Telegram-herald., 1889-05-22


British Columbia has often been called
Sea OF Mountains" bat this long de-
preston offers pathway from the South
ern tothe Northern boundary, along which
a road would have To cross no great trans
verse range, but though always among
hills and rocky river-courses, could
keep at low altitude and would no W here
meet such obstacles as have already been
successfully overcome by the Canadian
Pacific or the Northern Pacific lines.
After the upper valley of the Yukon has
been reached, upon its emergence from the
Rocky Mountains where IL takes its rise.
the engineering of a road down it's course
would be a comparatively simple matter.
for the river is bordered by wide flood
plain and terraces for the most part
From the Idaho boundary (49th parallell
10 the mouth OF the Yukon in Nortor
Sound is about 5000 miles, measured
along the course indicated above. Al
Norton Sound good harbor is found, ane
from there IL Is only few hours voy
ags by steamship TO the coast Of Kamts-
katka.
The railway system OF Russia already
extends into eastern Siberia, and engineer
long ago sketched out line for railway
should push eastward across the more O
less settled and productive provinces O
southern Siberia and DOWN the Amoor I.
that great rivers mouth. Already manl
steamers are employed in traffic on the
Amoor, and the fort at its mouth IS an i'm.
portant one in the commerce OF that popu-
lous part of the world. Russian explorers
and engineers say that it IL entirely feast
IL a
main line on the Amoor into Kamtskatka
aud down to Petropavlooski orsome other
port on Behring's Strait, which is almost
within sight Of the Alaskan coast.
The same mineral belt which has yielded
the great wealth OF the western United
States extends northerly through British
Columbia, where it, has been partially de-
veloped I'm the remote camps of the Column
bia Canon. the Cariboo and Omenica dis
tricts. Tho same geological structure con
tinucs from Montana to Southern Alaska,
and the ores Of tho northernmost region
ars closely similar TO those of the southern
part. Yet no one doubts that the vast
wealth we have drawn from the silver and
gold lodges Of the West would never have
been obtained had not railroads made our
mines accessible.
OF the lesser advantages, that Of the
growth Of great lumbe and ship timber
business would be prominent; while the
product Of the varied fisheries Of Alaskan
coasts and rivers, not TO speak of inter
mediate lakes and rivers abounding in
salmon and other delicious food fishes, are
worth mention.
Could such road be operatsd' Un-
doubtediy. II would run all the way
west OF the mountains, and as the more
rOrtherly part was approached, would
draw nearer aud nearer to the warm coast.
A. 10 the question OF cost. we have the
opinion ot Mr.. Walter Moberly, Cana
dian Government engineer, who knows
British Columbia intimately and was ono
o. the foremost men in carrying the Cana
dian Pacific across tho glacial ranges
which make it, structure SD wonderful.
Hs believes that a road to Alaska is a
necessity Of the near future
M Moberly asserts the total cost Of
such railway would be $3.50 90 COO tie
proposes that the governments Of the
United : stss aud OF the Province Of
British Columbia should cooperate in
eucouraEing 1.-THE former by guarantee
ing the interest for series OF years, say
twenty. at three or four per cent. on tho
capital invested Say 10 the extent Of so co
n miiel. and that the latter givea proper
tioaste land grant British Columbia
ownssll tae public lands Of the Province.
and would. no doubt. find it profitable to
grant n portion Of them TO such an enter
prise; while TIE Eve OF six millions o; in
tereSt added % the expenditures Of the
United States. as guarantee, would be
Isttls felt By The people
ERNEST TvGFRsoLL