Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-17

Representatives Of the Trans-Siberian
railway here say that by the time the
rush begins next spring they believe they
can sell through tickets from London TO
ST. NIichaers. This means no voyage by
sea TO speak of, because the crossing Of
Behring Sea amounts to but little in the
sprirgtime. This route will really be less
expensive. so 1t is stated now, than would
be the trip from here to New York by
steamship and thence across the CONT
nent TO the Pacific coast, and thence by
steamer UP the Yukon TO the point Of
destination.
Naturally many persons will prefer the
old established combination route. Pas
sage has already been engaged by a
number Of parties from Berlin, London,
Paris, and various other European points.
by the steamships which touch at South
ampton. The chances are that next
spring will see the western record broken
as regards the passenger traffic. Some
Of the tickets Of these parties read via
the Canadian Pacific railway to the
western terminus of that line. Other
tickets read to New York and thence
west by means of the various lines Of
railways in the United States. From
Australia there will be two routes to
the Klondike, one directly across the
Pacific via Honolulu, and another
through the Suez Canal and thence via
London TO New York or Canada.
From Cape Town a line Of steamers Is
10 be put on this next spring direct TO
New York, and it is believed that these
will convey many passengers from the
diamond mines Of Kimberley and the adj
jacent fields to New York. and thence
to the Klondike. Several Englishmen
who have returned from South Africa
have made reports TO the merchants
whom they represented, stating that there
will be a considerable emigration from
there TO the Klondike Several routes
are open to this contingent. They may
coast around 10 Panama, should they hap
pen to be on the east side, or if they
dwell i'm Ecuador, or the United States
Of Colombia, they will also so 10 Panama,
thence by steamship to San Francisco,
and north TO either st. MichaePs, or
whatever point of debarkation they
might suggest.
From Japan and China both sailing YES
sells and steamships will next spring run
direct to ST. Mchael's, this being the
first time such voyages have been under
taken in the history Of the world There
will also be a direct line from Honolulu
to st. Michael's. In fact, II requires no
searching eye to see that st. Michaefs Is
to be, TO a great extent, centre where
emigration will concentrate.
1t may seem strange that people over
here are so well posted as to the routes
which are to be taken by the Klondike
emigrants next spring, but 1t does not
seem as odd when ono stops to think
that the gold fields are in British terri
tory. Everybody thinks dreams, ana
talks of the Klondike. Every one who
can will certainly go there as soon as the
season makes it wise TO do so from a eli
matte standpoint. Therefore, every pos
sible route by which one might travel TO
this now-famous land OF riches has been
placed upon paper. The accompanying
map which is a reproduction of what Is
known as a geographers map. shows the
routes as we understand them over here.
and as. I am sure. are absolutely correct.
The map might give you wrong Inn
preston If you do not recognize few
salient points that do not appear at once
10 the casual glance.
The geographers map Is the exaggera-
ton of certain scientific facts that are
apt to prove misleading TO the unskilled
eve. Again, the scale Of miles is so small
that the position Of small bodies OF land
Is apparently changed. For instance
Vancouver. an island off the coast. APP
pears TO be a seaboard town attached
to the coast, and part OF the coast
The continent of South America appears
10 be further north than il really is. and
the relation of the North Pole to certain
European cities in point OF direction seems
almost impossible. Again. Dawson city |
annears 10 be directly on the line between
the limited States and British Columbia, |
whereas il is really forty-five miles on
the Canadian side. And so it goes. Yet |
the map is not wrong. IL is simply drawn |
upon a scientific principle which the lay |
mind fails TO grasp.
In recapitulation, therefore, one sees |
that a person with funds may travel |
from almost any point in the world to the
Klondike in a fairly comfortable manner.
II is no departure from the truth to say
that the greatest estimate of the number
~ persons who viii take advantage OF |
these different routes is not likely to be
an exaggeration. One cannot understand |
or appreciate the tremendous interest
taken in the Klondlke in all European
Countries. The diamond excitement in
A frica was nothing as compared to 1t.
aETOy ECHOES