The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-20
A VOICE FROM KLoNDIKE.
v. K. Compson Writes Regarding
Alaska Gold Fields.

Alaska Gold Fields.
Frisco, April 1S.-Mrs. Mae Compson
has just received a letter from ha
husband, who is now in the Klondike
country Mr.. Compson left Frisco on
May 80 of last year, in the employment
of the North American Transportation
& Trading company. This letter was
the first in six months, and is highly
priced by Mrs. CompSon, as an asSur-
ance that her husband will not suffer
from hunger or cold while in that
northern cline. The missive was writ
ten Feb. 16. and gives a full account Of
life in Dawson City.
Your correspondent was unable TO
get this particular letter, but through
the courtesy of Mr.. George Rausche, he
was permitted to copy letter Written
by Compson to Rausche on the above
named date.
V f Compson is well known in this
part of the country, and his version of
the situation will be considered final
by all his acquaintance. He is a well
educated man, and your correspond
ent can say, after three years &C
quaintance. that there is nothing sen
sational about him; his Judgment is
clear, and any estimate he may make
will be conservative. We give the let
ter in full viz:
Mr.. George Ransche. Frisco, Cd all.
My Dear Father-in-Law:-I received a
letter from Mae today, and she informs
me that you are getting the Klondike
fever, which I hear is quite prevalent
in your country and very contagious.
/ cannot give you any advice on COM
ing here or staying at home. 1t is a
very expensive trip and anything but
pleasant.
Some of the placers are very rich.
One hundred dollars to the pan is not
uncommon. pan is two small SHOW
els fun. The ground is frozen, and has
to be thawed with fires. You can see
that the ground has to be rich TO pay
for working. with wages at SIS per
day and other expense ir proportion.
Wood is very high; as much as $50
per cord is being paid for chopping, and
it is selling here in Dawson for $40 per
cord.
Living is not cheap. Twas passing
e. restaurant yesterday and got hold of
a bill of fare. I viii give you an idea
of what a square meal costs by giving
the cost OF a few dishes: a tender
loin steak is $3.50. sirloin $3.50 plain |
steak Sc, hot cakes, per pair, S1.50; !
bacon and beans, $3.50; stewed fruit, |
81 per dish: coffee, per cup, rs cents.
Beef, moose. and carihoO are plenti- /
full at $3.50 Der pound.
inert are NA4AAiNs eAGOhN oSDpv PCO-
pie in Dawson and on the creeks in |
this vicinity with probably 1,500 be-
tween here and the mouth Of the river. |
IF reports are true, there will be 100000 |
people here next summer.
7 estimate that there will be not less
than 20 tons of gold shipped from here
this year. I have travelled up and
down all the creeks that are being
worked, and my estimate is considered
very low.
MY company has expended over
81 900 900 in cash in the purchase of
mining property here, and they intend
TO work on a large scale this coming
summer If 1 decide to remain another
year. | can command a good salary.
Had ! come on my own hook 1 could
have made a stake. l have been put
ting a little money, however, into min
ing ground, and ! may be able to clear
up a little dust in the spring. We see
but little money here: it is all dust.
Letters are commonly received here
2 year or more after they are written.
II costs 81 to send a letter.
I'VE have had most pleasant weather
thus far; we have had very little ex-
tremely cold weather. Much of the
time the thermometer has ranged from
20 to 80 degrees below zero, which is
mild for this country.
The snow is deeper than common; I ,
am lOl0 lIldt we nave ABOUT the maxi
mum depth now, which is three feet
1.-The days are frightening very rap
dly, and in three months we will have
continuous day. [
Il have fine pair of dogs which
,ost $3.50 each; $500 is a common price
or dogs. During the fore part of the
winter provisions were very high.
Flour sold for $3.50 per hundred, and
,ther things in proportion.
Il have not worn an overcoat this
winter; am wearing the same clothes q
wore when I left Frisco, nearly a year
Igo, with the exception of German .
ocks and noccasins, which is the foot '
year of this country. !,
ANY information I can give you in
egard to this country. 1 will gladly ?
ufnish. Trusting this will find you :
veil and prospecting, 1 remain yours
ordially, V. K. COMPSON."
MAX SOHR,S ENTERPRISES