Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1900-12-06
MILITIA IN ALASKA.
Conditions Not Wholly Bad Not
withstanding Extreme Cold.
Some Particulars of n soldiers Life
Given by One Who Has
Lived In the Yukon
Country.


The government having at last ex-
pended considerable sums of money
toward establishing military posts in
Alaska. IL 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 latitudes is new to most
of us. and as the hardships OF Arctic
life have been as much exaggerated,
saws a writer in the Army and Navy
journal, | shall presume to give my
fellow-ofiicers the benefit OF years
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 SO, 62, CO,
6s. 60, while 40 below is quite com
mon, and cold weather lasts from No
bember 1 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
return to the isolation Of one or two
company frontier post. A well-stocked
subsistence department furnishes all
the necessaries of life, and most Of the
luxuries. 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. IL properly prepared, are as good
as fresh vegetables until they thaw
In the spring. All the early vegetables
like radishes, lettuce, onions, parsley,
etc, come to perfection in August.
II is dry, and ordinarily still, though a
hard wind at 40 below is not unheard
of. The snow falls gradually an
inch or 80 at time--and never melts
untilSth April sun and rain wear IL
away. In May the ground is free from
snow, rains continue, gardens may be
prepared, and about the 18th the ice
In the river breaks up and floats OF
20 the sea. Near the end Of May
steamers that have wintcred 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 necessity. Mail
Is received twice per month through.
out the year, except In fall and spring
when ice is forming on the streams, OF
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 II one desires to keep up with
the news. A telegraph line connects
Skaguay with Dawson. but | received
one telegram from Washington that
was just a month on the way.
AS TO clothing. heavy underwear Il
indispensable. In addition to thes,
garments, heavy short coats OF wrap
must be provided TO put on whenever
IL is necessary to go out Of doors
The government furnishes caps ant
mittens and most excellent footgeal
In the form OF felt shoes. Ladies will
find fur park the best all-nrount
outer garment. One can be purchased
In San Francisco for S12. The fel
shoe cannot be improved upon. L
~ not necessary TO remain within
doors during the coldest weather, un
less the wind is blowing. The or
dinary routine OF post goes on with
out regard to temperature, and nj
can take exercise at any time with
out fear OF frost bites. Bring plent,
OF books and games for the long win
ter evenings. As the quartermaster'
department will doubtless constru
this us service across the seas, brinl
all your furniture. Nothing can b.
obtained in the country except at pro
hibitory prices.
To sum up, would say that Alask
is no worse than Keogh or AssinnI
boine. and the greatest trial will b
the lack of daily paper.