The evening times., 1899-07-26
CONDITIONS I'm DAWSON |
Consul McCooks Candid Report
From the Gold Country.
The City Rapidly Rebuilding After
the Recent Fire-Probable Output
I'm Distress-A New Town of GAM
bling Houses-stenmship Rates.

Consul McCook sends to the State De-
partment under date of May "a, June s, and
June 20 reports in regard to conditions
in Dawson City and vicinity. The city. he
says, is being rapidly rebuilt after the
recent fire. The following extracts are
from his reports:
There is great deal of activity In ship
ping at present; at one time there were
seventeen steamers at the various land
ings. The boats are providing improved
accommodations for passengers, and l do
not see why excursion parties are not or
ganized to come and see this land OF gold
now that travel is made SO comfortable.
should think trip up the Yukon would
be more interesting to Americans than a
trip up the Rhine.
"The bulk Of passenger and freight traf-
fic will hereafter come by the upper river
route. several lines of steamers connect
ing this port with Lake Bennett. The rates
from Dawson to Puget Sound are: First
class. s1S5; second class, Si60: but these
will probably be reduced one-half IS the
season advances. The rates charged by
the companies running boats to St
Michaels, there to connect with ocean
steamers, are $3.50 first class and S10(
steerage. No second-class mail matter
will be brought in or sent out Of the place
as the rates are too high. No second-class
mail matter was received all winter, and
If anyone wishes to send papers or maga-
zines to their friends it should be mailed
as first-class matter.
Instead Of $40, ,00O, 900 which was report
ed as the probable output for this district
for the past twelve months, | am informed
that $40, ,000,000 will fully cover the product
Reports from Alaska Indicate that more
gold will be found there than will ever
come from this territory. Alaska is rich in
placer mines but they require development
Very little prospecting was done here last
winter. The miners simply ate up theiI
grub and waited for someone else to re-
port discoveries Of gold. If the indica-
tions are favorable they go on a stampede
dig a hole or two and, il they cannot find
pay dirt at once. they say the creek is nc
good and return.
This country requires indomitable
pluck and energy. Ii is very difficult to
take care of ones health. as the canned
| food and poor cooking are hard on the
system. Typhoid fever has already brSker
out-six weeks earlier than last year. The
ground upon which the city is built is be-
ing drained. $4,000 having been spent or
this work. There are several hundred des-
titute persons in Dawson who want 10 ge,
cut CT the country and have not the means
The city is overcrowded at present most
Of the work on the mines having ceased
! for the season, and the gambling fraterni-
ty and saloons are reaping rich harvests
AT the Junction Of Eldorado and b.
naza creeks, fourteen miles frcn here
Sin az
chiefly composed of, gambling houses Al
sorts and conditions OF men are found in
this country-doctors lawyers. politicians
working at anything they can find to do
At one gambling table there sat recently
! four men, three Of whom had been chief:
of police in cities in the United States and
the fourth. a well-kncwn Pinkerton de-
| tective. The authorities are now fining the
gambling houses. however; and. in spite
! of all the drinking, etc, order prevails
! Dawson is comparatively quiet and safe
| and the laws are enforced