Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-05-27
TRADE IN THE YUKON /
STEADILY DECLINING
Americans, Nevertheless, Are
Getting Much Business From
The Gold Fields.
ALASKA THOUGH IS BEST FIELD
Greatest Of Rivers Being Dredgeel by
the Brawny Men Who Seek yellow
Nuggets Era in the Country
OF Ice and snow-canadians in the
Lead.
(By Associated Press)

WASfIlNGTON. u. c., MAY Do
The trade Of Yukon territory. DO.
miniGn of Canada. has become very
important one, especially to the Uni
ted States since the first dis :nvcry
of gold in the Klontlikc.
Returns lave recently been made
of the trade - the territory for ire
calendar scar sos. which will prove
of general .:;i"icst to American ey-
por,crs. Theirs vas IL considerable le
cline both in imports and cXpor.s as
compared with the twelve months l,rc-
ccding:
The total value of goods shipp y TO
Yukon in la05 was Si,GT5,Gl7 as
against $6,63i.l0S in 1901. foreign
goods imported. chiefly from America.
being valued AT $l.l5l 400. while ST.
22i.alT represents the amount fur
nishcd by Canada. The balance of
trade WAS in favor of Canada to the
extent of Sl.772Sl7 in 1905, as against
S2.ii3,622 in the previous year. In
view of this fact the imports from the
United States show remarkably well.
New Era in Gold Fields.
This change in the trade must he
considered in view OF the fact that Il
gold dredging era is ,iawning upon The
klundikc: that last year he first ship
mcnts Of dredging machinery began tn
arrive. and that American gold drcdg-
iiig machinery manufacturers held I'M
disputed control of the market This
will account for The large amount of
trade recorded in 1904 and explain
satisfactorily the decline noted for
1905.
From being what was called a
graveyard To navisators" the Upper
ldikon river has now become prac
iicaliy as safe as a canal During the
oEcn season steamers, barScs, ScOws
and canoes in great numbers ply its
waters, and accidents of any dcscrip-
ton are very rare.
Yukon River a Highway.
inc Yukon river forms a convent.
cnt highway through the central por.
tons between the White Pass and
Yukon route from Skagway to Daw.
son. and the American route from
Seattle TO Dawson via ST. Michael
Generally speaking, Yukon territory
anu the Forty Mile district In Alaska
arc served by the Canadian route,
while The American route supplies the
wants OF the lower river points. in
GLIDING the Tanana Koyukuk and
Rampant mining districts. Fairbanks
alone during the last winter required
as large stores of provisions as Daw-
son.
In order 10 develop properly The Yu-
kon territory the Canadian govern
ment has annually granted conccs-
sions not only for The construction and
maintenance of roads aud trails.
amounting since 1899 To $l,3SG.40 but
also for thr Improvement of the Yu-
Ron river and its tributaries The
Elans for the present year provide for
The expenditure Of $4,000 in rock
blasting.
Canada Aids the Country.
Since the. opening up of the country
few years ago the Dominion govern.
mcnt has appropriated some Sl75OO0
for Yukon river Improvement. On
the American side in Alaska improve
mcnts have not even started as yet,
The Yukon flats still cndaIgcr and
retard American shipping, as do the
distractions al the mouth Of the Yu-
kon, which were explained to The