Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-20
SUPPLIES FGNUKoN REGION
Data Fumishsdby M. ]. T. Dyer touching
the sRiofEer Methods;
Provisions frnxsported in sIeds
Miles Thinning Experience.

In commentfHg upon the efforts Of the
Secretary of Warsto ascertain the best
means of getting supplies up the Yukon
river, as developed in his recent inquiries
upon that important point, and the replies
of Senator Perkins, Mr.. ]. T. Dyer, a pio-
neer in the Alaskan territory, expressed to
Star reporter his great interest in the
subject, and said:
Permit me to suggest that I was in
ALASKA when our government contaminated
Its purchase We made st. Michael's our
base of supplies, and from there we trans
ported them across Norton sound, both
by boat and on s,eds, to Unalachlete. From
Unalachlete, with dogs and sleds, we trans
ported supplies of all kinds, even to boats
and canoes. over the trail made by our
sleds to Nulato. We showed. the Russians
how to accomplish this work, they never
having, prior to our advent, used dogs and
sleds for that purpose. They always wait
ed for the Yukon to open, when their sloop
would leave st. Michael's with provisions
for their trading posts on the Yukon. Pro-
ceeding to Nuklukay they would meet the
Indians from Upper Yukon and barter for
furs, usually returning to st. Michael's
with soop load.
IF 1 were in that country and had the
proper facilfties-men, dogs. sleds and pro-
visions-I could transport all supplies 1e-
quired across the country. making depot
or cache at or about Nulato, 600 miles from
the coast. With relay of teams l would
take the goods to a point higher up the
river. where men with dogs and sleds from
the Upper Yukon would meet the teams
and forward the supplies to their destina-
ton. This would be attended with some
hard work and possibly with some suffer-
ing, but it can be done. And what Is a lit
tie suffering compared to the possible star
walton of hundreds of men?
I'VE usually hauled 400 pounds to load,
with five dogs to team. using the Inge-
lete sled, made wholly of BIRCH very elias
tic and very strong. We thought nothing
of several hundred-mile trips. camping at
night on the banks Of some stream among
the spruce trees, or staying at an Indian
village over night.
with Richard Golfer of Missouri and
three Maleymute Gsquimaux) Indians
Isaac, Lunchy and JIM once made the
trip from Norton sound to the Yukon river
with dogs and slels, through the Koyukon
country, being thirty-three days on the
tramp. During that trip we were caught
in several severe snow storms, but we were
careful and camped until the storms were
over. We did not suffer very great incon-
veniepce, nor any serious drawbacks. Our
constant travel from Unalach,ete to Nu-
lato made trail over which we passed
with convenience and dispatch.
1T was sight to gladden. our hearts TO
witness the style and comfort in which
Stepanoff, the Russian bidarshik, ira yeled,
with two fine seds, each with seven mag
nificent dogs, and accompanied by five
serfs. I have known his teams to travel
sixty-five miles "A day over the ice from ST
Michaers to Unalacklete.' We offered him
S10J each for his dogs, which offer he re-
fused.
'"fhe transporting of goods by dogs and
sleds, after the trail is made. is not by
any means difficult task. l have travelled
many hundreds of miles on snow shoes,
and with dog sleds, and have been on the
Yukon river at all; seasons
Mr. Dyer was pioneer first lieutenant of
the Collins overland telegraph expedition,
and was in Alaska for a number of years.