The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-10-08
AKLONDIKE TROLLEY
Scheme For the Transporta-
ton of Miners Kits.
PASSENGERS WILL NOT BE CARRIED.
An Interesting Interview With One of
Those Most Interested In the I'm
dertaking, Who Declares 1t VIII
Be Perfectly Practicable.

NEW YORK, Oct. 5.-Captain John
Irving of the Victoria and Sitka Steam
ship company, commander of The Is
lander, is at the Fifth avenue hotel.
Said Captain Irving in an interview:
There will be a railroad over the
passes and down the Yukon to the foot
of the White Horse rapids before mid
summer next. This enterprise is partly
responsible for my visit to New York.
1t will be an overhead trolley, chiefly
for freight, and will simplify the trip
to Dawson City to such an extent that
we shall carry goods down the Yukon
instead of up the river from st. Mi
chaels. On my first trip to that port
early in June 1 shall carry lumber for
barges, which will be taken to the upper
Yukon. After the railroad is built our
boats will rarely descend below Fort
Yukon. The barges will be floated or
pushed downstream from the end of
the carrying trolley and towed back.
We shall be able to make several of
these short trips per month. There will
be no fear of provisions running short
then"
Twill the building of the freight troll
ley be an expensive undertaking? was
asked.
"On the contrary. it will be very in
expensive" replied Captain Irving. RE
member, it will not carry passengers.
The system employed so successfully
for transporting ore and coal will be
used. The pack1Mes will not exceed
200 pounds, and viii be carried on an
overhead wire, propelled by a series of
endless cables. Elevations and steep
grades are not factors in this method
of transportation. The trees along the
route will serve to support the car
riers.
"a large storehouse can be erected at
the terminus and the goods shipped
through in all ordinary winter weather.
This will do away with the hardships
of the trip. Any man can walk over
the Chilkat pass If he is unincum-
bered. Twenty miles Of climbing from
Dyea takes him over that obstacle;
then the lakes and rivers do the rest.
We will undertake to deliver his sup
plies ahead of his arrival"
letter was received in this city yes
terday from Captain Francis Tuttle
commanding the revenue cutter Bear,
written at st. Michaels, mouth of the
Yukon, on Sept. 9 last. Captain Tuttle
since last heard from had made an arc
tic cruise. On reaching st. Michaels
this second time he found, he states,
motley, lawless crowd, and one which
was able to do pretty much as 1t
pleased.
The greatest anxiety prevailed among
the representatives Of the big trading
companies. Their storehouses were full
of provisions, ample to carry all through
the winter who stopped at st. Michaels,
provided that the same were carefully
measured out.
The fear of the traders arose over
the threats of the crowd to break in the
storehouses If provisions were not
forthcoming in sufficient quantities.
THE situation" Captain Tuttle point
edly writes. changed as soon as the
Bear put in an appearance"
Captain Tuttle declares that there
will be a great shortage of food the
coming winter on the Yukon. Even
were the river now open it would be
impossible, he declares, with the trans
portation facilities at hand. to get
enough provisions up the Yukon for
those already there.