The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-02-18
OUR BOSTON LETTER.
Klondike Fever Grows Stronger
as Days Grow Longer.


Railroad Men Estimate That From Six to
Eight Thousand VIII Make the Start
All Kinds For Sale-Schoolhouse on
Wheels Giving Instruction to Railroad
acknowledgement Agencies to Be Reg
ulated-Municipa Brass Band Proposed.
Collector Warren Resigns - Faneuil
HaIl-Dramatic and Personal.
We are thousands of miles from the
storm center, but the Klondike fever is
with us, and as the days now grow
longer it increases in force and it's eff
fects are more noticeable. was sur
prsed at the story by a railroad man
who has made a study of the travel to
the gold fields of Alaska. According to
this authority, it Is safe to say that
even at this early date Is or ~ persons
on an average leave Boston daily Ior the
New Ell Dorado, while next month there
is no doubt the exodus will be much
larger. The gold seekers come from all
parts of New England, and are drawn
from almost all classes. The clerk and
mechanic of the city, the farmer from
the country and the fisherman from the
shore are all represented. Almost all or
them go in parties made up with the
understanding that all shall share in any
treasures discovered as few ineXper1-
enced men are willing to run the risk of
Drawing the hardships of the journey un-
aided, and these parties vary in size all
the way from three to so and rs in num-
Der.
NV experienced friend estimates that
during the year from 5000 to 5000 people
will go to Alaska through this CITY, and
even a greater number would not sur
prise him. The one thing that prevents
the numbers going from being three or
four times as large as it is is the fear that
in the rush this spring they will not be
able to get their supplies through, and
the gold seekers are willing to go to al
most any amount of trouble in order to
make this sure. 1t is for this reason that
so many men are going by way of Cape
Horn, where they can take all the sup
plies they want, while others are taking
the long route by way of Edmonton, the
Athabasca and Great Slave lakes and
the Mackenzie river, which is deep wa
terway, and has been travelled route
for 100 years.
The Cape Horn people have nearly all
of them gone in fishing schooners, about
a dozen of these craft having sailed
from different New England points in
~ Iac he yaII 1AI xxt;fl
boats and supplies. That so long and
devious a trip should be made has sur
prised many persons, but the reason of it
is not far to seek and lies in the deeply
rooted distrust of the steamship COM
panies running to Alaska from the west
coast, which is found amongst all of those
Having here this spring for the gold
fields. The average New Highlander is
a conservative person, and even if he
has the gold fever he is careful not to
start out on an expedition that appears
to have starvation as It's destination. For
this reason parties, by rail or otherwise,
are most of them fitting out in this city
and dealers in the supplies demanded
report boom in trade as a result.
AS a result of this demand there are
s -,
of the kind the Arctic voyagers require,
in this city today than ever before The
windows of sporting goods stores are
filed with complete outfits of fur coats
and trousers, fur caps that cover the
shoulders as well as the head fur boots
and about every device known calcula-
ted to keep man warm in a country of
extreme cold. One enterprising firm ex-
hfhit1 whole mort n hla bonSa roo5n 80
aluminium and fitted with beds, furni-
ture and cooking utensils, that weighs
little and can be set up anywhere. If
every New Highlander that goes forth to
seek his fortune gets rich things ought
to boom around here in 1900
The most unique schoolhouse in the
world Is now in this city 1t is on
wheels, and on its arrival was backed
up onto a siding in Park square. and i'm
mediately opened up for business This
schoolhouse, with its corps of competent
Instructors, is owned and operated by
the Westinghouse Air Brake company.
1t Is made up of three cars and has tray
eled more than $1,000 miles. In it more
than 100000 railroad men have been in
structed within the eight years of it's ex-
schoolhouse fitted with every appliance
for instructing the pupils in the use of
the Westinghouse air brake system, and
has it's principal and it's competent
teachers.
When the Westinghouse air brake
was invented and applied to steam rail
roads, it was found to be the best thing
of its kind provided it was properly
handled. 1t is automatic in it's action,
but the best results could not be OBJ
tanned without a competent man at the
throttle, who understood perfectly Just
what results would be obtained with
certain amount of pressure. 1t was this
fact that led to the establishment of
the schoolhouse which just now has its
headquarters in Boston. 1t was the idea
of getting the best results out of the
brake, and, therefore, insuring greater
safety to the passengers and a saving of
property to the railroads and shippers.
that was the inspiration of this remark
able school. So, in 1889. the school on
ole ct, Il