78 ALASKA, 



entire season, even in a very small claim. When the gravel is deeper than a 

 certain amount, say 10 feet, the task of removing it becomes formidable. In 

 this case, the pay dirt can sometimes be got at in the winter season, when the 

 gravel is frozen hard, by sinking shafts through the gravel and drifting along 

 the pay dirt. 



The wages paid, says Professor vSpiirr, are from $10 to $12 a 

 day; in winter, $5 to $8 for a six-hour day. The cost of Hving 

 is very high, owing to the difficulty of transporting provisions, 

 etc., and the great distances to be covered. 



Prospecting in this country, says Mr. Wilson (Guide to Yukon 

 Gold Fields), is very difficult owing to the character of the surface, 

 the general formation being soft, the hills having been worn 

 smooth by glacial action, which left a layer of drift over the whole 

 country to a depth of from ^ to 1 5 feet. This is frozen the whole 

 year, with the exception ot a tew inches on the surface. The 

 method of prospecting is usually carried on by sinking a number 

 of holes to bed rock across the bed ot the creek, or cross cutting 

 it by a tunnel and testing the dirt every few feet by panning, 

 thus locating the pay streak. After a creek has been prospected, 

 the glacial drift must be removed. The trees and roots are taken 

 away and a stream of water turned on, which, with the help of the 

 sun, in time bares the pay streak. The course ot the water is 

 then turned along the hillside, a dam built and sluice boxes 

 erected. These are made with corrugated bottoms, which catch 

 and retain the gold. They are given a grade regulated by the 

 coarseness ot the gold; it the gold is fine, the grade is slight; it 

 coarse, a greater pitch can be given, which is preferable, as more 

 dirt can be handled. The lack of water in these gulches proves 

 a great hindrance in many cases. The seasons are dry, and only 

 the glacial drip of the hills can be depended upon. 



A method lately adopted by which mining can be done in 

 v/inter has proved profitable, besides doing away with the long 

 period of idleness. This is called burning, and is done by drifting. 



