The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-05

ALASKAN DEyELOPMENT

The Seattle Post IntelLgencer announces
that new steamer is to be put on the
Yukon to run from st. Miehaels to the
gold diggngs, in opposition to the steamer
which is now run by the Alaskan CONNER
cial Company. The new craft is TO be
small steTn-wheel steamer, 175 feet long.
with freight capacity of 80 tons. She is
TO be carried In sections to ST. Miehaels,
there put together and sent up the river.
Her draught is so small that she will be
able TO navigate the upper waters OF the
\ ukOn to the outlet of the lakes. This is
an enterprise to be commended, and it is to
be hoped that Messrs. Healy and Weare,
who are at the head of il. will find their
profit in its prosecution.
But a glance at the map must satisfy
every one that the true outlet for the Upper
Yukon is not by way of ST. Michaels, hut by
the Chilcat or Chicoot pass. Two thousand
or twenty hundred miles of river naviga-
ton is more than most kinds Of freight can
bear, when the steamers can only make a
couple Of trips in the season. 1t is to be
feared that the newcomer will find that it
VIII be necessary to charge more for trans
portation than the traffic will bear. At the
present time the miners on Forty mile
Creek get their tools and supplies carried
over one of the passes by Indians, who,
naturally, charge all they can get. But the
| remedy would appear to be not to put an
other steamer on the river and rely upon
| that but 10 open a road over the passes
which shall be practicable for draught ami
mails.
Mr.. Glave, who spent two seasons in
Alaska aud is now in the East, stated, when
! he was here, that he had succe ssfuly in
iDy "A
had driven them from Chilcoot village all
over the plateau lying north and northeast
of the St Elias Range. He stated that.
! with little labor. there would be no diff
Guilty in making road over one or the other
pass, over which horses could haul loaded
wagons. The journey from Chilcoot to the
nearest lake which connects with the Upper
| Yukon need not take over a couple of
| weeks. BY this road Seattle would be
within four weeks of the gold diggings, in
| stead of eight as it probably would by way
| OF ST. Michaels and the Lower Yukon.
There is one point which the writers on
| the Upper Yukon aud its resources have ne
| elected 10 notice. They draw attention to
! the auriferous gravels in the creeks which
/ empty into the Upper Yukon and Its triDu-
taries, and to the large quantities Of fine
| skins which are found in the districts
/ through which they flow. But they fleet
! to observe that these rich gravels and fine
! hunting grounds are generally east of the
! one hundred and forty-frst parallel, and are
! consequently in British North America and
| not in Alaska. The Yukon crosses the one
! hundred and forty first parallel in about 65
! deg. north latitude, and from that point to
! its source ID never departs from Canadian
! territory. All the lakes which constitute
| its source are in Canada. And Mr.. Glave's
| road would leave American territory thirty
! or forty miles from its departure and would
never return to il. The gold washings OF
! the Yukon and the Pelly are on Canadian
soil, and as such are governed by the Cana
| dian and not the American mining laws.
! Fort SelkiTk is quite long way from the
border. 1t flies or should fly the British
! flag
1t is not likely that we shall fall out with
| our neighbors over few ounces of gold or
few bue-foX skins. But still it is we'll to
! remember where we stand. We are in
the habit OF considering Alaska as American
territory, and it is so. TO the extent of ST.
coo square miles. But considerable slice
OF the territory lies east Of the boundary line,
and if it is proposed 10 improve that portion
! with American capital previous UNDER
standing with the Dominion Government
would be desirable. to avoid future disputes,
IL case rich placers were found.