The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-09-06
THE SKAGUAY TRAIL
Pushing the Work on the Road to
the Gold Fields.
THE KIoKBBs IN THE MINORITY.

The Prospectors Perfect an organiza-
tion For Pushing the Work, and the
Malcontents Must su submit-Canadian
Police Promise Regular Mails.
Seattle, Sept 6.--The following has
been received from Skaguay, Alaska,
dated Aug. 2S: Sylvester Scovel, Of the
New York World, landed yesterday
morning at Skaguay by a specially
chartered tug from Juneau, with two
tons of blasting powder and the neces-
sary tools to equip seven complete
crews for rock work on the Skaguay
tail, and as fast as horses and men
could get at it 1t was started to the
front.
In the evening there was a meeting
at the foot of the first hill attended
by over 500 miners, who organized for
the work In front of them and elected
an executive committee consisting of
james Christie Of Portland, president;
Philip Adams, secretary; G. A. Cramer
Of Seattle, Mr.. Heacock and Mr.. Day,
superintendents, who selected ex-
perienced Sen for the work on the rock
hills and veteran loggers for the work
Of corduroying the muddy places
There were 30 Canadian mounted po-
lice also on the trail. They heve pitched
in with a good will, and say that the
building Of this trail will enable them
to get in the 10 tons of provisions in
time to build and provision the mail
stations in their territory, so that they
can operate the dog teams all winter
and they agree to deliver the mail
every two weeks from the Klondike to
the American line. Work Is in progress
for Is miles along the trail, and all
travellers packing has been suspended
until it Is completed.
There have been some kickers, as
usual, but they are 50 much in the
minority that they have had to sub
nit While 1 believe this trail will be
complete in ten days, so that travel
can be resumed, don't start for this
point expecting to get over 1t for at
least 80 days, as 1t will take that long
after the trail is completed to get all
the miners over that are now there.
| There would never have been so much
trouble for small parties, but the
swarm of people, 95 per cent of whom
were tenderfeet and knew nothing
about backing and mountaineering, has
been the cause of congestion at this
point.
The first reports about this trail were
inspired by i'll treated parties who are
trying to start a town here, and who
are also in the whisky business. Not
nearly so many discouraged prospect
ors are selling their outfits for a song
as has been reported, but a good many
who started for the Klondike have
! given up that idea, have turned to
| town site buyers and are erecting all
| kinds of buildings and are establishing
themselves for the winter as best they
can. One week ago lumber could be
! got for $27 per thousand. Now 1t is
| $50 and none for sale even at that
! figure. Rubber boots, heavy shoes and
oil clothing are in demand and fetch
! big prices. Hardware of all kinds sells
| well.
The Alaskan Pacific Express COM
pany has made arrangements to open
an office here. The steamer Queen, of
Seattle, and the steamships AIEi and
Danube, of Victoria have landed over
500 passengers, 800 tons of freight and
300 horses and mules since Aug. 25, and
still there is more to follow.
The Klondike excitement has turned
the whole attention of the world this
way and will result in opening this
! territory as nothing else would have
done. On board the steamer Queen on
this trip are two parties, one organized
in Chicago, consisting of four gentle
men, comprising a doctor, lawyer, COM
mission merchant and assayer, all
under the guidance of L. L. Bates, who
has spent the past eight years in
Alaska as a trapper, hunter and guide.
They will stay along the coast in the
Alexandrian Archipelago this winter,
and in the spring will thoroughly pros
pect the Copper river country. The
other party is headed by e. H. Fisher,
of Los Angeles, Cal, and will push
into the Copper river country this win
ter.
| Irrnrn Now YnrIl tn IEInndi1re