The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-19


He says that the average temperature
for December, 1897, at Fit. Yukon, which
is just within the Arctic circle, was s
degrees below zero; January was "a de-
grees below; February, 20 degrees be-
low. The coolest day was Jan. 16, 1898,
when the thermometer registered g. de-
grees below zero. For the ten days
from Feb. IA to % the readings below
zero were 40, As. 81, 52la, AZ, 521A, "a, ~,
Sc, IS. Old-timers are unanimous in
saying that the winter of 1878 was
the miIdest ever known in northern
Alaska
BE that as it may" says Mr.. Dun
ham, whose experiences and observa-
tons form the basis of the bulletin,
the weather in the Yukon last winter,
on account of the dryness of the atmos-
phere and the absence of winds, was al
most uniformly pleasant. A tempera-
ture Of 90 degrees below zero there
brings no more discomfort than 80 de-
grees below in the Dakotas. The
writer has experienced far more dis
agreeable weather in Minnesota and
Montana than that which prevailed last
winter at Circle City"
/ The contrast of the present season is
finding many people poorly prepared,
who were apparently counting on the
! climate of a year ago. Hence the higher
/ prices and the exodus. Even last win
/ ter, food prices were out of sight, as
the saying goes. Condensed milk sold
for SO per can; tobacco was So to $40
per pound, coal oil was $40 per gallon,
and whisky was $40 to $40 per gallon.
Flour brought $50 per sack of fifty
pounds, moose meat could be had at 81
TO S1.25 per pound.
In a semi official statement, embodied
in the bulletin, a representative of the
/ Alaska Commercial company says:
In my opinion, the difficulties in re-
gard to the food supply will be twenty
times more serious this year than last,
and unless immediate steps are taken
to get the destitute people out of the
country, the government will be obliged
to issue. raions to at least 10000 people
at Fort Yukon and st. AIichaels during
the coming winter"
Firewood cost $40 per cord during the
winter, as a rule, though in some spe-
cial cases $50 and SIS was paid. Nails
sold for So per pound. When small
boats began to arrive in May, bringing
fresh vegetables, eggs and fruit, or
anges and lemons sold as fast as they
could be handed out at $1.5O apiece and
apples at 81 apiece. and even as late
as June u oranges sold for 70 cents
apiece The first eggs brought down
the river sold for SIS per dozen. Oys-
tiers, on the opening OF navigation, sold
for $40 per can, but by June % had
dropped to SO per can. AS late as June
% tobacco was selling at retail for S.
to $3.50 per pound; cigars equality not
stated, mind YOU'D, $25 per hundred.
and cigarettes, 50 cents per package.
Clothing is retailed in proportion,
Sack suits are made for 500 to $15C
each. Dress suits-though what they
are good for at Dawson, except, posi-
bly,, for masquerade purposes, is I'M
known-bring 5000 to $3.50 each. a
couple of peddlers, who took a cargo OF
hand-me-down clothing into Dawson
last summer, cleared $4,000 on the
transaction, it is said. The munificent
sum of 100000 was cleared on 1000 gal
Ions of whisky, shipped in by one en-
terprising and highly-favored individ-
ual
Restaurant prices soar like kites
along the Yukon A bill of fare rises
out of the hands of tenderfoot like
a toy balloon, the moment he picks il
up. Mush and milk at $15O per bowl
Think of it! a doughnut and cup Of
coffee, SIPS. It ought to be a nugget
and a glass of champagne at thai
price. A porterhouse steak, s.. Wher
used for half-soling shoes, a slight dis
count is made, no doubt. Beans for S.
per plate. They ought to be good a
that figure.
The bulletin gives an example of {
leading Dawson restaurant, having (
r seating capacity of thirty-two, en-
r ployed three cooks, one of whom wa!
, paid 500 per week, the others 81 pc
hour The walters received $50 pc
week. The proprietors paid $500 pc
l month rental for the building, a can
vas structure, 20x40 in size.
As an Illustration Of the prosperit!
= which attends the establishment of ;
/ gold standard, and nothing goes bu
c gold in Klondike, the following case
; are given:
The leading gambling house AM
dance hall employs three bartenders
= two weighers OF gold dust bookl1eep
: er and q porter. The bartenders re
= ceive SIS per day; the bookkeepeI
] S11.50; weighers, So; porter, $40. i
the gambling department the employee
get so day each. In the dance hal
a twelve women are employed, at $50 eacl
e per week, and % per cent commission
on all drinks and cigars sold through
j., their Establishments. The establish
ment pays SO barrel for water, usin
TWO barrels a day. The proprietor 0
f the leading saloon reports that his re
/. ceipts for the first three days after hi
grand opening in March, amounte
to SIS, 900, and his average daily bar re
> ceipts from April ! to June 20 was owe
s.. 600.
The Pavilion, variety theatre an
dance hall, opened about the middle o
. June. and the bar receipts the frs
night were So 200. It had three actor
a and six actresses under engagement q
a $50 each per week. Eight girls ar
employed in the dance hail, receiving
G % per cent commission on refresh
: ments consumed by their partners. A
champagne sells in this establishment
,, Tor $40 a pint, and is frequently Gale
= for, their earnings are large, eve
! measured by Klondike standards, on
e girl admitting that her commissions fo
: the first week amounted to $3.50.
g But what does this prosperity fulfill