The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-02
MILITARY LIFE IN alaska.
Weather Cold and Mercury Retiring
Hut Conditions Not wholly Bad.

From the Army and Navy Journil
The government having at last expended
considerable sums of money toward estab-
fishing military posts in Alaska. il is rea-
sonable TO suppose that the army must q
the future look forward to regular details
OF service in that part of our country AS
service is high lattudes is new TO most of
us. and as the hardships of Arctic life
have been so much exaggerated. I shall
presume to give to my fellow officers The
benefit of years experience on the Yu-
kon with the expectation that IL may be
of use to them.
1t certainly does get cold IN Alaska. The
thermometer for five consecutive days in
January registered 63. g. 60, g. 60, waile
40 below is quite common, and cold
weather lasts from Nov l to March 81.
Substantial quarters have been construct
ed at Forts Egbert Gibbon 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 fam
lily than those which follow a return to
the isolation of a one or two company
frontier post A well stocked subsistence
department furnishes all the necessaries
of life and most of the luxurses Fresh
meat has thus far been brought in i'm
abundance in the form Of moose ard carl
bou. Potatoes and onions freeze solid in
November and, If properly prepared are
as good as fresh vegetables until they
thaw in the spring. All the early vege-
tables like radishes. lettuce onions, par
sley, etc, come to perfection in August.
1t Is dry, and ordinarily stlll, though
hard wind at 10 below not unheard OF.
The snow falls gradually-an inch or so at
q time-and never melts until The ground
is free from snow, rains continue, gardens
may be prepared. and about the 18th tho
ios IN l.a and floats off
to the sea. Near the end of May steamers
that have wintered i'm some tributary CT
the Yukon come up the river on their way
to Dawson. Steamers from St. Michael
bringing passengers from the States, 90
not come up. Che river until about July
10 10.
From June to October people require
about the same clothing they would wear
in the States Mosquitoes abound. and
window screens and mosquito bars are
necessity Mail is received twice per
month throughout the year, except in fall
and spring when ice Is forming on the
streams, or breaking up before navigation
opens. Unless new arrangements are per-
fected, second-class mall is not delivered
after navigation via st, Michaels closes
Arrangements must be made With friends
to forward envelopes of clippingsif one de-
sires to keep up with the news. tele-
graph line connects Skaguay with Dawson.
but received one telegram from WASH
ington that was just month on the way
As 10 clothing heavy underwear Is in
dspensable. In addition TO these gar
ments, heavy short coats or wraps must be
provided to put on whenever 1t Is neces-
sary to go out of doors. The government
furnishes caps and mittens. and most ex-
cellent footgear in the form OF felt shoes
Ladies' will find a fur park the best all
around outer garment. one can be pur-
chased in San Francisco Cor $l2. The
felt shoe cannot be improved upon. IT 10
not necessary to remain within doors dur
| ing the coolest weather unless the wind Is
/ blowing. The ordinary routine of post
| goes on without regard TO temperature.
! and all can take exercise at any time
without fear of frost bites. Bring plenty
of books and games fer the long winter
! evenings. AS the quartermaster's de-
| partment will doubtless construe this as
| service across the seas bring all your fur
| niture. Nothing con be obtained In the
country except at prohbitory prices
To sum up would say that Alaska Is no
worse than Geogh or Assinuiboine, and
the greatest trial viii be the lack OF daily
paper.