The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-02
K1oND1KE AND THE FRAZER.
Several FONTS OF Similarity in Thor Prospect,
and Rooms.


and Booms-
BAN Francisco, July 26.-Although the Ron-
dixie is the only topic of conversation in stree;
and office, parlor and barroom, and though
every second man you meet declares his inten-
ton Of going to Alaska as soon as possible, the
actual departures for the land of gold have not
been 30 numerous thus far as the departures
for Frazer River, thirty-nine years ago, whom
20, 900 men started for the diggings In four
months.
Rates Of passage are what the steamers
choose to ask and travellers are willing to pay.
The Alaska Commercial used to charge $l2O;
the asking rate Is now $3.50, and at the ofice
the invariable reply Of the clerks is that all tho
ships are full. At Seattle and Tacoma tho
steamers are filling up with horses and dogs;
the freight on a horse 10 500. so to Juneau; on q
dog So; but the shipper is required to pay in
addition 81 n ton on forage for the animals.
Hall the old horses in Washington are being
shipped north. More circumspection is exer-
cised In the selection OF dogs. 1t Is reported by
travellers that the American dog will not stand
the cold of Alaska; dogs of the Yukon or Dan
fish breed are preferred, and are worth q little
moro than horses.
The promoters of the Klondike boom appears
to be getting scared at their success. They
have evoked a movement which they cannot
stop. 1t is in vain to warn the adventurous:
every young man thinks he is going to DO tho
one who will escape starvation and gather in
nuggets. Louis Schloss Of the Alaska Com.
mercial, which stands to make the most money
out of the fever. is warning every one to stay at
home. He said:
1--WE shall refuse to take passengers at all in
our next steamer. We could sell every berth
at the price we have been ~asking-S25O. as
against $l2O last spring but we shall not sell
one. We shall fill up With provisions, and l
have no doubt the Pacific Coast Company will
do the same. We are afraid. Those who ara
mad to get to the diggings will probably be able
to get transportation by chartering tramp
IN and there is a serious risk that there
will not be food enough for them at Juneau or
on the Yukon. After the season closes IL will
be next to impossible to get supplies into the
Yukon country, and a large proportion OF the
gold seekers may starve to death. That would
be an ominous beginning for the new camp.
Alaska IL not like California or Australia or
South Africa. 1t produces nothing. When
the supplies from outside are exhausted, famine
must low. what degree no one can tell.
IL Is understood that there are ., 200 tons OF food
at ST.. Michael, and the Alaska Company has
three large and three small steamers to carry
up river. 1t is hard TO ascertain how much
there Is ut Juneau; it is vaguely stated that
there there are 1000 tons A. a pinch steamers
might h work Their iSn c way for several ever months to
which Is only three days distant. But II may
be nip and tuck II there ID any rush of gold
Old men are pointing out how history is re-
peating itself. The Klondike is Frazer River
oyer again. 1t was in tho spring Of 1858 that
Vancouver Island. was their rendezvous and
base, There was no road through the canon OF
the Frazer; the gold seekers clambered over
proclplces and through deliles on the edge Of
aDyssc5 where a goat would have had diff
Guilty IN keeping its footing, to MnrdereTs' Bar.
s shd, began that series. Of bars formed by the
eIGies ~ the current OF the river on which tho
mlners found their reward. All the way from
nope 10 Yale the river was sprinkled with pros