THE SUNDAY OIIEGONTAX, PORTLAND, AUGUST 20. 19 10. si GOVERNOR BLACK TALKS ABOUT THE CANADIAN, . FRONTIER AND HOW IT IS GOVERNED. BY FRANK a. CARPENTER. Croyerri oro'iA& ZfaZcori., D Copyrtght, 1916, by FTrank G. Carpenter.) AWSON, Yukon Territory. I have) Just had an interview with the Governor of Northwestern Can ada. I refer to the Hon. George Black, the Commissioner of the Yukon Terri tory. His -dominions beein within SO miles of the Pacific Ocean and they ex tend to the Arctic. They are a thousand miles long, and in places 300 miles wide. They comprise almost as much land as either Germany or Prance, and altogether are equal to one-third of Alasl-a. The country Is separated from Alaska by the international boundary, which crosses the Yukon River about 100 miles from Dawson, where this let ter ia written. Dawson is the chief town of the ter ritory. It is the seat of government and the headquarters of the mounted police. Here the Judges hold court, and 77ie Crover-sim&s2 of yitcorr . Corn rn s--s-os7 ZScJr fji Center JVLh in the administration building that I past few years we have been growing dredsesand hydraulic machinery. Many chatted with Governor-Black about his oats and potatoes and other vegetables of the original creeks are still un- dominions. Yukon is so close to our all along the Yukon Valley. We have dreaged, the greater part of the Klon- terrltory, and its resources and other grown on the islands of the Yukon dike Valley has yet to be turned over, characteristics are so much the same two tons of oats-hay to the acre and and there are gold beds in the Indian we have one farmer on the Stewart River basin that are still to be tested. River who has harvested 26 tons of Dominion Creek, for instance, is SO hay in a Summer. That hay ia worth miles Ion? and the most of it will pass more than 50 per ton." through the dredges'. It is safe to say that there are many millions still left I here referred to Chicken Billyhs in tte ground. Our output of gold is in another and a bowl of black pansles, farm on the banks of the Yukon and to now about $5,000,000 per annum, and I each as big around as a tumbler, on the $10,000 crop of potatoes of which expect that average to keep up for the commissioner's desk. I referred to I have written. years to come." that it might be called Canadian Alaska. Therefore, the most of what Mr. Black says may be considered true for our country as well. There was a box of red geraniums in one of the windows, some wild roses these flowers and spoke of the won derful vegetation which now covers The commissioner said: "How about placer mining in other "There is no doubt but that potatoes parts of you terrltoryT here Is the residence of the commis- tne country, saying how different it is will grow well here. If they are plant- "Color has been found in almost all ea in tne rignt sou ana properly cui- the stream3 tnat empty into the Yu- sloner, who lives In state on the east bank of the Yukon. The" government house is a large yellow frame building with a great porch at the front, up held by massive square columns. There is a beautiful lawn in front of it and wide beds of pansles line the walk that leads to the entrance. In its rear are gardens filled, in Summer, with the most delicious vegetables grown in the Yukon, and conected with them are the hothouses that supply the tomatoes and cucumbers on the commissioner's table. The government house is the socieal court of the territory. The commission er entertains a great deal. His wife is an American woman, the daughter of George M. Hunger, formerly of Chi cago, ard now ofc Los Angeles. Mrs. Black is well known in our social circles. She made her debut in Wash ington during the administration of President Cleveland, and was often en tertained at the White House. She is a beautiful woman with social ability that fits her to be the first lady of the Yukon. She and the commissioner are srood companions and good mixers. They go out camping together, and take long tours through the wilds, where tha gun and fishing rod supply mojt of the food. The commissioner knows his terrl torv. He came to the Yukon as a young man at the time of the gold rush. He was born In New Brunswick, and had Just begun the practice of law there when the stampede of the Klondike oc curred. He came to mine gold, but after & time left the diggings and hung out his shingle as a lawyer in Dawson. He did well at the law, and was soon elect ed a member of the Yukon Legislative Council. When the present party came In he was chosen by the Premier to be Commissioner of the Yukon, and has held that office from then until now. It was in the commissioner's office from what I had expected to find In the cold lands of the Arctic. The com missioner said: "Our Summers are as warm and pleasant as those of Southern Canada. The only difference is in length of the season and that does not affect growth so much as many suppose. Plants live upon light, and we have about one third more light than you have in the Bame length of Summer. By the mid dle of May darkness practically leaves us and we have 100 or more days when we can read our newspapers out in the open at midnight. Your dawn in the States begins about 4 o'clock in the morning and the light lasts until 8 o'clock in the evening. The sun works for you only 16 hours of the day. He works for us almost 24. In the Summer we have light all day and all night. Growth begins in April, when the cro cuses come up through the snow. We plant our gardens by the middle of May and by the latter part of June have vegetables to eat. Our chief Summer month is July, although the frosts do not come until the middle of September. After that we have Indian Summer and the hills are ablaze with gold." "Is there much of your country adapted to farming?" I asked. "Yes, as far as the markets of the Far North are concerned. The country is virgin land covered with trees. The tivated they are equal to any potatoes brought in from outside. Here about Dawson we grow as much as 200 tons in a season. The yield is large. On one of the islands 175 pounds of pota toes planted in May yielded more than 8000 pounds in September. It is esti mated that we use something like $200,000 worth of potatoes each year, the most of which crop is grown right here on the Yukon. also raise beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips, peas and beans. There is a great deal of hothouse farming. The larger min ing operators have their own gardens and greenhouses and thus greatly re duce the expense of feeding their men. kon. Mining has been profitably done on the Stewart River, 150 miles from the Klondike, and also on the tribu taries of the Big Salmon half way be tween Dawson and our southern boun dary. In fact, there seems to be gold bearing territory all the way from here to California, and a great part of it has not been prospected." "I there any quartz gold in this vicinity V "That question is yet to be an swered," replied the commissioner. "siutrtz mining is a rich man's propo sition. Placer mining can be done with- ls$. ' v - ''I- -ra Sit ;JJ A , N'v We have so much light hat we can ou capital and our people have been raise vegetables under glass. Practi- busy taking out the placer s;old, cally all of our tomatoes and cucum- which was easy to get, that they have bers are grown that way." paid little attention to quartz. Large 1 capital may yet develop great quartz "Will the country ever become an r.iines Lere. Bat so far no rich ones agricultural one?" have been discovered. Nevertheless, "Not in the sense that people will there must have been mountains of come here to farm in order to ship gold quartz here in the past, in order their crops to other parts of the world, to hav filled the rich gold-bearing The most of the farming will be done for the local community, and that means for the miners." "But will not the mines soon play out?" "I think not," replied Commissioner Black. "The country, as a whole, is practically unprospected. and the im proved methods of mining are enabling trees are stunted except in the river -s to work more and more territory. creeks and the Klondike Valley with the almost two hundred millioBdollara' worth of gold we have gotten out of it. The gold-bearing creeks all seem to flow from the Dome, a mountain about 3000 f?et above Dawson. Many think that mountain ought to be underlaid with gold quartz but so far none of much value has been found. "In the last two years they have been 77i & TbmJ?rfySisv0n&s'& J?&s-cjrencr3. - - run into values of $1000 and upward a ton." "Is there much of such ore?" "No one can tell yet the exact extent of the deposits. They are finding con siderable float, and no one can predict the discoveries of the future. That is true of the most of this territory. The country has hardly been scratched. I suppose the same Is true of Alaska." I asked the commissioner to say sm.thing as to the big game of his territory. He replied: "This is one of the best big game regions of the North American conti- nent All shooting is licensed and re stricted, and. so far,' there is no- indi cation of the game playing out. We have an abundance of moose, caribou, mountain sheep and mountain goats. Ten thousand caribou may sometimes be seen moving along over the coun try. Such a drove will not, turn aside for anything. You can drive with a motor car through it while it is cross ing a mountain wagon road. "Indeed, I know of places here where you can. go moose hunting in an auto mobile, and that within 25 miles of Da-vson. Our moose are among the largest of the world. Their home have often a spread of five or six feet, and ants and ptarmigan. The latter changes its brown coat of the Summer to rosy white in the Winter. According to law there is no limit to the Fhooting of bear, wolves and small game. As to other big game, we issue licenses that give the holder the right to shoot two moose, six caribou and six sheep in a season." Scrmm es in government, which gives us an appro priation each year for the purpose. The money is placed at the disposal of the commissioner and the Council and it is expended by the commissioner on the vote of the Council." "How much road have you?" "We have the Overland Trail, run ning from White Horse to Dawson, which is 350 miles long, and we have also roads from Dawson to the princi pal mining centers. We have another road from Dawson Xo the Mayo mining district, which is 200 miles loag. and. altogether, we have wagon roads to the length of 1300 miles. All of these roads have a right of way 60 feet in width. Most of them are ballasted and all are kept In good repair. We are now making an automobile road from here to White Horse and we spent more than $50,000 on it last year. You can go by automobile for hundreds of miles up the Klondike Valley and along the creeks where the dredges are working and you can even climb in a motor car to the top of the Dome, which Is more than a half mile higher than Dawson and 27 miles away. One can take an auto ride of several days along the Klondike Auto Belt Line and find eating houses at which he can be served on the way." "Will you ever have & railroad con necting this country with other parts of Canada and Alaska?" "Several such roads have been pro- The conversation here turned to the government of the Yukon, when, in response to my questions, the commis sioner said: "The Yukon Territory has federal and local officials, the constitution de fining their powers. The federal of- posed and it Is not impossible tlM-t one ficials are appointed by the federal may be built in the future. At pres government. They are the commis- ent we need wagon roads more than sioner who governs the territory, the anything else. We aim to build roads controller who handles all federal and trails to all the new mining camps moneys and the postmaster and col- to aid the miners in getting supplies lector of customs. We have also a sur- and to take their gold out. Our present veyor, an inspector of fisheries, a tim- traffic is transient and will hardly ber and land agent and a number of stand the building of railways." mining recorders. All of these men have their clerks and assistants. "What do you think of the future of "As to the local officials, they are your territory?" appointed by the commissioner. They "I expect to see it grow steadily In ace the superintendents of road and population and wealth. We have large bridge construction, the territorial sec- areas of low-grade gold properties retary and. treasurer, the medical which will employ many men for yeara health officials and others. In addition to come. This mming will be done it is B.t uncommon to kill caribou there is the Legislative Council of the V.tl dsHs of bottoms, where they are larger. We where In the past the gold output was finding veins of galena, silver and lead whose antlers will average over 30 territory. This is el have meadows In the south and south- so low that it did not pay. Up to the in the Stewart River district." the com- pointa. pie and it correspond west and also great areas that can be present the most of the gold that has used for grazing. Dr. Dawson, who made a survey of the territory, said that we have 38,000,000 acres which can be utilized either for crops or for grazing. He compared the Yukon with some of the inland provinces of Rus sia where they successfully raise oats, rye. barley, flax and hemp. During the come out of this region has been from placer deposits. We have already mined more than $185,000,000 from the Klon dike district alone, and we are still taking out millions each year. The first of the gold was won by the individual miner, but within the past ten years a grat deal has been gotten out by "What other game have you?" "We have mountain sheep whose flesh is more delicious than that of any other game animal. -We have plenty of bear, both bl adV and grizzly. We have wild birds of many varieties, including duck, geese, snipe and crane. We have probable that the ore in the future will five varieties of grouse. We have pheas missloner continued. "That ore is much the same as that which made the Kootenay famous. They shipped 1100 tons of it last year to the San Fran cisco smelters, and I understand, that its value averaged $300 per ton. The character of that ore is improving and they are now finding rubies there. It is lected by the peo- nj now constructing ids to your Legts- trails to the corrjer camps. The. White latures. It votes the moneys for River district, for instance, needs only taxes and makes the laws, subject to transportation to make it a populous the veto of the commissioner." anl productive copper minins center. We have a great deal of land that ia The roads of the Territory of Yukon wel1 adapted to farming. Dr. Dawson ni j , . . , , estimated that the territory would sus- are said to be better than those of . . . . . . AAA AArt ... , tain a population of at least 1,000,000 Alaska. I asked the commissioner farmers and we have other posslbilies how they are handled. He replied: in the way of fur-farming that may "Our roads are built by the federal add to our territorial wealth." " WHY BOBBIE WOULDN'T BATHE BEFORE the family went to the beach for the Summer, little Bob bie talked about nothing but go ing in bathing. He'd put on his suit a most alarming pattern with orange and black stripes stand on a chair, put his hands together in front of him and cry out: "Watch me! Look at me, sister! This Is the way I'm going to dive when I get down, to the beach! Whew!" And then Bobbie would Jump down from the chair, throw himself on the floor and go through the motions of swim ming, puffing and blowing all the while like a porpoise.. And yet mind you the very first day after papa and mamma and Bob ble and big sister (as he called her), bad arrived at the beach, Bobbie dis played no enthusiasm at all over going in bathing! In fact, he seemed to be "scared to death" to even bo much as put his foot in the water. Suddenly he developed a strange enthusiasm about Ih'h fins Swimmer, Yos Are!" merely playing in the sand and piling it up around him. Big sister presently found hm on the beach. "Why. what Is the matter. Bobbie? Why don't you come into the water?" Bobbie made no reply; he continued to pile sand up around his chubby knees.' "It Isn't cold really It Isn't. Bobble." said big sister. He wiggled his big toe out of the sand with which he had covered It vastly interested in that big toe! "Why, Bobble," Big Sister persisted, "I thought you were going to dive right into the water and swim all around you showed us all at home how you would do it, you know. What is the matter? Are you afraid?" Bobbie grunted; it sounded some thing like "No," but not very much "You're afraid! You're afraid! You're a little 'fraidy-cat'.!" teased big sister. "Come on come on in with me!" And she grabbed Bobbie by the hand and pulled him to his feet. "Stop! Stop! Go way!" yelled Bob bie. Jerking his band loose and dou bling up his tiny fist in a threatening fashion that was quite funny consider ing his size. Big sister who was an awful tease, as you have seen already leaned over and laughed at him. "'Fraidy-cat! Fraidy-cat!" she hissed. "You're a fine swimmer, you are on dry land!" "G'on! G'on!" cried Bobbie. ' Big sister laughed at bim again. "What are you afraid of?" she asked scornfully. "Humph 1" Bobble was mad all through. "I guess you aren't afraid, are you?" "Afraid? Why, of course not!" ex claimed big sister. "What in the world would'I be afraid of?" Bobbie looked around quickly and then stepped uo very close to her. "Sharks!" ne whispered. "Big sharks that'll bite your leg off!" Sister stared at bim in amazement. "Sharks?" she echoed. ' Bobbie nodded his bead. - "And majrb they won't Just bite your leg off sometimes they eat you all up!" Big sister sat on the sand and pulled him down upon her lap. "Now, see here, Bobbie," she said in serious tones, "Where did you ever get such a foolish idea? There aren't any sharks around here." It was Bobble's turn to smile at her ecornlully now. "Oh, yes, there arl" he said. "Didn't I hear papa and mam ma reading in the paper this morning about sharks biting people's legs off and killing them when they went in bathing. Of course I did!" Big sister threw herself back on the sand and began to laugh and laugh. and laugh! Which, of course, made Bobbie very angry.' But sister stopped presently. "Now, Bobbie,- sne explained, "you did hear papa reading about the sharks biting people; and it is true. too. But you must realize that those sharks and those people were in the Atlantic Ocean in salt water, mind you. And you seem to have forgotten that Lake Michigan isn't the Atlantic Ocean and is fresh water. Why, Bobbie, there never are sharks in fresh water; and here in Lake Michigan we are perfect ly safe. And " "You can't fool me!" insisted Bobbie. "You want a shark to bite off my leg, you dol" "Bobble! Aren't you ashamed of yourself! Do you suppose I'd go In bathing if I thought there were any sharks around? Now, if you don't be lieve me you go right and ask papa!" Bobbie did and you can imagine bow much better he felt when papa assured him that there weren't any sharks in Lake Michigan. But Japa laughed at bim, too. And perhaps you have, also? The Persistent Pig m fin & a the head. Attach a thread about nine "inches long to a button or buttonhole near your chest and fix the other end of the string to the hook on the mouse. Now you can make this imitation mouse have the appearance of running up your coat. Place the animal upon the back of your right hand as low as possible. Now move the hand away from your body and the mouse appears to glide over the back of your hand, and Just as it is about to fall, on reaching the thumb, the left hand is passed beneath and placed in the Bame position the right hand previously occupied. Re peat the movement and mystify your friends by making the creature run a long time. MISJ OUR PUZZLE CORNER MM RAILROAD Pl'ZZLK. Get out of here, you big old brute. And find some other place to root! I vow the next time I catch You huntin' in the garden patch, ' I'll ask Pop to give us a treat And make you into sausage meat. It keeps me busy all the day A tryin' to drive you away. With all the farm for feedin' ground. Why will you come here rootln' round? I guess, though, you ain't much to blame. For human folks are just the same 'We do the things we shouldn't do And go where we're forbidden, too. And wouldn't that give you a pain? I'm blest if he ain't back again! ALWAYS OBEY MOTHER, I think it very wise of you To-do what mother says to do; If mother tells you not to swim With Tom and Bob and Joe and Jim; Then speak up bravely like a knight And say, "I won't! It isn't right!" And if they call you "Fradie-cat." And "Scaredie-crow" and "Silly-rat!" And say you're Just a baby yet. You smile at them and don't forget That boys who mind their mother's may Be Presidents some future day! And. boys who fib and run away. And boys who never can obey. Are quite unworthy even when They grow to be the size of men So Just remember what I say: It's always noble to obey! These lines represent the tracks and the dots are way stations. The train must pass every station on the road without once backing its engine or going over any part of the route twice. See if you can follow with a pencil the course It must take. The best way to try this puzzle is to lay a piece of tissue paper over the picture and trace the route on it. Just for Fun Solutloa to Railroad Pnulcv WHAT child does not like to fashion his own toy? Here is a lovely mouse that is not only a pleasure to make, but is lots of fun after you have it. You can give him the appearance of the real animal and" he will run and jump for you if you follow these in structions. Secure a large cork and cut It into the shape of a mouse's body, adding ears of cardboard and a string tail. Paint the mouse black and place - a small hook on - the underside near MY KITE. Fly. fly. fly. my kite! High. high. high, my kite! Bold1 winds of the deep blue sky. Toss my swelling bird-kite hlghl Glide, glide, glide, my kite! Wide. wide. wide, my kite! Into misty clouds of white. For my trusty string holds tight! Go, go, go. my kite! Slow, slow, slow, my kite! Back again to earth so green. Tell me. kite, what you have seen! CHANGE OK LETTER, I am a word of three letters, and I am a male child. Change my first letter and I am a great pleasure. Change again, and I am what chil dren, play with. Change again, and I am shy. DIAGONAL P17.ZLE. If the following are written one be low another, their diagonal, letters, be ginning at the upper left hand corner, and ending at the lower right hand corner, will spell the name of an in strument used in mowing grass. 1. Grief or sadness. 2. A pendant piece of Ice. 3. Weeping. 4. A reedlike stem. 6. Distance from a point belcw. 6. A girl's name. ARITHMETICAL PL'ZLE. Take 1 from 9 and make 10. Answer: IX; take I away and leave X. AnMWer. Answer Boy, Joy. Toy. Coy. Diagonal Scythe. 1. Sorrow. 9. Icicle. 3. Crying. 4. Rattan. 6a Height. S. Nellie,