Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-09-15
KL0NDIKE COUNTRY.
Interesting Interview with w. T. Per-
kins Regarding the 1snl Of Mid
night Sun.
The Winters Not so Objectionable as
Many Suppose "A Dry
Climate.
Conditions of Travel-Wages of Miners
Mail Facilities-Dawson and
Its Surroundings.
A GREAT COUNTRY.

A GREAT COUNTRY.
The Klondike and Alaska? Why,
that's an old story. The papers have
said so much and been filled with
such narrowing tales Of hardship and
misfortune, that I should think your
readers had had about enough.
can hardly add anything to the great
mass Of information, though l may
possibly be able to correct some of the
misinformation that has been pub
lished.
AS to the climate, well, the winter
of 1S9S-M was certainly in the vicinity
of Dawson n very pleasant one; ''the
mildest within the recollection Of the
oldest Yukon pioneer" That is the
old story. We had two cold spells
of about two weeks each, during
which the thermometer touched fifty
seven below zero, and ranged most of
below zero, but in the absence of wind
it was no worse than like weather in
the northwestern states, even at a
higher temperature, and I have seen
more severe winters in Dakota and
Minnesota, in short, it is much like
the climate Of the northwestern states
both winter and summer. OF course
we are much nearer the Archtic circle,
being only about 100 miles distant,
but this is offset by the distance to the
westward and the equatorial currents
of the Pacific. which have such a
wonderful effect upon the entire Alas
kan coast. extending their warmth far
into the interior, tending, l think,
to make all Of Alaska much warmer
than British North America east of
the Rockies in the same latitude. The
short days Of the winter no dOubt
make it seem colder and longer than
as actually the case. The sun is not
seen ut Dawson for some two months.
but we still have a short day of about
five hours duration, and during that
two months we can see the brightness
of the suns rays striking the noun
tain peaks, and so know that it still
shines. Another feature that tended
to make the winter seem long, was
the lack of prompt communication
with the outside world, and the alb
Sence of mail with letters from home.
A man by the name of Richardson
had the United State' nail contract
for the enc.-e Yukon valley, and the
fact Of the case is, he made 10 prep
aration to move a pound of mail, and
I do not believe he intended to do so,
but simply to let it connect at the
upper points on the Yukon and take 1t
by boat down the river into Alaska in
the spring, thus making a clear profit
of the large price the government was
to pay for winter transportation.
Col. Steele, in charge Of the Canadian
mounted police, was the first to move
in the matter, and he perfected an
ovnn11onf 0n1 nrsOpNnf sprvirn nn6inU
the mail out and in from Dawson over
the ice by dog team, establishing po-
lice and relay stations all the way up
the Yukon from Dawson to Lake Ben
nett. But all this, of course. took
time, and even then, with the force
Of men and dogs at hand, they could
not handle much over the then regu-
lar incoming and outgoing mail, but
that they rushed night and day, and
made the almost 600 miles, I believe
in as quick as ten days time. Fol
this work they have as yet received
no extra pay, nothing but the vel
merited thanks and appreciation OF
the thousands in the interior. thanks
that one official was equal to al
emergency. and met it in the righ1
way. The delayed mail was still con
gested on the upper Yukon. o.
course, 4 report on the condition q
affairs, and complaint against Rich
ardson, the contractor reached Wash
ington by special messengers, and TIN
department took prompt action, send
ing a special inspector with full au
thority, who reached Lake Bennett
some time late in the winter. HI
took possession of all the delayed mai
and let a contract to new parties, VIII
rushed it through to Dawson ant
points on the lower Yukon, so tina
while from January on to the sprin!
breakup Of the river the mail cam
with something approaching regular
ity, the mail of September, October
November and December was not re
ceived until some time in March.
There are two seasons When. 1T |
impossible to move the mail; in tn
fall, after the ice begins to form, frol
the time that the ice begins to softel
weeks each. At all other times O
the year there is no excuse for any
thing but prompt movement Of mai
if the proper preparations are MAJ
for winter travel.
The means Of access to Dawson AZ
now greatly improved, and the trip !
.r Guu OuI CAA OC A1ANS =
Dawson in the average time of min
or ten days. Magnificent ocea
-. steamers between Seattle and Skae
uay, then by the White Pass and Yu
kon railway, forty miles over tn
coast range, takes you from tidewate
on the Pacific to Lake Bennett, one 9
the grand chain of lakes at the hea
of the mighty Yukon. From Benne1
to the famous White Horse rapids
only 100 miles, you have the choice 9
several swift and c~ommodious lax
and river boats. At White Hors'
freight and baggage is transferred b
a tramway to the regular Yukon rive
steamers, on which you will find we
furnished staterooms and good meal
for the $50 miles across Lake LaBarg'
down the rapids and rocky Thirt
Mile river and the great and might
Yukon to Dawson. 1t is now, eithe
in or out, simply a pleasure trip, an
next year will see this one of the req
ular tourist lines of travel. OF cOurs
if the traveller prefers, he can continr