Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-07

DAWSON CITY, Alaska, Dec 16.--
We closed up for the winter here In
Dawson and few words about our
selves may not be unappreciated In
Chicago, where many of us have
friends.
It isn't the old Dawson you read
about few short years ago. From a
summer Indian village and fishing
camp Dawson has grown into n thriv-
ing town, with a summer population
of over 5000 and a little less than half
that many In winter. Here are
churches, schoolhouses, banks, electric
light plants, wholesale and retail
stores and two up-to-date newspapers,
which sell for 25 cents a copy. The
dwellings are either of frame or logs,
the latter predominating, for, after all,
the log house is more comfortable and
the more easily heated. Many of our
log palaces were built in the days OF
1897 and 1898, when carpenters were
paid 500 a day for their work. The
average size of the log cabin is 16x14
feet, and while they are comfortable,
but little provision is made for light
the windows being exceptionally small
There were no shingles In these So
called early days" so the roofs were
covered with earth, upon which grass
has grown, preventing the water from,
soaking through. 1t Is odd to see
these roof lawns" In many parts OF
Dawson, and perhaps the oldest sight
Of all was one roof that was last sum-
mer converted into a vegetable garden,
whereon the owner raised some peas
and northern beans, and almost grew
a pumpkin. The experiment did not
go unobserved by some of the Dawson
housewives. One of them declares
that her roof shall next summer bloom
forth with flowers. The roof poles of
these cabins project and form an over
shoot over the floor, making a sort
of porch.
No Ten Cent Pieces
The pantry, known as the cache, of
these domiciles is built at the outside
and is propped up by four poles. Cold
storage may be easily obtained by dig
ging a hole three or four feet deep and
putting in a wooden box. The ground Is
perpetually frozen and at few feet one
always finds solid ice. The ice cream
never spoils in Dawson, and under
these circumstances it takes the milk
if it is real milk-some time to get
sour.
This is not the land of the penny, or
even the scent nickel. Twenty five
cents is the smallest piece of money in
circulation, and there are children who
HSNcI saw any lHlllS LdSl year
when a man from the outside lost at
cards in a gambling house and paid his
debt in dimes the winner became so dis
gusted that he threw them out in the
street undisturbed. THE meanest man
that ever came to Dawson" said one
of the papers next day, blew in here
yesterday with pocketful of 10-cent
pieces, and had the gall to pay a
gambling debt with them. A man that
will do that must be hard loser"
And here we have the tin can in all
used. There are can heaps all around
Dawson The old can man is a local
feature. He gathers up the tins.
straightens them out and uses them to
tack over the roof and outside of his
shack. 1t is wonderful what you can
do with the tin can. Evaporated apples
are used until midsummer, when the
Yukon boats bring in fresh supply of
the real article, and even these sell at
Is cents pound. Crystallized eggs are
used for cooking purposes and fresh
ones in midsummer are cheap at 81 a
dozen. In summer three eggs at a res
taurant will cost o. diner rs cents to 81,
and in winter probably $1.50. There are
some hens in Dawson, but not many.
Fowls do not thrive there and chicken
rarely appears on the menu cards. A
Hldl WHO SlOle a men would, IL arrest
ed, probably be convicted of hen
slaughter.
Caribou steak may be had for 81 in a
restaurant, and is common. A light
lunch, consisting of a piece of pie and a
glass of real milk, costs the business
man so cents. Cans of condensed milk,
bearing the highly colored picture of a
Jersey COW, are found on all restaurant
tables. A small hole is punched in the
top of the can, and from this milk Is
poured into tea or coffee. Table d'hote
meals are served at 81, "easily within
the reach of ALL" While nearly every
thing eaten at this meal is of the canned
variety, it is very palatable. Here is a
81 table d'hote dinner had by Chicago
man and wife-$1 each, of course:
Cove oysters (canned).
Tomato soup (canned). Pea soup
(canned).
Entree of Goldfish (boxed)
Caribou Steak Potatoes
Tomatoes (canned)(.
Mince (canned) pie. Tea or coffee.
EXy1