The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-22

porting on sleighs across the summit
and down the lakes to where good
timber for boa building is to be found,
and the start down the river made
when the ice breaks, which is much
earlier than on the lakes, and the
mines may be reached a month sooner
than il the boats are built on the lakes,
and a wait made for the ice to break
there: but h trip can be made very
successfully as late as August. Four
or five men should compose each party,
as one tent, stove, set tools, etc.. will
suffice for all. One of the party should
have a knowledge for boa building,
for it Is an absolute necessity that the
craft shall be staunch and substantial.
The boat should be at least thirty feet
long. No man should attempt the
journey alone
Practically the great basin of the
Yukon is reached by but one route,
that via Dyea-this being the short
quickest and cheapest, and the one
-Aken by fully ninety-fve percent Of
the gold seekers of the a interior.
The first part Of the route is accom-
plished by steam navigation from
Seattle to Dyea: the next stage is
made by and sleigh, or If pre-
ferred by pack train, twenty-four miles
to lake Linderman, where boats are
built in which the downstream journey
Is continued to destination.
A new pass called the white pass has
been opened this easOn. 1t is of an
easier grade than the Chilkoot pass,
and extends to lake Bennett, where
there is a plentiful supply of lumber
and bOat building.
The ocean route, j.. e., via st.
Michaels, where the ocean steamers of
the North American Trading and
Transportation Company and the
Alaska Commercial Company connect
with river boats that ply on the Yukon
is becoming quite popular, as it avoids
the hardships encountered on the over
and trip. The first steamer owe this
route generally leaves Seattle or San
Francisco the early part Of June Of
each year, and starts on it's last trip
for the season sometime in August.
The last boat for the westward leaves
the vicinity of Dawson City during
September, but the time is regulated
entirely by climate conditions.
Dawson City is practically a new
camp, only a few months old. The
descriptions given by the returned
miners make it a typical mining town
with everything but the guns.
The use of firearms is prohibited by
the British government, which enforces
it's laws by the use of mounted police,
whose captain is the civil authority.
Comparatively few houses have been
erected, though there is a population
Of 5000 persons. Lumber costs 800.
! per thousand feet, and so most of the
| miners are living in tents during the
| summer months.
Building lots are said to be in de-
mand at S., 200, with prices going as
high as $4,000 and $1,000
In summer the weather becomes very
warm, and the present tent life is
| comfortable. Mr.. Bowker observed on
| the day of his departure that the
| thermometer registered 8S degrees in
| the shade.
The winters are long and cold, the
mercury going down to forty, and ever
is seldom more than a foot and a half
deep. Very sudden changes from one
extreme of temperature to the other
are the most troublesome feature of the
climate.
Laborers it is asserted, are paid as
high as SIS a day, but the advice is
given tina no man can afford to go to
the new camp without $500 to 81, OO(
with which to support himself, n in
sure the possibility of return in s. OF
adversely.
Living, of course, high. The
region produces little or no fruit OF
vegetables.
A small party from the Yukon arriv.
ed in the city yesterday OF the steamer
City of Topeka. They had hurried
through. so fast thai even their cos.
tunes had not been changed. People
on the street seemed to find out thei1
make-ups queer, for they turned anG
looked or stood stock still and stared
There was an arrangement of white
cloth on the feet Of the returned pros.
pectors above, which rose legs wrapped
to the knees in thick stockings, ther
knee trousers, sweater and a cap. L
looked like a good costume for Alaska
travelling, but seemed like a storm sig
nal in the streets of Seattle.
Many have returned after one or tw,
seasons sojourn none the richer, saw,
in experience; others have struck i
rich and made for themselves snug lit
tie fortunes. G.. p. K.