A representative of THE SUN on Sunday made a flying trip to the new town of White Horse situated on the banks of Lewes river, a short distance below the White Horse rapids. The town itself presents a busy and prosperous appearance, and what was a
few weeks ago a lovely natural park, overgrown with trees aod underbrush, is now covered with fine two and three story frame buildings, tents filled with merchandise, railroad, steamboat and other offices. etc., and there seems to be ... of employment for those who
desire to work.
The townsite is located on a level stretch of country and is surrounded
by low rolling, wooded slopes, which extend back for several miles on either side of the river until they are merged into the snow capped peaks and rock-ribbed mountain ranges in the distance.
In a business way the town is at present well represented by firms widely
known in the golden north, and most of whom were argonauts in the commercial development of the mining regions of the Upper Yukon.
Standing on the depot platform and looking toward the town one sees for quite a long distance up and down Front street an almost unbroken line of buildings already completed, or in course of construction, a great many of which would do honor to a much more pretentious and older town than White Horse and this is especially true of the
structures that have been erected for the traveling public. More or better hotel accommodations it would be a difficult matter to find in any town of the same population in the north.
In a short time White Horse will begin to put on metropolitan airs, as the townsite agent, Mr. J. T. Bethune, says a company has been formed to install an elcetric light plant and a telephone service, both of which will be in running order by the 1st of next October.
Good well water is to be had at a depth of from 18 to 25 feet, and almost all property owners have sunk or intend digging wells for their own use.
Town lots, which a few weeks ago were selling from $300 to $500, are now
held at $2000 and $2500, and no one appears to be desirous of selling even at that figure.
Among the firms doing business in White Horse the majority are former
residents of Bennett, and THE SUN has good reasons to congratulate our neighboring town in having secured them as citizens. They are all wide-awake and progressive, and will have much to do with the future prosperity and welfare of White Horse as a business center,
which it is bound to become.
WHITNEY & PEDLAR.
Starting at the upper end of Front street we find the well known general
merchandising firm of Whitney & Pedlar, who also have at present the largest general store in Bennett. They are doing business in an immense tent, but in the near future will erect a frame building at a probable cost of $6000.
HOTEL SAVOY.
The Hotel Savoy, run by Mrs. M. J. Taylor, of the Grand Palace hotel,
Bennett, is a well built two story structure, and is now under the management of her son, Mr. H. W. Taylor. Mr. Baxter, formerly of the B. A. C. Co. at Bennett, is also interested in the hotel. Everything is run in a first class manner, and the weary traveler can here always find the quiet and comforts of a home.
THE PIONEER HOTEL.
Situated on the opposite corner from the Savoy, is run by Messrs. Stuart & Dixon, and is doing a large and lucrative business. In the annex of the hotel is located the Pioneer restaurant, run by Mesdames Clark and Leonard. For a good meal and courteous treatment we heartily recommend the traveling public to try this place.
LUMBER COMPANIES.
The building interests are represented by several well known firms, among
which may be mentioned the V. Y. T. Co. of Bennett; M. King of Caribou; Mill Haven Lumber Co., Lake Bennett; and the J. G. Sayward Co. of Victoria. Anything io the building line can be obtained from the agencies of these companies in White Horse.
RESTAURANTS.
There are numerous restaurants and short order houses where good meals
can be obtained at 75 cents and up. Among them we noted those run by Trump & Levin of Bennett, Mrs. Ida Garland, R. G. Brown and many others, the names of the proprietors of which we failed to learn, but all appeared to be having as much business as they could attend to. Most of these places run bakeries in connection with their regular business.
TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES.
The transportation business is attended to by the C. D. Co., The Yukon
Flyer Line, The Klondike Corporation Co., and the W. P. & Y. Ry. Co. The C. D. Co. has a neat office building on the corner of First avenue and Front street, adjoining which is their large tent ware room. The W. P. & Y. have the ground cleared for a depot building, 60x100 feet in dimensions, work on which will be commenced at once. They are also erecting a wareboues with a frontage of 800 feet.
BANK.
The Canadian Bank of Commerce, H. M. Lay, manager, is the only banking institution in the town at present, and is doing a large and lucrative business.
DRUG STORE.
H. W. Hardy, Main street, between Front and Second avenue, has a neatly
fitted up place, and besides all kinds of drugs and medicines carries a well assorted stock of stationary, etc.
BARBERS.
R. T. Berry and C. Hirschy attend to the tonsorial needs of White Horse
at present, but we are informed that Frank & George of Bennett will open hair cutting parlors with bath rooms fp connection, in the Racine Hotel as soon as it is completed, which will be about the 20th of the present month.
GENTS' FURNISHINGS.
Richardson & Co., another old-time business firm, have on sale a large and business firm, have on sale a large and well assorted stock of gents' furnishings, boots, shoes, hats, caps, etc. Since going to White Horse they have branched out and now carry a full line of groceries, carpets, matting, etc.
HARDWARE.
Fred McLennan, THE SUN's next door neighbor in Bennett, has put in an immense stock of shelf and heavy hardware and is having a good trade. After his arrival in White Horse Mr. McLennan put up two frame buildings and unpacked and had his stock on sale inside of ten days. One of these buildings is used for the postoffice, and is now being fitted up by Dr. Cane for that purpose.
WHOLESALE LIQUOR HOUSE.
A three story building, 40x80 feet, corner of Front and Main streets, is being put up by Mr. Racine, the Bennett contractor, and will be completed about July 20th. This building will be occupied by the well known and popular Bennett firm of West & Co. A large shipment of furniture for the 50 sleeping apartments and a complete dining room and kitchen outht are now on the way from below. A first class bar will be run in connection.
HOTEL GRAND.
Messrs. Barrett & Turner, also of Bennett, being the proprietors of the
Yukon hotel at this place, have opened a two story, 35x80 hotel, corner of Main and Front. The lower part is elegantly fitted up for office, bar, etc., while in the upper story there will be 24 sleeping apartments.
WHITE HORSE HOTEL.
Macaulay & O'Brien, proprietors, is a well constructed log building of two and one half stories. The first floor is used for bar room, etc., while a large
number of finely fitted up sleeping rooms are situated in the upper story and attic. A large public ball for concerts, parties, etc., is a feature of the establishment.
THE REGINA HOTEL.
J. B. Johnson, proprietor, is a two story log building at the foot of Front street. A restaurant and bakery is run in connection, and as good accommodations can be had here as at any place in the city, at reasonable prices.
NEWS DEALERS.
The Bennett News Co., Mr. Bigelow, proprietor, and the White Horse News
Stand, run by Mrs. D. Beaumont, are both neat and cosy and have all the current literature of the day on their counters. In connection with their other business, they carry a complete line of cigars, tobacco, soft drinks, fruits, etc.
J. K. DEVLIN.
Well known in Bennett, has a large stock of general merchandise on Front
street, and is doing a fine business. Mr. Devlin is also the local agent for Mr. King's saw mill at Caribou. He is a gentleman with whom it is a pleasure to meet and do business.
MISS EVERSOLE.
Late of Sylvester's store, Skagway, carries a good assortment of general
merchandise in a tent on the corner of Main and Second avenues. She also deals in all kinds of fresh fruits, etc.
LAUNDRIES.
There are several laundries in town, and a large steam plant is now being
put in by Mr. Racine in the rear of the Racine hotel.
CAPT. P. MARTIN
Deals in groceries and provisions, paints, oils, etc., and makes a specialty of scows and boats.
BUTCHERS.
P. Burns & Co., and N. P. Shaw & Co., both Bennett firms, have opened branches in White Horse and carry a choice assortment of fresh and salted meats, etc. Both firms are doing a good business.
J. T. BETHUNE.
White Horse townsite agent, has a neat little office on Front street, and is kept busy attending to purchasers of realty.
NOTES.
There are two house and sign painting firms doing business in White
Horse.
Mr. McDonald, shoemaker, attends to footwear in need of repair.
The Klondike corporation intend building a large iron structure on Main
street near front.
Mr. McDonald, of Victoria, is putting up a two story, zinc-lined building, 35x90 feet, at a cost of about $7000 on Front street. We understand it will be
used us a theater.
The Pioneer Stables, Harry Chambers, proprietor, carry a line of feed,
oats and hay.
If there are any business firms that we have inadvertently overlooked, we shall be pleased to have notice of the fact, as it has not been done intentionally. Our short stay in White Horse and the amount of business we had to transact in a short space of time is our only apology.
A member of THE SUN staff was at White Horse this week and inquired
into the condition of the river traffic between that point and Dawson. The river has risen rapidly within the last few weeks, and the steamboat people now have control of the situation. The Canadian Development Company's steamer Columbian arrived at White Horse at 1:30 p. nm. on the first instant with 100 passengers, 80 of them members of the Yukon Field Force. She left White Horse on her return to Dawson at midnight on the 2nd instant with 125 tons of freight and a fair passenger list. She is being followed up the river
by the steamers Canadian now nearing Hootalinqua, the Victorian above Selkirk and the Bailey about Stewart River. The company also have the Yukoner and Sybil at Dawson scheduled to leave on the 2ud and 4th instant respectively. Within the next ten days
they will move about fifteen hundred tons of freight and with the improvement in the condition of the river it is probable that within four weeks at the latest freight will be moved us received.
THE NORTHERN STAR, P. F. Scharschmidt editor and proprietor, and A. M. Rousseau, business manager, will make its appearance at White Horse next week. THE NORTHERN STAR will be run in connection with THE BENNETT SUN, thus giving its advertising patrons the advantage of two publications.
Dr. Cane, postmaster at White Horse, was in Bennett on business today.
J. W. Allard, a registered pilot of White Horse rapids, paid our office a
visit yesterday. He returned down the river in the afternoon on the Australian.
The steamers Anglian and Jos. Clossett arrived in White Horse Sunday from Dawson.
Prof. C. E. Lombard left for White Horse Tuesday to fill an engagement
at that place.
A scow loaded with general merchandise and owned by a gentleman named Milne, was wrecked Sunday at the lower end of White Horse rapids. A portion of the cargo was saved, but the greater part was a total loss.
Madame Lloyd, late of Sousa's Band, gave a free concert Sunday afternoon
in Macaulay & O'Brien's hall at White Horse under the auspices of the North Star Athletic club. The large room was packed to its utmost capacity.
Chas. I. Settlemeir and bride passed through Bennett from White Horse
Sunday, enroute to their home in Skagway, where Mr. Settlemeir is city editor on the Daily Alaskan.
Mr. James, Canadian postal inspector for the Skagway-Dawsen division, was in Bennett the early part of the week instructing the new postoffice force in their various duties. He has now gone to White Horse to put the postoffice at that place in running order.
Seven insane people were brought out from Dawson Monday in charge of the Yukon Field Force, and will be taken below and placed in the insane asylum. Considerable indignation was expressed by citizens of this place in regard to the manner of transporting these poor, demented creatures from Bennett to Skagway. They were placed in
a common cattle car and with the cold wind that was blowing Monday evening must have been nearly frozen in their journey over the summit.
