The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-28

A New Transportation Route to the
Alaskan Gold Fields.

st. Louis GlObe-DemOcrat.
Capt. d. NJ. Swain, master of the steamer
Borealis Rex, which plies on the Illinois
river, is interested in company which will
operate line of steamers on the Yukon
river, Alaska, to the gold fields.
This enterprise is advanced to facilitate
traffic into the gold regions of the far
north. Intercourse with miners who have
made their fortunes in the Yukon country
first drew Mr.. SWANS attention TO this
field, and he is much interested in its re-
sources and possibilities. and has made
thorough study of the country. He is
assured of the navigability of the Yukon
and its tributaries. and says If transporta-
tons facilities for passengers and supplies
are made adequate and rapid, the country
will develop wonderfully.
The discoveries of the last two seasons
in this new country shows that 1t is PROB,
ably the largest and richest placer gold
field in the world, while all along the route
from the source to the mouth Of the river.
the close observer can see vast treasures
of coal. quartz, marble. iron copper, ETC.,
only waiting for capital to develop the coun-
try and furnish means Of transportation to
bring them within reach of the outside
numerous tributaries of the river during
the short season has proved that every
stream. large or small; is gold bearing, yet
is of insignificant area: All the streams
carry flour gold which increases in It's
coarseness as the river is assembled.
few hundred men in the diggings took out
over 81. 100000 worth of gold. Miller Creek,
a gulch four miles long, alone produced
$4,000 in fifty days, and but few of the
claims were developed. Not a few men took
out 5000 to $4,000 during the season, and
some took ont $4,000. and one man from
The Yukon is the second largest river in
the world. being next to the Amazon in
size. 1t is sixty miles wide at its mouth,
and at a distance Of 1.5O0 miles from its
mouth has width of seven to ten miles.
The river is too shallow for ocean steamers,
but is navigable the entire length for fat
l<.of <.ff h.~1
The navigable tributaries of the Yukon are
the Lewis. Pelly, Stewart, Tahkenna, Hoot-
allnqua. Porcupine, Tannana, Avik. White,
Birch and the Salmon. and many others, to
the extent of several thousand miles. Pros
pectors can penetrate by boat the most re-
mote parts OF the gold helds without hard
during the entire mining season, and, COM
ing out at the close of the summer, spend
their winter in milder climates. All this
will be made possible by the line of boats
now in contemplation. There are two routes
to the Yukon gold fields, but the passenger
route is the one used by miners, who go
from Juneau up the Lyon canal, thence
over the Chilkoot pass, twenty-four miles,
to the very head waters of the Yukon.
Here they spend seven or eight days build
ing a rude boat and raft down the chain
OF lakes and river, distance of 800 miles.
All this distance is navigable, except
short portage. and at present is without
any transportation facilities except the rude
RATS of the miners.
To enter this country at present costs
Sl25 and much hard work, and even a
greater amount to get out. Swift steel
launches would cover the distance in five
days, at a cost of not more than so for the
trip.
At present it costs sl5o to $3.50 per ton to
get supplies into the country. This is due
to the high charges of the Indian packers,
and to the lack of proper transportat ton
facilities on the river. The company in
prospect proposes operating by way of the
ocean and the mouth of the river. laying
down the cargo at Circle City, the center
0f t1o Gcld a nnVynn m ~ lnx~
figure.
The company now forming in Chicago pro-
poses TO put one Of two large freighters on
the Yukon, to run from it's mouth to Circle
City, the supply point for the gold fields,
five swift launches of seventy-fve to rs
passenger capacity to ply on the upper
course of the river to carry passengers i'm
and out. and to take prospectors and sup
plies up tributary streams.