The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-26

when the packers found that they had too
much TO do. they even received 81 per
pound from some people who were III
terrible hurry to get across the divide Dr.
fore winter closed navigation on the head
waters of the Yukon river.
Since January I last the highest price
paid for packing over the trail has been %
cents per pound. Rates have fallen at
times as low as cents per pound-a phe-
nomenai figure IL is ciaimsd-and are now
ruling at about 10 cents. As during the
rush last fall, many OF the gold hunte-s.
finding that they would have plenty OF
time on their hands after arriving at the
lakes. have turned 10 and engaged in pack
ing. Some OF them have earned 81 per
day for weeks at a time. Both trails are
alive with men, horses. burros, oxen and
dogs. while gold hunters and outfits are
scattered from one side OF the mountain
pass 10 the other.
Road From SkaEway.
The low prices for packing that are be-
ting paid this season are due TO the supe-
rior facilities that now exist. as COM
pared with last fall. for getting the for
tune hunter and his goods to the lakes.
Competition il another factor. Tram
com panies. wagon road companies. steam
winze operators and plain. ordinary pack
ers swarm over each of the two trails.
They are al. QAt tcF pUSlftSs. inttt ~ n
large demand but the supply of labor and
OF means for transporting outfits Is ade-
suate The result h that the cost OF get
ting an outfit from tldewatsr TO the lakes
over either of the routes IL much lower
than ever before in the history of Yukon
travel.
At skagway. the packers are using the
ice road up the river to the summit. Snow
has been plentiful and the trail. being
, steadily used. has been kept in prime con-
tiitiou. An OK team can easily carry 100
TO 400 pounds from the sea to the sum-
init of the range, except over the worst
hills At such places. the packers resort
TO double trippings.
On the White pass dog teams. goats.
horses, mules and burrows are all busy
getting ra;ions for the great army OF gold
hunters to the lakes. preparatory TO the
great stampede down the river In the d.
rection of Dawson. Such sight as that
now ar Skasway has never been seen be-
fore in all Alaskas history. a large pro-
portion OF the arrivals who are bound for
the inside take their goods 10 the summit
themselves. asking 10 odds Of the packing
companies. Some Of them even ignored
Brackett's demand for tolls on his wagon
road. This dispute had not been settled at
last accounts.
Horses at Dyea.
A: Dyea there are now upwards OF 30
teams of heavy draft horses. employed in
hauling freight from the wharf at tide
water 70 sheep camp. A trait al been KEEP,
Ia good repair for this distance BY pack
ers' association. which has raised money
BY charging tolls and by subscriptions
for this purpose- The grade Is steady
rise from Dyea 10 Sheep camp. but there
are TO steep decgisities 10 surmoant, and
the heavier teams can easily haul a ten
per day TO the camp. a distance OF fifteen
miles and make the return 10 Dyea in
the same day.
by the operation OF this process outfits
are being concentrated at Sheep camp.
Few large parties have yet gone over tho
summit with their outfits, although travel
has been open ali winter, barring intervals
when biiZzards on the Peak OF Chsikoot
made a passage certain death. But under
average conditions, people have made pill
grimages back and forth between Sheep
camp aad the lakes on the far side OF the
summit ali winter long, although as a
/: rule they travel light.
The great bulk of the gold hunters that
have sought entrance 10 the Yukon By
way OF the Chiikoot trail are congregafed
between pyea and Sheep camp. Many OF
them are comfortably housed az the lat
ter place. They have taken this course
/ simply because II was preferable 70 wait