The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1905-08-03
LETTER FROM ALASKA
Major Lacey Tells o. Many Unique
Experiences.


the MAJORS consent, but luckily he Is
too far away 70 help himself. ana
we believe our reauers will agree
that they are too good TO keep an.
der bushel.
Dawson, Y. ~, july IL, 1905.
Dear Folks nc Home,--rhe Seat.
nv No has just gone on her 300
mile trip 70 Fairbanka, and the su.
sic has reported at Eagle and IA on
her way up to Dawson and will ar.
rive to morrow night. She will take
day and half or two days TO load
up for her return trip to Sc. Nlcho-
las. The Seattle No. 8 IS loaded to
the guard and has big barge which
she pushes at her bow But the riv-
er Is In fine stage and she will prob
ably reach Fairbanks In eight days.
The 300 miles UP the Tanana 70 Fair
banks against the swift current will
delay her. The susie Us fine boat
and some OF the passengers waited
for her, expecting to get some other
steamer for Fairbanks from the
north OF the Tanana.
This hll-daylight is very nnsettling
in IT'S effects. am in doubt whether
II Is day before yesterday or some
day next week; there is no divid.
ing line to- start IRON. had a.
moose steak for dinner, which was
the first | have eaten. Time will
hang a little heavy tor the next two
or three days, but VIII make some
jaunts into the mines and surround.
ing country.
July IL. Rained some again last
night. | slept this morning until 8.
cannot get myself adjusted TO this
long daylight. II is a bright, xun-
shiny morning and there are none OF
my travelling acquaantances left in
the city but Prof. G.. d. Gordon and
his brother. Prof. Gordon is Of the
Pennsylvania university and " en-.
route TO the Koskokwin to study the
Indians there. We Will dispose OF
our time today by a walk OF eight
miles up to Bear Gulch, where we
expect TO see some novel mine work.
ing gong on.
The American institute Of Engin-
GERS will arrive today and Dawson is
ON the qui yiye TO receive them. Mr..
Craig, who Is quite fine artist is
binding book OF Dawson photo
graphs for the Institute. II Is about
1896 inches, and the binding is OF
moose hide, beautifully illustrated in
burnt work. In the center OF the
cover Is pan dripping about s25
worth OF real nuggets over the side
and down the page. This Will en-
Iiyen the page very much but VIII
render II necessary TO keep the book
in safe instead Of IN the Institutes
library shelves
D. m. ProI. Gordon and his
brother and walked up the Klon.
dixie TO Bear Creek to ay and have
just returned. 1t was a'sixteen mile
walk for the round trip. know
Carroll would have enjoyed II great
", as he and | 80 often take fifteen
mile walks together Tin our minds).
Mr.. Elmer is putting In great
dredge at the nat where Bear creek
runs into the Klondike. II will cost
$3.50 900 and he thinks will be al
great paying lpyestment. He has ex'
cayated a big pool Of half an acre,
and Is building the floating dredge
in the pool The uredse will pro-
coed tos excayate the dirt and work
II over for the co., pilfhg up the
debris behind, and thus keeping the
working hole always full Of water.
The advantage Of this system is the
cheap handling Of the earth by cleo.
trlc power transmitted from a steam
engine out on the land. The earth
Is too low In grade TO be handled By
hand, aB the expense would exceed
the receipts. But by this handling OF
large quantities OF gold bearing gray
ell the result rs expected to be very
profitable. The dredge can be NOV.
ed over all the fats along that part
OF the stream and the power trans
rnltted by wire from the central sta
ton. This is wonderful advance
over the old method Of handling the
gravel by hand with a pick, shovel
and rocker.
The Susie came IN while we were
gone and will sail tor st. Nicholas
Saturday, the 15tn, at 10 a. M 50
we know when We can go.
The party OF engineers arrived on
the Silkirk ana Dawson. There are
nlnety.fiye OF them and Dawson has
appropriated 5000 TO entertain
them.
IL D. m. Have just returned from
Gov. McInnes' reception 10 the en-.
glneers and Yukon public. There
was great jam. and In small way,
II resembled presidential recep-
ton. They had refreshments, in.
GLIDING champagne, and tn number
OF well dressed people made quite a
brave showing. | had doubts about
going without an evening suit, but
Governor Williams and his party,
enroute for Nome, were going IN bus.
fnesg suits, so concluded TO go
along. I will send you postal with