912 C7 fl3 opy 1 Jllaskan ...6old fields ^f ^ i^j^y 33 g'^ fl Feu) Facts Regarding tbe.... Copper Rioer Countrp - isC^n / General interest at the present time centers on tbegold diggings of Alaska, especially those of the Copper River country, in the southern por- tion where numerous rich strikes have recently been made. In fact, the success of prospectors in this district has been almost nnprecedented, and the Copper River section bids fair to surpass the famous Klondyke region in mineral wealth. Ifilfi.S CLIMATE The climate in the Copper River country is comparatively mild. The temperature for three years past has not fallen beyond 14 degrees below zero, and as a general thing has not been lower than 7 or 8 degrees below zero, or about compara- tively the average winter temperature of the Middle Western States. The mildness of the climate is attributable to the influence of the Japin current, which sets in shore at a point near the mouth of Copper River. As shown by the government reports, this coun- try i.s altogether different from the Klondyke re- gion. During the summer season good crops can be raised, and in addition to this means of support, there is an abundance of game, and the Copp r River is one of the best salmon streams on the con- tinent. There are small stations and Russian Mis- sions at different points, which arc self -supporting;. The country is, of course, heavily timbereiJ, and in short, is so far from being bleak or desolate that an outfit calculated for a year can easily, by good management, be made to support the miner for two years. FARE Including berth, meals en route and free trans- portation of 1,000 pouYids of freight or baggage, as follows : From San Pedro .1^100.00 From San Francisco 90.00 From Seattle 80.00 The board will be first-class in every particular, and passt^ngers aa-e assured of courteous treatment and every accommodation necessary for comfort aud convenience, Within a few days after leaving Seattle the expedition will be in the heart of the go'd fields, at an expense to each man of not to exceed $100. It costs at least 1500 and takes at least three months to reach the Klondyke gold fields. OUTFITS No man should go into the Alaskan country without providing himself with an adequate outfit, viz., at leist one year's provisions, and warm and serviceable clothing. CLOTHING 2 suits corduroy or '_' suits stoutest Jeans. 1 short Warm coat. I heavy oveicoat. 1 sleeping bag (canvas, woolen lined). 3 pairs overalls. 3 pairs heavy woolen socks. 3 pairs ordinary socks. 2 pairs blauket-hned mitten?. "2 p .4rs ru bber boots — a can of cement 3 pairs shoes — one extra heavy A bolt of cheese-cloth, extra heavy 1 or 2 caps 1 rubber coat 3 suits heavy underwear— woolen 1 bicycle sweater 2 suiumer negligee shirts 6 towels I Take a bachelor's sewing outfit HARDWARE 1 hand-saw 1 draw-knife 1 pocket rule 1 bunting knife 1 hatchet 1 chisel 1 ax 6 lbs. assorted nails 1 brace and bits 75 feet of rope (^ to 4' inch 1 frying pan 1 baking pan 1 coffee pot 1 granite kettle I bread pan 1 granite plate and cup 1 large spoon 1 knife, fork and spoon Fishing tackle 1 pick 1 shovel Pans 1 Winchester Rifle reloading teols, 100 roonds amn^unition PROVISIONS 300 lbs. Hour, good standard 100 lbs. corn reeal .00 lbs. oatmeal 150 lbs. beans, pink 25 lbs. coffee ]21bs. tea 10 lbs. salt 75 lbs. sugar, granulated 15 lbs. rice 100 lbs. assorted evaporated fruits } E<|ual to soo 100 lbs evaporated vegetables { lbs. preen 25 lbs. hard tack 10 lbs. compressed soup vegetables 10 lbs. soap it doz cans beef extract 150 Ib-a. bacoa 10 lbs. dried beef i lb. pepper 10 lbs. baking p(nvder Plenty California block matches 1 lb. citric acid 1 Tent 1 Clothes Bag Medicine Chest Total Cost of all above Supplies should not exci cd One Hundred and Fifty to Two Hundred Dollars. LAWS OF MINING An important item to be considered in determin- ing where to hunt gold is the question of the laws under which claims can be worked. The Canadian laws are exceedingly severe, exacting a royalty of •JO per cent, reserving every alternate claim and allowing the working ( f but a small space of land. The laws of our own country exact absolutely no duty or royalty, reserve no claims and allow the taking up of twenty acres of mining land by each man. pioneers in this country, independent fortunes. One of the most recent strikes was made at a point about seventj^-five miles from the coast, the fortu- nate man taking out in about three months' time $84,000 in nugt^ets and dust. Otht-r strikes in the same vicinity have been mad^, varying from .$40,000 to $180,000 during the past four months. The latest advices show that not only are there rich pi cer lands, l)ut thit I'ack in the mountains are numerous (juartz leads of almost fabulous wealth. AN OPPORTUNITY Our Expedition, now organizing, will leave San Pedro October 14th, San Francisco October 18th and Seattle October '23d, going thence direct to the mouth of the Copper Kiver. The number to be taken on this expedition is limited to 160. '1 he steamer "Alice Blancbard," a first-class vessel, has been secured for this service. She is a compara- tively new ship and her accommodations for pas- sengers are commodious and pleasant. The trip at this season of the year should be a very enjoy- able one. The expedition will proceed up the river as far as pos>ible, and will then establish a permanent camp, storing their goods and making it headcjuarters for prospecting the country. This trip oilers an excellent opportunity nnt only to those wi-hing to mine upon the Copper Kiver, but als ) to any parties wishing to go on into the K Ion- dyke country, as there is an almost continuous water route to Forty- Mile Cr.ek, and the govern- ment reports further show that ihe easiest land route to the headwaters of the Yukon is through a valley terminating at tlie Coppor River, thus enabling one to avoid the ste^p Clulkoot and White Passes. The route of the proposed railway to the Kloadyke is through the valley above mentioned. In sharp contrast with the Klondykc, not only are these gold fields accesf-ible in winter time, but the winter is decidedly the best time to go. The climate is not so severe but that prospecting can })e carried on continuously, and travel over the snow is easy compared to what it will be in the Spring, when the snows melt, and what are now small streams become racing torrents, while the whole country, now dry, becomes water soaked, and prac- tically impassable. Nevertheless, there will Ite a tremendous rush to these fie'ds early next Spring, and one object of this expedition is to anticipate this rush. TOPOGRAPHY In marked contrast to other sections «f Alaska, the Copper River region, owing to the milder climate and more open nature of the country, especially on the west 8'.