Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-07-29
TO MAKE A SURVEY.
Prof. Pratt Goes on An Important
Mission In Alaska.


He Left Here ON Sunday for the Gold
Fl lbs. Whore He wan Make Keeon-
poissance for n Railroad From the Alias
kan Coast 10 the Head OF Navigation on
the Yukon River.
President William A. Pratt OF the
Street aud Sewer Department, pro
feseor of engineering at Delaware Col
lege, has been engaged as on expert
engineer by tho Yukon Mining, TRAILING
and transportation Co., Of which Will
lard salisbury, Preston Lea and Charles
+. IutGhiugs of this city are memhers,
TO go TO Alaska and make reconnois-
HRnco, which is to he the preliminary
Htsp in the direction OF building a rail
road about $50 miles 10 length from
Juneau, on the coast, opposite Sitka, to
the head of nnyigable waters on the
Yukon River. Prof. Pratt anil L, I.
Packard, the latter being interested
in the company, LETT this city on
Sunday afternoon on tho 4. AZ b. s. O.
train. They will proceed to Seattle as
rapidly as possible and lose no time III
reaching tho territory through which
it ia propused to have the road pass.
Prof. Pratt has had considerable OK
perience IN surveying for railroad routes
III Virginia and West Virginia, aud his
knowledge OF such matters will un-
doubtedly be valuable for the company.
lie will be joiued by an assistant in
the West and they will 90 over the pro-
posed route, taking accurate data, and
Prof. Pratt will return to this city in
time for ths opening of Delaware Col
lego, 10 September, NO il will be seen
that they must work quickly. He is
to bring hack with him full report,
as to whether it would be feasible TO
build road where proposed and as TO
the ACCESSIBILITY of the undertaking.
The Yukon TO. has concession from
the Canadiun government and the right
of way will cost nothing. The greatest
cost will be the matter of grading,
which will be extremely difficult in
some placea.
At present people going to the gold
fields leave either Seattle or San Fran
cisco and go by steamer to the mouth
of the Yukon River, which is about
5000 miles north of whore it ia pro.
posed to locate the terminus Of tho new
railroad. The steamers run about 3, SOC
miles. where navigations stops, and as
tho river ia frozen up the greater part
of the year great Inconvenience is OK
| perienced.
Tho railroad would be in service all
the time and would make the gold
fields much easier OF access than al
present. 1t is thought that had the
railroad been in operation for the last
few weeks it would have paid for itself
already, and it is the intention of the
projectors to begin work as soon as the!
can obtain the necessary data with
which to make the start.
Prof. Pratt Is to take general obser'
vations. There is ridge Of mountains
between Juneau and the gold fields
and it is these great elevations which
are the chief barrier. Tho question il
as to how to hest get over or arount
them. At present there are some o.
the prospectors who 90 tU Juneau, anC
60 up short river, at the end OF whiGt
they pirx up their boats and conve,
them across the mountains. distance
OF "a miles, where branch Of thl
Yukon is at hand, and by that branct
they can reach the gold fields. Will,
there is pass which is frequentl,
used by tbs prOspectors, it would un
douhtedly be very costly to run a rail
road through it. Mr.. Pratt will will
his knowledge of such matters, be on
abled to pick out the very best route, i
there is any choice at all.
After he brings his detailed repor
back here next September it will b
thoroughly examined by the director
of the company, who propose to star
out a corps of engineers immediatel,
upon the opening of spring, with I'll
hope of having the road in operation a
soon as practicable. No estimate as I
cost can be made until Mr.. pratt's re-
/, port il received. The road is 10 ru
through short strip OF Alaska an
a portion OF British Columbia. Will
! it is TO run to tho head Of navigatio
on the Yukon River, il may he oxtende
beyond that point This will depen
, upon circumstances.
The Yukon Carihoo British Columbi
D Gold Mining Development Co. has bee
! Incorporated with j. Edward Addicl
3 us president, e. II. Kittinger rs secrI
! tary ana Il. H. j. Gaynor of New lor
| as treasurer. Among tho directors al
&. Sylvester X. Everett, Cleveland Camil
o Wiandenfeld, New York; ex-Gov. job
o H. McGraw, Seattle; philo d. Bsart
3 buffalo; John Laughin, Buffalo; Bel
d ianin Butterworth. Commissioner
Q Patents, Washington, ID. q, and j.
-