The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-01-18
THIfz, HLE5KH.


Taiia, Dec 26, 1897. From the
letter it shows that the writer is
very enthusiastic over the out
look in Alaska
There has been 100 men come
out from Dawson City in the last
ten days, and nearly all Of them
after supplies. I have only saw
two men that say they are not
going back. A great many that
come out got claims, and have
secured permits from the Gold
Commissioners to leave for nine
months. Two of these men are
camped within fifty feet of my
cabin. They turned all their
supplies over to their partners
who remained to work their
claims, and they come out to
take in two years supplies, and
will not return until they can go
down in a boat, May 18th. They
will leave here in time to get a
boat ready by that time. They
say there is only "a head of pack
horses left in that country, and
that they are worth from $500 to
5000 each. The rates for pack
ing are from 25c. to 40c. per
pound, distance of from II to
80 miles, and there is plenty of
feed for Summer, and then one
can get S1.00 per pound for the
meat of the animals in the Fall
for dog feed. l also learn that
there is plenty of hay cut. and
sells for 5000 per ton.
/ The emigration has already
commenced, and from 70 to $50
7 passengers come on every steam
ler-about three steamers a week.
( haze Just been down to Taiia
10 spend Christmas. and the road
! IS lined from here down with
optfts. am Il miles up the
river from Taiia, and within 4
miles Of the summit. Some are
/ going over the summit at all
j tines, but stop on the other side
and will wait until Spring. 1
think if a person would come up
here by February with a pack
train they could pay for the ex-
lpense OF it before they wished
to start on.
One of the men from Dawson
City has Just been in, and stop
ped my writing for two hours.
/ He informed me that one can get
IS1.00 per pound for packing out
40 miles. He tells of one young
man that took in a mule with him
last Spring. and averaged three
trips a week, the mule packed
| 800 pounds and he packed so
pounds and got from 55c. to 40c.
/ per pound. | am satisfied that
one can earn $1,000 ON each mule
and have the animal left for dog
feed. | asked this man about
taking mules down the river, and
he says all were taken this way.
The Stewart Brothers took 40
tons on q barge last Spring and
took few horses. and he also
says there is no trouble taking a
boat q feet wide. OF course a
person would have to let them
through the canyon and rapids
,, with ropes. He is of the opinion
: that every animal taken in could
be sold fer 5000. I do not know
of anyone here now going to take
in mules or horses. except my
self. I have one that / will take
anyway. This man tells me tha
stock will do very well anywhere
,, on the grass in the Summer seas
on, and up until the snow cover:
up the feed, which is quite late
| do not think these are big stor
les. because the Canadian police
paid here this Fall soc. pei
pound for "a miles-12 miles 10y
] : mules 10c.-12 miles by man wa:
40c. per pound.
i Wages here is from $500 tt
$500 per day. while ut Dawson
City wage are $3.50 per hour
So it can be seen that packing
must be high. and as there is ;
limited amount of supplies a
| Dawson City this Winter, an'
. one can get there as soon a
there is any goods to pack, an,
every body viii be out by tha
time, and a person could deman'
q big price for packing.
l am of the opinion that on
had better come direct to Taiia
and work here until the lakes ar
open, then build one or NOR
boats and take everything dow
the river, and come any tim
now. Supplies are just abou
the same price here that they ar
Mt ChalliS. Suoar g. 90 Der hun