Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1899-02-02
HAY S4OO PER. TON.
THANKSGIVING DINNER ON TUR-
KEY WHICH SOLD AT 50 so
PER POUND.
e. n. Lskensn Says These Are Some
of the Prices That Prevail IN
Dawson City, in the Yukon
Country.

J. G. Lakenan, Mexico, Mo.
DAWSON, Yukon Territory, Nov.
80, 1898 Dear Brother; 1t has been
nearly three months since wrote q
letter, and don't know whether the
ones did write from here were de-
livered or not, as I have had no re-
port from any since the one wrote
from Bennett; have written to you
twice from here, and hope you finally
got them; there have been very few
chances to send mail out since the
boats stopped running until recently,
when the rush started out over the
ice. 1t is estimated that 5000 people
will 60 from here to the outside over
the Ice this winter.
suppose you have seen accounts
of the Dawson fire. 1t didn't burn
any of the best part Of the city, but
several very expensive buildings were
buraed, among them the postofIlce.
had just mailed you q Kiondyke
Miner; they claim all the mail was
saved, so you may have gotten it.
Harvey and have built us another
cabin; 1t is on the opposite bank Of
the Yukon, west Of Dawson. We
now have very roomy and comfort
able house 12x15 feet on the inside,
with tent joined on to the front to
put our goods, wood, etc., In. We
like 1t better over here, as wood is
more convenient, water better and II
has many other advantages.
We have had very little severe
weather here yet. For about ten
days the temperature hovered around
40 degrees below, 46 being the lowest;
1t is only 10 below now.
Dawson is well supplied with goods
of all kinds and prices are quite reas-
enable; but daylight Is getting very
scarce here, and ! am afraid the sup
ply will be entirely exhausted before
the boats begin running in the spring
and cannot be had at any price.
The sun rises and sets almost In the
south now, and only q few hours
apart; but the moon, like the sun in
summer, can be seen almost all the
time. The snow is about eighteen
inches deep, but very light and dry /.
Thanksgiving was duly celebrated
here, turkeys being plentiful at % 80
per pound. We didn't wish to lay
ourselves liable to dyspepsia or other
diseases by eating too much turkey,
and were content to celebrate on the
following bill of fare, served in Klon-
dyke style by two noted chefs; Roast
moose, macaroni with cheese, sour
dough biscuits, dried fruit, butter,
coffee, chocolate, minee pie and
doughnuts.
We sold two tons of hay Thanks
giving day for s400 per ton and are
now delivering it. We each take Q
hand-sled up to the stack, which Il
about q mile from here, and load
three bundles of about 100 pounds
each to the sled and haul them down
to the brow of the hill, where we start
them down q steep bank about 200
feet high and they roll down ON To
the ice, where the man receives them.
II is hard for men to get work here
and be sure of their pay, as claim
owners want to hire men for 81 an
hour, payable on bedrock; that
means, il the claim proves valuable,
you get paid; If not, you may work
all winter for nothing and board your
eelf.
My health is good and am getting
along fairly we'll Hope some Of you
will write often, for 1t seems a long
time between letters. Haven't heard
from Thede since your letter came, in
August. Must close now and write
to Thede. Love to all.
Your Brother,
e. M. LAKENAN.