The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-30
JUST IN FROM DYEA
o. b. COOK, OF STAPLES, DIDN'T
QUITE REACH THE GOLD
FIELDS.
WHAT He SAYS ABOUT THINGS
GAVE UP THE TRIP TEMP
FOR LACK OF ABUNDANT
PROVISIONS.
PACKING PAYS IF ONE CAN Do 1T.
Plenty of Women Going to Alaska,
and They Seem to Stand the
Hardships Well.

o. B. Cook, of Staples, Mimi, arrived
in the city yesterday direct from Dyea,
Alaska Mr. Cook went to Alaska the
early part of Julyein company with his
two brothers, intending to cross either
the White Horse or Chilkoot passes and
get into the gold country overland.
Their supplies ran low, and rather than
spend the long Alaskan winter in the
mountains poorly provisioned, they
gave up the trip for the season. They
will try it again in the spring, when
Mr.. Cook will join his brothers, who
are still at Dyea. Mr. Cook says that
anybody who is willing to work can
get work in Alaska at a good figure.
Laborers are paid $40 per day, for I'M
skilled labor. Men who are strong
enough to pack can make as high as
$25 per day. There are several ne
groes who have spent the summer
packing, and they made $25 per day
and board during the entire season
Mr. Cook says that the trip by way Of
the Chilkoot pass, although 1000 miles
shorter than up the Yukon by boat, is
very difficult to accomplish. The cost
of packing from Dyea to Lake Linder-
man, distance of thirty miles, is now
IS cents since the first Of the season.
Lake Linderman is the point where
the prospectors all build their boats
to make the trip to Klondike. One of
the boats such as the trip requires will
cost about $500, and is very rude af-
fair. The cost and labor of construc-
ton of one of these boats is not the
only obstacle in the way of trip by
Ia
great deal of trouble on account Of
high winds. In the canons Of Alaska
it is no. uncommon thing to see waves
five feet high on a river less than a
quarter of mile wide These, together
with the uncertainty of the channel
make the trip a most difficult one. The
navigation on the Yukon river has
closed on account of low water, and
the only way to reach the land of the
yellow metal now is by the back-door
route.
Mr.. Cook estimates nearly 1000 peo-
pie have gone over the Chilkoot rass.
while nearly 500 have started over the
rev route known as the White Horse
pass. People have an idea there is g.
scarcity Of women in Alaska, but that
is not the case. Nearly fifty of the fair
sex have gone over the Chilkoot pass,
while few have even attempted
to make the trip over the mere difficult
of the two, the White Horse path,
Many women in Alaska dress in mems
clothes, wearing high-top bots. The
women who have gone to Alaska N
quest Of the yellow metal have stood
the climate nearly as well as their
more sturdy companions.
There will be no more boats to Circle
City and points in the gold region I'M
til the middle of next July, and all
supplies must be transported over the
passes by the native dogs. These dogs
are valued at $3.50 apiece in Alaska.
Dogs have been transported from the
United States for this purpose, but
they do not stand the cold. Their feet
are easily frozen, and the native dog is
the only one that gives satisfaction
The Indians of Alaska look to Amer
leans very much like Japanese They
are inclined to be friendly, but are
somewhat lazy, and their services can
not be had as guides or packers for
any reasonable amount.
There will no doubt be great deal
of competition for the Alaskan travel
next spring and summer. Competition
among the transportation companies
will open up this country in a way
that nothing else could do. The facll
tiles for transportation have been very
meager this summer, and the compan-
les engaged in this business have beer
unable to care for half the business.
One reason for the scarcity of provis-
ions in the gold region is on account
of the steamboat companies refusing
to receive outfits weighing over 200
pounds. Prospectors starting cut with
a full years supplies had to dispose of
over half of it at Dyea before proceed
ing. Next year everything in Alaska
will be cheaper, and the great influx
of people which are certain to come to
it's shores, will make Alaska a moro
inhabitable place.