The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-13
FROM ALASKA
Sedgwick County Man Writes
From ChiIcoot Pass.
Is A WILD LOOKING SPOT
He Says no One is Freezing
Being Eight Below,

Mr.. George Hayford formerly of 'Sedg-
wick county but now living in Klondike,
writes the first letter received here from
that far away country. He wrote the
letter on Christmas eve and it was re-
ceived by Mr.. w. w. Clark of Cheney,
to whom it was written on January II.
The letter follows:
''Dyea, Alaska, Christmas Eve, 1897.
Mr.. W. w. Clarke. Wichita, Kan:
Dear Sir-After so long a time I
thought I would write you a few lines
and let you know where we are and what
we are doing. We are living at present
fifteen miles up the Yukon river from
Dyea and three miles from the summit
Of Chilkoot Pass, the widest looking spot
on earth I guess. When the thern2om-
eter is at zero down at our place it is 30
or so below at the summit-just three
miles away. Now, don't think by this
that people are freezing here: on the con-
trary, the weather so far has been very
nice. Eight degrees below is the coolest
ii has been here yet; have had just enough
snow to make good sleighing-only about
two feet deep. We live right on the trail
and people from all parts of the world
are passing daily, some going in and
some coming out. Everything is hauled
in sleds or packed on horses, there be-
ing no wagon road here yet. Most of the
sleds are drawn by hand many by dogs,
but I have mule to draw my sleds. 1t
costs something to feed mule here. Hay
S worth 21a cents per pound and oats 8
,Ia
will haul a ton within three miles of my
place. then have to draw them by hand
mile and u half through the canyon
and take the mule over the mountain
trail. Flour at Dyea is worth 81 a 80
pound sack Here at Sheep Camp, as the
place is called, it is worth $3.50, so you see
a man can make fair wages hauling it.
This is a country of hard work. Every
thing nearly is done by hand. Wages
are good and there is plenty to do, but
it takes good strong man to stand it.
A man who don't like hard work had
better stay away from this country.
"Well, I guess you would like to know
what 1 am trying to do, anyway. I am
trying to get two tons of goods over the
Pass down to Lake Linderman. If you
where it is. That is where everybody has
to stop to make their boats. as that is
where the first timber is found on the
other side of Chilkoot Pass. l shall build
a large log house and keep a hotel as
it is usually kept in this country-viz:
Bunks for sleeping are made of bales
and pine bows. Everybody is expected to
furnish Their own blankets. Fifty cents
for a bunk and 81 a meaI-that is the
price over there now. The bill of fare
consists of bacon, coffee, bread and beans.
LAS soon as the ice breaks up-that will
be about May-I will put what goods 1
nave left in a boat and float down the
river and lakes to the Klondil1e That
is about 500 miles from here. If I don't
think there Is anything to be made in
looking for gold when 1 get there, and
don't want to stay, can sell what goods
we have left and come home. People
coming out from the Klondike say there
is no grub there TO speak of. Flour is
worth SO a sack, and everything else in
proportion. There is no way to get pro-
visions in there until the ice goes out.
A man could not haul on sled now any
more than he would need on the way.
Then, the ice is damned up on the river
below the White Horse Rapids so high
that sledging is out of the question. So
you can see that the grub question at
| Dawson City is a serious one. There is
no telling what eatables will be worth
when the first boats get in there. Ny
| intention was to go in over the ice, but
| I have learned from those coming out
| that it would be impossible TO go that
way and take anything like a good outfit
| so we have concluded to wait until the
| ice is out of the river and then go in a
| boat.
..Well / will close by saving that We