The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-18
alaskan POSTAL SERVICE.
WEEKLY MAILS BETWEEN sISAG-
WAY AND ST. MICHAEL.
-Dimcuit Contract Well Handled
Increased From Monthly to
semf-MonthIy and Now to weekly

That the present officials OF the United
States postoffce department take keen
interest IN It's workings and watch its
development with view to constantly i'm
proving and augmenting the service wher-
ever possible is shown by the changes
recently made in the most important
of the Alaskan star routes that ex-
tend from Skagway TO ST. Michael by way
Of Dawson, the contract for which Is held
by a concern Incorporated under Can
aGian law, but in which Seattle capital
Is heavily interested.
Very soon after the rush TO the Alaskan
fields began, the government prepared
to naugurate a mail service between the
points mentioned. and during the spring
Of 1898, after complying with the neces-
sary formalities, the contract was award-
ed TO p. G. Richardson. At that time
the government was of the opinion that
a monthly trip was all that could be
considered necessary. and accordingly
the contract called for that service. In
June. 1895, Mr.. Richardson took up the
work. and covered the difficult route until
late in the fall Of 1899
The mails were heavy, and much diff
dculty was experienced by the contractor
In keeping to the terms OF his agreement,
so much, in fact. that for many reasons
he was willing TO relieve himself Of the
responsibility when an opportunity offered.
In October OF last year, the Canadian
Development Company obtained the per-
mission OF the postofhce department. and
took over Mr.. Richardson's contract.
Since that time the mails have been de-
iiyered with regularity, regardless OF the
weather conditions, which in the extreme
northern iatitsrdes have made the work
always difficult. and at times extremely
hazardous. Not one trip. il Is said has
been missed. and those on the route who
were cut on from all other means of COM
nunication with their families in the out
er world are, II is claimed by the conn
pany, not at all backward in praising the
work OF the contractors.
During the winter months the trip of
2,4'v miles is a very difficult one.-far DIFF
ferent from an easy journey through the
same country in the summer time. Many
that the malls might not be delayed Ths
drivers and others employed In the work
seemed not 10 consider their personal
safety or Inconvenience; IL was always
that the mails should be gotten through
or saved from destruction.
ON certain parts of the route, open
water would be encountered. Here use
ful device was a combination sled and
boat. The dog sleds were so arranged
that on reaching navigable waters they
could be inverted and used as canoes.
barked. the dogs. understanding the pro-
cess, would take their places, and the
little fleet would sail down the river or
cross the lake. until land was again
reached. when the boats would become
sleds and the journey be resumed
The company opened communication
with the authorities and succeeded in
getting its contract altered In one i'm
portant particular. Where but one de-
livery had formerly been made monthly,
two are now maze, the change having
been made but few weeks ago, and
noted in the Post-1ntelligencer at that
time.
The country has now become more
thickly populated. and the miners feel
ing that something should be done for
the establishment OF still better service
recently petitioned the authorities 10 give
a weekly mail A petition bearing the
names OF 300 American citizens who are
wrestling fortunes from the earth along
the line of the route, was signed and sent
to the capital The attention Of WASH
ington's representatives was called 10 il
and the government has granted the Pc
tition.
congressman Cushman and Jones were
unilring In their efforts to aid the rnineTs
ami u was largely through their efforts
that the petition was successful
Commencing next November, one Of the
Seattle stockholders of the company said
yesterday. a weekly service Is 10 be es-
tablished between Skagway and St
Michael, and an additional route IL 10
De opened from Eaton to Nome This
step gives "A fair indication OF the In
crease In population and business in
Alaska.