The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1898-02-03
Some Notes on Alaska.

Some Notes on Alaska.
There are two telephone lines be-
tween Dyea and Lindemann.
T. R. Needham has just started the
Stickeen River Journal at Fort Wran-
gel.
The weather is so moderate at Ju-
neau that the people are not wearing
Overcoats.
1t is estimated that the carrying ca
pacity of Portland and Puget sound
steamers foots up $1,000 passengers per
month.
The lumber famine continues at
Dyea and Skagway, and prices rule IS
to $50. The dealers promise supply
in few days. Good weather for build
ing continues.
Colonel E. o. Lamphere and M.
P. Gilbert, of Chicago, capitalists,
have purchased of gang of Greek
miners seven gold quartz claims in
Southeastern Alaska for $40, 900.
A large force of men and teams are
getting out and delivering piles for the
NOVEL; wharf at Dyea. This wharf
will probably be the first Of the three
wharves under construction to be COM
pleted.
An ordinary shack-if there were
lumber to build it within SLagway
will rent for $50 to $50 month. A
squatter's right on lot not far f-oS
the central district brought an offer eff
500 to Portlandef. 1t was refu=.a.
Archie Sheep and w. Stewart, of
Dawson, presented to the famous
"Slim" Blrch-as a testimonial of re-
gard-a nugget two inches in diametes
It is worth 5000. Slim g convict num-
Der IN San Quentin will be engraved
on it and it will adorn his neck.
j. Nj: Fqwler's 'townsite scheme at
Lake Lindermann, by which he hoped
to plat out all the aavilable land and
tax everybody So who put tent on it.
has been knocked in the head by the
Canadian government, which has re-
served this particular land for the use
of the public to put up tents and store
their goods there without charge.
j. Kay, of San Francisco, who took a
cargo of lumber to Skagway on the
Noyo. says SO great is the demand for
lumber that they can hardly wait until
it is unloaded. Mr.. Kay says that but
small per cent of the hundreds of
people arriving at Dyea and Skagway,
intent on pushing on to Dawson, have
any conception of the difficulties be-
fore them. He predicts that conges-
ton on the trails will be greater than
last season.
A company, of which ]. ]. Mckay,
the Yukon freighter and the man who
made the quickest trip ever made from
Dawson to Dyea during the winter, is
the head, has been organized at Tacoma
to run an express between that city and
Dawson. The company will operate
steamers on the lakes, and from the
White Horse rapids to Dawson. using
dog and horse trains in packing from
Dyea. It is estimated that the trip
from Tacoma to Dawson will be made
in Is days in the summer and % days
in the winter. The company will at
tempt to- secure mail contracts. At
present mail is scattered all along the
trail, and Mckay asserts that he is the
only man who ever succeeded in de-
livering mail on the Yukon during the
winter.
Collector of Customs J. w. Ivey is
receiving good deal of praise for his
vigorous policy in enforcing the laws
regarding the liquor traffic. As long
as the laws are in effect they will be
enforced. His vigilance in Selling
contraband stuff is attracting general
attention. The liquor men are groWl
ing because he shipped away 90 tons
of the stuff on the Elder. The new adj
ministration is making warm times in
the North, and, as a natural result, the
collector is cordially disliked by the
juneau smuggling ring.
About every party OF miners now fit
ting out for ALASKA takes along a net
or seine, wHich:is set at night In some
eddy through hole in the ice. and gel .
dom fails to catch fish enough for break
fast. After the ice is gone, there is no
trouble in catching fish in any stream
flowing into the Yukon. A report has
reached Portland that one Sullivan for
merly a fisherman at Yaquina, who
went to Alaska last spring, engaged in
the fishing business at Dawson, and,
with the limited plant at his command,
made 81 600 last summer. He started
to come out to procure supply of fish
ing gear, and was found beside the
trail with his throat cut from ear to
ear.
Rioh Find II the Bohemia Dfstricf.