ALASKA. 
78 
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 Spurr, are from $10 to $12 a 
day; in winter, $5 to $8 for a six-hour day. The cost of living 
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 P ields), 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 5 to 15 feet. This is frozen the whole 
year, with the exception of a few inches on the surface. The 
method of prospecting is usually carried on by sinking a number 
of holes to bed rock across the bed of 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 of 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 of the gold; if the gold is fine, the grade is slight; if 
coarse, a greater pitch can be given, which is preferable, as more 
dirt can be handled, d he 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 
winter has proved profitable, besides doing away with the long 
period of idleness. This is called burning, and is done by drifting, 
