Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-16

the river borders on an elevated table land,
which Is just within the Yukon fats. 1t
was there the new camp Of Circle City was
founded In the fall OF 1884. The place II
the distributing point of the vast region of
Birch creek, and 1t Is expected will become
the metropolis Of the Yukon, not only on
account of the extensive gold bearing de-
pCsits existing there. but also because IL IL
on American soil. The creek has been pros
pected by more than q hundred men, as
also have the bars adjace mt to Birch creek,
and 1t Is claimed that the famous Forty
Mile CT eek will De exceeded. Two buildings
for stores were soon under construction,
and 1t Is probable that 800 men passed last
who charges a fee of $2Je for recording the
location Of lots. A building clause has to
be carried out in order to hold the lots.
A portage of six miles westward from
circle City strikes Birch creek about 200
miles from its mouth, from which point
the river Is followed by boat to Crooked
river, thence up to the mines on Indepen-
dence, Mastadon and other creeks. A short
er way Is by portage across the flats and
over range of high hills to the heads of
the mining creek. The distance by trail is
shown on the map by dotted lines and Is
about fifty miles.
l. The Dogs and Their Pecu1inrfties.
One Of the first things to attract atten-
ton here. as well as throughout the entire
Yukon basin, Is the great number of dogs.
they are not natural-born thieves they are
nothing. They usually celebrate the ar
rival Of all newcomers by a general fight
They will steal anything from pair of
boots to side of bacon; ore actually stole
paste pot from me while 1 was at work
on some pictures. They manifest a great
degree OF cunning in their attempts at
stealing. Snowshoes dog harness and the
like, as well as all kinds of uncanned meats
have to be cached. This Is done by erect
q q OF
ffteen feet above the ground, for the safe
keeping Of all such articles. AS previously
stated. these dogs are used in freiehting to
the mines In winter. An additional charge
OF cents per pound is made on bacon and
All uncanned meats on account of the ex-
ira trouble to keep that class of goods from
the dogs. The bowling of wolves would be
peasant music compared with the bowling
Oh these dogs at night. Under the least
provocation, in the calm of night one will
start in, and almost simultaneously every
Cog within five miles will join in a general
uproar. They often continue their howlings
LOT hours In spite of all these inconye-
niences, the dog is to the inhabitants of the
Yukon what the reindeer is to the Lapland-
er, the morse to the Inhabitants of the
pam. In winter they are hitched to a
sielgh and In summer loaded with packs
New Trails to he Tried.
1t Is believed by many persons that there
are easier ways to reach the Klondike
'Aiii ~ TIE routes with which the
public by this time is familiar Some of
the 1ngoing prospectors have determined
to try some Of these. One of them is what
Is known as the Stickeen river trail, and
IL Is claimed that this is one of the lea ST
difficult and shortest To take this route
Seattle Is left for Fort Wrangel. and then
up the Stickeen river $50 miles to Tele-
graph Landing. From there the route is
overland by good trail to Teslin lake.
ana thence either by canoes or by pack
train to the Stuart river. The way is easy
from the Stuart to the Klondike.
by this route there are no passes to
cIlInp: ana IL Is said the distance is short
ened 800 miles. 1t is claimed the trim can
be comfortably made in thirty days. and
there are not near so many hardships to
De encountered by way of Dyea. Stickeen
river is the only one which cuts its way
through the coast range by grade per-
mlttlng navigation by steamers. There is
one steamer on 1t at present