. The Yukon Territory, its history and resources . ear creek, which entersthe Klondike between Bonanza and Hunker, and Gold Bun,which enters Dominion creek close to the mouth of Sulphur,are the chief gold-bearing creeks in the Klondike district. Itmay be mentioned here, however, that Bonanza creek and itstributary, Eldorado creek, have proved to be by far the richestcreeks in the district. One very striking peculiarity of mining in the Klondikedistrict is the fact that the ground is frozen to bed-rock, whichranges from IH to 40 feet in depth. Owing to this frozenground miners had to devise new
. The Yukon Territory, its history and resources . ear creek, which entersthe Klondike between Bonanza and Hunker, and Gold Bun,which enters Dominion creek close to the mouth of Sulphur,are the chief gold-bearing creeks in the Klondike district. Itmay be mentioned here, however, that Bonanza creek and itstributary, Eldorado creek, have proved to be by far the richestcreeks in the district. One very striking peculiarity of mining in the Klondikedistrict is the fact that the ground is frozen to bed-rock, whichranges from IH to 40 feet in depth. Owing to this frozenground miners had to devise new methods of mining. Theyderived very little benefit from previous experience in othermining camps. At first all shafts were sunlc to bed-rock bywhat is known as wood fires. A fire was built on the groundabout six feet long by four feet in width. This fire was allowedto burn from eight to ten hours, :iiid the ground which hadthawcil uiidci it was then taken out. Another fire was startedin the liole tlms excavated, and by this means tliey gradually. m I y. MINING 35 worked tlicir \\;iy to 1mm| r<iclth hclow contain gold. The format ioiifiom this ])ay gravel to tli(> surface varies to a certain extenton the difterent creeks, hut as a general rule is a compositionof organic matter eallc(l muck. A miner, after sinking hisshaft to hed-iock then drifts h\ the same means along the bed-rock from the l)ottom of the shaft, and hoists out the graveland bed-rock containing the gold. For the first two years ofthe camp the shaft-sinking and drifting was done during thewinter, the gravel being taken out and put in a heap by in the spring when the water starts to run these dumpsare shovelled into sluice-boxes erected for the purpose, andthus the gold is separated from the gravel. Though tlie frozenground creates much dif
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