Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-20
UP THE YUKON,
First News of the Party to Survey the
Alaskan Boundary.

special dispatch from st. Louis to the New
York Sun says the first news in months of the
government expedition for the survey of the
boundary between Alaska and Canada reached
that city yesterday. 1t came in a letter to Pat
rick McGrath, father of John E. McGrath, one
OF the chiefs of the exploring party. Thatpart
OF the expedition which MIR. McGrath COM
mands has now navigated the Yukon river
further than any steamer ever went before,
and will during the winter travel through an
unexplored land. The Turner party has al
ready pierced into an unexplored part of the
country. Mr.. McGrath writes:
I'VE have been steamIng up the Yukon for
eleven days and are now 200 miles beyond that
point on the river, which is half way between
ST. MlchaePs and where l expect to 60 We
are making on an average five miles per hour.
This is great river. Near its mouth it is al
most Is miles wide. taking i'll the various cha.:-
nels through which it reaches the sea. 1t much
resembles the Mississippi. Our boat is small
and We are compelled to stop frequently for
wood, much of which we are compelled to cut
Fish and game are 80 plentiful that we have
tired of ducks, geese and salmon. In the woods
there are lots OF wild roses and the hillsides are
as green as any lawn Ill spring. 1t is difficult
to believe that this is an arctic land when YOU
observe the luxuriant forests. the green grass
the flowers and mark how warm The days are
But dig down ten inches anywhere and YOU will
find the ground frozen hard.
We reached Fort Yukon on July and sepa-
rated. Turner and Iii, party went up the Por-
cupine river and / am making my way slowly
up to the boundary. Turner is the first man
to take steamer up the Porcupine. The river
is regular mountainous stream, rising with
every rain and falling Immediately afterward
Turner struck 1t al a low stage and progressed
but 40 miles. Fort Yukon is but a name
now. There is not stick of one of its houses
left. The English used to think it belonged to
them, but a survey showed it was % miles with
III our territory. and they had to move out.
AS there was no business to warrant occupa-
ton. the houses OF the Hudson Bay company
were allowed to go to RUN. Moose are plenti-
ful and cheap, but peopl1 eat anything they
can get up here which will not poison them
This letter was mailed on August 49, Sec
ond letter, bearing date of August q. says:
I'VE are four or five miles the other side of
the United States line. and are now squatting
on her British majestys possessions. but do
not think there will be any complaint of the
trespass Times have been dreadfully hard
with the miners this year. and great many of
them have lost heart. 1t has rained nearly the
whole spring and summer. in this neghbor-
hood, and in consequence the mountain streams
have become torrents, washing out water
Wheels slulces, sluice boxes, &C.. and prevent
ing the miners from doing anything Wages
are high-So when you workout they work so
little they would prefer $50 per month and
grub. don't expect to get any more letters
out this year nor i'll the spring. l have no dogs
and, therefore, no way to send them.