The gold fields of the Klondike; fortune seekers' guide to the Yukon region of Alaska and British America; . able portion of the trip. It should further be remembered that in the great multi-tude of gold seekers who are flocking to the Yukon disap-pointment must come to many. There is a very large element of chance in all placer mining, and even in the richestmining districts the blanks are many. At the end of the journey, even under the best circum-stances, are many discomforts. For nine months the com-munity, whether it numbers three thousand or thirty thou-sand, will be absolutely cut off f
The gold fields of the Klondike; fortune seekers' guide to the Yukon region of Alaska and British America; . able portion of the trip. It should further be remembered that in the great multi-tude of gold seekers who are flocking to the Yukon disap-pointment must come to many. There is a very large element of chance in all placer mining, and even in the richestmining districts the blanks are many. At the end of the journey, even under the best circum-stances, are many discomforts. For nine months the com-munity, whether it numbers three thousand or thirty thou-sand, will be absolutely cut off from every source of foodsupply, except that which it has in its own hands, and the 98 THE GOLD FIELDS OF THE KLONDIKE 99 provisions on hand in September will have to last untilJune. If the supply is adequate, the danger will be reducedto a minimum, but if it falls short starvation—or at leastgreat privation—must come to many. The great rush which has been made will severely taxthe meager capacity of the two trading companies to who go should be prepared with a years provisions,at AT CIRCLE CITY. Those who go should remember that placer mining, es-pecially on the Yukon, is very hard labor. How hard willbe explained in another part of this book. It consists ofhard, continuous digging in frozen ground for the greaterpart of the year, and equally hard work shoveling, panning,etc., during the remaining months. The only variationfrom this is intervals of house building, carrying wood forfuel, cooking, etc. IOO THE GOLD FIELDS OF THE KLONDIKE If you are a professional man your training will do youno good- An ounce of physical culture is worth ten poundsof classical or scientific training so far as placer mining isconcerned. A knowledge of carpentering will come handyfor ones personal benefit, but not as a means of employ-ment, for nearly every man who goes there will build hisown house. Other mechanical trades will avail little ex-cept as they have trained the
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