Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-07-01
REPORT FROM RAJ.
A Man Who Went from Santa Pe Writes OF
Alaska.

AsSA
Deputy Sheriff Huber to-day received
a letter from Frederick Raj, who left
Santa Fe some time g for the Alaska
| gold fields. Mr.. Raj is at present To-
Gated at Eagle City, about fifty miles
from Dawson City, and five miles from
the Canada line. He has been in Eagle
City since September, 1898, is in good
health, and finds the climate similar to
that of Colorado and Montana. The
thermometer does occasionally drop to
60 degrees below zero, but it is not felt
so severely on account of the dry at
mosphere. Mr.. Nelson, who left Santa
Fe with Mr.. Raj, is in Dawson City at
present.
MI. Raj has located placer claims
each of twenty acres. Three are on
Seventy Mile river, and the others on
Slate creek, a stream about the size of
Galisteo creek. He has done assessment
work on his claims, and considers them
good prospects, each pan at present av-
eraging 10 cents. The surrounding coun-
try is undoubtedly very rich in gold
and platinum. 1t is about 6 feet to bed
rock in Slate creek. 1t would be a fine
hydraulic proposition for capitalists tc
work on a large scale.
Most miners on Slate creek are poor
and are even without provisions. They
are therefore compelled to labor in Ea.
gle City at other work. Provisions are
somewhat high. Flour brings $40 for 81
pounds, sugar go cents a pound, bacor
so cents a pound, rolled oats 40 cents E
pound, rice 40 cents a pound, condensed
milk Is cents a can, shoes $40 a pair
common blue overalls $3.50, rubber
boots SIS a pair, a suit of underwear So
gloves SO to $40, socks $1.50 to 50, cigar:
and drinks so cents, tobacco $3.50 {
pound. But prices will be cut in hal
by next winter. Wages last winter wer,
$40 a day.
Mr.. Raj and his partner built two cab
ms, which they sold for $1,450 cash.
The writer denies many of the sensa
tional stories about Alaska that flint
their way into print. He is ready, how
ever, to sell out his claims or make
deal with them, and advises that no on
should go to Alaska unless in possession
of a good outfit. Fur robes, he says, ar
better than blankets in Alaska; in fact
!, equipment. The mosquitoes darken tn
air, and one must wear a mask over tn
r face and gloves on the hands to proven
being eaten by insects.
In summer the day is twenty-five
! hours long, but in winter it is only fiv
hours.
$ The trip from Seattle to st. Michael
took Mr.. Raj fifteen days, and from 81
! Michaeps up the Yukon river to Eagl
City twenty-eigh days. The Yukon il
! many places is five miles wide, and tn
! scenery along it, especially in summer
is superb.
In summer the country is covere'
with moss and beautiful flowers. Will
cranberries, blackberries, currants an
other berries flourish, and there is plen
ty of timber.
In many places the frost never come
out of the ground, and at some place
= the ground is frozen to the depth of 8
feet or more. One must build a fir
to thaw the ground. 1t takes one fir
y to every Is inches of shaft that is sunk
This year transportation will be mucl
!, cheaper, the trip can be made in les
time, and accommodations will be bet
and a half tt reach here from Eagl