Yukon-Koyukuk Alaska
Community Newspaper Items

The Daily Alaska Dispatch 1903-12-12
BIRTH RATE THE YUKON
For the first time in the history of the Yukon the birth rate will exceed the death rate this year.
One hundred and forty seven births have occurred in the territory to date tor this year, and 131 deaths, says the Dawson News.
The showing made by last month helped considerably. Seventeen births took place in October and only five deaths. All the deaths were from natural causes.
Since the establishment of the registration office 435 births are recorded for the territory. The deaths reached a much larger figure, the record being 872. The majority occurred in the early days of camp.
The number of births, however, will be something of a surprise to Dawson people. The record accentuates the fact that the Klondike is becoming a place in which people make their home.
The record in marriages since the opening of the registration office is slightly in excess of the number of births.
According to the statistics 454 people have been joined for better or worse in the Yukon. Eighty-five marriages have been solemnized so far this year. Twelve of these were contracted last month. The statistics were obtained from the office of Major Wood, who is register for the Yukon.
The work is in charge of secretary, F.W. Torney.
[submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer]