The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-12-04
LYEA Is BOOMING.
One Thousand Houses Built There This
Fau-Money is Plentiful and Busi-
ness Good
DYEA. Alaska. Nov. II, 1897.

ness Good.
DYEA, Alaska, Nov. II, 1897.
ED. TIMEs-M -MoUNTAINEER:
As L promised to write from this
iced country, and give you the facts as
l found them. will endeavor to do so
and furnish some news that may be Of
interest to your readers.
We landed here September 9Th,
pitched our tent On the tide flats half
mile below Healy & Wilson's trading
post. There were then only three
tents and one log cabin on the fiat.
Next day w. o. Stitt, of Portland,
started to build restaurant and
Charles Phelps, of California, began
building a saloon. Three days later
the rush began. Everybody wanted to
take up lots and build houses as fast as
lumbe could be brought in from
Skagway and Junea. The poorest kind
of rough lumber sold readily for $50
thousand. Now we have over 1000
houses including those under con-
struction. There are still about 500
tents, but they will be replaced by
houses as fast as possible.
The prospects are there will be
plenty of lumber for building purposes
soon, as Young Bros, of Junea, are
loading half million feet at Bummer's
bay for this place, and the Dyea Lum
Der Co. has sent man to the sound to
buy million feet. There was a scow
load of lumber towed into harbor last
night, and the tide had no more than
left the barge than there was a dozen
teams there ready to haul it away. 1t
was all sold long before it reached the
harbor.
The world has never seen such a
boom as there is here now, and what
it will be in two or three months, hen
the rush to the Yukon begins, is hard
imagine.
had first choice in stalking out lot
on this section of the fiat, and secured
a good ore. Two weeks ago I offered
to sell it for $3.50, and yesterday was Of
fered $500 for it by E. t. Casey, Los
Angeles real estate man, who has
opened an office and doing good busi-
ness. This is only fair sample of the
way property is going up. would not
be surprised to see lots in Dyea selling
at $1,000 each before spring.
Dyea is the coming town of the North.
Skagway is doomed. A few real es-
tate men there and the Skagway News
send out all kinds of reports as to the
| dangers of the White pass, and tell
how cheapiy wagon road or tramway
can be put across from Skagway, but
they are not putting any money into
the scheme. Chilcoot is by far the
best trail, and is only 81 miles across,
while the Skagway trail is 46 miles.
There is still some packing done
across the Chilcoot pass, but the snow
is interfering considerably, being
about six feet on the summit.
Yesterday was lovely day, but last
night it turned cold and everything
froze up. Today is bitter cold and
the wind is blowing hard. Old timers
say winter has set in. In consequence
everybody is busy trying to get housed,
and one can hear the sound of saw and
hammer day and night.
Every one who has his house up and
doing business is making money and
making it fast. Supplies for saloons,
II
fitting stores are coming in almost
daily, and an idea of what prices pre-
vail can be formed from the fact that
in Dyea whisky sells a SO gallon
and 25 cents a drink. At Sheep Camp
it is $50 a gallon and so cents for a
small drink. Last week packer by
the name of Wells sold quart of
whisky at Lake Lindermann for $40.
Such is the way money changes hands
among those who are making lots of it.
And there is gambling for big stakes
in this country. While at Sheep Camp
last week saw stud game between
seven packers. in which gamblers
were barred ,and it took $3.50 to see the
second card, SIS to see the third, and |
up to 500 TO see the last. There was
about $1,000 on the table.
l have made two trips to Lake Liu-
dermann, and at one time thought of |
packing my outfit over before the trail |
closed, but changed my mind after the |
last trip, so will stay here until some |
time in January, when l will sled it
over. A horse or mule will haul 1000 |
pounds on Yukon sled from here to
the Scales, and from there Archie |
Burns cable will take freight to the |
summit, three-quarters of miie, for
one cent pound. from the summit.
it is down-hill pull, with nice cool
weather.
Parties are arriving on every steam
er, and having their outfits hauled |
several miles up the canyon, where
they build log cabins and make prep.
arations to cross the pass as soon as
the snow crusts.
The two wharves under construction |
and the tram road are progressing
nicely. The saw mill below Sheep
Camp is running day and night, SO
everything is looming up in this couu-
try.
There are men coming over from
Dawson every few days. Most of them
buy provisions, few dogs and sled,
and start back. Fhey expect to be
able to sled their stuff back to Dawson
when the snow crpsts and the river is
perfectly frozen.
D. J. Thompson has just come out
rom Dawson, having left there on Oc-
,ober 7th, and says six big strikes
we're made in September. He will
start back at once with $50 pounds of
and expects to make 1t from
he sommit to Dawson in 25 days.
Hany of the people from about The
)alles intend going to Klondike in the
pring they should start early. Even
they have to lay over here for time
hey will learn much that will be of ,
enefit to them, ,and will get used to the {
Innate SO that they can stand the trip
etter. J. p. HUBRICK.
CATHOLIC FAIR CLOSED.
he Last Night Was the Crowninp Event | r