Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-12-17

ating il purposes to contract to carry
freight from Dyea TO the lake at price
much below what it would cost to pack
it over, and to handle it SO promptly
that by the time the owner can walk
over the trail his freight will get
through. With this tramway in opera
ton, and nothing similar on the SKag'
nav trail, the Chilkoot pass would get
all the travel. There are, however,
still other tramways and railroad pro-
iects on both trails, but when they Will
be ready for use il uncertain. AT the
present time it would seem as though
this Chilkoot tramway will be the only
thing ready early enough to accommo.
date the first rush in February and
March. Until that time, there IL ap'
parently little choice between the trails
for winter travel, and those who go In
before February may take either. FOR
those who go in over the snow 1u-
kon sled is necessary. This IS a strong
skeleton sled and may be purchased at
any regular Quitting point. Many
take dogs to help draw sleds. but all
can not do this. II it is done, special
provision must be made for food Tor
the animals.
After the lakes have been reached,
the remainder of the route is the same
for both passes, consisting OF about 5oo
niles OF lake and river navigation to
Dawson City. at the mouth OF the
Klondike. It is 50 miles further to
Forty. Mile, and Circle City is 500
miles down the river from Dawson.
The new town of Rampant City is still
about 500 miles further down the Yu-
kon, at the mouth Of Munook creek,
not far above the point where the
Tannanah flows into the great river.
This entire lake and river journey is
made in strong boats. usually built out
Of timber whipsawed by the Yukoners
on the banks of Lakes Lindermann or
Bennett. There is a small saw mill
there, but it is unable to cut enough
timber to fill the demand. Doubtless
other mills will be taken in as soon as
the tramway is completed, but miners
should not rely upon this. but should
take an outfit of tools and material Tor
building boat, as we'll as oars and
rowlocks. Efforts to take in boats over
the pass last fall were unsuccessful,
even in sections. Though it might be
easier to do so over the snow, it is
doubtful ii it would not consume as
much extra time and labor as the
building Of boat would require.
When the tramway is at work, special
" constructed boats could no doubt be
taken in to advantage, and valuable
time be saved.
The route leads through Lake Under
mann, 6 miles, a portage to Lake Ben
nett, l mile; down the lake, "a miles;
through Cariboo crossing to Lake Tag
ish, miles; down the lake l9 miles;
by river to Lake Marsh, miles;
across the lake passing Windy Arm,
10 miles. Those who go in the win
ter and early spring can pr s,eed to this
point by drawing their boats on sleds,
but there they must wait for the ice to
break up before proceeding down the
river in their boats, unless they intend
to 60 through light, dragging sled
over the snow and ice. twenty-five
miles below Lake Marsh is the dreaded
Miles canyon, and just below this
place are White Horse rapids. Both
Of these places may be safely run il
the boat il the utmost care ia exer
cised. Many boats have been wrecked
here and their contents lost, while sew
eral unfortunate men have beer
drowned. No one should attempt thes,
difficult passages without first having
carefully studied the situation. Thirty
miles further down the river is LAX
LIE Barge, 80 miles long. Five Fingel
rapids are 1853 miles below this lake
and Rink rapids are miles further
These are the last of the specially dan
gerOus places, though care must be ex
ercised during the entire journey.
Az to other routes from the coast
there are but three that have an,
prominence, and none of them is as ye
sufficiently known to make it advisa
BILE for the ordinary gold seeker to at
tempt them. One of them is the Dial
ton trail, leading noitherly over tn
mountains just west of the Chilkoo
pass, and paralleling the lake ant
river route for about 300 miles, nnall,
striking the Yukon below the mos
dangerous rapids. It is claimed tina
this 10 the best route for railroad, bu
it 10 yet to be shown how practicable
it 10 for general use. The government
will probably attempt to send in re
lief expedition by this route early il
the spring.
The Taku and the Stickeen routes
one starting from Taku inlet, near Ju
neau. and the other from the Stickee1
river, near Wrangel. converge at LAX
Teslin. Small river steamers can nav
igate this lake and pass down tn
Hootalinqua river to the Yukon beloy
, the rapids, and thus to Dawson and be
yond. 1t is claimed that such steam
ers will be built on the lake in tn
spring, and that trails will he opene,
, up to the lake and pack trains put on
! to be followed soon by railroads; bu
| until this is actually done the gol,
, seeker would do we'll not to iptrus
himself to the uncertainties Of thos
routes.