In a British Domain, and Governed Accordingly

New York Times
July 21, 1897

CHICAGO, July 20.-P. B. Wears, Vice President of the North American Transportation and Trading company, is receiving hundreds of letters asking for Information, regarding Alaskan gold-fields. He said yesterday:

"The boats which sail from Seattle this month are full-every passage taken. That means that say one who wants to go to the Klondike must wait for the August boats, and the journey is 7,000 miles. People talk about it as if it was walking across the street. They don't realize what Alaska is or what the Yukon is. They will need a map to convince them of the truth — that the country of the Yukon and its tributaries In Alaska and British America is as large as the whole United States east of the Mississippi: that it is longer than a trip to Europe before they reach the Bering Sea and the mouth of the Yukon; that by the time they strike the Yukon the Alaskan arctic Winter will be upon them.

"By Sept. 25, the weather settles, and the Yukon River is frozen solid until next May.

"The expense of getting from Chicago to Seattle is $60, and from Seattle to the Bering Sea is $150. There will be thousands of Western men who will go, but of course the coast people expect everything to their favor. One thing must be remembered, that the Klondike country is in British domain, and will be governed accordingly."

In contemplation of a greatly increased traffic to Alaska on account of the recent gold discoveries, the North American Transportation and Trading Company has been reincorporated with an increase of capital stock from $100,000 to $450,000. The incorporation was licensed today by the Secretary of State. Charles A. Wears of Chicago is President of the company.