The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-26
\ KLONDYKH RAILROAD.
To Be Built Next Spring by an English
Syndicate.

Skaguay, Alaska, Aug. II, via Seat
tie, Washington, Aug. PA civil eng
neer of Juneau, G. Il. Garthsidc, and six
assistants are now surveying the white
pass in the interest of an English syn
dicate, which intends to run Il railroad
from Skaguay, the entrance to the pass,
to Taku Arm, distance of 6S miles and
eventually to the HoOkatinqua river, no
miles. f. A. Rellinghurst. of Victoria is
one of the principal promoters of the
scheme. This road when completed will
/ form the shortest and quickest route to
the Yukon country and it is the intention
of the company to build wharves and
warehouses ut Skaguay. The highest
altitude of the road will be at the sum-
NIT of the White Pass, $4,000 feet. The
summit is about twenty miles from
Skaguay The surveying party has been
at work since July 2Sth and expects to
have the survey completed in two weeks.
They are now twelve miles up the river.
! Although the exact cost cannot yet be
! estimated, it is known that the road will
cost more per mile than other railroads,
/ but, as the trail is the natural outlet
from the Yukon, the promoters expect
to reap large returns. The present trail
over the pass. used so much at present
by miners with the idea of diverting the
travel from the ChilkOOt trail and they
made an attempt to prevent professional
packers from charging more than II
cents a pound In this. however. they
were unsuccessful. as the date is now
so cents. Mr. Garthsidc states that it
2 will be impossible for more than one
quarter of the people now on the trail
to reach the Klondyke this year. Work
on the railroad would he commenced in
the spring and tho road to Taku will
probably he completed in six months
from then. Skaguay is destined TO be a
large town and should the railroad be-
come an assured fact, will distance
juneau as an Quitting and general COM
mercial point. Many Of the Juneau mer-
chants have opened branch stores here
already. The great majority of people
arriving here cannot possibly get down
the river this year and those of them who
already realize this fact, are locating
lots in Skaguay, and starting to build
In year the town will undoubtedly con-
tain $500 to 5000 inhabitants. The
various paths and trails leading through
the forests have been christened and the
infant town has q broadway and several
avenues. The White Pass. in its present
crude condition is practicable for the
entire distance to lake Bennett and a
man without a pack can go over it in
"A hours. Pack animals can traverse it
with a load of $50 pounds and it seems
to be the better trail for those who nave
/ brought others with them. The miners
who have no horses, the Chilkoot Pass
seems preferable as it is impossible to
hire men here to pack outfits. The white
trail has been cut through to lake Ben
nett only about a week and so far only
very few have passed out of the lower
end although hundreds of miners are
canned along It. Frank S!ayiA, the
pugilist is said ,o,aave been the first man
to emerge at the lake. His outfit, how
ever, was badly broken mp by the pack
ers and he refused to pay for IFS trans
pOrtation