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A Brief Description of the Great Gold Regions in the Northwest
Territories and Alaska
Founder of Dawson City, N.W.T.
Explorer, Miner and Prospector
September, 1897
The extraordinary excitement arising from the reports of the discoveryof Gold in the Klondyke region in the great Canadian Northwest is notsurprising to one who, through personal residence and practicalexperience, is thoroughly conversant with the locality.
Having recently returned for a temporary stay, after a somewhatsuccessful experience, I have received applications for information innumbers so great that it far exceeds my ability and the time at mydisposal to make direct replies.
I have therefore arranged with the American Technical Book Co., 45 VeseyStreet, New York City, for the issue of this brief description,preparatory to the publication of my larger book, "Klondyke Facts," abook of 224 pages, with illustrations and maps, in which will be found avast fund of practical information, statistics, and all particularssought for by those who intend emigrating to this wonderful country.
It is well-nigh impossible to tell the truth of these recent discoveriesof gold, but while I can only briefly describe the territory in thissmall work, it shall be my endeavor to give the intending prospector,in the large work above mentioned, as many facts as possible, and thesemay thoroughly be relied upon, as from one who has lived continuously inthose regions since 1882.
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Klondyke! The word and place that has startled the civilized world isto-day a series of thriving mining camps on the Yukon River and itstributaries in the Canadian Northwest Territories.
Prior to August 24, 1896, this section of the country had never beenheard of. It was on this day that a man named Henderson discovered thefirst gold.
On the first day of the following month the writer commenced erectingthe first house in this region and called the place Dawson City, now thecentral point of the mining camps.
Dawson City is now the most important point in the new mining regions.Its population in June, 1897; exceeded 4,000; by June next it cannot beless than 25,000. It has a saw-mill, stores, churches, of thePresbyterian, Baptist, Methodist and Roman Catholic denominations. It isthe headquarters of the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police, and perfectlaw and order is maintained.
It is at Dawson City that the prospector files his claims with the
Government Gold Commissioner, in the recording offices.
Dawson City faces on one of the banks of the Yukon River, and nowoccupies about a mile of the bank. It is at the junction of the KlondykeRiver with the Yukon River. It is here where the most valuable miningclaims are being operated on a scale of profit that the world hashitherto never known. The entire country surrounding is teeming withmineral wealth.
Copper, silver and coal can be found in large quantities, but little orno attention is now being paid to these valuable minerals, as every oneis engaged in gold-hun