The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1898-04-01

try can be seen, yet the greatest inter
est lies in the fact that Birch creek s
distant only eight miles across low
divide, and. of coures, to all gold
hunters, Birch creek would be the
point of interest for this district.
An Indian and half breed took out
the first gold on Birch creek at a point
now named Pitkas Point Notwith
standing the great KlOndike excite
ment, there were this season about
1000 miuers working on Bircn creek.
The creeks around CircleCity on which
gold has been found are Birch, Masto
don (Which is 70 miles from town.. |
Boulder, Greenhorn, Headwood, Nam
moth, Porcupine, Harrison, Miller and |
Eagle To the miners on these creeks
the question of transportation is of the
most vital Importance. for it now costs
about $50 to have 100 pounds Of pro-
visions carried from Circle City to
Birch creek by pack horse. l wonder
that already some one has not intro
duced the patient little burro into
Alaska He is Just as able to with
stand the cold as horse or dog, and his
long hair would render him almost
impervious to the mosquito. He could
also keep himself in winter provender
without very much assistance. AS an
innovation, one of the well-known
merchants of Cisrlc City had moose
that he had taken when calf. trained
to become il we'll behaved draft ami
NAL. The animal performed quite a
few domestic operations, such as haul
ing wood, etc. 1t might still have
been an ornament to its kind, but was
shot by a newcomer who had heard OF
the marvellous game in Alaska and OF
course wanted to try his hand at shoot
ing the same. The old inhabitants
voted that this man from the states
had a good deal less Judgment than
ardor.
At Circle City postoffice has been
established by the United States. and
on July IA, 1897. the first United
States mail arrived there. Before that
private enterprise had controlled the
mails These parties would receive
from $500 to 81 900 for one trip from
Juneau to Circle City. In 1897 there
; was only one trip made with American
mail, while the Canadian government
made three.
The Indians make the best pilots, and
nearly all the Yukon river boats have
Indian or Eskimo guides. These
. guides are especially appreciated IN the
| I ukOU uulS. uGS6 Illus ny lllC way
are 400 miles long, and their width
, equal six their length. Many claim
s that the Yukon flats were at one time
"a vast lake much larger than any fresh
2 water lake existing today. TO one
t desiring to follow and study up the
= theory of this great lake | would adj
wise trip to Preacher creek. Preacher
j creek enters Birch creek and is about
q l2A miles i'll length. 70 the explorer i
{ will be of no little interest. Little
Y gold has been found on this creek bu
things Of much greater interest to The
/ student.
t In the territory between st. Mi
= chael's and Circle City is u population
J. of 5000 whites and at least 8, 0OO Ia
. tives. There are room ana work 70
IS them all, and il almost always happen
that The last steamer up the river vii
reach Circle City. so tAat there is Ver.
liJtle dau.er ot Il scarcity Of fool sap
, ply hele aDd sc.,rcely any OF starya
u0n.
90 the American Z w0nid say,
possible srup on the american side
i iloDl: up Cooks lalef, Whicn bids fai
70 become e. large and a valuable place
ground, ~ pper river. here lat
stories tell aF>ci0us finds or ii 20
}" go Ill by N". 'l %. M'cha6I ah'. pAF
tiIEc 10 .' .''s' HSten 70 t'lo idl5a
Aafz9oAa a'15t. ll1".@15 "o.e nav
sc3ofco up &'u' III Gl9IE canoe pddH,P: ~,
hot "hu"-'% lts Wofth or F"tue' T..
s%"'!" - a5'. W. ~ II .-'.t '."s'n % .
-"leH"'l q. AHe @lv"' n4-ie1-'5 Aol'
c" az oFtE> ..'- al5e' Is t'i9 iacl- u sa'
y pieS, 44d none Sh"gil 20 any Wlei c-,,
re III AiasAa "Ao 'Ai'l"' PROVISION 4oI
.v year or more. or.e.,.,-.,.,,.-.7, s-.....
= -dlnooK creek als2 go Olaa wen Tor pol
J. ui8r L"Nof' r. ~ lS iV0 L'l'"7 peloW ~
W ci@ ivy. LIS cree" - "'-Hleu "l'S
lc QUO On ocd lnah r 4AluooA' MHo eAtt@ttc q I,
= f',ooo rom - PloSlsct i do!0 e'S-V l0'
-. SQUARE ana Hlteen leoI uGep; o.
AZ "a "a 9epleinne[ oa MllooA o1a a'n'S WEI
H. 8eIllhg Iof 90 2Oo o!ch. IL -Iilo9
- "nu .L iGher hear ~ cI"lii1 :i3 l'i @ on' M Mel
O. 'loll aalnp part ViIy wiz p9 1 'no srf'
l IuotropoIIs Vi Ai''SNa Ill 'H0 near Il
'uIT. lri,o .,ouo = ,,o 1o-,.,,.
re III llion ineIG - ene 10y uAuh ui1 iise.
n Lulu uhtl'c lhttiaiih, Win pIc VI utc'