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Show AUTOMOBILES IN THE YUKON Automobiles of suitable construction construc-tion could be used in this country to advantage if more attention were given to the construction of roads, especially for winter use. It has been claimed by some that the automobile could not bo successfully success-fully used In a cold climate like this j becauso the gasoline would congeal, , but local tosts In the last two years In afl kinds of weather hao proved that theory Incorrect, and also that thev can be used as successfully here as In any other country, provided slight changes bo .made in the construction con-struction of tho machine and tho roads. Two years ago a large automobile was usod successfully during the winter win-ter in Dawson and on suitable country coun-try roads. Last winter the White Pass and Yukon Route Company, which operates a 330-mllo stage line in winter between White Horse and Dawson, tried an automobile, but It did not prove satisfactory, as the automobile's au-tomobile's gauge was much wider than that of the sleds which they were using and the sled tracks could not bo used. Tho snowfall in the Yukon basin between the 1st of October and the last of April usually about two feet remains on the ground until melted by tho sun in tho spring. By mid-winted mid-winted the track is worn down in tho snow by these narrow-gauge sleds until the banks on either side are from eighteen to twenty-four Inches In-ches high, making It difficult If not impossible for a wider-gauge vehicle of aity kind to pass over the road. There being no blizzards and little wind in winter in the Yukon valley, there are no snowdrifts to contend with, except on timberless ridges. Tho roads usually have low and even grades and were they3 of suitable width would be well suited for motor vohlcles. These ronds or trails wero originally made fifteen to twenty-four twenty-four Inches wide to accommodate tho dog sled. When horses took tho place of dogs these trails were widened to accommodate the "double-endor" one-horse slod, which is long and narrow, with the runners turned up at both ends to save reversing the sled, which is difficult to do on such narrow roads when turning back. In recent years some of these roads ( have been widened .for tho use of wagons In summer, over which heavy loads are drawn by two, four find six horBes, If some enterprising motor-vehiclo J company should construct a ,,motor , car of the width of the Bled now in uso In this country, it could be used to great advantage throughout tho whole Yukon valley for speedy travel in convoying malls, passengers and freight. " j i Tho time now 'occupied br sfago between White Horse and Dawson Is five to olght days, with relay stations at twonty-mlle Intervals, while an automobile should make the journey at any time In the year within two , day6. Consular Report - OO |