Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-02-28
ALASKA DOGS DEAR|BLOOD FREES A|k'
Teams Of Three Or Four canines
Bring $1,000.

The, Ars Used " Draw Sheds In Win
Ter and Carts In summer; Also
Ussd In Mines and on Trails
fer Pseklns.
cNiss Emma LeonidAs Kelly. hs
nrst white woman TO 20 down tho Yu-
hon, has qualified by many strenuous
experiences In Alaska to be considered
IN authority ON the dog teams Of tnAt
country. The native animals are the
malamute, the huskie and the Siwasn.
The flrst comes from the coast OF
Boring sea and 10 cross between tne
Russian terrier and the Siwash. He
10 small, weighing So to u pounds
and has shaggy hair, which makes
him look twice his real size. Undsf
this il coat of short, warm fur inst
protects him in the most severe
weather.
The huskie comes from the McKeM-
zie river, is a large gray dog weEhinS
from 125 to 100 pounds and u covered
with short, stubby fur, with an under
coat of thick fur. They can stand
more hardships and 90 without food
longer than any other dos In the
north.
The siwash dogs, which are In thu
majority, are cross between wolf
and dog, and usually gray or white
in cslor, but occasionally black. Ineir
weight is from 50 to 80 pounds. they
rarely sleep under shelter. preferring
to curl up In the snow, even with the
mercury so degrees below zero.
In this respect the native animals
ara better fitted for their work than
the Immigrant dogs, says Miss Kelly
In Country Life in America. In severe
weather the latter wear little mecca
sins made Of heavy moose skin. while
nature has provided the native dogs
with heavy fur covering the whole
foot, even between the toes.
The sleds In general use are feat
long, II inches wide and inches
high, and an immense load Of freight
can be packed and dashed on them.
The sled is guided in the trail BY
pole known as the g" pole.
The dogs are hitched about six feet
ahead OF the sled, and the driver walks
back of the sled. holding on to the
&c" pole to keep the heavily loaded
sled straight in the narrow trail SO
that it will not tip over on the rough.
sliding places.
In case the sled is heavily loaded
the dogs are hooked up close to the
sled and the driver rides greater
part of the time-that is, if the wealth
er is not too cold, in which case he
prefers running to keep warm.
On the creek beds there is often
from one to five inches OF water, ana
it is always difficult matter to make
the dogs 60 through this. They dis
like getting their feet wet, but they
must keep the trail and pull through It
Immediately after getting out Of the
water it begins to form in little ice
balls between their toes, and the
whole team of dogs will lie down on
the trail in their harness and 60 to
picking and cleaning their feet. which
are rarely ever sore or frozen unless
they have been in water several hours.
From the last snow In the spring I'M
til the first in the fall the dogs have
but little to do. At the trading posts
Dawson, Circle City, Fairbanks.
Eagle, Minook-and number Of other
camps where they have fair streets or
roads the dogs are used to draw light
freight about In little two-wheeled
carts. and they are used in the mines
and on the trails for packing. The
pack saddles are made of heavy can
thirty or forty pounds. :7
Some dogs will lie down In the mud
or water with their packs on, while
others seem to feel the responsibility