Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-02-17
TWO CLONDYKE LETTERS.
LATEST ACCOUNT FRO1 WOOD
COUNTY ARGONAUTS.
Misleading Statements 0ualified-in=
dams Complain That Whites Have
Taken All Their Squaws. Ann
ericans Tiust Pay Duty in
Canadian Territory.

Canadian Territory.
This week the REPORTER offers to its
readers extracts from two spicy letters
written by Frank r. Houston at Daw-
son, Alaska, one to this paper and the
other to his mother. Franks notes
are always interesting and reliable be-
cause based upon the results of careful
Investigation. He writes:
DAWSON, n. W. T. Dec. s, 1897.
Friend Ed: In clipping from your
issue of Aug. 26 received by yours truly
noticed many statements that are
misleading-in fact, not true, and they
will have tendency to cause many
Grand Rapids and Centralia people to
pass a restless winter waiting for gentle
spring to open up their way to the
Eldorado and certain riches If they
could see the thousands of disappointed
men, many of whom have been here
IN the Yukon country for five to eight
wears, they would commence a think
ing act.
[ will take few things said and, ar
far as my ability will permit separate
the wheat from the chaf [ wish 1t
understood also, that [ know whereof
[ write and have the best Of authority
for all [ say in this letter. I do this
that none of my friends may throw up
lucrative business or employment.
For young man with nothing but
hap-hazard employment, the country
is possibly good proposition as there
are opportunities here that are une-
qualled, perhaps.
It is certain that none can accuse me
of any ulterior motive in writing as |
do, but | wish to advise those who asked
me to write of the country as found
and saw it, 4
The first inaccuracy Of statement is
tritling-that of the winter weather
You were led to believe that the mer-
curry went down to y degrees last win
ter, that it averaged 40 degrees below,
and that some men never lost a days
work The coldest weather was either
81 or 81 degrees below, so Mr.. Chapple
assures me. The temperature this
winter has been down 10 5S degrees be-
low, but | hardly credit it. 1t certainly
did pinch on fellows nose.
Again, you were told that there is no
rain IN the interior. The facts are quite
the reverse. 1t rained last fall I know
and others tell ME it did rain last spring
A 4ukoner says to you that ''we
nearly starved to death last winter and
there was nothing left in camp but nav,
beans, and 200 men lived several weeks
on these, With little popcorn, etc" ."
This is so absolutely untrue as to be
laughabIe to all persons here who have
seen it.
The stores do not rob the miners.
Prices are certainly high compared with
Wisconsin, but wages have been pro-
portionatelv high. 1t is only when
some individual or combination secures
a corner on some article of grub that it
is sold at sky soaring rates. The stores
dare not do such work for they would
be treated roughly.
Some have considered it impossible
to reach the Clondyke after Sept
David Parcher of Wausau and two
others reached here October "A, but ii
was late season. The river seldom
closes before the 18th of October.
Albert Gray. of course, landed al
|
people there possess, but he showed
less business than school girl. He
simply sold his interestiu No. 80 Edo
RADIO to VIM. Chapple for $4,000 CO.
when if he had held on to it for one to
six months it would have been worth
S2OO,OOO.OO. VIM. Chapple, who now
owns J of 80 Eldorado, asks just hall
million dollars for his interest. Gray
essor of property. He has, at the op.
ton of Chapple: interests IN A. Hun,
ker, q Hunker and No. l. Gay gulch
His combined interests in the three
properties amount to one and ] claims
Chapple owns everything and can take
all or give up ! as he chooses.
Chapple has sold q Hunker some
two weeks since but do not know what
figure he obtained, but 1t was certainly
over $25 100000 Chapple can leave this
country worth $500, 900, O0 and be is well
able TO take care of it.
If any of you conclude to come tc
the country, prepare to pay duty on
your goods. Bring good outfits and
come with the intention of going past
Dawson and into American territory
Watch and see what the Canadian Par.
lament does about the new laws and act
accordingly. If the laws stand as now
enacted and are enforced, it would be
folly to come here or into any Cana
dian territory, A petition has gone out
asking for the repeal of the laws OF
amendment.
Do not come, though with anv golden
dream nonsense. Life here is very
matter of fact and you will have hard
work and about one chance in one
thousand of making a stake larger than
you start with. [ have written this in
a great hurry and composition must be
excused. It is no country for women
at all although there are good many
The country would be as we'll off with.
out them.
Anyone having serious doubts abou,