Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-04-27

Retiring Bnt Conditions Are
Not Wholly BAD.


pended considerable sums of money
toward establishing military posts in
Alaska, it is reasonable to suppose
that the army must in the future look
forward to regular details of service
| IN that part of our country. As service
IN high ATTITUDES is new to mcsst of u.s.
| and as the hardships of Arctic life have
been SO much exaggerated. / shall pre-
sumo to give to my fellow officers the
benefit of years experience on the
Yukon with the expectation that it
may be of use to them.
1t certainly does get cold in Alaska.
The thermometer for five consecutive
days in January registered 63, 60, 65,
| So. GO. while 40 below is quite common,
and cold weather lasts from Novem-
Der to March 81. Substantial quar-
tiers have been constructed at Forts
Egbert, Gibbon and Cape Nome, and
the post of ST. Michael Will be built
during the coming summer.
An officer coming to Alaska need
fear no greater hardship for himself
and family than those which follow a
return to the isolation of a one or two
company frontier post. A well-stocked
subsistence department furnishes all
49, rs vi LIZ. anu iAOSt III Tie
Injuries. Fresh meat has thus far been
brought in in abundance in the form
Of moose and caribou Potatoes and
onions freeze solid in November. and,
| if properly prepared, ale as good as
fresh vegetables until they thaw in
.he spring. All the early vegetables,
like radishes. lettuce, onions, parsley,
ETC., come to perfection in August. 1t
&c Il
hard winter at 40 below is not unheard
of. The snow falls gradually-an inch
or SO at time-and never melts until
the April sun and rain wear it away
In May the ground is free from snow,
| rains continue, gardens may be pre-
pared, and about the 18th the ice in
the river breaks up and floats off to
the sea. Near the end of May steam
ers that have wintered in some tribu-
| tary of the Yukon come up the river
on their way to Dawson. Steamers
from ST. Michea1 bringing passengers
from the states do not come UP the
| river until about July 1 to Is.
From June to October people re-
quire about the same clothing they
would wear in the states. Mosquitoes
abound, and window screens and mos
quito bars are a necessity. Mail is re-
ceived twice per month throughout
the year, except in fan and spring
| when ice is forming on the streams
! or breaking up before navigation
opens. Unless new arrangements are
perfected, second-class mail is not de-
livered after navigation via ST. Michael
| closes. Arrangements must be made
| with friends to forward envelopes of
clippings if one desires to keep up
with the news. A telegraph line con-
meets Skaguay and Dawson, but re-
| ceived one telegram from Washington
that was justaa month on the way.
AS to clothing, heavy underwear is
| indispensable. In addition to these
garments, heavy short coats or wraps
must be provided to put on whenever
| it is necessary to go out of doors. The
government furnishes cap7 and nit
tens, and most excellent footgear in
the form of felt shoes. Ladies will
| find fur park the best of all around
outer garment. One can be purchased
| in San Francisco for SIP. The felt
shoe cannot be improved upon. 1t is
not necessary to remain within doors
during the coolest weather unless the
| wind is blowing. The ordinary routine
of post goes on without regard to
temperature, and all can take eXer-
else at any time without fear of frost
| bites. Bring plenty of books and
games for the long winter evenings.
As the quartermaster's department
will doubtless construe this as service
across the seas, bring all your furni-
ture. Nothing can be obtained in the
country except at DrOhibitOry prices
To sum up 1 would say that Alaska
is no worse than Keogh OF Assiniboine
and the greatest trial will be the lack
of daily paper. = Army and Navy
Journal