The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-26
A RAILWAY TO THE YUKON.
SURVEY NOW NEARLY COMPLETEn
FROM SKAGVAY.

The Road VIII BE Built Next Spring.
The Promoters Have Cut "a Horses
Trail Through the Mountains and
Are Endeavoring to Protect the
Niners-Slnvin, the Pugilist. the
First TO Make the Trip 10 the Lake.
Prospects For SISaguay as Gity4
skaguay. Alaska Aug. Il, via Seattle,
Wash. Aug 25.-A civil engineer Of Ju-
neau, C. e. Garthside and six assistantss
are now surveying the White Pass in ths
interest OF an English syndicate, which in
tends to run a railroad from Skaguay, tha
entrance to the pass, to Taku Arm, Dis
tance Of sixty-eight miles, ana eventually
TO the Hootalnqua river, 40 miles.
Z. A. Sellinghurst Of Victoria is one oa
the principal promoters Of the scheme.
This railroad, when completed, viii form the
shortest aud quickest route to the Yukon
country, and is the intention Of the COM
pany to build wharves and warehouses at
Skaguay. The highest altitude Of the road
viii be a the summit of the White pass.
600 feet. The summit is about twenty
miles from skaguay. The surveying par
ty has been at work since July 2s and ex-
poets to have The survey completed in two
weeks. They are now twelve miles up the
river.
Although the exact cost cannot yet be-
estimated il is known that the road viz
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 in-go-
ing miners was cut by this company with
the idea Of diverting travel from Dyea
and the Chieoot trail, and they made en
attempt to prevent professional packers
from charging more than Is cents a pound.
In this, however, they were unsuccess-
ful, as the rate is now 30 cents Mr..
Garthside states that it will be impossibls
for more than one-quarter of the people
now on the trail TO reach the Klondike
Chis year Work on the railroad win bs
commenced In the spring. and the road 10
Taku will probably be completed in six
months from then. skaguay is destined to
be a large town. and should the railroad
become an assured fact will distance Ju-
neau as an Quitting and general COM
mercial point. Many of the Juneau mer-
chants have opened branch stores here al
ready.
The great majority of people arriving
here cannot possibly get down the river
this year and those of them who already
realize these facts are locating lots in
Skaguay and preparing to build. The va
rious paths and traits leading through
the forests have been christened and the
infant town has a Broadway and several
avenues.
The White pass in its present cruds
condition is practicable for the entire dis
tance to Lake Bennett and a man with
out pack can go over il in twenty-four
hours Pack animals can traverse ii with
a load of $50 pounds and it seems TO be
the better trail for those who have brought
horses with them. For the miners who
have no horses the Chilcoot pass seems
preferable as it is impossible to hire men
here 70 pack outfits. The White trail
has been cut through to Lake Bennett
only about week and so far only very
few have passed out of the lower end,
although hundreds of miners are camped
along il.
Frank slavin. the pugillst, Is reported
to have been the first man to emerge at
the lake His outfit, however. was badly
broken up by the packers and he refused
to pay for his transportation.