Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

for the bank, the finalTHE YUKON ADVENTURE 167instructions being telegraphed by thegeneral manager from Chicago and reaching the first party justas they left Vancouver. This building, which stood outsidethe recognized fire zone, was completed late in the summer,save for the window panes, glass for which could not be obtaineduntil after the snow had come. Some of the last scows whichreached Dawson before the river froze brought cargoes ofwindow-glass, from which they reaped "much honourableadvancement" and the bank secured its window panes. Thebuilding was two stories in height, and was constructed of logssawn on three sides, with the bark left on the fourth or outerside. 1The roof was made of two thicknesses of boards, coveredwith an inch of mountain moss and over that three inches ofmud. The inside measurements were thirty-five feet long bytwenty-five feet wide. The second storey was divided byof one-inch match-boards and was used as staffpartitionsapartments. Downstairs, on the left, space was partitionedoff in the rear for the assay quarters. 2 An extension of theground-floor at the back of the building provided a commodiouskitchen and dining-room. The building was lightedduring the first year by lamps and heated by large woodburningstoves. Later on, electricity was available forlighting purposes. About twelve feet away in one directionwas the Gold Commissioner's Office, and on the other sidewere the Mounted Police buildings and stockade. Thecost was over $30,000, and as the expenses of sending thestaff, equipment and supplies of the branch to Dawsonreached the sum of $24,700, it will be seen that the opening ofthe branch involved a preliminary outlay of over $50,000.At first there was literally no time or opportunity, savelate at night, for the officers of the bank to look round andascertain the kind of place and people of which they were apart. Writing on June 20, 1898, the Dawson manager says:"Business is rushing with us and we are working just now1See plate 26, facing this page.'See plate 25, facing page 162.