The herald., 1897-09-19
TERRORS OF
THE TRAIL
Just Hinted at by Expert
Durham
WHISKY IS AWFUL EXPENSIVE
WHILE FOOD CAN'T BE BOUGHT
WITH MONEY
Secretary Alger Will Utilize His
Logging Experience in Getting
Supplies to Miners
WHISKY IS AWFUL EXPENSIVE
WHILE FOOD CAN'T BE BOUGHT
WITH MONEY
Associated Press Special Wire.

SAIH44CS " 14AACIS
Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, Sept. ia letter
has been received by Acting Labor Com
missioner Weaver from Samuel c. Dun
ham, statistical expert of the labor de-
partment, who has been deputed to in
vestigate the opportunities of the Klon-
dixie gold fields for the employment O.
American labor and capital. The letter
is dated Lake Lindermann, August 26.
and describes the terrors of the trip
across Alaska. Durham writes:
The sun has just made its appearance
and old timers say we're likely to have
good weather by tomorrow. This cli-
mate is very treacherous. changes be-
ing very suden. On the ocean side Of the
mountains 1t rains more than half the
time and rains hard. On account of the
continuous rains the soil washes down
from the steep mountain sides and
wherever there Is a level place you will
find bog into which man or horse
sinks to the knees at every step. This
Is one Of the worst features of the trails
and makes 1t almost impossible to use
horses. Hany Of the boggy places have
been corduroyed, and I suppose by next
summer the Skaguay trail, which Is now
practically impossible on account Of the
bogs, will be in fair condition. At pres
ent the condition Of affairs on both trails
Is terrible, and hundreds Of men are
bound to starve and freeze to death If
they continue to come this way. I pass
ed at least a thousand men between
Dyea and here, and not more than one
hundred have got their outfits this side
Of the summit. Every fifty yards along
the trail are piles Of goods, and I sup
pose there are provisions to the value OF
$780, scattered along the trail. Prices
for packing and for all kinds Of service
are practically prohibitory for most of
those who are attempting to get in, ana
many are carrying over their own out
fits. Some Of the Indians carry as much
as 200 pounds at one load and make the
trip from Dyea to Lake Linderman in
two days returning to Dyea on the third
day, thus making two trips a week.
White men carry from seventy-flve to
100 and 125 pounds, and it takes man
with an adequate outfit a month to get
to the lake. There are many here who
have been five and six weeks packing
their outfits over and are not ready to
start down the river yet. All who have
come to Skaguay or Dyea within the
last week or two, who have come in with
a sufficient outfit, have paid 40 cents or
more pound, or do not get In at ALL
There are about 200 men here and for
ty tents. Probably three or four boats
are getting away every day, with from
two to five passengers. There is one
sawmill here with capacity Of thou
sand feet day and it has all the orders
it can. fill in three weeks. Lumber is
$500 thousand and rising. A great
many whipsaw their lumber, two men
turning out about hundred feet day.
A boat carrying three men sells for $3.50
to $400, according to the purse Of the
purchaser.
Wages Of carpenters are $3.50 a day
and board. Everything Is high in price
when you can get it at all. Whisky Is
so cents drink and S. bottle and poor
stuff at that. Alcohol is worth $40 gall
lon. It makes ten gallons Of Lake Lin
derman whisky. Meals canot be had for
money, as everyone Is holding on to his
provisions.
I never saw 90 much eslf1shness any
where as is displayed on this trail. You
pass a hundred people without receiv-
ing a response to your respectful Good
morning." and soon learn to keep your
mouth shut. There are so many on the
trail that It is like walking along the
streets Of a city-the Individual is lost
in the passing throng and you are rec
ognized only by acquaintances. If you
ask for food, in nine cases out of ten it
will be refused.
I close this letter with the explanation
that it has been written under great
mental stress and physical suffering. 1
have tried to give you a fair idea of the
hardships of this country, but feel my
incapa bility to paint its terrors It Is out
of my line. 1 will simply say that no one
who has written on the subject has ever
stated its difficulties. A man who got in
today over the Skaguay trail says that
it is even worse. He counted 172 dead
horses along the trail and several men
have met with serious accidents, such
as broken ankle, leg, etc. Several
deaf this from drowning have occurred on
both trails, the swift current carrying
packers down stream and their packs
rendering them helpless. Some move
ment ought to be made at once to re-
lieve the suffering that is bound to fol-
low. Every steamship that has brought
people up will have all it can do for at
least two trips in carrying the unsuc-
cessful people back to civilization, and
there ought to be some way to force
them to perform the service without
compensation.
A KLONDIKE FAKE
SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 1s.-The
local postal authorities are investigating
the affairs Of a concern known as the
Klondike Shipping and Information bu-
reau of this city, which is alleged to be
using the mails for illegal purposes. The
promoter of the concern Is Dennis
O'Donovan Rosa, who has caused cir
culars to be distributed all over the
country through the mails containing
the announcement that 160 women were
WaUtea q Dawson City; that profitable