OUTFIT FOR MINERS.
In giving any advice for outfits for miners, I should first state that
it is a great mistake to purchase anything whatever before arriving at
Juneau, Alaska. This has been a supply point for that region for upwards
of ten years, and store-keepers and supply companies carry in stock
exactly what is necessary for the miners. You will find that their
prices are reasonable, considering the difference in cost of
transportation at any point you might decide to purchase from in the
United States; in fact it is the saving of money to buy in Juneau.
In the matter of clothing, of course, it must be left to the individual
taste and means of the purchaser, but the miners usually adopt the
native costume of the region. The boots are generally made by the coast
Indians and are of different varieties. The water boot is made of seal
and walrus. It is important to take a pair of rubber boots along.
Additional boots can be purchased at Dawson City. The native boots cost
from two to five dollars a pair. Trousers are generally made from
Siberian fawn skins and the skin of the marmot or the ground squirrel.
The outer garments are generally made of the marmot skin. The people at
Dawson City who are not engaged in mining, such as store-keepers,
clerks, etc., generally wear these garments. Good warm flannels are
important. Everything in the way of underwear is made of flannel, such
as shirts. The cost of flannel shirts at Dawson City is $5. Rubber
boots at Dawson City are $10 to $12.00 a pair. Blankets and robes are
used for bedding, and should be purchased at Juneau. Wolf skins make the
best robes. Good ones cost $100 apiece, but cheaper ones can be obtained
from the bear, mink, and red fox and Arctic Hare. Warm socks are made
from the skin of the Arctic Hare.
If you have any delay at Juneau, you will, probably, be asked to take
trips to the Giant Glaciers, but my advice is to stay in Juneau until
the steamer is ready to start for Dyea. You will need all the rest you
can get before starting up the Pass.
In the matter of provisions, the following is a list which is considered
sufficient to last a man on his trip from Juneau to Dawson City:--
20 pounds of flour,
12 pounds of bacon,
12 " " beans,
4 " " butter,
5 " " vegetables,
4 cans of condensed milk,
5 pounds of sugar,
1 pound of tea,
3 pounds of coffee,
1 1-2 pound of salt,
5 pounds of corn meal,
A small portion of pepper and mustard.
The following utensils should be taken:--
1 frying pan,
1 water kettle,
1 Yukon stove,
1 bean pot,
2 plates,
1 tin drinking cup,
1 tea pot,
1 knife and fork,
1 large and 1 small cooking pan.
The following tools should he brought as part of the outfit:--These will
be found absolutely necessary to build a boat at Lake Lindeman:--
1 jack plane,
1 whip saw,
1 cross-cut saw,
1 axe,
1 hatchet,
1 hunting-knife.
6 pounds of assorted nails,
1 pound of oakum,
5 pounds of pitch,
150 feet of rope,
1 Juneau sled.
It is also necessary to have one good duck tent and a rubber blanket.
A good piece of mosquito netting will not be heavy and will also be very
great comfort on the trip.
Do not forget to put in a good supply of matches, and take a small
supply of fishing tackle, hooks, etc.
It is very important that you have a pair of snow glasses to guard
against snow blindness.
It will be interesting to know the prices at Dawson City for supplies:
When I left in June, 1896.
Flour was sold in 50 pound bags at $6.00 a bag.
Fresh beef was supplied at 50 cents a pound.
Bacon was 40 cents.
Coffee was 50 cents per pound.
Brown sugar was 20 cents per pound and granulated sugar was 25 cents a
pound.
Condensed milk was 50 cents per can.
Pick axes were $6.00 each.
Miners' shovels were $2.00 each.
Lumber right at Dawson City was $130.00 per thousand feet undressed, and
$150.00 per thousand feet dressed.
It is well perhaps to advise the traveller to supply himself with a
small medicine box which can be purchased in Juneau, but it is not
necessary if he enjoys good rugged health.
On arriving at Dawson City, luxuries will be found to be very high; what
is to be considered a very cheap cigar in the United States, two for 5
cents, sells in Dawson City at 50 cents each.
Liquors command very high prices. Whisky sells in the saloons for 50
cents a glass, and fluctuates from $15.00 to $25.00 per gallon,
according to the supplies received from the at present overtaxed
transportation companies. There was about 12,000 gallons of whisky
imported into the territory from Canada the past year. Smoking tobacco
was selling at $1.50 a pound and good plug cut and fancy tobacco was
selling at $2.00 a pound.
The demand for medicine is very light, but the local traders carry a
small stock of patent and proprietary medicines.