The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-03-31

be opened up the present season by
prosPectors even should not the great
stream OF travel be turned in that direc.
ton.
mere are already indications Of a
desire on the part OF gold hunters TO
abandon their idea OF going to Dyea
and Skagway, and TO stike out for the
copper river and Cooks inlet. Be-
yond doubt this tendency will rapidly
increase as the crowded condition of
the passes becomes better known. AT
present the only facilities for reaching
Copper river and Cooks inlet is the
United States mail boat operated bv
the Pacific Coast Steam Whaling Com
pany from San Francisco, the two
small steamers now on the route from
Portland to Copper river, and the small
steamer running from Port Townsend
TO Copper river. These steamers are
already inadequate to meet the demand
ana doubtless more will soon be put
on the route.
Attention has also been turned in the
direction Of the route by Fort Wrangel
and Stickeen river, Telegraph creek
and Teslin lake, but as yet, facilities
have not been provided. Several
small river steamers are being con.
structed for the Stickeen river, to ply
between Fort Wrangel and Telegraph
creek, which is the point OF disembark
alton Tor the overland journey of the
100 miles to Lake Teslin. On this
stretch OF 100 miles it is proposed BY a
Canadian company to construct a rail.
road the present year under special
grant from the Dominion parliament of
10000 acres of land per mile. and
the time set for Its completion is the
first of Septem Der. 1t is thus seen
that, for this season at least, only such
travel can go over the Stickeen route
as can De handled by pack animals.
and this, OF course, cannot be very ex-
tensive. Possibly several thousand
people will attempt this route, with
the probability that large portion of
them will make failure OF their
effort. Should this railroad be built
and sufficient light draught steamer
be placed on Lake Teslin and Hoota-
linqua river, in another year the Stick
cen route would be the favorite one.
Undoubtedly great many who in
tend to go to Alaska are waiting to take
the ocean and river route during the
summer months. Here there is as
much uncertainty as on the passes.
The facilities have yet to be provided.
Possibly as many as 80 small steamers
are under construction or have been
purchased for use on the Yukon the
coming summer; but navigation of that
river is expensive and dangerous.
Channels are narrow and tortuous and
known only to few people. Fuel is
very difficult to procure, and it is I'M
derstood that the companies already
operating ON the river have secured all
that can he had for several hundred
miles from the mouth of this stream.
These companies will not take miners
outfits, prefrerring to take in goods for
their own stores and sell them to
miners after they get three. Conse
quently miners wishing to take outfits
will have to depend on independent
boats which promises to be very un-
certain reliance. Certainly, one going
by that route should not undertake it
unless the transportation company con-
tracts with him to carry him clear
through to his destination. This, how
ever, is matter about which more
will be known a few months later. As
stated above, the natural outcome of
the present condition of affairs would
be the opening up of new routes and
new objective points for the thousands
who will be disappointed in their ex-
pectation of getting over the passes.
and of getting into the Yukon country
by the present routes.