The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-09-25
TELLS OF TRIALS.
Government OmciaI Writes OF the
Hardshfps I'm the Gold Country.

IA Hnrdships In the Cold Country
~ Washington, Sept. 20. - oren w.
Weaver, acting commissioner Of labor.
has given out copy of most graphic
letter on the terrors of the trip across
Alaska to the KlondilSe gold fields. The
letter has just been received from
Samuel G. Durham, statistical expert
of the governments department OF la
Dor, who had been assigned by Commits
sioner Wright 20 make an investigation
Of the opportunities which the gold
1ceions in the Yukon valley and adj
joining territory afford for the re-
munerative employment of American
lnbor and capital. The letter is in part
os follows:
Lake Lindemann. Alaska. Aug &c. 1897
commissioner OF Labor. Washington
Sir: / left Dyea Monday morning at II
o'clock and arrived here Tuesday evening
at seven. My four Indians started ahead
OF me. but / have not seen anything OF
them since the start. and am waiting for
them here. When reached the foot OF the
| summit a terrible storm was raging on
the pass. / had an awful experience COM
| fng across the summit. / started out with
| my hand bag strapped on my back. think
! Ing that as II weighed only 40 pounds l
/ could carry Il. / managed 10 struggle along
20 the head Of navigation for canoes, six
miles from Dyea, and was there forced
\ 70 employ an Indian packer paying him
/ ten dollars TO carry my grip 10 Sheep Camp.
/ u miles from Dyca- / spent the night at
/ Sheep Camp. which IS merely collection
! or tents. and started for the summit az
/ eight o'clock Tuesday morning I'm a driz-
! zling cold rain. / employed a packer 10
| carry my grip from there to Lake Linde-
mann. paying him SIG. AT the foot OF the
I TV4If md
white packers. who had cached their packs
on the TRAN above and were returning 70
Sheep Camp 10 await an abatement OF the
| storm
at present the condition OF affairs on
both trails "a terrible, and hundreds or men
are bound 10 starve and freeze 10 death
II they continue 10 come this way. Ipassed
at least 900 men between Dyea and here
and not more than 100 have their outfits
this side OF the summit. Every 30 yards
along the TRAN are piles or goods, ana
/ snppose there are provisions TO the value
| OF $500, 900 scattered along the trail Prices
4 for packing and for all kinds OF service
are practically prohibitory. for most OF
those who are attempting 10 get I'm, 80 many
| are carrying over their own outfits Some
| Of the Indians carry as much as 200 pounds
| At one load and make the trip from Dyea
70 Lake Llndemann In two days. returning
20 Dyea on the third day, thus making two
trips a week White men carry from u
20 l25 pounds and II takes man with az
adequate outfit a month 10 get 20 the lake
rhere are many here who have been hv'
or six weeks packing their outits over
ind are not ready 10 start down the river
I yet All who have come 90 SkaEuay OF
Dyen within the last week or 50, who have
70 come ia without sufficient OUTFIT, pay
20 cents or more pound or not get IN a.
all
sIumber is $500 a thousand, and rising
A great many whipsaw their lumber, twr
men burning ont about 100 feet aday Aboa'
! carrying three men sells for $3.50 20 $500
according 10 the purse OF the purchaser
Wnfos or carpenters arc $3.50 day an1
hoard Everything IS high in price whef
you ear get Il at all. Whisky IS 20 cent?
drink and FIVE dollars a bottle. and pooi
stun nj that Alcohol Is worth $40 gal
lon. II makes ten gallons OF Lake lAnde
mann whisky. Meals cannot be had FOL
money as everyone Is holding on 10 hi
provisions never saw such sclishnes
anywhere as Is displayed on this tran
You pass 100 people without receiving 1
rcsponso 10 your respectful good morn
inR and soon learn 10 keep your mouti
shut There arc so many on tho trai
that ii IS like walking the streets OF a citl
the Individual Is lost In the passini
fhrong and you are recognized only b.
acduaintanccs II you ask for food In nin'
cases out or ten Il Will be refused.