The Washington times., 1902-08-03
DAWSON CITY.
Klondike District. B. c.,
July 3. 1902.


Editor Washington Times:
A S am an old Washington boy
~ and an erstwhile member of
1 \ the newspaper fraternity
thought l would write tc
let you know something about the
weather up here in the Klondike. for
suppose by the time this letter reaches
you Washingtonians will be chatting at
the worst of the summers heat. l sup
pose down there in the National Capital
the thermometer is lowering closely
around the 100 mark, even in the shade,
and Washingtonians are loudly lament
ing the very credible supposition that
they live in the hottest city on the face
CT the earth.
This presumably being the case.
thought it might possibly be of interest
to let you know how the mercury runs
up in this far out-of-the-way corner OF
the globe, and incidentally, few
things about this far-famed but little
known territory. and the greatest rush
for gold ever recorded in the annals of
mankind
Up here in Dawson, well-we wouldn't
mind having just little of Washing
toms humidity. That is, it would be
very pleasant, What would you say to
a snowstorm or a SNOWFALL battle on the
Fourth of July, or in the month of Au-
gust? Perhaps down there in Gods
land" you cannot picture such a thing.
Well. If you can't, all l have to say is
fer you to come up here and take lit
tie look around the Klondike; maybe
you would never breathe q word against
a genuine, piping hot summer again.
And then, again, maybe you would. 1t
all depends upon the thickness of the
clothing you bring up here with you
and your susceptibility TO cold.
What would you say to a delightful
little blizzard, such as the National
Capital was treated to in 1899, for an
occasional morning, afternoon or even
ing meal, just as you would have lit
tie midsummer shower down there? The
very mention of such a thing to you
folks who are probably sweltering may
cause a sigh of wishfulness to escape
from you. But don't for a moment think
it is really as nice as it sounds. When
you have TO experience ii, it is quite
different matter.
How would you like to be employed to
dig ground that is frozen more or less
solidly all the year around; work IN
swift flowing mountain streams whose
waters are ice cold and chill one TO the
very marrow of his bones, or camp out
night after night in an insignificant lit
tie dog tent in mountains whose submits
and valleys are perennially hidden by
tons upon tons OF snow and ice? 1t
hardly seems as pleasant upon second
thought. does it? Perhaps, after all, you
would prefer to live in nicely furnished
homes in a beautiful city-eyen II you
do have to swelter. None OF the water
ways in this part of the world remain
open for more than three or four months
out OF the entire twelve. The ice closes
them completely 10 a depth of several
feet. thus utterly blocking all navigation
except by sledges and dog teams until
the spring breakup gets in its work
about the last Of May or the first of
June
But / would not have you to believe
that the temperature up here in the
Klondike never moderates, and that we
live in perpetual misery. While the |
climate of Alaska and its nelghboring |
territory in British Columbia is fright /
fully cold in winter. and very frequently |
even in summer. there are times, in the |
middle OF the day, when Old Sol gets |
in his work and the temperature be- |
comes delightful-if not positively hot 1
But this only occurs in some |
portions of Alaska. Where this moder- |
alton In the climate is felt there Is
tremendous range in the rise and fal! |
of the mercury. II is always. cold at
cold. Put shortly before /
noon 1t frequently begins to warm up
and grows extremely pleasant for a few
hours. ! have Nknown the thermometer
as far north as Circle City, an enterpris-
ing little American mining town. which,
by the way, claims the distinction of be-
ing Just within the Arctic Circle. TO run
up TO nearly l20 degrees: only,
however, to fall TO awful depths almost
on the whole. though. the climate in
The interior of Alaska is frightfully
cold. The japanese current warns the
coast 10 such an extent that the win
.ers there are seldom or never severe.
am writing this letter 10 be taken