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Wcstero World R 0 ITU QOI Q o T-oaxly Oubaorlptlon, DlO. sTOCK farming the basis of our industries. OliAer d Oroolua, Pxopm EIGHTEENTH YEAE. WA-KEENEY. KANSAS, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1896. . NUMBER 3. t ALASKA'S GOLD FIELDS. "Vast Auriferous Deposits in the Yukon River Country. "Formation of a New Transportation Com pany Which WiU Make the Territory Accessible to Miners and Pros pectors A Miner's Story. Special Chicago Letter. Capt. D. M. Swain, master of the steamer Borealis Hex, which plies on the Illinois river, is interested in a com pany which will operate a line of eteamers on the Yukon river, Alaska, to the gold fields. The route from Seattle, Wash., to Juneau, Alaska, is now covered by the vessels of the Pacific Coast Steamship company. Prom Juneau the Yukon Transporta tion company will have two separate routes to Circle City, the objective point. The freight route, by way of the Berhing sea and mouth of the Yu kon, is 4,780 miles; the passenger route by way of the Chilkoot pass and the ource of the Yukon is 2,093 the dis tances computed from Seattle. This enterprise is advanced to facil itate traffic into the gold regions of the far north. Intercourse with miners who have made their fortunes in the Yukon country first drew Mr. .Swain's attention to this field, and he is much interested in its resources jind possibilities, and has made a thorough study of the country. He is assured of the navigability of the Yu kon and its tributaries, and says if transportation facilities for passen gers and supplies are made adequate -and rapid, the country will develop wonderfully. Alaska contains 617,000 square miles and has an extent of over 1,000 miles north and south and over 2,000 miles -east and west. A range of high mountains parallel with the Pacific coast, about 00 miles inland, divides the country into two unequal parts the narrow coast strip, which has a mild, raoist climate, and the interior Yukon basin where humidity is an unknown quality. Zero weather makes one less uncomfortable than 40 degrees above zero in the central states. The coast dirtinct is easily accessible, being reached at all seasons of the year by ocean vessels, and is well known, be- ing visited by many tourists. The Yu-I-.on river basin is accessible less than FIVE FINGER RAPIDS OF THE YUKON. From a PJiotograph, Copyrighted, 1898. by Calvert Co.. Seattle. Wash-l Jtalf the year and then with great diffi culty. The Yukon river basin, comprising more than two-thirds of the entire ter ritory of Alaska, contains over 500,000 square miles, and is one of the most remarkable regions in the world. The climate is dry and healthful and has two seasons four months of warm 'weather, the mining season, when the sun shines 20 hours a day, and eight xnonths of dark, cold winter, when all mining operations cease. The discoveries of the last two sea sons in this new country show that it is probably the largest and richest placer gold field in the world, while all along the route, from the source to "the mouth of the river, the close ob server can see vast treasures of coal, quartz, marble, iron, copper, etc., only waiting for capital to develop the coun try and furnish means of transporta tion to bring them, within reach of the outside world. Although a hasty ex ploration of the numerous tributaries of the river during the short season has proved that every stream, large or -small, is gold bearing; yet thai part cf the field thus far developed is of in significant area. All streams carry ilour gold, which increases in its ostrseness as the river is ascended Thus it is evident that the surround jrg gulches must furnish exceedingly Tich diggings. All these gold-bearing streams are navigable for suitably con -tructed boats, and the territory cut by the waters of Alaska is almost unlimit ed. One hundred thousand men could prospect the Yukon basin and be lost to one another. During the two months last sum mer the few hundred men in the dig gings took, out over $1,000,000 worth of gold. Miller creek, a gulch four miles long, aldne produced $350,000 in 50 days, and but few of the claims were developed. Not a lew men toolr out $5,000 and $10,000 during the sea- son, and some took out 35,000, and one man from Milwaukee $S0,000. It is asserted there is a bright future for the entire Yukon basin as a mining region, not only in the auriferous de posit, but in the vast leads of quartz found everywhere. But the gold and other minerals aro not the only wealth that has remained hidden in this ice-bound treasure-boK foi ages. The streams contain salmon and other fish in untold quantities. Salmon canning, yet unattempted on the Yukon, could be made exceedingly profitable, and, together with the rich quartz, would furnish a valuable cargo for freight boats returning from tak ing supplies up the river. The annual output of furs is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and for years to come will continue to be a source of big revenue to any company giving its attention to that trade. The Yukon is the second largest river in the world, being next to the Amazon in size. It is 60 miles wide at its mouth, and at a distance of 1,500 miles from its mouth has a width of seven to ten miles. The river is too shallow for ocean steamers, but is navi gable the entire length for flat-bottom liver boats of 400 to 500 tons burden. The navigable tributaries of the Yukon are the Lewis, Pelly, Stewart, Tahken na, Hootalinqua, Porcupine, Tannana, Avik, White, Birch and the Salmon, and many others, to the extent of several thousand miles. Prospectors can pene trate by boat the most remote parts of the gold fields without hardships, get supplies without fail, work during the entire mining season, and coming out at the close of the summer spend their winter in milder climates. All this will be made possible by the line of boats now in contemplation. Until two years ago comparatively few miners ever visited this region of wealth where nature had been c lavish. In 1893 about 300 men went; in 1S94, 600 entered, and last year over 3,000. If proper transportation facilities are furnished and made known in 1896 20,000 probably would be a low estimate of the number that will seek riches in this new country. The movement toward the coast, on the way of their long journey, would remind the Californians of 49. -The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is au thority for the statement that the mines were short 2,000 tons of provi sions this year, and that many were on the verge of. starvation, with money to burn in their pockets. This shows the vast importance of a line of freight steamers. The company now forming in Chica go proposes to put one or two large freighters on the Yukon, to run from its mouth to Circle City, the supply point for the bold fields; five swift launches of 75 to 125 passengers capac ity to ply on the upper course of the river to carry passengers in and out, and to take prospectors and supplies up tributary streams. The change in conditions and prices to be brought about by the company is summed up in their prospectus as follows: . . Now. Propose.. Freight rates, per ton.. $150 to $250 $50 to $75 Pass'g'r rates per head 100 to 125 90 Time for round trip... 65 days 11 days Hardships and danger.Num'r'us None The company will be strictly a, trans portation company, without any trad ing interests to protect. Mr. C. K. Zilly, of Seattle, Wash., in an interview some few weeks ago said: "I have been working in a mine on Mastodon creek, and I should judge of Birch creek. There are 54 claims on Mastodon creek, and 1 should judge 20 or 25 are opened up. This is the first season on that creek, and 1 estimate that the miners took out about $150,000 to $200,00') of gold. It is all placer mining. They began early in June, and workud until about September 10, when the night frosts began to inter fere. It is a fact little known that one company has been operating a mine on Ungja island, the output of which is $00,000 per month." "Did you bring any dust?" "es, a little. But 1 didn't work any claim for myself. I worked for wages $15 a day. No; I wouldn't advise anybody to go there unless he has money. He ought to have at least $500, so that he can get out if he strikes bad luck." W.B.POWE1A. SOME CAPITAL ST0EIES. Congressman Cummings' Expe rience in Missouri. How Dan Wiley Secured Admission to the Floor of the House Four Kansas Governors in the Senate. Special Washington Letter. Congressman Amos J. Cummings, of New York, fertile journalist, a volu minous and always interesting writer, is a keeper of scrap-books. They con tain all the wit and wisdom of a gen eration; for Amos Cummings has been long in the land. He was a gallant union soldier, and after the civil war he was a tramp printer in the Missis sippi valley. He "stuck type" in nearly every city between St. Louis and St. Paul, and walked over many of the public roads from town to town. Rail- LOST niS WAT. road passes were hard to obtain, and only the great men who edited papers were allowed such luxuries. But to return to those scrap-books. They are all indexed, and contain his own stories as well as the penciling: of leading contemporary writers. Oni of the best stories in one of the oldest cf the books is illustrative of the man ner in which the people of the south west return evasive answers to direct questions. One evening about dusk a man rode up to a fence surrounding a lot near the roadside albd thus ad dressed a woman who was attempting to persuade a few drops of milk from a muley cow: "Madam, I am lost." "Waal, that's whut the preacher says is the matter with the most of us, an I reckon the best thing to do is to git 'ligion an' then do the best we kin under the sarcumstances," she replied, giv ing the cow an artful jerk. "I mean that I have missed the road to Dabney's Perry." "Wall, I shouldn't wonder, fur it is n mighty matter fur some folks to f oi ler these roads here, they air so crook ed. You air trav'lin', I reckon?" "Yes, I want to go to Dabney's ferry." "Got kinfolks livin' down thar, 1 reckon?" "No; I have no relatives living in this part oi the country. Will this joad lead me to the ferry?" "Wall, you'll hatter ax pap about that. He trornps roun' all over the neighborhood while I'm doin' the work, an' he oughter know whar the roads go to." "Where is he?" "Who, pap?" , "Yes."- "Wall, Lawd only knows. But 1 reckon the yaller dog kin take you whar he is." "Where is the yellow dog?" "I don't know that nuther. You'll hatter ax one of the chiliun.". "Where are the children?" "The Lawd in Heaven only knows, stranger, fur I don't. Jest wait awhile an mebby one of 'em will hoiler, for it's about time for one of eni to get snakebit." "I haven't time to wait." "Wall, then, I reckon you'll have to jog along the best way you kin." "I wish you wrould give me some in formation." "Yas, I reckon so, fur I heart" tell that information is a mighty fine thing when a pusson is pushed right hard fur it." "Where does that, road over there lead to?" "Right to Dadney's ferry." "Why, that's the road I want. Why didn't you tell me?" "Wall, you didn't ax me about that road. You kep on talkin about sithin' else. Wall, good-day. Ef you travel 'round here much you'll l'arn to ax fur whut you want without beatin' about the bush." How John Wiley Won a Bet. It is practically impossible for anyone to gain admission to the floor of the house of representatives when that body is in session. Under the iules no cne is entitled to admission but repre sentatives, ex-representatives and members-elect; that is, those who have been elected as member of the next congress. John Wiley, of New York, managed to gain admission one day, however, by a clever trick. Congressman Dan Lock wood, of Buffalo, and his friend Wiley were strolling about the capitol, and when they approached the main door of the house, Mr. Lockwood said: "Well, John, I must leave you here. I T Mm Jmm go in as an ex-member, but you are barred." "I bet you a fine lunch that I am in on the floor three minutes after you enter," said Mr. Wiley. "Done," said the great orator. Then he walked up to Doorkeeper Coakley and said: "Lockwood, of Buffalo, ex member." That was enough. He passed right in. Within a minute Wiley approached Coakley, who had never seen Wiley up to that time. "Did my predecessor enter this door just now?" inquired Mr. Wiley. 'What's his name, sir?" said Coak ley, in reply. "Daniel N. Lockwood, of Buffalo," was the answer. "Yes. sir; he's right there in the main aisle, walk right in," and the doorkeeper turned away to attend to another visitor. Wiley walked in. Ten minutes later he had inarched Lockwood to the res taurant and compelled him to pay for a costly little banquet, in which nearly a score of friends participated. A Story of Four Governors. "There are four governors of Kansas on the floor of the senate," said Frank Flenniken, private secretary to Sena tor Plumb, one day when Ingalls was making a great speech. It happened that there were several distinguished citizens of Kansas in the city, and all of them wanted to hear their brilliant senator speak; but the galleries were crowded, mid they could not go upon the floor of the senate, for the rules of that body are exceedingly strict. But either Flenniken or Plumb had taken those gentlemen, one at a time, to he four different doors of the senate, and passed each -of them into the sen ate, as "the governor of Kansas," al though not one of them had ever held that office. Politicians and public men in Wash ington are not always sticklers for truth, when they want to accomplish any desirable end. A Reporter's Ready Wit. Every day at noon a large square shouldered man, weighing about 200 pounds, walks out of the treasury de partment, crosses Pennsylvania avenue, and enters a dairy lunch room where he liberally supplies the demands of an enviable appetite. He is unpre tentious, quiet, but everybody knows him and calls him "Biv" He was a confederate cavalryman and a good one, when only 16 years of age, Af tex the war he completed his education and then engaged in newspaper work. He quit reporting several years ago and accepted a government position. He was at Elberon when President Car field died. He saw Mrs. Garfield, interviewed Gen. Swaim, rushed tc the telegraph office, seized the key. and sent the news to the papers which he represented. Just as he was con cluding his dispatch Attorney General Wayne MacVeagh entered and said: "1 take possession of this telegraph line, in the name of the United States government." The reporter, who was a splendid telegraph operator, as well as a stenographer and all-'round news- VUAT UAVE TOU IJEEN 8EXDIXG OVtB THAT WIRE?" paper man, said: "All right, sir," and closed the key. "What have you been sending over that wire?" inquired the attorney gen eral. "I have been announcing the death oi the president," replied the correspond ent. The attorney general had intended to suppress the news until after Vice President Arthur had taken the oath of office; but the newspaper man was too quick for him. James Gordon Ben nett paid him for his services, and made him a present of $500 besides. His name is Tom Bivins. He is usually called "Biv." for that was his natural nom de plume when he was a reporter. Smith D. Fbt. The Spiteful Thing:. Mrs. Mann It is so provoking! That girl 1 discharged last week is going about telling everybody what a splen did woman I am. Mr. Mann And you find fault with her for that? Mrs. Mann Of course I do. Don't you see that the artful thing is trying to make people believe that she left oi her own accord? Boston Transcript. An Insurmountable Objection. "Cau't I rent you this house next to the church?" "No; my wife likes to come in late." Chicago Record. To Be Avoided. As the young man entered the reading-room of the club thre was a sud den exodus in the direction of the billiard-room. "Wilbur seems to have become sud denly unpopular," said one of the men in the far corner, as he noticed it. "Well, the boys do rather avoid him," returned the other. "For what reason?" "WTiy. hia first baby has just reached the age where it says bright things." Chicago Evening Post. By a Woman Suffragist. Alas that we a man should meet In this progressive land. Who will in congress take a seat. And let a lady stand! Washington Stir. THE CURSE OF HEREDITY. "Yes, Patsey MacManus O'Flaherty, yer pa may be rich and able tergive yer stylish clothes, but he's not able to change yer face, so there!" Life. The Reason. Mrs. Sharp 1 can't see why Mrs. Biggar makes so much fuss over her baby, and neglects her husband so shamefully. Mr. Sharp But her baby is greater than its father. Mrs. S. What do you mean? Mr. S. Well, its a little Biggar. To Date. Nothing Lost. First Burglar You was mighty lucky to get cleared, but that there lawyer charged ye about all ye stole, didn't he? Second Burglar That don't matter. Til watch my chance when he goes home to-night and git it back. Odds and Ends. DEGENERATION. Pakrot (Student of Evolution) Great Scott ! i3 that what we come to !! Well Up in His Business. "Who is that extraordinarily tall man?" asked the visitor, who had never been in a-department store before. "That's the floor walker," replied the friend that had undertaken the task of showing him about town. "The floor walker?" exclaimed the ether. "He looks more like a ceiling scraper." Chicago Tribune. Ills Birthday. "Dear John, here's a silver match safe, and wish you many happy re turns." "Thank you, dear Sophia." "Oh, yea, and mamma's coming to ray to stay two months, and the soft coal's out, and the hard coal's out, arid here's the gas bill." Chicago Record. Ills Unbiased Opinion. "Now, professor," said the ambitious young man. "you have tried my voice, I want you to tell me frankly what it is best adapted to." And without a moment's hesitation the eminent musician responded: "Whispering." Odds and Ends. Its Usual Effect. Jones I've just been doing some thing that always makes me feel cheap. Smith What is that? Jones Comparing my salary with what I think it ought to be. Brooklyn Life. He Had. Dominie My dear sir, have you any thing laid by for a rainy day? Rakeson Oh, yes; a collection of 22 borrowed umbrellas. N. Y. World, A Cold World. "What brought you to this place, my friend?" inquired a visitor at tho peni tentiary of a convict. A mere matter of opinion got ma here, sir." "Impossible 1 "No, sir. I expressed the opinion that I was innocent, and the jury ex pressed the opinion that I wasn't. It a cold world, sir." Bay City Chat. Leap Tear Incident. 'Didn't you always say that McJoneS was so modest that he would never pro pose?" "Yes, that's what I said." ; "Well, he's engaged to be married." "I knew it; but that does not go to show that I was wrong about bis not proposing. He is engaged to a widow, and this is leap year. Dallas (Tex.) Sifter. Baby Could Talk. Mamma and baby returned from a walk. "Oh," says mamma to her hus band, "Mich good news. Baby talks. He nas just said his first word." "Really?" "Yes, just fancy. We were in the zoological gardens, standing before the monkey cage when baby cried out: 'Look at papa!"' Pittsburgh Bulle tin. A Reasonable Inference. Manchester I think Snaggs has con cluded that it is about time some of hia daughters were getting married. Birmingham Did he tell you so him self? Manchester No; but he has given away his two dogs. Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph. Her Gentle nint. "If you love me," he said, impressive ly, "you will never chew gum under any circumstances. I am satisfied that it is injurious." "But, Alfred," she protested, "you know, I haven't any caramels." It was only then that he realized what a mistake he had made. Chicago Post, Change for the Worse. Birdie McGinnis You have changed very much of late. Gus DeSmith To my advantage, I Ruppose ? Birdie Well, the chancre hasn't been for my advantage. You used to bring-; a box of candy every evening; now yru don't. Dallas (Tex.) Sifter. Inculcation. Jinks In the medieval ages the Eng lish courts used to have a "whipping boy" who received the punishment when the princes did anything wrong. Dinks That must have made him a painstaking youth. Town Topics. For Love of Her. Miss Vera Waite Fred says he thinks of me constantly. Miss Av-t Dupoise Poor fellowl I noticed that he looked as though he had a heavy weight on his miud. Brooklyn Life. A rost Opportunity. "You don't care to kiss her? And why not?" "Well, you see, she's an heiress, aril I was afraid that if 1 pursed my Hp she would suspect that 1 was thinkim about her money." Boston Transcript. Force of Habit. Mack She hasn't been a new woman long. Wyld now do you know? Mack She lifts up her bloomers when crossing the street. Bay City Chat. At the Party. Mis3 Maud What an artless girl Miss Shykes is! Miss Irene Yes, dear Minnie has d aubed her paint on very carelessly this evening. Chicago Tribune. Very Considerate.' Fred I feel sorry for my uncle. , Arthur What's the matter? "He says he's going to lend. me enough money to pay my bills." -Town Topics. jr. j