74- 



The National Geographic Magazine 



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Indian Basket Sled of Central Alaska, made of Spruce and Birch and Moose Sinew, 



with no Metal Whatever 



connects Skaguay, on the coast, with the 

 head of navigation of the Yukon at 

 White Horse. As this latter point is in 

 Canadian territory and about 600 miles 

 from the Alaskan boundary, this line is 

 largely useful, so far as Alaska is con- 

 cerned, only during the few weeks when 

 the river steamboats can receive the traf- 

 fic and carry it to its destinations. 



The use of wheeled vehicles in Alaska 

 need scarcely be considered, as there are 

 no roads connecting camps or towns, and 

 wagons are used only on the streets of a 

 few of the larger settlements, principally 

 between dock and warehouse. The pres- 

 ent Alaska Road Commission is doing 

 effective work in laying out and con- 

 structing highways, but those highways 

 for years yet to come must be mostly of 

 the primitive kind, fit only for single- 

 horse sleds and dog teams in winter and 

 for pack animals in summer. 



The means of transportation remain- 

 ing, then, are : 

 In summer — 



1. River steamboats. 



2. Tugboats (between nearby coast 



points). 



3. Pack animals. 



4. Poleboats and canoes. 



5. Flatboats and rafts. 



6. Packs carried by white men and 



natives. 



In winter — 



1. Horse sleds. 

 Reindeer sleds. 

 Dog-team sleds. 

 Sleds drawn by men. 

 Packs carried by white men and 

 natives. 



All bases of supplies must be stocked 

 for the entire year between June 15 and 

 October 1. The hundreds and hundreds 



Indian Birch Bark Canoe, used on the Rivers of Central Alaska, Containing a Fish 



Spear and Bow and Arrows 



