Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-01
DELsING IN ALASKA GOLD FIELDS.
l.. ii. Conkiin, Former Vernon County
Boy Writes Interesting Information RE
gardiug His Experiences In Alaska.

Mrs. Harriet Groves lis the recipient
OF letter from her son, l.. FL. Conklin.
who has been in Alaska for about two
years. The CENSOR is kindly pertnitted
to make extracts. The letter is da,ed
Dawson City, December 18th:
| will write few lines to let Won
know something of Alaska and that I
am we'll and hearty. / have Just re,
turned fone from caring for sick man
who has the scurvy. There are manv
getting it now. Have been out on the
creek for six or eight weeks pact, sink
ing shafts in the ground and looking
for pay streaks. We sank thirteen holes
from ten to thirty three feet and found
frozen ground ali the way down. The
best pay dirt found ran only about two
cents to the pan and we finally gave no
the job. In one place they have sue
ceeded In getting through the frost.
There is bench claim on French hill.
near Ell Dorado creek. After sinking the
shaft LOG feet they came upon six feet
ct gravel that, for a wonder, was not
freq an, and which proved to be good
pay dirt. They took arocker" down
the shaft and commenced rocking out d"
the gold, as 1T was easier than hauling
the gravel to the surface. There are
hundreds of people now leaving here
over the ice. 1t lie 573 miles to Saka-
quay. long distance to pull sled with
grub, blankets, tent and stove, and it
requires from twenty five to forty days
to make the trip. From the oath to the
18th of November. where was located.
the thermometer registered 46. So and
oil below zero. 1t has since been 30 ,
above, however, but it is little colder
nov. There are a large number of PEG
pie hard up here and there is talk of
sending them out at the expense OF the
government. 1t is probable many will
call upon Uncle Sam to assist them in
getting away. 1t is estimated that there
ara $4,000 people in Dawson and $1,000
on the creeks. There are only about
twenty three children in the country. 70
or 80 per cent OF all here are American.
We received mail on the 7th of the
month, but it was for the Can adisns.
We are looking for another by dog
team, when l hope 20 hear from you all
A mail will go out in two weeks and
you may receive my letter about the
18th of January There are many men
carrying mail. Their price is 81 for
each letter. This is the best way to
send letters frequently. Butter is now
S3 per pound; syrup, 81 per gallon;
meat, 81 % and sugar 81; canned fruit,
Is cents per can. So you see it costs
something to live and great deal more
to die here.
1t is all night now and Old Sol will
take rest for forty five days. After
this time expires he will gradually ap-
pear again to lengthen the days. am
going to hunt moose in the Rockies,
Monday, and will be gone month
They dress from seven to nine hundred
pounds and sell at 81 per pound. While
absent we will prospect little.
L want to tell you how we got water
here on the hill. First we hauled ice
from the river in sacks. Some time
ago spring dubbed out in miners
cabin, about three blocks from my place,
coming straight up and filling his abode
Of course he was compelled to vacate on
short notice. The convenience OF the
unexpected supply of water, however,
Is source of much pleasure TO us all
while dipping it from the cabin window.