The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1893-02-08
What May Be Picked Up at The Uma-
tiIla During Snow Blockade.
FRosFEoT FOE ALAskA's FUTURE
what the. Country was Made For in
the Estimation of Those Who
Have Been Over 1t.


Mr.. John L. Hutchison, of New York,
who was one of the party who recently
made the trip overland to Europe, is a
snow w-blockaded guest at The Umatilla
today. In company with party of
eight civil engineers who were em-
ployed two years ago to make prelim
mary survey between Vancouver, B. c.,
and Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska, and
report on the practicability of building
railroad from the former city to the
cape, he has spent the past eighteen
months in running the lines and obtain
ing levels and the general topography
of the country between the points
named. Two of his companions, James
Higgins and Robert Faulkner, remained
at one of their permanent camps near
the cape, and the remainder of theparty
accompanied Mr.. Hutchison to Van
couver.
This party have passed over a region
never before explored. From Juneau
the party proceeded on an air line, as!
nearly as possible paralleling the
Alaskan coast west of Mts. Fairweather
and Elias, but not touching the coast.
proper atsany. point. Copper river was:
encountered 120 miles from Prince.
William sound and southwest of Mt
Wrangel. 1t occupied the time of the
party 90 days to attain this point. Al
permanent camp was established at
this place and named Beatrice. The
river hero is navigable with its waters
very smooth and placid for dis
tance of 100 miles, but it suddenly
breaks off into a series of rapids 45 miles
southwest, toward the sound, which
continues for 10 miles when it again be-
comes navigable. The next point the
party aimed for was on the Sushina
river, which proved to be more rugged
and harder to traverse than had been
anticipated, the party having to scale
about dozen small glaciers or crop
pings from the main Alaskan range. 1t
occupied nearly two months to get to
this crossing, but portion of the time
was consumed in running two lines or
levels.
Mr.. Hutchison says he is at liberty to
say that the report which will be sub
mitted by Engineer Faulkner to the pro-
moters will clearly establish and fully
recommend the practicability of the
route for an all-rail line between
Vancouver and Cape Prince of Wales.
His report will also state that it can be
kept open and operated the whole year.
In all this route comparatively easy
grades can be attained, Vincent pass, in
the Alaskans, being the hardest to over
come; but the altitude is no higher than
that of Stampede pass on the Northern
Pacific railway. AS to the strait he con-
cludes that the 2615 miles from one
mainland to the other, by utilizing eight
islands the cantilever bridge can be suc-
cessfulIy brought into requisition. In
two places from little orlower Diamede
island no modern bridge would be ample
to span, as each one would be five times
as long as the main span in the Brooklyn
bridge, but he is of the opinion that a
tdouble-deck pontoon could be used at
those prices. At this point he reports
that there is little or no danger from
ice bergs, as 40 miles up the strait all
large icebergs are stranded or rnn
aground. With stone breakwater pro-
lection to part of the piers the bridge
would be secure. OF course the pantoons
or floating bridges referred to would
have to be built to swing and be worked
by steam power. He also reports that
there is no quicksand to contend with
Eor any submarine obstacles. the bottom
of the strait being all that could be de-
/ sired for pier foundations.