The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-12
THE YUKON RIVER BASIN.
A Thousand People VIII Winter
Aisska's Great River.


There are about $50 people in the Yukon
river basin. counting miners. missionaries
and traders. OF these there are twenty
nine white ladies and several children.
The provisions are scarce At the two
trading companies stores There are
about $500 sacks of flour for 800
men, and the miners figure n sack
per month to the man for ten
months. which leaves q shortage of
$500 sacks. If this can be taken as a
standard of the amount of provisions on
hand. some suffering must necessarily fol-
low. as the Indians have learned to depend
upon the traders for part of their winters
supply. and have not put up their usual
supply of salmon. which will thus bring
about . scarcity of food for them, as the
whites always have the first show at the
provisions. Capt Healy's company. the
North American Trading and 1ranspor-
tation Company. carry about 1. SO sacks
ofthe aforesaid -four stored in large ware
houses a. Fort Cudahy. about three
quarters of a mile below Forty Mile Post.
This company has cut the prices in pro-
visions and supplies in two and has no
intention OF raising the same this winter,
in spite of the fact that supplies will
run short. In consequences restaurant
board has been reduced 10 sl2 q week. and
this reduction makes il possible for men TO
Work mines with pront which would not
pay to work in previous seasons. Captain
Healy intends TO more than double his
shipment OF supplies into the Yukon
country next year. and expects TO pur
another steamer on the ukcn river next
year. The present steamer now owned BY
the company, plying between Pely river
aud 81. Michaeis, Is over 2OO feet ia length.
carrying q crew of between forty and nifty
men, including Indians for loading on
wood.
There were q number Of tourist" miners
going into the country this year who had
no experience IN mining and refused TO
work at Forty Nile for So day. There
were others who had no money. and the
two companies could not afford TO give
them credit, because they could sell their
supplies TO others for cash.
There were about $50 people who came
out of the country this year. some Of them
having struck II rich and were headed for
their homes. The steamer Bertha which
was scheduled 20 leave ST. Michaels for
San Francisco on September 10. must have
taken out upwards OF s2t0. 90 in gold dust
Nearly all of the Old miners did veil this
year, and maay OF the new corners were
also fortunate.
believe that before the end Of three
years the trip can be made from Forty
Mile post TO juneau IN seven or eight
DAYS To do This IL viii require good
trail and q station of steamers on the
lakes and the head waters IF the Yukon
river. have Information which leads me
10 believe that next season mail route
viii be established, giving three
or four mails TO the interior points. The
time has passed when the cost OF transpor-
tation of outfits over the summit is SIS per
100 pounds. as next year | look for goods
TO be transported At a cost OF not 10 exceed
s. per loo pounds.
l would advise any person going In next
spring TO take in supplies sufficient TO
last HIM until ~ least August l.