Daily camera., 1900-06-02
MILITIA IN ALASKA.
Conditions Not Wholly Bad Not
withstanding Extreme Cold.
Some Particulars of a Soldiers Life
Given by One Who Has
Lived in the Yukon
Country.

= AsS<SO S<H
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 serv-
ice in high ATTITUDES is new to most
of us, and as the hardships of Arctic
life have been as much exaggerated,
says writer in the Army and Navy
journal, l shall presume to give my
fellow officers the benefit of year S
experience on the Yukon, with the ex-
pectation 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, 62, 65,
60, 81, while 40 below is quite COM
mon, and cold weather lasts from No
bomber to March 81. Substantial
quarters have been constructed 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
and family than those which follow a
IL yurn to the isolation of one or two
c, npany frontier post. A well-stocked
Subsistence department furnishes all
tie necessaries of life, and most of the
luxuries. Fresh meat has thus far
b. en- brought in in abundance in the
fern Of moose and caribou. Potatoes
a.d onions freeze solid in November,
al-d, if properly prepared, are as good
in the spring. All the early vegetables
like radishes, lettuce, onions, parsley,
etc. come to perfection in August.
It IS dry, and ordinarily still, though a
hard wind at 40 below is not unheard
OF. The snow falls gradua!ly-an
inch or so at a time-and never melts
until the April sun and rain wear it
away. In May the ground is free from
Stow, rains continue. gardens MY be
prepared, and about the 18th the ice
in the river breaks up and floats off
to the sea. Near the end of May
steamers that have wintered in some
tributary of the Yukon come up the
river on their way to Dawson. Steam
ers from St Michael, bringing passen-
gers from the states, do not come up
the river until about July 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
mosquito bars are a necessity. Mail
is received twice per month through
out the year, except in fall and spring
when ice is forming on the streams. or
breaking up before navigation opens.
Unless new arrangements are perfect
ed, second-class mail is not delivered
after navigation via ST. Michael closes
Arrangements must be made with
friends to forward envelopes of clip
pings if one desires to keep up with
the news. A telegraph line connects
Slsaguay with Dawson, but | received
one telegram from Washington that
was just a 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 caps and
mittens and most excellent footgear
in the form of felt shoes. Ladies will
find a fur park the best 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, I'M
less the wind is blowing. The or
dinary routine of a post goes on with
out regard to temperature, and all
can take exercise at any time with
out fear Of frost bites. Bring plenty
of books and games for the long Win
ter evenings. AS the quartermaster's
will doubtless construe
this as service across the seas, bring
all your furniture. Nothing can be
obtained in the country except at pro-
hibitory prices.
To sum up, l would say that Alaska
is no worse than Keogh or Assinni-
boine, and the greatest trial will be
the lack of a daily paper.