El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-09-02
BY
Frank G. Carpenter
Copyright, 1915, by Frank
G. Carpenter.)

who were thus laying IN their 1000 Tor
the winter.
boundary Line Clearly Marked.
1 took this steamer at Dawson. and
about nine hours later we crossed the
international boundary between Can
ada and Alaska, and were in United
States territory. The boundary line is
so marked that it can be easily seen.
II is a wide strip cut through the
woods up hill and down dale, from
north to south from where our line
ends near the Pacific ocean to the
Arctic ocean 1t starts within 80 miles
of the Pacific and goes straight toward
the north pole for a distance of SIS
miles. 1t is the longest continuous
straight boundary line ever surveyed.
We could see it from the steamer COM
ing down the slopes on the south side
Of the river. and climbing straight up
the hills at the north.
The Yukon is comparatively narrow
at the internal ional boundary Its
width varies according to the height
Of the water at from 1900 to 1900 feet.
1t has two channels at that point, one
of which is 500 feet wide and twenty
feet deep. and the other 400 feet wide
and twenty-six feet deep. The river
widens as it leaves the boundary, and
it keeps on its winding way through
the hills for 200 or 800 miles. until il
reaches Circle, where the great inland
sea has its beginning
The first section of the river is Won
derfully beautiful. Just now the coun-
try is as green as any part of the
United States Thick bushes line the
shores and evergreens. spruce and
pines 90 or 80 feet high rise behind
them The woods climb the hills: over
them with a mass of dark green in
which. here and there. are open spaces
that look like pastures and give the
whole country a parklike appearance.
r
flowers There are many clouds in the
sky, and the clouds rest in the laps
OF the hills and leave long ribbons of
white hanging midway between the
water and the peaks of the mountains
Ihey remind one of d fIeecy girdle
tains.
.. Crossing the boundary into Alaska. the
first settlement is an Indian village. above
which, on a pole erected beside a log
church, floats the American flag. Nearby
may De seen the black mast Of the wireless
station the first outpost Of the signal corps
OF our army: whose telegraph system DIV
erS the greater part OF the territory: and
sun farther on is Eagle. the first American
town on the Yukon Eagle prides Itself on
its Americanism-
L. :. Flag First Thing Noticed.
As il was could see the American
Tags OF Eagle. even before we caught sight
OF the houses Every cabin has a tall flag
staff attached to its roof. and from the
floating in the breeze. They were prob bly,
put up to welcome the steamer from Can
ada Strolling in and out among the cabins
l went into the country behind 10 visit Fort
Egbert This army post was established BY
the government about Is years ago. when
the gold mines were prospecting. It has since
been abandoned and the barracks are in the
hands Of a caretaker-
Is Has Been Town.
The Eagle OF today is a has been L IS
ike the deserted mining camps Of the west
which were abandoned when the gold had
city II had hundreds OF Inhabitants and
all the wild life that came from the sue
G ssful gold diggings nearby It still has
about 100 one story log cabins. but half Of
them are deserted and some are falling 10
ruins II has two story hotel a two story
log customs house and trading station that
BELONGS TO the Northern Commercial com
psny- There is an Episcopal missionary
who lives at the western end Of the town.
Many Of the cabins have gardens about
them in which are large crops OF potatoes
and carrots The streets are grass grown
and grass and flowers grow luxuriantly on
the dirt roofs Of the cabins As our boat
came TO anchor I heard a rooster Growing
and as l walked up the banks / could hear
the bells Of the COWS Pasturing near the
town pump.
The town pump IS one Of the features Ct
Eagle It stands over a well and is worked
by a windmill There is tall white tower
beside the windmill and drinking place at
the front Eagle has a first class saloon.
but IL has public school. I asked Of
the women why this was She replied: The
license paid by the saloon. and Il takes all
IF that 10 keep UP the town pump"
Circle, Half Deserted Village.
Leaving Eagle. our next stop was at
Circle. another half deserted village. living
IN the memories Of its past. II sprang up in
1892. when gold was discovered on Birch |
creek nearby. and q little later it had a
population Of 1000 miners Then the gold !
began 10 play out and most Of the men left Z
n the stampede 10 the Klondil-e- II has now
many abandoned homes made Of logs Il
rrTa.-
ion altogether is two or three hundrbi- I
During my stay ] called at the restaurant /
md its owner. Fred Brentlinger. showed me |
pair Of arctic OK horns which he had dug i
rom the prehistoric ice thirty feet under i
he ground These horns measure three I
eet from tip TO tip and are in good preser- !
ne It was $500 This whole country has the I
-emains Of prehistoric animals locked up 4
n vaults Of perpetual ice In the KlondiSe 4
hey have dug up the bones Of mastodons ,
md other giant animals of the past: AMI /
Yearly every town has great ivory tusk /
II skeleton OF an animal that lived in
Alaska before the ice age began They sell
.urios made Of such ivory in many Of the
stores. and II one wants a tusk or tooth I
ome hundred thousand years old II is easy
o get IT.
Pet Bears Are Novelty.
Brentlinger. the man who owns the arctic
X horns has two cub bears. each OF which I
ives in a ten gallon keg back OF the restau- /
ant. They black as ink and as lively I
s kittens. He has named them Teddy and
he part Of the hero in every battle with !
Sigger-
ears become when caught as cubs and !
reated as pets ] find some in every mining
ettlement- There two here at Fort !
-ulxon within a stones throw Of where the
teamer lands. They watch for the stranger
nd will eat and dring out OF his hand. 1
ave amused myself feeding them pop out I
T bottle I buy the pop at Is cents q
lass at Jim Haley's roadhouse. and the
ears will drink out Of the bottle while I /
old it in my hand. or 1 can give tho
ottle to Bruin and he will sit down and
rink it.
Taking Photographs at Midnight.
I have experimental here with taking
at midnight. My snapshots are
sirly good. and with gentle squeeze Of
he bulb 1 get the best results Fort Yukon
Just inside the Arctic circle. and at this
ime Of the year it is light for - hours. Il
8 the most northerly point the Yukon
liver. and tourists will be brought here over
he White Pass route in the future TO sec
he midnight sun Eighty such came this
ear. and they had a magnificent view OF
he great orb as il lowered over the hori-
on and then rose again
Fort Yukon has been Of great importance
5 mining center. II is better known a
any used to come here to buy furs. AMI
Oatloads are now brought down the POrcu-
line river by the Indians and other fur