The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-16
CONDITIONS At SkAGMAY.
TRANSITION FROM A MINING CAMP
TO A CITY.
george i. Hall Tells Of Some Experi-
ences ON the TraiI-Eccentric Fee
male Who Takes Advanced

George I. Hall. In letter to the Post
intelligence. written from Lake Bennett
July 4, gives an interesting statement of
aHain at Skagway and on the trail
Among other things Mr. Hall writes:
The route from Seattle 10 Lake Bennett
mas been travelled by more than 600 pc D.
pie. and has been described by ADLER pens
than mine: but there are a few things that
have been said In regard to this country
that have created false impression. From
what l have read about Ska9way. I ex-
pecied to find a few log houses and a small
town OF tents. Instead l found a city of
more than 5000 inhabitants four large
wharves, large warehouses with every ia
ciilty Tor handling freight, five hotels,
city laid out In first-class shape as to
streets and alleys. With miles Of sidewalks.
The city is lighted by electricity, a COM
piete system OF waterworks IL in opera ton
the supply coming from lake over 400
feet above the level OF the town. There
arc more than l001 men working on the
Skagway & White Pass railroad, and in a
short time 1t will be all aboard for the
Yukon river.
AS We were billed for Dyea. We took
lighter and went to that little city. II
Dyea were built in more compact form It
would be quite town. but as Il is II has
one street about four miles long. There Is
not the lifo in Dyea that there is in Skag-
way Dyea has one hotel, which is the
finest north OF Victoria. built at cost Of
over $4,000 1t has not the patronage IL
deserves. The Dyea and Chilkoot Tram
Company delivers freight to the summit
for cents a pound. There is a good wagon
road running from Dyea TO Canyon City.
nine miles. Three or four stages run each
day; fare 81. From there you take the
trail to sheep camp. where every one stays
fxsht nd r~r$ l.
ton for 50 cents a meal and the same for
lodging. There is another little town OF
tents at the Scales, where one can get
lunch all the way from % cents TO four
bits. From this point to the summit is the
hardest and steepest climb. and particularly
so at this time OF the year. for the snow
Is melting, which makes ones footing very
Insecure. This part Of the trail is lined
with packers. both Indians and white men.
who handle the freight from the pack trains
at cent pound and land Il at the sum-
nit, where one encounters the queens sub
jects and must pass inspection.
Packers Are busy.
These packers carry from 100 TO IT'S
pounds each. and make five trips a day.
Last year during the rush they got cents
80 per day.
The Canadian customs officers are a
fine lot OF gentlemen, and while careful not
20 allow any autiahle goods To pass, they
do not subject one to any unnecessary de-
lay and are far more courteous In many
ways than the American officials How
ever. when they discover any attempt on
the part OF travellers 10 deceive. them the
culprit Is brought up with round turn
In this connection little incident might
be recited In which descendant from
Jerusalem in passing the custom Office had
been assessed 3l5.Io duty. and in making
change the exact amount, a difference Of
10 cents. could not be made when he BE-
came very boisterous and used abusive and
vulgar language The officials FOR mis-
smartness. deemed !. best 10 exercise more
than ordinary vigilance ard went through
his packs, finding thas Re had goods on
which duty was pays bic TO the amount ~
over SO watch he paid and passed on. a
poorer but wiser man.
From the summit on 10 Lake Lgnaarnafl
the goods are all packed on horses being
transferred from one train 20 another al
different points. II Ia generally supposed
hat Tits business is carried on by men.
but here we saw the question 81 wornan's
rights taking an advanced stand. and A
string % about fifteen pack horses, owned
and managed by a woman. She arrays
herse. In mems attire. ehsgs ara smokes
and has all tire verracuiar Of the trail
When things do not go right sire curses
aneo everything - blue, AID gives soms