many people
in that district, but already too many have left for the
hard winter trip that must be taken before Dawson City
can be reached. I have made the trip many times and
know whereof I speak, and shall certainly not attempt to
return till after March 1st, 1898.
Dawson City is now the most important point in the new
mining regions. Its population in June, 1897, exceeded
4,000 ; by June Jiext it cannot be less than 25,000. It has
a saw-mill, stores, churches, of the Presbyterian, Baptist,
Methodist and Roman Catholic denominations. It is the
headquarters of the Canadian "Northwest Mounted Police,
and perfect Jaw and order is maintained.
It is at Dawson that the prospector files liis claims with
the Ciovernment Gold Commissioner, in tlio recording
offices.
Dawson faces on one of tlie banks of the Yukon Kiver,
and now occupies about a mile of the bank. It is at the
junction of the Klondyke Ch-eek vv'ith the Yukon Kiver.
It is here where the most valuable mining claims are being
operated on a scale of profit that the Avorld lias hitherto
never known. The entire country surrounding is teeming
with mineral wealth.
Copper, silver and coal can be found in large quantities,
but little or no attention is now being jjuid to these valu-
able minerals, as every one is engaged in gold-hunting and
working the extraordinary filacer mining claims already
located.
KLONBYKE FACTS. 187
The entire section is given up to placer mining. Very
few claims had been filed for quartz mining. The fields of
gold will not be exhausted in the near future. No man can
tell what the end will be. From January to Aprils 1897,
about $4,000,000 were taken out of the few placer claims
then being worked. This was done in a territory not ex-
ceeding forty square miles. All these claims are located
on Klondyke Eiver and the little tributaries emptying into
it, and the districts are known as Big Bonanza, Gold
Bottom and Hunker.
I have asked old aiid experienced miners at Dawson,
who mined through California in Bonanza days, and some
who mined in Australia, what they thought of the Klon-
dyke region, and their reply has invariably been : '' The
world never saw so vast and rich a find of gold as we are
working now."
Daw^son City is destined to be the greatest mining centre
in the histoiy of mining operations.
The entire country is teeming with mineral wealth.
Co})pcr, silver, as well as coal, can be found in large quan-
tities but little or no attention is being paid at present to
these minerals, as everybody's mind is bent on getting gold.
When mining operations commence on coal it will be
specially valuable for steamers on the various rivers and
greatly assist transportation facilities.
In the next few years there Avill certainly be recorded
the most marvellous discoveries in this territory usually
thought to be only a land of snow and ice and fit only to
be classed Avith the Arctic regions.
It is marvellous to state that for some years past we
have been finding gold in occasional places in this territory,
but from the poverty of the people no effort was made to
prospect among the places reported.
It is mv belief that the greatest finds of gold will not be
188 KLONDYKE FACTS.
made in this territory. It is safe to say that not 2 per
cent, of all the gold discovered so far has been on United
States soil.
The great mass of the work has been done on the North-
west territory which is under the Canadian Government.
It is possible, however, that further discoveries will be
made on American soil, but it is my opinion that the most
valuable discoveries Avill be further east and south of the
present claims, and we would advise prospectors to work
east and south of Klondyke.
From the very clear map shown in this work and which
takes in the jiresent gold regions, it will be seen that
Dawson City is at the junction of the Klondyke River,
marked on the map " Thron-Diuck."
The mining claims commence within 2^ miles from
Dawson City on the Klondyke and follow the stream on
both sides to " Too Much Gold Creek," All the tributary
streams on the Klondyke such as " Too Much Gold Creek,"
Hunker's Creek, Gold Bottom, Last Chance, and Bear
Creek, Bould's Bonanza, and Eldorado are now being
worked by the miners.
The richest of these is Eldorado, Gold Bottom, Hunker
and "Too Much Gold Creek." All of them, however, are
exceptionally rich for placer mining. It is reported that
the least known as yet of these, " Too Much Gold Creek"
Avill probably be the most valuable in the region. It is the
most distant from Dawson City.
THE TOO-MUCH-GOLD RIVER,
Which the Indians report to be situated beyond, and to be far richer tlian the
Klondyke.
Far up the stern-precipiced Klondyke,
In the Arctic drear, we are told.
There speeds a mysterious river,
" The River of Too Much Gold."
ELONDYKE FACTS. 189
O say, ye powers of darkness !
Did the Yukon Indians dream
The longing they roused in our heart-chords
When they named us that hidden stream ?
There once was an El Dorado
Men crazed their lives to behold ;
But what ^vas the merelj'^ Golden
To the River of Too Much Gold?
O, if we could stand on its border,
And after our sacks were distent,
Kick round us still beaches of nuggets,
Would we feel we could then be content ?
Would we feel, as we shouldered our million, —
Pledge of pleasures ten thousand fold.
That even then this river
W^as a River of Too Much Gold ?
Or when will the heart of mortal
Be ready to cry • ' Enough ! "
And what is the use of the struggle
For the " stuff " if it does not stuff?
But however it be, I am longing
As though it would free me from care.
For the banks of that Arctic river,
And a little of what is there.
W. D. LiGHTHALL.
APPENDIX.
Excerpts from the Mining Laws of the Northwest
Territories.
definition of terms used in mining.
''Mine/' "placer mine," and "diggings" shall be syn-
onymous terms and shall mean any natural stratum or
bed of earth, gravel or cement mined for gold or other
precious minerals :
" Placer claim " shall mean the personal right of property
or interest in any placer mine ; and in the term "■ min-
ing property " shall be included every placer claim,
ditch, or water right used for placer mining purposes,
and all other things belonging thereto or used in the
working thereof. Placer claims shall be divided into
creek diggings, bar diggings, dry diggings, bench dig-
gings, and hill diggings :
" Creek diggings" shall mean any mine in the bed of any
river, stream or ravine, excepting bar diggings :
" Bar diggings " shall mean any mine over which a river
extends when in its flooded state :
191
1 92 APPENDIX.
•' Dry diggings " sliall mean any mine over which a river
never extends :
'' Bench diggings" sliall mean any mine on a bench, and
shall, for the purpose of defining the size of a claim in
bench diggings, be excepted from "^dry diggings : "
"Hill diggings" shall mean any mine on the surface of a
hill, and fronting on any natural stream or ravine :
" Streams and ravines" shall include all natural water-
courses, whether usually containing water or not, and
all rivers, creeks and gulches :
*^ Ditch " shall include a flume, pipe, race, or other arti-
ficial means for conducting water by its own weight,
to be nsed for mining purposes :
" Ditch head " shall mean the point in a natural water-
course or lake where water is first taken into a ditch :
"Free miner" shall mean a person, or joint stock
company, or foreign company named in, and lawfully
possessed of, a valid existing free miner's certificate,
and no other :
"Legal post" shall mean a stake standing not less than
four feet above the ground, and squared or faced on
four sides for at least one foot from the top, and each
side so squared or faced shall measure at least four
inches on its face so far as squared or faced, or any
stump or tree cut off and squared or faced to the
above height and size :
" Kecord," "register," and " registration,'' shall have the
same meaning, and shall mean an entry in some offi-
cial book kept for that purj^ose :
" Eecord," when used without qualifying words showing
APPEMJIX. 193
that a different matter is referred to, sliall be taken to
refer to the record of the location of a pUicer claim :
*' Full interest " shall mean any placer claim of the full
size, or one of several shares into which a mine may
be equally divided :
"■'Close season "' shall mean the period of the year during
which })lacer claims in any district are laid over by the
(rold Commissioner of that district :
*' Cause " shall include any suit or action :
'' Judgment shall include " order " or " decree'^ :
*' Ileal estate " sliall mean any placer mineral land held in
fee simple.
MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIOXS.
1. Tlie Minister of the Interior shall, from time to time,
as he may think fit, declare the boundaries of mineral and
mining districts, and shall cause a description of the same
to be published in the Canada Gazette.
'L The Minister of the Interior may direct mineral and
mining locations to be laid out within such districts wher-
ever, from report of the Director of the Geological Survey,
or from other information, he has reason to believe there
are mineral deposits of economic value, and may sell the
same to api)licants therefor, who, in his opinion, are able
and intend in good faith to work the same ; or, he may
from time to time, cause the said locations to be sold by
public auction or tender. Such sales shall be for cash,
and at prices in no case lower than those prescribed for
locations sold to original discoverers, and shall otherwise
be subject to all the provisions of these Regulations.
13
194 APPENDIX.
3. The Minister of the Interior may grant to any person
or persons who haA^e a mining location and are actively de-
veloping the same, an additional location adjacent to and
not exceeding it in area, provided the person or jiersons
holding snch location shall show to the satisfaction of the
Minister of the Interior that the vein or lode being devel-
oped on the location will probably extend ontside of either
of the vertical lines forming the side boundaries of the
location before it has reached the depth at which it can be
profitably mined.
4. Persons desirous of obtaining quarries for stone on
vacant Dominion Lands may do so under these Eegulations ;
but the Minister of the Interior may require the payment
of a royalty not exceeding five per cent, on account of the
sales of tlie product of such quarries, or the land may be
sold not subject to such royalty at such price as may be
determined.
5. Eeturns shall be made by the grantee, sworn to by
him, or by his agent or other employe in charge of the
mine, at monthly or other such intervals as may be re-
quired by the Minister of the Interior, of all products of
liis mining location and of the price or amount he received
for the same.
G. The Minister of the Interior shall have the power to
summarily order any mining works to be so carried on as
not to interfere with or endanger the safety of the public,
any public work or highway, or any mining property,
mineral lands, mining* claims, bed-rock drains or flumes ;
and any abandoned works may, by his order, be either
filled up or guarded to his satisfaction, at the cost of the
parties who may have constructed the same, or in their
absence upon such terms as he shall think fit.
APPENDIX. 195
7. The Snjierintendent of Mines, acting under instruc-
tions to be from time to time issued by the Minister of the
Interior, shall cause to be laid out, at tlie exj^ense of the
person or persons applying for the same, a space of ground
for dejiosits of leavings and deads from any tunnel, claim
or mining ground.
FORFEITURE.
8. In the event of the breach of these Eegulations, or
any of them by any j^erson holding a grant for Quartz or
Placer Mining from the Crown other than Crown Patents,
or from the Minister of the Interior, or from any duly
authorized officer of Dominion Lands, such right or grant
shall be absolutely forfeited ipso facto, and the person so
offending shall be incapable thereafter of acquiring any
such right or grant, unless for sj^ecial cause it is otherwise
decided bv the Minister of the Interior.
RIGHTS AXD DUTIES OF MIXERS.
1. The forms of application for a grant for placer min-
ing, and the grant of the same, shall be those contained in
forms H and I.
2. The entry of every holder of a grant for placer mining
must be renewed and his receipt relinquished and replaced
every year, the entry fee being paid each time.
3. No miner shall receive a grant of more than one min-
ing claim in the same locality, but the same miner may
hold any number of claims by purchase, and any number
of miners may unite to work their claims in common upon
such terms as they may arrange, provided such agreement
196 APPENDIX.
be registered with tlie Agent, and a fee paid for each reg-
istration.
4. Any miner or miners may sell, mortgage, or dispose
of his or their claims, provided such disposal be registered
with, and a fee of two dollars paid to the Agent who shall
thereupon give the assignee a certificate.
5. Every miner shall, during the continuance of his
grant, have the exclusive right of entry upon his own
claim, for the miner-like working thereof, and the con-
struction of a residence thereon, and shall be entitled ex-
clusively to all the proceeds realized therefrom ; but he
shall have no surface rights therein ; and the Superinten-
dent of Mines may grant to the holders of adjacent claims
such right of entry thereon as may be absolutely necessary
for the working of their claims, ujion such terms as may,
to him, seem reasonable.
6. Every miner shall be entitled to the use of so much
of the water naturally flowing through or j^ast his claim,
and not already lawfully appropriated, as shall, in the
opinion of the Superintendent of Mines, be necessary for
the due working thereof ; and shall be entitled to drain his
own claim free of charge.
7. A claim shall be deemed to be abandoned and open
to occupation and entry by any person when the same shall
have remained unworked on working days by the grantee
thereof for the space of seventy-two hours, unless sickness
or other reasonable cause be shown, or unless the grantee
is absent on leave.
8. A claim granted under these Eegulations shall be con-
tinuously, and in good faith, worked, excejit as otherwise
APPENBIX. 197
provided, by the grantee thereof or b}- some person on his
behalf.
9. In tunnelling under hills, on the frontage of which
angles occur, or which may be of an oblong or elliptical
form, no party shall be allowed to tunnel from any of the
said angles, or from either end of such hills, so as to in-
terfere with parties tunnelling from the main frontage.
10. Tunnels and shafts shall be considered as belonging
to the claim for the use of which they are constructed, and
as abandoned or forfeited by the abandonment or forfeiture
of the claim itself.
11. For the more convenient working of back claims on
benches or slopes, the Superintendent of Mines may per-
mit the owners thereof to drive a tunnel through the claims
fronting on any creek, ravine, or water-course, upon such
terms as he may deem expedient.
HEAEIXG AXD DECISION OF DISPUTES.
1. The Superintendent of Mines shall have j)ower to
hear and determine all disputes in regard to mining jjrop-
erty arising within his district, subject to apj)eal by either
of the parties to the Commissioner of Dominion Lands.
2. No particular forms of procedure shall be necessary,
but the matter complained of must be properly expressed
in writing, and a copy of the complaint shall be served on
the opposite party not less than seven days before the hear-
ing of the said complaint.
3. The complaint may, by leave of the Superintendent
of Mines, be amended at any time before or during the
proceedings.
198 APPENDIX.
4. The complainant shall, at the time of filing his
complaint, deposit therewith a bond-fee, which shall be
returned to him if the complaint proves to have been
well founded, and not otherwise, except for special cause,
by direction of the Minister of the Interior.
5. In the event of the decision of the Superintendent of
Mines being made the subject of an appeal to the Com-
missioner of Dominion Lands, the appellant shall, at the
time of lodging the appeal, deposit with the Agent a
bond-fee, which shall be returned to the said appellant
if his appeal proves to have been well founded, and not
otherwise, excejot for special cause, by direction of the
Minister of the Interior.
6. The appeal must be in writing and must be lodged
with the Superintendent of Mines not more than three
days after his decision has been communicated in writing
to all the parties interested, and must state the grounds
upon Avhicli the said decision is appealed from.
7. If the Commissioner of Dominion Lands decides
that it is necessary to a proper decision of the matter iu
issue to have an investigation on the ground, or, in cases
of disputed boundaries or measurements, to employ a
surveyor to measure or survey the land in question, the
expense of the inspection or re-measurement or re-survey,
as the case may be, shall be borne by the litigants, who
shall pay into the hands of the said Commissioner, in equal
parts, such sum as he may think sufficient for the same,
before it takes place ; otherwise, it shall not proceed, and
the party who refuses to pay such sum shall be adjudged
in default. The said Commissioner shall subsequently
decide in what proportion the said expense should be borne
by the parties respectively, and the surplusage, if any,
shall then be returned to the parties, as he may order.
APPENDIX. 199
8. All bond-fees adjudged as forfeited and all jiayments
retained under the last preceding section, shall, as soon as
decision has been rendered, and all entry and other fees or
moneys shall, as soon as they have been received by him,
be paid by the said Agent or Commissioner to tlie credit
of the Receiver-General in the same manner as other
moneys received by him on account of Dominion Lands.
ADMINISTRATIOX.
1. In case of the death of any miner while entered as
the holder of any mining claim, the provisions as to aban-
donment shall not ajiply either during his last illness or
after his decease.
2. The Minister of the Interior shall take possession of
the mining pro^Dcrty of the deceased, and may cause such
mining property to be duly worked, or dispense therewith,
at his option ; and he shall sell the property l)y private
sale, or, after ten days' notice thereof, by public auction,,
upon such terms as he shall deem just, and out of the pro-
ceeds pay all costs and charges incurred thereby, and pay
tlie balance, if any, to the legal representatives of the said
deceased miner.
3. The Minister of the Interior, or any person authorized
by him, shall take charge of all the property of deceased
miners until the issue of letters of administration.
200 APPENDIX.
A SHOET ROUTE.
J. G. C. LEWIS TELLS OF A NEW WAY TO KEACH THE
GOLD REGIO]Sr.
Washington, Aug. 3, 1897.
There is a short and easy route to the rich gold fields of
the Klondyke, according to a communication to the in-
terior department from J. G. C. Lewis, a civil engineer of
Salem, Or., who says he can open up, at small expense, a
route from the mouth of the Copper river, by which the
Klondyke may be reached by a journey of not much more
than 300 miles from the coast.
The route which he proposes would start inland from the
mouth of the Copper river, near the Miles glacier, about
25 miles east of the entrance to Prince William sound.
He declares the Copper river is navigable for small steamers
for many miles beyond the mouth of its j^rincipal eastern
tributary, called on the latest maps the Chillyna river,
which is itself navigable for a considerable distance.
From the head of navigation on the Chillyna, Mr. Lewis
says, either a highway or a railroad could be constructed
without great difficulty or very heavy grades through what
the natives call the '* low pass," probably the Scoloi pass.
From this pass the road would follow the valley of the
White River to the point it where it empties into the
Yukon, on the edge of the Klondyke gold fields.
APPENDIX. 201
George F. Boolcor, in an impnblished report made to the
geological survey, ofliis investigation in 1805 of the coastal
gold districts, says that most of the island of the Alexander
Archipelago contain gold deposits yet iinworked, lliat
would probably repay very handsomely well-directed eitorts
of placer mining. These deposits are in the neighborhood
of Sitka and generally on Baronetf and Admiralty islands
and the beaches of the adjacent mainland.
Another fairly promising region is in a group of deposits
on the Kenal peninsula, on the southeast shore of Cook
inlet, and the Yak u tat bay and tlie beaches of Kadiak
island. These regions have as yet been explored only to a
limited degree, owing to the unfavorable physical condition
of the coast.
Under orders issued by Acting Secretary of War, Meikel-
john, Cajitain P. H. Eay and Lieutenant Richardson, of
the Eighth Infantry, have started from Fort D. A. Russell,
Wy., for Alaska. Their orders are to go as far as Circle
City, at least, and make as much of an investigation as the
short time remaining will permit.
The following circular has been issued l)y the Northern
Pacific Railwav :
St. Paul, Mii^n., July 28, 1897.
To General and District Passenger Agents :
I append herewith copy of recent letter from Mr. I. A.
Nadeau, our general agent at Seattle, relative to the re-
cently discovered Klondyke region, in the Yukon district,
Alaska. This letter is based upon the most authentic and
reliable information now obtainable from those just re-
202 APPENDIX.
turned from this wonderfnl^country. It will bo of interest
to yon and those inquiring about the region.
The schedule following the letter showing supplies nec-
essary per man — unless otherwise mentioned — is based up-
on interviews with returned miners and others from the
Klondyke, and was actually so used by a party from Seattle
going to the mines.
There are two established routes into the Klondyke
country. One is via the ocean to St Michael's, thence via
river steamer up the Yukon to Dawson City. The mouth
of the Yukon River is sixty miles from St. Michael's ; dis-
tance from St. Michael's to Klondyke, 2000 miles. Facil-
ities on the Yukon consist of two stern-wheel steamers be-
longing to the Alaska Commercial Co., and the steamers
P. B. Weare, J. J. Ilealy, of the North American Trans-
portation & Trading Co., and a third boat, the C. H.
Hamilton, of the latter company, which is expected to be
ready in a couple of weeks. The Yukon is shallow in
places, and it is impracticable to operate steamers having a
draught of more than 4-1^ feet.
The other route,^and the one which will be principally
travelled is from Dyea, over the trail, via Chilcoot Pass,
to Lake Lindeman, thence through the chain of lakes
which you will see on any Alaska map into the Lewes
River, and down the Yukon to the Klondyke, The route
via Dyea is by steamer from Seattle running direct to Dyea,
where they pack over Chilcoot Pass to Lake Lindeman, at
which place they build boats usually 22 to 24 feet long and
4|- to 5 feet wide, which are taken through the lakes, while
the provisions have to be packed over two short portages,
one 1^ mile and one about f mile, while the boat is taken
through the small streams. The distance via this latter
route is a follows : —
APPENDIX. 203
Miles. Miles.
Seattle to Juneau 899
* Juneau to Dyea 90
D3'ea to Lake Lindeman ;^8
Across Lake Lindeman 6
Portage, Lindeman to Lake Bennett. ... 1~\
Across Lake Bennett to Caribou Crossing 30
Across Tagisli Lake 19
Six-Mile Eiver to Mud Lake 6
Across Mud Lake 20
Fifty-Mile Eiver from ]\[ud Lake to Lake
LeBarge 50
Across Lake LeBarge 31
Thirty-Mile River to Ilootalinqua River.. 30
Down Hootalinqua and Lewes Rivers to
Fort Selkirk 187
Fort Selkirk down the Yukon to Dawson
City 195
Total distance from Dyea to Dawson
City 603i
1598i
Over the Chilcoot Pass, the highest elevation of Avhich
is said to be 2,000 feet, the trail in jilaces is very steeji,
and outfits have to be packed over by men for a distance of
eight miles, for the remainder of the distance pack trains
are used. There are only two dangerous rapids encoun-
tered on this route, and they are at White Horse Rapids,
between Mud Lake and Lake LeBarge, and at Five Fingers
on the Lewes River, about eighty miles south of its con-
* If steamers, however, go direct to Dyea this distance would
be shortened perhaps 20 miles.
204 APPENDIX.
fluence witli the Pelly. So far as I can learn no serious
casualties have occurred at these places. A few prospec-
tors by unskilful management have lost their outfits, but
Seattle parties who went in last spring state that with ordi-
nary care there is no difficulty. For packing freight
across from Dyea to Lake Lindeman it cost, if hired, from
18-2- to 20 cents per pound. Some parties at Seattle yester-
day contracted to have 15,000 pounds packed across at a
rate of 18|^ cents per pound.
On the Cleveland, which is to sail August 5th — accom-
modations ail taken — the rate announced is $200 for all
classes, but on September 10 the steamer Portland will
sail from Seattle for St. Michael's, fare 1100, including
meals and berth.
The Klondyke is a stream, about 140 miles in length,
running in a generally westerly direction and the gold
bearing creeks where the richest finds have been made,
run into the Klondyke from a generally southerly direc-
tion. Two and one half miles of the Klondyke from its
confluence with the Yiikon, is Bonanza Creek which has
several small tributaries. Twelve miles from where the
Bonanza enters into the Klondyke, running approxi-
mately parallel with the Yukon is Eldorado Creek which is
12 to 15 miles in length. About four miles further up Bo-
nanza Creek is Gold Bottom Creek. About seven miles
further up is Adams Creek and then come several small
streams which bear local names. Bonanza Creek is vari-
ously estimated at from 24 to 30 miles in length. Twelve
miles up the Klondyke is Bear Creek, which also has a few
small tributaries. About twelve miles further up Klondyke
is Hunker Creek, and about the same distance from there
up the Klondyke, is Too Much Gold Creek. The whole
delta of these creeks is where the richest finds have been
made and principally on the Bonanza and Eldorado, develop-
APPENDIX. 205
ment on the other creeks not being so far advanced although
rich strikes are reported on all of them. About 50 miles
south on the Yukon from Klondyke is Indian River which
runs in a more south-westerly direction. Eunning out of
Indian Creek is Quartz Creek, a well explored creek, about
50 miles from the confluence of Indian Creek and Yukon
Eiver. About six miles from the mouth of Quartz Creek,
extending in a northerly direction to the range of hills
which separate the delta of the Indian Creek f roui that of
the Klondyke is First Left Hand Fork. About eight miles
further up Quartz Creek, running in the same direction is
Kettleson Fork. From the opposite side and running in
the opposite direction out of Quartz Creek, about five or
six miles from the mouth of Quartz Creek, is Phil Creek.
These latter from latest reports are being extensively pros-
pected and good finds being made.
•&
*
This excellent primary book has taken the first place in ele-
mentary scientific works. It has received the endorsement of
Thomas A Edison. It is fiar every person desiring a knowledge of
electricity, and is written in the simplest style so that a child can
understand the wotk. It is what its title indicates, the first flight
of steps in electricity.
BY THE PUBLISHERS
^
»\ A R f r»f Plariririiv Now in its 62d thousand. By WM.
^ /\ U V/ Ul LylCClIlWll^. H. MUADOWCROFT. i volume,
^^ i2mo, cloth, SO cents Fully illustrated.
^ Scholars' A B C of Electricity. g^o™o?T ""gne 4
^^ volume, 1 2mo, illustrated, cloth, so cents. ^L
t The author of this work has designed it for the use of teach- jt
^^ ers and scholars. A large number of simple experiments have •^^
t been added, with notes relative to the work. It is the primary "i
^ji book for school use. ■^V
^^ A Most Importajit Work of General Interest. ■^^
Th/» Y Dnv • or, Photography of the Invisible and its Value lA^
I ue /V V^a^l , In Surgery By WILLIAM J. MORTON, M. ^
D. Written in collaboration with Edwin W. Hammer. .^L
1 volume, i2mo, cloth and silver, 7S cents; paper, 50 cents. "^
Everyone has been waiting for this work to give full infor 4^
mation of Professor Rontgen's marvellous discovery The work 2
explains in clear and simple style how these extraordinary pictures •^^
are taken through solids. Full description is given of the appar- ^
atus used, and the text is profusely illustrated with halftone illus- ^^
trations giving fac-simile copies ot the pictures taken from the 2
negatives of the author. The subjects are varied. •^^
f The A B C Of the X Ray. %^^^^: f^^^^^Z. f
^f cloth and gold, 75 cloth ; paper, 50 cents. ■^
»■ The first primary work on the subject. A book for the people. ^5
^ The author of " A BC of Electricity," showed clearly in that work ^
A. bis ability to explain a technical subject for the laymen who know ^»
^ nothing of scientific terras. He has written this work about the X ^f
<", Ray in his usual clear and simple style, and a wide circulation of ^4L
Tp this useful book is assured. The texts of the author is beautifully ^if
^K embellished with fine engravings, and nothing is omitted that will ^t
^p give the public a clear knowledge of this remarkable discovery of '"^^
^^ Prof. Rontgen. The public would do well to secure both of these ^t
IP important works. '^T
% The Art of Cooking by Gas. rAND^^T^^^t^et f
^ i2mo, paper, SO cents ; cloth, 75 cents. '^T
^j. A timely work by a recognized authority. This new book .^L
^ shows the economy, cleanliness and comfort of cooking by gas "^
^^ There are nearly looo recipes which are excellent. This valuable i^
^ work will save its price many times to all housekeepers. '-^
TP Any of the abor'e books sent, postpaid, on receipt of price •*
4* AMERICAN TECHNICAL BOOK CO. '^
T 45 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK. J
KLONDYKE FACTS
By JOSEPH LADUE
Founder of Dawson City
Is also published in fine cloth binding, and contains additional
Maps and Illustrations, direct from photographs, of special value
to the intending prospector, as follows :
Portrait of Author
A Miner's Camp on the Big Bonanza
Fort Cudahy
Ice Breaking up on the Yukon
Internationai^ Boundary Line across the Yukon
Junction of Forty Mile and Yukon Rivers
Miles Canon
Lake Lindeman
Joseph Ladue's House
White Horse Rapids
The maps are of special value, being from the most recent
government surveys.
Maps of the entire Yukon River and its tributaries, showing
Alaska and the Northwest in two sections drawn to a scale.
Map of Forty Mile and Sixty Mile Rivers and their tributaries.
Map showing the northern boundary of British Columbia and
the Northwest Coast Range.
The illustrations in this edition are beautifully printed on
special surface paper from photo half-tone engravings.
The cloth covers show a fac-simile reproduction in gold of
one of the author's gold nuggets from the Klondyke.
This edition can be taken by the prospector as the most reli-
able and authentic guide for the trip to the gold regions.
The cloth bound book is sent postpaid on receipt of fi.oo by
tlie publishers.
American Technical Book Company
45 Vesey Street New York, N. Y., U. S. A.
Power.* & Stein Print, 185 Sixth Ave., N. Y.
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