The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-03-31
ALASKAN SITUATION
"A CONSERVATIVE OPINION OF
PRESENT CONDITIONS.
The Early Rush Of Eager Goldseekers
Having cOnEsstsd the Passes, Other
Routes win Have TO BE Opened.
Special Correspondence

special correspondence.
Although the rush to Alaska NAV be
said to have only just begun, condi.
ton OF affairs has already developed in
Dyea and Skagway which promises to
disappoint the expectations of thou.
sands of eager gold seekers. The trails
across the Chilkoot and White passes
are practically impossible because Of
the frequent and severe storms, and
will not be in good condition until
about the first Of April. The result il
that thousands Of men and thousands
Of tons Of supplies and mining outfits
are crowded together on this side of
the summit and have already reached
such number and quantity as to create
blockade.
1t has been generally understood
that it was foolish to go up to that
country earlier than March with the
expectation of crossing the passes, and
that one who did SO would simply sub.
ject himself to a long wait. to needless
hardships and possible sickness while
consuming supplies which should be
kept for service in the gold fields. Not
withstanding this fact, travel begun in
January and has continued through
February, an average of a steamer a
day having landed men and freight at
Dyea and Skagway. Those who took
this early start did so because they
feared blockade and were anxious to
get over the summit, expecting to wait
at the lakes for the opening Of the river
to navigation. The blockade they
hoped to escape has come upon them
and they are not over the summit.
Many have spent month of hardship
and toll and are worse of because OF
1t than are the newest arrivals
There are not less than 90, 900 people
in Dyea and Skagway encamped along
the trails as far as the weather condi-
lions have permitted them to advance,
only few miles at the most. The
quantity of supplies, outfits, boats, ma
chinery, etc., averages not less than a
ton to each man. This average will
be kept up during the month of March,
and by the first OF April, when the
work OF getting over the summit will
begin in earnest, moderate estimate
OF the number of men and quantity OF
freight that will be assembled there ia
10000 persons and 1000 tons of
freight.
The only thing that has been accom-
plished on the Skagway trail to make
1t more passable than it was last sum-
mer has been the building OF some
small bridges, and some improvements
on the road leading out from Skagway.
There has been tramway project there
but no progress has been made with it.
The Indications are that the Skagway
trail will not be materially better than
1t was last summer. when it was block
AIDED and rendered practically impas-
sable by 5000 or 4, 900 people and their
outfits. OF course, as long as the snow
lasts in the spring the trail will be
better one than when the traveller has
encounter mud and boulders, which
were such an obstacle year ago.
AS for the trail from Dyea, which is
the one experience has proved to be
the best, two tramways are are under
construction for the transportation of
goods. One OF these has a tram rail-
road from Dyea to the base OF the sum-
NIT ridge, and an electric bucket sys-
tenn across the summit to Lake Linde- |
mann. The other has two tramway
cables leading from the first and sec.
md divides and ending at Lake Linde-
mann. Connection between the last of
'hese and Dyea will be made with
wagons and pack animals. Neither
u these enterprise is ready for opera
lion, and the possibilities are that they
will not be before the first of April. |
When in complete operation, their COM
'ined capacity will not exceed 400 tons
per day. Assuming that by the use
II pack animals 100 tons per day could /
De taken over the White pass from
skagway, this leaves the total capacity
II all facilities provided for both passes
It 500 tons per day. This means 100
lays for transporting $4,000 tons that
will be accumulated there by the first
II April. In other words, accumula-
ions could not be cleared away before
he middle of June. The probabilities
ire, however, that during the months
II April and May an equal quantity of
lew freight would demand attention.
In this calculation no allowance is
made for the freight which could be
AIKEN on sleds by individuals and by
he aid OF dogs. This would be in
In fact, with such
mass of humanity and of goods, it
sould be almost impossible for freight
o be moved at all on those narrow
'ortions of the trail where the right of
ray would be the subject of dispute
nd contention. If people interfered
With each other last fall so as to create
blockade on both trails with less than
200 people attempting to 60 over, it
oes not require great flight of i'm
gination to see the utter blockade that
you'd be created by $4,000 people.
One who intends 20 go to Alaska may
yell stop and consider what his chances
re likely to be in such a mob, and
;hether he would not do better to seek
ONE other route or some other objec-
i've point than the Klondike region.
II course, transportation facilities from
he coast ports to Alaska have been
rovided for Dyea and skagway, but
oubtless as soon as this blockade SO
evelops that intending gold hunters
emand to be taken somewhere else,
.eamers will leave the Dyea and Skag.
my routes and seek other ports, such
3 copper river and Cooks inlet. At