The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-09-02
OVER THE 6HILKOOT PASS.
Rev. Henry Beer Gives Facts and
Figures on the Route to
the k1ondyke.
Strong Men Weep at the Obstacles
to Overcome to Reach the
American Monte Cristo.

To THE EDITOR: l think that let
ter from me on the ''Klondyke" will be
agreeable reading to my friends, and
your other readers at this time of in
tense gold fever. This week I have
been overwhelmed with letters of in
quiry about the rich find in Alaska
and the Postmaster tells me that he
receives hundreds of letters by each
mail. Of course, he cannot reply to
all these he would need man spe-
cially for the purpose. Even I, with
my smaller number of letters, am
weary answering correspondents, but
since they we're chiefly from personal
acquaintances have made an. effort
to reply briefly, but now l shall try to
let all know what I know about the
celebrated gold field at the Klondyke.
First, then, I must remind your
readers that 1 am living at Juneau,
and Juneau is in Alaska, and Alaska
is in the United States, while the Klon-
dyke is in foreign country called
Canada. Next, please bear in mind
that Juneau is 700 miles from the gold
field, and the intervening distance is a
bowling wilderness. There are none
but the most primitive means of COM
munication, no railways or even wag-
ons; nothing but the human back or
for short distance pack horses and
dogs. My information, therefore, is
second hand. I have not been over
the trail; l have only heard and read.
Still I think my information as reliable
as can be had.
I will suppose trip to the Klon-
dyke, starting from Seattle. Cana
dams should buy their outfit in Cana
da and bond it through and SO save
customs duties. They should buy
what they will use in American terri
tory on this side so as not to break
their bonded packages. Americans
will have to pay duty to the Canadian
government at the boundary line.
The best place for Americans to out
fit is here in Juneau. Even Canadians
will find it best to supply what they
have forgotten or overlooked when
they come to Juneau. I overheard q
reporter of the New York World say
that Juneau was the best place to out
fit, prices being reasonable and the
right material being kept by our mer-
chants. l believe it is the general YER
dict that Juneau is the best place to
outfit. Our merchants have made a
specially of this business of Quitting.
A first class ticket from Seattle to
Juneau costs 5000 and second class
$17OO. Both include bed and board
but the second class is pretty rough.
You had better secure your ticket a
month ahead or even longer than that.
You must carry in with you every
thing you need for year. You need
not take any guns, there are already
in the Yukon more guns than wild
animals. It makes me tired to see
whipper-snappers that would faint
with fear at the squawk of wild
goose, staggering ashore from the
boat under load of guns and rifles
and pistols and knives. Remember,
everything has to be carried miles and
miles and twenty or thirty pounds of
guns and ammunition is serious
matter at the end of a long tramp
through mountain and bog.
A years grub-stake will cost here
between two and three hundred dollars
and the clothing and shovels and tools
will cost another three hundred and
both together will weigh from six to
ten hundred pounds. In winter you
will need Yukon sleigh, which is best
purchased in Juneau. Freight costs
thirty dollars ton from Seattle to
Juneau so it is best to keep it as small
as you can, as long as possible. Sleigh