The evening times., 1897-06-12

The Postoffice Department has concluded
d contract for Carrying the mails between
Juneau and Circle City, Alaska, by steamer
during the summer, or open ," season, in
stead of overland, as heretofore During
the winter the mails viii be dog-sledded. as
has been the practice of the depa rtment
since the establishment Of a route between
Juneau and Circle City, a distance of 900
niles This move was made by this Coz
ernment without the Cooperation Of the
Canadian Government
The discovery OF gold around Circle
City, on the Upper Yukon River, attracted
a great many miners and others, who
after settling there had no regular mail
communication with the rest of the United
states, and who were compelled tO trust IN
chance " send out their letters. paying as
reported 81 per letter to have them mailed
Tie country was so inaccessible that 10
was difficult even TO secure any accurate
information in regard 10 10 or its needs,
but after communicating with the governor
Of Alaska and others the PostUffiCe Depart
ment early in 1896 learned that in the Vi
SlIIitS OI ClTttt licTe were 3Ob peDplt
and many more were expected during the
summer season; that in going over the pro-
posed route, starting from Juneau, the
mails could be carried by river for a dis
tance of 100 miles, then came a difficult
portage of about thirty miles tower which
supplies had 70 be packed on the backs OF
Indiansj, when the Upper Yukon River was
re .ched. aud for the remainder OF the dis
tancc 20 Circle City mails could be carried
on the river in small boat during the short
season when the river is open, a nd at other
times by dog tram. The establishment Of
a pOstOffiCe named Circle was authorized
March 10, 996, and an advertisement was
issued February 28. 1896. iavitIng pro-
posals for carrying letter mail only.
Several bids were received and a contract
entered into with the Yukon TIanspOrta.
tIOn Company u carry mail between Juneau
and Circle CITY. six rOundtrips from June /,
1896, to June 80. 1897, five OF them 20 be
performed during the summer and fall Of
1896 and one in June. l S97. the coupensa-
tion To be $500 per round trip. The con
tractor st arted from Juneau JuneII,
taking with him .874 letters for Circle City
and arrived there July II President
personally supervised the carrying the
first mail. He reported 70 the depart
rnenu that the dangers and hauiships
OF the trip were very great The sea
son was late. and while the snow was too
soft To permit them 70 take their Launches
over the pass tue lakes were no: sufficiently
open TO allow their use. He said the seeth-
ing wate SUf the eCanonsaadthete teTTiblprap-
Ids through which they had 10 pas adde,!
years TO a mans life Instead OF FrtGTuinS
from Circle City over the same rout Mr.
Beddoe continued on DO wn the Yukon !. ivcr.
connecting with a steamer at 50 MiChael's.
viaTnaIaska. 20 seattle. and delivered 70 the
postmaster at Seattle 695Ietters from Circle
city.
A second trip was made I'm July and
a third in August Under date of Sep
temHcr %, 500. Contractor ReddOH wrote
to the department that Circle City is now
d place of 1,sO0 people, and from care
full inquiry am satisfied that this winter
there will be 81 ,OOO,00O of gold dust
there and yet when left the only GOV
eminent official in the town was ihe post
master, L. \. MCQUestion, and when one
considers that town lots are selling for
: 1000 il is a wonder To me that there
are not more complications.
Later the Postoffice Department made
two dispat chcs OF mail from Seattle to
points on the Yukon River, via nalaSSa
and st Michaels, through the courtesy Of
the North American Transportation and
Trading Company 1t also made two dis
pa tches OF mail from San Francisco -
Yukon points, through the courtesy Cf
the Alaska Commercial Company.
Hcnceforth mails will he carried from
Sea tile through into Bcring Sea and up
the Yukon. via UGalaska and St Michaels,
to Circle City.