The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-03-12
Fairbanks, Alaska, Feb. 18th. 1909

Fairbanks, Alaska, FeD 10Th. l9UJ.
DR.. Moser, X ndrick Idaho.
Dear Doctor: Every since landing here
have had in mind the fact that | agreed
to write and give you my impression of the
Country.
After landing at Cardova, we spent sever
al weeks looking over the Country, putting
in some time on the R. r. and finally about
the last of May started for Valdez, enroute
for Fairbanks.
You should have been with us on that trip
from Valdez to Fairbanks; it was a''mush"
that you would remembers lifetime Some
hours at a stretch and as each man was
packing 55lbs. on his back you can imagine
we made slow time
Of course YOU have heard or read that
Alaska is good game country, but think
you would be surprised to learn how plen-
tiful the game really is. We had plenty of
ducks, geese and small birds in general
while on the coast at Cardova but no big
game. But after getting into the interior
about 100 miles, moose, caribou, mountain
sheep and bear are very plentiful.
At one point on the trail we struck what
is known as the big Delta River and built
a raft to come down the stream We all
piled aboard and turned her loose for what
| was the widest ride ever had in my life.
| We made numerous attempts to land and
| finally after steering our unweildy craft
| close to shore, she struck snag and cap
sized, we reached shore withou much diff
nculty and saved only our guns anda few
articles of wearing apperal We were then
about 40 miles from mining town called
Tenderfoot, which point we made without
stopping.
We remained there about % days and
worked in the mines tor 81. so per day, board
cost $3.50 per day, SO we were $500 to The
good. We left there on the 18th of July
and reached Fairbanks three days later.
This is a town of about 1000, nearly all
the resident section being Of logs and The
business houses and hotels of one and two
story frame buildings, and after loafing a.
round town nearly two weeks Ward and
went to work again in the mines at the
same wages we received in Tenderfoot and
stayed with the same with few short lay
offs until fall
Ward and fitted out with sled and dog
team and started mp the enema River, at a
point about 100 miles above town which is
a tavOrite crossing for the caribou, they
frequently cross here by the tens of thous-
ands on their semi annual trips too and
from the Teunnas valley, but this year thew
fooled everybody and selected an entirly
different crossing about 80 miles further
north, so we turned our attention to the
Moose. We were not able to get any line
heads. 1t was my intention if l secured al
exceptional fine specimen to attempt the
almost impossible task Of getting it Out
over the trail.
After returning to town in Nov. we re-
manned here for awhile but as there is moth
ing doing in winter we started out again tc
what is known as the Wood River district
near tn famous Mt Mckinley The
weather by this time was so very cold tina,
we were compelled to stay in the cabin fol
days at time and only hunted grouse anC
ptarmigan near the cabin with a %, W,
killed dozens of these birds and final,
when we experienced few warm days
lao % below is warm here in winter,) W,
succeeded IN bagg- ng 4 mountain sheep
We remained in this district severa
weeks but as the weather continued colo
we struck for town and all through Jan
| the weather was so cold that we seldom left
the cabin, frequently the thermometer re
gistered close to 70 @ mark.
There is shortage of provisions in tn
camp and prices have scared skyward
Sugar sells at so cts per 10, or ID for s.
| spuds 20 cts per Id, coal oil $25. per case, %
$3.50 per gal: and nearly everything in tn
grocery line in proportion, though hou
| still sells at the normal rate of $500 pc
sack
The mining game is about played out i
this immediate vicinity, but Alaska ha
oaly began to show what she il capable c
in that line new strikes will doubtless b
made that will rival the famous Klondyke
| have written Woody and Thomas bu
have not received reply and began t
think that everyone in that section wa
either dead or asleep. And will continue
think so until / receive a reply to tn
above. Let us know how you are gettin
along. Yours
John Gragg.
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Stiff Neck