The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1900-03-16


To A. G. Baker Of Hawleyvile THE
BEE Is endebted for copies Of the Daw
con Weekly News, published ut Dawson,
Yukon territory. These papers were
forwarded to Mr. Baker by friend now
in the Klondike. The News is a six
column eight-page paper, and is q credit-
able looking sheet. The editor shows a
lot Of enterprise in getting his paper cir
cuisted. They are brought by dog
sledges up the Yukon 565 miles to Lake
Bennett. There they strike the new
railroad built over from Skagway. This
road has been kept open portion Of the
time this winter but has been blocked
with snow slides about half the time.
These papers are delivered in Dawson
to regular subscribers at 25c each or $50
per year. Now ia the season of the year
when the miners are putting In their
hard work excavating and hauling to the
surface the pay dirt from the bottom of
their shafts along the different creek
beds. This dirt is washed out next sum-
meri when they have water to do it with.
The mail that has just arrived from st
Michaels (mentioned in one of the papers)
is hauled from st Michaels at the mouth
of the Yukon by dog sledges $500 miles
up to Dawson, taking so or 70 days usu-
ally. How would you like to be obliged
to buy your provisions in Dawson? The
News in speaking Of market conditions
says:
Meats, butter and eggs are becoming a
scarce commodity in Dawson, and those
who had business foresight enough to
secure lot Of each and hold them for
rising market are now reaping the bene-
fits Of their wisdom and will continue to
do so the remainder of the winter so long
as their stocks shall hold. Fresh meats
are practically dearer this winter and
scarcer, especially beef, than they were
year ago. Beef to-day readily brings
81 and $1,50 q pound retail while the
wholesale price is stiff and the market
scant at 75c pound. These prices are
EXP ecred to be advanced before very lor
unless fresh lot comes in over the les
which is not very likely. Even carriboo
and moose, which is usually plenty at
this time OF year, has somewhat fallen
short for the reason that men find 1t
more profitable to work In the mines an
to devote the time to hunting and run
ming the risk Of getting their meats to
market through unbroken mountain
trails with the thermometer ranging at
so below Game also is running low and
az the season is practically over for ptar-
migans, rabbits, grouse, etc., the few in
the market will be held at luxurious
prices. The market is almest complete |
" bear of first class butter, the price
having recently advanced to OIL pound.
While pork is in measure plentiful. |
hams are very scarce. Frozen poultry
brought in last fall is about running out |
and the few in the market afe not very
desirable. Eggs are practically corner |
ed by few and 800 q case is eagerly |
paid wherever offered. These are now
retailing at from So to 90 so dozen. A
year ago there were no fresh eggs in the
market except few frozen ones which |
sold readily for $5 8 dozen. Fresh fish |
is now an unkno 8n quantity in the mar |
ket, the few grsylings being speared
through the Ice by Indians bringing
fancy prices. There Ia some salt fish but
salmon bellies are very scarce. Cheese
and canned meats are also becoming
somewhat scarce and the market in these
is nearly exhausted. Fresh potatoes and
onions also are stlffening up; the supply
is limited and prices ranging from so
cents a pound up, wholesale or retail.
Last year the prices were advanced to 81
q pound before spring and present indica-
tions are that they will be 81 pound be-
fore another month. On the whole, how
ever, prices this winter compare favor
ably with those that prevailed year
ago, and In many cases are not as high.
with the exception of beef which year
ago was cheaper, the market then being
overstocked. All other meats, however,
were higher. Poultry was then $3.50 a
pound; oysters $s can; mutton and
pork was $3.50 pound wholesale, while
moose was very scarce owing to the Pc
culiar law then enforced which arrested
every man on the Yukon who was found
hunting without special permit. The
market,tgenerally, ia we'll supplied with
staple goods and there is no possibility
for shortage in anything outside of the
articles already mentioned. The follow
ing are the wholesale and retail prices Of
| meats, poultry, game. eggs and provis-
| ions prevailing In the Dawson market: