The daily morning Alaskan., 1900-08-08
Lower Yukon River Business Is Also Being
 Taken Away From Skagway
NO DUTY PAID AT EAGLE OR DAWSON ON GOODS
Traders Go From the Klondke Capital Points
  Canned Goods Are Chased a of AreUs In

N It is not enough that the merchants of Skagwav in their fight for trade have the Canadian laws and the pernicious opposi- tion of their officials to contend with but it would seem that our own customs oftic> ials on the Lower Yukon are also making 1t easy for Canadians to take trade that properly belongs to this city. It is assert. ed that merchandise is freely shipped from Dawson to points on the American side without having to pay duty. By this process the American trade is being han died by the Canadians as well as that of Dawson and the Upper Yukon.
 The renewal ot life and traffic on the lower Yukon has been one of the features of this seasons development. But the in- creased traftlc has not been through the old channel with St. Michael as base of supplies. but it has been chiefly in the na- ture of trading expeditions from Daw- son, taking produce and mer- ehandise down the river to sell at Eagle, Circle, Panama, Rampant City. the Koyu- kuk and other points. On account of the enforcement of the rigid Canadian customs regulations and the lax administration of the extremely liberal American laws and rules, the most of these expeditions were fitted out at Dawson. The lower river traders bought their goods usually from the upper river traders at Dawson, and went down the river, unhindered bv the American customs officers, where they sold their goods at profit
 | w. C. Marburger, who made one of such trips in June and July. says there are numerous people engaged in the trade and all were making money.
 MT. Marburger says:
 "l had not intended going farther than Dawson when left Skagwav early in June, but when arrived at Dawson l learned that there was good money to be made in trading with the American points on the Yukon, so loaded six tons of mer- chsndise and went on down. bought the merchandise at Dawson.
 "Al that is necessary to avoid the l American tariff is to purchase American goods, and all ne ts. potatoes and other vegetables are taken to be American pro- duets as matter of course. With these and with all canned goods and other mer- chandise having the brand of an American manufac turer on them it is not necessary to get certificate from the U. s. consul at Dawson that they are American goods. took only Consul McCook's certificate as to those goods that it would be difficult to prove were American.
 But even that precaution was unnec- essary, as l still have in my possession the certificate given by Mr. McCook unop> ened. 1t was never ased for. In fact, if l ever saw an American customs official was not uware of the fact"
 MT. Marburger verified this statement by breaking the seal, and opening the eer' tificates of Consul McCook.
 "There is not single instance" contn- ued N r. Marburger. "that encountered on my trip of o5o miles down the Yukcn, meeting more than forty cows and boats belonging to traders, and there was not one who had been called upon to pay duty.
 This has become an extensive trade and it might be said, l think, that all goods taken from Dawson down the river enter American territory duty flee. Oi course most of the goods are American