Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1895-01-12
CANADA'S EYE ON ALASKA.
A Commission Sent to Devise "a Way of
Controlling the Yukon River
Trnlp.


Trade.
Canada is making vigorous efforts to Sc
cure control of the business of the rich
gold fields along the Yukon river, and to
that end sent William Ogilvie and a party
of the Canadian boundary commission to
Alaska to survey IL wagon road probably
! along the Takou river in the interior.
Ogilvie and party arrived in Alaska De-
cember II, on the last Mexico, and in
speaking of their intentions the Alaska
News of December 20, published in juneau
City, says:
THE party is Quitting here for the pur-
pose of making as accurate survey of
the Takou river the weather will per-
init. The object is to acquire complete
a knowledge of the topography along that
stream as circumstances will allow. OF
course the residents of this country will
understand that the weather is an i'm
portant factor in such operations at this
time of the year The whole valley of the
river and adjacent country will, as far as
possible be photographed. This work will
be continued to the head of navigation
Thus far the work is to afford knowledge
for the use of the international boundary
commission, the information acquired of
course, being at the disposal of the joint
commission. At the same time close atten-
ton will be paid to the practicability of
the Takou river as a route to the interior,
and with this object the survey will be
carried from the head of canoe navigation
about seventy miles to the head of Lake
Teslin or probably better known here as
Akin lake. This will settle the probable
ity of wagon road being built to connect
the coast with some point on the head
waters of the Yukon.
1T is needless TO mention to the resi-
dents of this part of the country the ad-
vantages of tapping the Yukon country at
Teslin lake, as it permits an uninterrupt-
ed navigation from the extreme head of
probably the most southern branch of the
Yukon, permitting free and easy naViga-
ton for five months in the year from the
extreme head of the river to its mouth
a distance of upward of 1900 miles, about
two-thrds of which Will run through
mountainous country, IA condition which
probably obtains on no other river in the
world.
"While in the interior Mr.. Ogivie will
pay marked attention to the topography OF
the surface, also the climatic conditions,
as evidenced by the timber. 1t Is possible
he may cross from Teslin lake to Akin
lakes to examine that part of the country.
If possible, and in the time at his disposal,
he will also examine the White pass from
the head of Skagway bay on Taiya inlet
Commonly known here as DyeD to the
Tagish lakes. This is, of course. contingent
on the time taken in the examination OF
the country between Takou inlet and Tes-
lin lake.
Five white men accompany Mr.. Ogilve.
whom he selected from the Canadian party
oil the boundary COMMISSION. IL All lllleill-
gent, reliable Indian, who knows the coun-
try between Takou and Teslin, can be pro-
cured here he will be taken along, In or
der to acquire much information as
possible about the country adjacent to the
route Travelled over. Part of Mr.. Ogilve's
outfit is six pairs of Canadian snowshoeS.
Nearly all the men have experience in
snowshoeing, several of thell having
tramped thousands of miles on just such
shoes to the satisfaction of themselves
and their employers. Another item of
their outfit is six toboggans, Mr.. Ogilvie
will depart for the head of Takou inlet
in the course of few days. weather per-
mittng. He expects to return in the first
part of February. when he will likely de-
vote few days TO the examination of
White pass; then he Will make his way
to Ottawa as speedily as possible to SUBJ
nit his official report and plans of the
work accomplished, and probably to be
here again about the middle of April in
connection with the closing up of the in
ternational boundary survey work, which
Is expected to be completed In July, 1895.
THE map resulting from the joint labors
of the International commission Will be
prepared with all speed for the comms-
soners, who will discuss the position from
the treaty of 1925 between England and
Russia point of view. Whichever of tho
routes is most feasibly reported upon win
in all probability be opened for travel at
an early date, making, as far as a rea-
sonable expenditure will permit, an easy
access to the gold fields of the interior"