34 



JOHN BURROUGHS 



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LAST SLED-LOAD OF GRAIN HAULED OVER WHITE 

 PASS, JUNE 7, 1899. 



and lichens and low stunted spruce, the latter so flattened 

 by the snow that one could walk over them. 



In keeping with the snow and desolation and general 

 dissolution was the group of hasty, ragged canvas build- 

 ings and tents at the 

 railroad terminus, the 

 larger ones belong- 

 ing to the company, 

 the others for the ac- 

 commodation of trav- 

 eling gold seekers. 

 In one of the larger 

 tents a really good 

 dinner was served 

 our party, through 

 the courtesy of the 

 railroad officials. We 

 saw on the trail a few gold seekers with their heavy 

 packs ; they paused and looked up wistfully at our train. 

 In ascending the Pass we met a small party of natura- 

 lists from the U. S. Biological Survey on their way to 

 the Yukon, the entire length of which they intended trav- 

 ersing in a small boat. We stopped long enough to 

 visit their tent and take a hasty look at the interesting 

 collection of birds and mammals they had already secured 

 here. They have since returned and published a report 

 on the results of their labors. 



At the time of our visit the railroad terminus was at the 

 summit of the pass, from which point passengers bound 

 for the Klondike were transported to Lake Bennett by 

 sleighs. The deep snow was melting so rapidly and 

 slumping so badly that the sled loads of people and grain 

 we saw depart for the Upper Yukon were, we were told, 

 the last to get through until the completion of the railroad 

 to Bennett. 



