The San Francisco call., 1897-08-14
KLOuDIKE
STILL BOOMS
Many Will Start for Dawson
on the Steamer North
Fork.
Weather Records Show the
General Climate of
Alaska.
Activity Along the Water Front Just
Before the Last Graft Go
Forth.

There was considerable interest in Klon-
dixie matters all day yesterday, and the
activity about the offices of the steamers
that are yet to go was great. The prin-
cipal interest was in regard to the North
Fork, which VIII sail Monday.
During the period of waiting for the
ships 20 sail more or less discouraging re-
ports from the northland are coming in.
Many who have already arrived at Juneau
and other outposts are beginning to send
warnings that it is useless for pros pectors
to come unless they have large amounts
of cash and goods ior the spring. They
all say there is nothing in sight save Il
long and very tedious wait.
T. NJ. Ferguson received card from Al
Robinson yesterday. Robinson was at
Juneau. and, am ong other things, he said :
"Any one you know that is talking OF
coming here before spring ought to be
warned in time to stop. 1t is almost sui
eide without $500 or 5000. Whatever they
get at the other end will be earned ten
times over. There is a great deal of error
about the advantage of rushing here. The
old fellows here, who know the Alaska
winters, all say that the thing TO do is to
remain away TN til spring. l am sorry
came so soon.
The Weather Bureau at Washington has
issued the following bulletin with refer
ence to the weather OF Alaska:
In the Klondlke region in midwinter the
sun rises from 9 80 to 10 A. NJ. and sets from 2
to P. NJ, the total length OF daylight being
about four hours. Remembering that the sun
rises but few degrees above the horizon, ana
that it is wholly obscured on great many
days, the character OF the winter months may
easily be imagined.
We are indebted to the United States Coast
and Geodetic Survey for a series of six months
observations on the Yukon, not tar from the
site OF the present gold discoveries. The OBJ
servations were made with standard 1nstru-
ments, and are wholly reliable.
The mean temperatures OF October, 1889, to
April, 1890, both Inclusive, are as follows:
October 33 degreesVabove zero); November 8
degrees above zero; December, IL degrees
(below zero); January, II degrees (below
zero); February, Is degrees (below zero); (;
March, & degrees (above zero); April, 20 de-
ture tell and remained below the freezing
poin. (32 degrees) from Novem ber 4, 1889. TO
April Il, 1890, thus giving 16S davs as the
length OF the c.osed sc ason of 1SS9-90, assum-
ing that outdoor operations are controlled by
temperature, only being suspended when the
daily mean falls to or below the freezing point.
The lowest temperatures registered during
the winter were: 81 de below in Move m Der,
AZ below in Decem Der, 50 below in January
SO below in February, do below in March, 26
below in April. The greatest continuous cold
occurred in February, 1890, when the daily
mean for five consecutive days AZ degrees
below zero. The weather moderated slightly
about the 1st of March, but the temperature
still remained below the freezing point. GEN
orally cloudy weather prevailed, there being
but three consecutive days in any month with
clear weather during the whole winter. Snow
fell on about one-third of the DAYS in winter
and less number in the early spring and late
fall m onths.
Greater cold than that here noted has been ex-
perienced in the United States for very short
time, but never has IL continued so very cold
for SO long time. In the interior OF Alaska
snnwstorms may be expected in the noun
tains and passes. Headway during one of
these storms is impossible, and the traveller
VINO is overtaken by them is indeed fortunate
If he escapes with his life. Snowstorms OF
great severity MAJ occur In any month from
Sepie mber to May inclusive
The changes OF tenn perature from winter
to summer are rapid, owing to- The
day. In May the sun rises at about A. NJ
and sets about 9PM. In June it rises about
80 A. NJ. and sets ct 1890 P. NJ, giving abou t
twenty hours of daylight aud diffuse twilight
mer temperature of the interior doubtless
ranges between 90 and 70 degrees, according
TO elevation. being highest in the middle and
lower Yukon valleys.
The president of the Alaska Packing
Company feels sure, he says. that there
will be great fields of gold in all the
Alaska country his year, but he believes
there will be great hardships on the part
of many thousands who have gone forth
badly equipped for the disastrous voyage
He thinks they ought o heed the advice
of thousands of old residents of Alaska.
who saw that between now and spring