The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-17

Really Surprising Farming Possible
titles i'm Yukon Country.
]. D. McGillivray's Dawson
Na.rr~ Xnrlr TI--,TI

y. -
New York Herald.
One unfamiliar with the climate of the
valley of the Yukon the year around, III
making trip by boat from st. Michaels 70
Dawson in August or September would
gather the impression that it was all most
fertile country, capable of supporting mil
lions of people. This idea would be borne
out to a certain extent by the fact mat at
some of the Russian and Roman Catholic
missions, particularly on the lower river,
are 10 be seen flourishing vegetable and
flower gardens during these months.
Ihere is nowhere in all this northern coun-
try at that season of the year any indlca-
ton that it would not be a comfortable
country TO live in. People will forget the
long winter and the extreme cold, and Won
der why there are not more inhabitants. 1t
is only when winter comes in that we APP
preciate the fact that without the great
mineral resources of the country there VIII
be little to induce anything to be done in the
way of farming.
Yet. in order to supply the miners with the
products of the SOIL agriculture may IN
time play an important part in the indus
tries of the Yukon country.
Were it not that there are means of COM
municat ton. both overland and by sea,
through which. within a few years, the
products of more hospitable climates, such
as California and the Northwestern States
of the Union, may be brought at moderate
rates, there would be great inducements for
people to engage in agricultural pursuits.
The seasons are extremely short but most
hardy vegetables and some cereals may be
grown during the short summers. when they
mature rapidly, at many points all along the
Yukon, and in close proximity to the mines.
Jack McQuestrin, the Father of the Yu-
fields at Forty Mile with a team of tame
moose, and raised potatoes, turnips, cab
bage and other vegetables. Last month
there were brought to Dawson several tons
Of potatoes which had been grown at Forty
Mile during the summer.
The Rev. J. Hawksley, a Church of Eng
land missionary, who is established at Fort
Yukon, tells me that he is going to make ex-
periments at that point, which is just with
in the Arctic circle, in growing vegetables.
He says that potatoes have been grown at
Fort Good Hope, on the Mackenzie river, as
we'll as Siberian wheat and barley, which
appear to mature as well as in Manitoba.
About Circle City there are large num-
Der of patches in which there are grown po-
tatoes, cabbage radishes, lettuce and even
oats. In the Klondike just below the mouth
of Bonanza creek, one hundred acres of
ground have lately been located for agri-
cultural purposes.
Few of the miners who come in here 70
dig for gold care to bother about agricul-
ture, but as prices fail it is probable that
many experiments will be made in this di-
self with the absolute necessities, including
a little more than bacon, flour and beans,
but the time will probably come when there
will be little gardens all over the country
from the Pelly TO the Tananah.
The FOUNDER" or man about town, in
Dawson is hard pressed for amusement.
will close up shortly cnless their proprietors
obtain a supply of coal oil to keep
their dim lamps burning.
There is peripatetic restaurant which is
open when it occasionally obtains enough
food to supply meals at from $3.50 TO IS
which would cost in San Francisco from 10
to % cents. Ham and eggs alone are So.
There is no regular theater or music hall,
although one dance hall is called the opera
house. Once in a while a variety show is
given in one of the dance halls, reserved
seats costing S.. In each of these are half a
dozen girls who dance with whoever cares
for such amusement from early evening
until late in the morning. But for the
strong faces of the frequenters of the place
they differ little in appearance from dance
halls on the Barbary coast, in San Fran
cisco. in the Bowery of New York or in the
East End of London.
In these places no attempt is made to sup
ply the patrons with honest drinks. Hoo
chinoo, made on the premises some
where else in town. and favored appro-
priately, is sold as Scotch, Irish or Bour-
bon WHISTLES, at so cents a drink. There
are more than a dozen saloons in Dawson,
but the proprietors of two or three of them
have bought up practically all the honest
liquor in Dawson, and the rest sell hoo
chirOo.
Gambling in Dawson is at a low ebb, now
that most of those who have money are
away in the mines for the winters work.
Yet thriving business is done in most of
the saloons at roulette, faro and stud poker.
Every four days some mine owner is given
the credit of having dropped from one to
ten thousand dollars in game.