The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-09

government for the work, and last
March he again started northward in
the capacity of superintendent of con-
struction. On the 18th of March work
upon the line was begun at Lake Ben
nett, and was carried along without Sc
rious interruption until the 2Sth day
of last September. when the line was
completed to Dawson, and Mr.. Richard
son was once more free to return to
Montreal where he arrived last week.
The building of a telegraph line so
far from civilization and over such
Wild, rugged country, was task of
no mean proportions, and everything
considered Mr. Richardson thinks that
the work was not only done at a rapid
rate, but economically and without Sc
rious misadventure-with one excep-
ton, this being the drowning of Frank
Ricard, a foreman in the party, who
lost his life in the Five Finger rapids
in August last.
In order that the line should be COM
plete before. winter set in 1t was
thought necessary to begin work very
early in the spring, so j. B. Charlie
eminent to superintend the work, had
| Mr.. Richardson and his men at Lake
Bennett long before the sun had clear
ed the snow and ice away. Mr.. Rich
ardson states that the work of con-
struction under these circumstances
was ShlfellGly ullucult. Iuey Sldi leu
in with about 35 men, and with TINS
gang the work was carried on until
June IL, at which date the ice mad
cleared from the Yukon river In TINS
interval the line was constructed from
Lake Bennett to Marsh lake, and 1t
was here the greatest hardships were
experienced. For the first IA miles of.
the line the men We're compelled to use
snowshoes, and when the ice and
snow began to melt they hardly knew
what dry foot felt like. Another
thing they had to contend with was
snow blindness which is so common
in the Arctic regions, and for which
there seems to be no cure. AS a pre-
ventive goggles We're used by the men,
as well as a mask made of cotton cloth,
which was improvised out of perhaps
an old coat lining, and in which two
holes We're cut for the eyes. Another
thing which was found beneficial in
such cases was the blacening Of the
face about the eyes with charcoal or
similar substance.
Worked On Scows.
When the river opened, scows were
launched, and with these always at
hand the work went along rapidly. The
scows We're 40 by IL feet. They were
canvas covered, and made very good
and convenient quarters for the men.
| One of these was used as a home by
| Mr.. Richardson, his three foremen and
| his clerk; two more were fitted up as
| sleeping quarters for the men--50 men
| to scoW; another was constructed to
| meet the demands of a kitchen and
dining room, and still another for ma
| terials used in the work, stores. etc.
| The plan was to run the line along the
shores of the Yukon and it's tributaries,
so the scows were always at hand.
While the gangs We're out upon the
work ia
along, keeping in as convenient a Do-
| sition as possible, so that when requir
| ed the house boats could be readily
| reached.
| After the work was begun, with the
scoWs as an auxiliary, the working
| force was increased to about 80 men,
and this gang was kept steadily en-
| ployed until the line was complete. AS
already stated, the line as far as pos
sible followed the windings of the
| Yukon; but this was not all smooth
! sailing by any means, as at times
great cliffs had to be .surmounted or
| skirted, and then again it was found
necessary to cross the river with the
| line to the opposite shore. Where tS,is
| was necessary high crossings had ITO be
| effected, in order that the steamer traf-
| tic would not be impeded. This was at
| times a serious proposition, and one
not easily surmounted, as the steam
|
from the top of the smokestacks to the
waters edge. Where it was possible
| trees We're converted into poles just as
| they stood along the line, but, of
course, in the majority of cases. the
| poles had to be cut and carried to the
positions desired.
In this manner the No gauge iron
wire was put in place. the actual wire
mileage between the two points being
SIS miles. At times, of course, the
| construction proceeded slowly, and
| then again they We're enabled to do
more rapid work. The best two weeks
work on the line melted them finish
ed T31a miles, and this, Mr.. Richard
son thinks. everything considered to
be a very creditable record.
Midnight Hunting.
The superintendent of construction
says that one could not wish for more
| beautiful! weather than is experienced
in that country throughout the sum
| mer season. There is very little rain,
in fact they lost but three days
throughout the summer from this
cause. or course the days through the
hot season are very long, and the
night, if it can be called night at
all. is not of more than two hours
Duration and is practically nothing
| more than a sort of twilight. Speak
| ing of this phase of life near the Arc
tic Circle, Mr.. Richardson remarked
that he had many an enjoyable hours
shooting at a time when people were
| commonly supposed to be in bed At
| night he would take his gun, and in
| the semi darkness would have excel
lent sport with the ducks, which
abound in this country. He states that
upon one occasion in June he went
out on such an expedition and brought
back 80 black ducks which fell before
his gun. Every variety of water fowl
found anywhere on the continent can
be located in the neighbcrhood of the
Yukon river. There are the mallard,
the teal and that delight of the Mary
lander, the canvas back; the black
| duck, as already mentioned: the red
head and dozen other varieties.