Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — MINING WITH FIRE. [ARTICLE]

MINING WITH FIRE.

Queer Method Employed in theTukon Country in Alaska. J. O. Hestwood, who 4s well knomi In this city, returned from Alaska on the last trip of the Alaska Commercial Company’s steamer, tb San Francisco. Mr. Hestwood has some mining claims bn the upper Yukon, near Forty-Mile City. He left that p6int in the early part of September, and it took him over a month to get home. He came 2,000 miles down the Yukon to St Michaels* on the coast, then down to Unalaska, and from there across to San Francisco. “About 700 people went Into the upper Yukon country last season,” said Mr. Hestwood, “by way of Juneau, making their way over the mountains at Ghilfeat pass, then on the ice over the great lakes for 300 miles; from there they' had to go 400 miles further by boat, when they reached Forty-Mile [City. There lias been a great deal of activity In the mines at FortyMHe. It waa demonstrated last winter that these mines can be worked as profitably in the winter as in summer; in fact, at much less expense. This js done by the use of Are. A hole is sunk uy fire down to the pay streak, the earth being thawed out by the heat. Tbe Gift is then hoisted by windlass and left on ipp of the ground andTs washed out in ttie spring. I opened up quite a rich claim this season on Glacier creek, and have men employed this winter burning. ’ F expect to take in prospecting machinery next spring, wlifeh will enable mo to locate the pny streak in the gulch in a comparatively short time. By using this machinery a hole twenty-five feet deep can be sunk In a day, when eighteen inches a day by burning is a pretty good day’s work.” Speaking of the Alaska boundary dispute Mr. Hestwood “In my opinion, if the United States fail to hold ttheir rightful title to the territory which is in dispute they might as well give up ail claim to Alaska. If this country should have no coast line up there except above the 141st meridian, entrance to the upper Yukon would he Impossible by way of an American port, except during the summer months, because the mouth of the Yukon, which is about sixty miles wide, is filled with ice from Behring sea until late in June. You can easdly see what this would mean—England would absolutely control the trade of that country. It Is universally claimed by experienced miners who have been in Alaska fiat It is one of the greatest gold beat ngcountries in tbe world. There are 5,(»00 miles of waterway in which gold can bo found.”—Seattle Posblntelligeucer.