Connecticut western news., 1897-09-23
THE YUKON PILGRIMS
SYLVESTER scoveL BRINGS NEWS OF
 THE ARMY OF GOLD SEEKERS.
Obstacles Which Besst the shargusy Trail and the Chnkat Pass-secrctary Aigsr Talks With Joseph Ladus About Re- lief For Distressed Kiondfhers

Seattle. Wash. Sept. a.-sylvester Scovel. a New York newspaper corre- spondent. has arrived here on the steamer Rosalie. Mir. scovel brings the news, which will come with conn forting assurance to thousands of peo- pie who have friends on the pass. that at least 1000 men. with complete out Its, will get through to the Yukon, though he believes that only n small fraction of this number will reach Daw- son City before winter.
 From the best information he could obtain, gathered from all sources, he believes that 2,b00 men have got over the Chilkat pass and have gone on down to the mines. These men have. how ever, with few exceptions, gone through with little or no supplies, the average amount taken by each man being not over 500 or coo pounds, not more than enough to get him to the great gold- fields, where provisions are not to be had
 When you ask me what condition White tran is in." said Mir. scoyei II tell you the White pass has not been used by the thousands of men who have been climbing over the mountains from Skagguay 10 the lakes. Instead of use ing the pass the men have scrambled up along the sides of the mountains, $50 feet above the pass. The reason they have done this is that the pass itself is full of powders. even in its present shape being impossible.
 The Canadian builders had no money for dynamite. To get away from these powders the miners have throughout the entire length of the pass gone up above the powders on the side of the nd Ia hal tains are steep. and the trail in its pres ent location can never be made into n rood one.
 Tho skagrnay River Trail.
 Instead of following along the Skag- quay river bank. where there is an easy grade. though, of course, greatly ob- structed by powders and in places en- tirely blocked by precipitous points which jut out Into the river, they have gone or to the side In their great rush to get through. The trail crosses and recroases the river and makes long de- tours which would be unnecessary by the use of little dynamite. The sum of sb.ooo would make fine pack trail to Lake Bennett. Not more than $lb.- 900 would be required to build n good wagon road the entire distance.
 "A man with two horses and an out- nt weighing 1000 pounds could by this improved trail bring his outfit through the pass with the expenditure of less than IS days time. The possibility of making this trail good one has been told me by four different engineers of high standing sent up into that coun- try by different railway companies whose names I am not at liberty to stale. A railroad could be built on tho same route: but, of course, what is wanted is an immediate inlet for the people there.
 'The men who have gone to the Skag- ruay pass with determination and grit have succeeded In getting over it with their outfits. while those devoid of these qualities have given lt up in disappoint- ment. IL Is from the latter class that you have heard so much of the terrible hardships of the traAl, tenderfeet who were either unaccustomed to work or afraid of H."