The Dickinson press., 1898-03-12
gether long enough, they had only a
speaking acquaintance and made the

gether long enough, they had only a
speaking acquaintance and made the
welkin ring with their bowls and snarls.
There was more or less dead dog too.
"Durn your picter," said their own
CT, a far down easter, to a fine New
foundland that stood over the body Of
his roommate after having shaken the
breath out of him and stripping his skin
into shoestrings, "af you hadn't cost
me 10 much, I'd bore a hole clean
through you! But you'll get fight
enough afore you get to Alasky."
The big animal had bitten its master
and stampeded the trainhands, but he
wal too valuable to be suitably punish
ed when ven dogs Of low degree are
worth $50.
All Sorts Of Advice.
The one thing Of all that is most plen.
tiful and cheap-that is, most paradox
tcal, pulling and bewildering-is ad-
vice. It floats along the streets, plays
up and down the hotel corridors and
rises and lowers with the elevator. It
leans up against the bar and wanders in
and out Of the stores and restaurants.
You cannot escape 1t. It has set some
uncertain souls crazy. Ihave just had
a talk with a young man from st. Louis.
"When are you going to start for the
Yukon?" I asked.
"Idon't know" was the reply. ''1've
been here four weeks, and I'm likely to
stay here four more if I don't get hold
Of something more certain. I've talked
with 100 people who know all about it,
but I tell you it looks rather dubious.
One tells me to 60 to Copper river an
other offers me an eighth Of q claim on
bunker creek for 81, 500, and he shows
the stuff he got out Of it too. But how
under the sun can I get up there? A fell
low just in says it will cost at least
81, 900 to pack a years grub to Dawson
City over the Chilkoot. There's man
standing over by the door who tells me
to take the Dalton trail, and yesterday
some one claimed that the Teslin lake
route Is the only one you can get to
Dawson City BY. He says the Skaguay
and Chilkoot are lined with stale,
goods and people. I may go to Cook:
inlet yet. I'm keeping my eyes and ear.
open. Don't you forget it."
am afraid the young man will be in
Seattle or st. Louis another year from
now.
Some Adverse Opinions.
Nor is the advice by any mea all
In favor Of Alaska I should judge its
c%onoensus is against it. The charge is
frequently made that the transportation
companies are largely responsible for
the craze, and some have said it has
been carried to an extent little short Of
criminal, but I am bound to state that
this is untrue. That there is great rival
~ among the various railroad and
steamboat lines to get the business il
true, and Of ourse the newspapers all
lay the strongest claim for their own
cities as outatting and shipping points.
But the boom itself has needed no or.
ganized or extraneous assistance. Sue
cess is usually voluble and is often
bumptioua. It is magnifed as it is rolled
from tongue to tongue. Failure is quiet,
retiring and broods in silence.
Yet the cautious, discreet and con
tented are on deck. They say it is wick
ed and criminal for so many to borrow
money, mortgage their homes and haz
ard their all on q proposition that stand
at least 80 chances Of failure to one o.
success
I heard this we'll meaning advice
given to a man here at the hotel tn,
other day, and this was the reply b,
gave:
II guess you don't know my business
as we'll as you,do your, own, stranger
You say I have no chance Of success u]
there, but I know better than you d,
how much chance Of success I ha,
where 1,came FROM"
Iventured to ask the mai where b
hailed from.
II own a farm in Nebraska, sal
he, cor would If 1t wasn't mortgage
for about all it's worth, and forthe- pas
ten years I've been able to Just abou
make both ends meet y =
"But wheat brings a good prioenow7
"Yes, whanta man has got any t
sell. But my buildings and crops hav
been swept away.twioe byoyclones, an
we've had three dsoughts that hurne
up my crops cleaner than q Are'woul
do 1t. I may be an idiot to hunt gold I
! Alaska. but my wife and boy Wall tax
|; care Of the farm, and yon can't los
j what you haven't got..''
Thus, while adverse and confiictin
stories and advice may have caused il
dividuals to wayer and. in some cases [
turn back and:while' many who Jstartf
. are already stranded and '..strapped
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