The Portland daily press., 1900-03-20
MILITARY LIFE IN ALASKA.
Weather Cold and Mercury Retiring
But Conditions Not wholly had.

tBrom the Army and Navy Journal.)
The government having at last expended
considerable sums Of money toward es-
tablishing military posts In Alaska, 10 is
reasonable to suppose thst the army must
In the future look forward to regular de-
tails OF service In that part OF our coun-
try. As service In high ATTITUDES 10 new
20 most Of as, and as the hardships Of
Arctic life have been 30 much exaggerat-
ed. shall prtsums. TO give to my fellow
offiosrs the benefit of years experience
on the Yukon with the expectation that
1t may be OF use to them.
: Il certainly does get cold In Alaska.
The thermometer for i've consecutive
days In January registered 50. GO, 65. .6S.
~, while 40 below Is quite common, and
cold weather lasts from November l to
March 81. Substantial quarters have
been constructed at Forts Egbsrt, Glib
bon and Cape Nome, and the post at st.
Michael will be built during the coming
summer.
An officer coming to Alaska need fear
no greater hArdships for himself or fami.
~ than thoss which follow q return to
the isolation Of one or two company
frontier post. A well stocked subsistence
department furnishes all the necaesaries
OF life, and most of the luxuries. Fresh
meat has thus far been bought In abund-
ance In the form of moose and caribou.
Potatoes and onions freeze solid in No
VEN Der, and, II properly prepared, are
~ good as fresh vegetables until they
thaw In the spring. All the early yegst-
ablss like radtshes, lettuce, onions DAYS
ley, etc., come to perfection In August.
Ii is dry, and ordinarily still, though a
hard wind at 40 below is not unheard Of.
Toe snow falls graduslly-an inch Or so
at q time-and never melts until the
April sun and rain wear it away. In
May the ground L. free from snow. rains
continue, gardens may be prepared, and
about the 10Th the los In the river breaks
up and floats of 60 the sea. Near the snd
OF May steamers that have wintsred In
some tributary Of the Yukon come up the
river on their way to Dawson. Steamers
from st. Michael bringing passengers
from the States, do not come up the river
until about July ! TO ID.
From June to October people requir
about the same clothing they woui wear
In the States. Mosquitoes abound, and
window screens and mosquito bars are
q necessity. Mail IL received twice per
month throughout the yenr, except In
fall and spring. whsn Ice h fof ming on
Tile 6bEohm9s OF OrehkluH w LoioIo uHvA-
CATION opens. Unless new arrangements
are perfected, seoond-elafs mail Is not
delivered after navigation via st. Michael
CLOSES. Arrangements must be made
with friends to forward envelopes OF dip
Plugs II one desires to KEEP mp with the
news A telegraph line connects Skag-
uay with Dawson, out received one
telegram from Washington that was just
n month on the way.
As to clothing, heavy underwear Is in
dispensable. In addition to these gar
ments, heavy short coats or wraps must
be provided to put on whenever 1t IL nec-
essary to go out Of doors. The Govern
ment furnishes caps and Dittens, and
most excellent footgear In the form OF
felt shoes. Ladies will Ind fur park
the best all around outer garment. One
can be purchased In san Francisco for
S12. The felt shce cannot be improved
upon. 1t is not necessary to remain with
In doors during the coldest weather I'M
less the wind Is blowing. The ordinary
routine OF a post goes on without regard
to tsmpera allure, and all can take exercise
at any time without fear Of frost bites.
Bring plenty of books and games for the
long, winter evenings. AS the quarter
masters department will doubtless con-
strus this as Toe ACROSS the seas, bring
all your furniture. Nothing can be OBJ
tanned in the country except at prohibit
10 sum mp would say that Alaska 10
no worse than keogh or ASSN n boine.
and the greatest trial will bs the lack
of q daily paper.