Klondyke Nuggets: A Brief Description of the Great Gold Regions in the NorthwestLadue, Joseph
History
Klondyke Nuggets: A Brief Description of the Great Gold Regions in the Northwest
Ladue, Joseph
Alaska -- Gold discoveries; Klondike River Valley (Yukon) -- Gold discoveries
"The Teslintoo[6] was so called by Dr. Dawson--this, according to
information obtained by him, being the Indian name. It is called by the
miners 'Hootalinkwa' or Hotalinqua, and was called by Schwatka, who
appears to have bestowed no other attention to it, the Newberry,
although it is apparently much larger than the Lewes. This was so
apparent that in my interim reports I stated it as a fact. Owing to
circumstances already narrated, I had not time while at the mouth to
make any measurement to determine the relative size of the rivers; but
on his way out Dr. Dawson made these measurements, and his report,
before referred to, gives the following values of the cross sections of
each stream: Lewes, 3,015 feet; Teslintoo, 3,809 feet. In the same
connection he states that the Lewes appeared to be about 1 foot above
its lowest summer level, while the Teslintoo appeared to be at its
lowest level. Assuming this to be so, and taking his widths as our data,
it would reduce his cross section of the Lewes to 2,595 feet. Owing,
however, to the current in the Lewes, as determined by Dr. Dawson, being
just double that of the Teslintoo, the figures being 5.68 and 2.88 miles
per hour, respectively, the discharge of the Lewes, taking these figures
again in 18,644 feet, and of the Teslintoo 11,436 feet. To reduce the
Lewes to its lowest level the doctor says would make its discharge
15,600 feet.
[Footnote 6: The limited amount of prospecting that has been done on
this river is said to be very satisfactory, fine gold having been found
in all parts of the river. The lack of supplies is the great drawback to
its development, and this will not be overcome to any extent until by
some means heavy freight can be brought over the coast range to the head
of the river. Indeed, owing to the difficulties attending access and
transportation, the great drawback to the entire Yukon district at
present is the want of heavy mining machinery and the scarcity of
supplies. The government being aware of the requirements and
possibilities of the country, has undertaken the task of making
preliminary surveys for trails and railroads, and no doubt in the near
future the avenue for better and quicker transportation facilities will
be opened up.]
"The water of the Teslintoo is of a dark brown color, similar in
appearance to the Ottawa River water, and a little turbid.
Notwithstanding the difference of volume of discharge, the Teslintoo
changes completely the character of the river below the junction, and a
person coming up the river would, at the forks, unhesitatingly pronounce
the Teslintoo the main stream. The water of the Lewes is blue in color,
and at the time I speak of was somewhat dirty--not enough so, however,
to prevent one seeing to a depth of two or three feet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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