The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-07
YUKON MAIL FACILITIES.
Uncle sam VIII Attend 10 Letters For
Gold DiRgcrs.
From the Washlngton star.

From the Washington Star
1t will be OF interest to know that there
are postofice facilities for the sold fields
OF Alaska, and the northwest territory,
for many persons have started for that
region and their friends will naturally be
anxious to hear from them. Additional
contracts for the devilery of mail have
been made by the postoffice department in
view of the influx Of Americans there.
Since July l contracts for mail over
what is known as 1.-The overland route"
from Juneau to Circle City have been
made by the department The round trip
over the Chilkoot pass and by way Of the
chain Of lakes and the Lewes river takes
about a month, the distance being about
900 miles. The department has just been
notified by the contractors agent that
three carriers viii start from Juneau July
u Another pare will start Aug J.
and there viii be b party to leave regu-
larry on the first OF each month there
after. The cost Is about $500 for the round
trip. The Chilkoot pass is crossed with
the mail by means of Indian carriers. On
the previous trips the carriers after nm
ishing the pass built their boats, but they
now have their own to pass the lakes ana
the Lewes river.
In the winter transportation Is carried
on by means of dog sleds and II Is hoped
that under the present contracts there
will be no stoppage, no matter now low
the temperature may go. The contractor
has reported that he was sending boat,
in sections by way Of St Michael, up 10
the Yukon river, to be used on the wafer
way of the route, and II Is thought much
time will be saved by this as IN former
Zines il was necessary for the carriers to
stop and build boats OF raIts TO pass the
lakes.
In addition to this for the summer sea-
son contracts have been made with two
steamboat companies for two trips from
Seattle to 81. Michael, and three from
there to Seattle. When the steamers reach
St Michael the mail will be transferred
from the steamers to the fiat-bottomed
boats running up the Yukon as far as
Circle city, II Is believed the boats now
run further up.
The contracts for the overland route call
for only frst-class matter, whereas the
steamers In the summer season carry eV-
erything up to five tons "A trip
Some extracts from the official report OF
the second assistant postmaster general
for the fiscal year ending June ], 1896, Will
prove of interest. Under date of Sept q,
1896, Contractor Beddoe wrote to the de-
partment concerning the trip 10 Circle
city, the establishment of that postoffice
having been authorized March 10, 1886:
He says:
81 have lust returned from my FIRST round
trip through to Circle City with the United
States mail under contract route No.
7s1O3, and in accordance with your lnstruc-
lions. corroboraitng those received through
the superintendent Of the Pacific coast. at
Seattle. / delivered the return mail from
Cirlce City to the postmaster at Seattle
and accompanied 20 Juneau such mail as
remained for that point.
81 have already delivered Cor have en-
route the mail for June, july, August ana
September. II will be impossible for any
other mail 10 leave here until spring. out
side Of the winter contract
"If you were familiar with the conditions
which obtain in the Yukon you would be
In a better position 20 regulate the dates
of departure and arrival for said service
For instance, | left this point on June 10
for Dyea; for sixteen hours IL was impos-
sible to land owing 20 storms and as the
landing Is made in small boats. the con-
ditions must be favorable. / took with me
sufficient lumber 20 build two boats: the
ones had already built could not be taxi
en- over the summit ia consequence Of ex-
ccssive snow storms. Upon my arrival az
the base OF the summit the Indian pack
ers refused 20 20 over with the lumber /
was compelled TO abandon q there having
paid s67 20 for packing Il. The packing Of
ever. I pushed on ana upon arriving az
Lake Linderman. a distance OF thirty
miles. buiit a raft, there being no um-
her In that locality. and upon this raft We
lourneyed 10 Lake Bennett whore we
found sufficient lumber 20 build boat a
start was made In five days after arrival. !
although the lumber had 20 be- cut from
the trees, and from there on we Travelled
day and night until our destination. Circle /
CITY was reached and the mails deliver |
ed IN good order
THE question now was 20 get the return |
mall 90 juneau the quickest moment 10 |
was impossible 60 start up the river IN
Of the rapid water. the cur
rent averaging eight miles an hour Tor 100 |
miles. " ! remained in Circle city until |
July 20 lt would probably take forty-hve |
days 10 pole the boat up the river. ! there
fore decided 60 10 on down 20 g. Mich !
aels and come out through Boring Sea. |
I was fortunate ln getting there IN time
for the steamship Portland. which sailed |
from that point 20 Seattle via Unalaaka-
p ~ miles. ~ seattle ! took The AK and |
reached ber Ga due course, having travel. |
~ q ~ miles Do addition 90 enc regular
TRIP. and saving thereby over a mouth ~
time IN che delivery of tho return mail.
and ! owe q 70 myself 10 say thar l was