The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-20
Yukon River May BE Used for Road
and Provisions Hauled by steam
Power TO the klondike.
CONDITION OF WHITE PASS
SYLVESTER sCOVEL TELLS HOW IN
WAS MADE PAsSABIE.
Interesting Talk with a Corresponds
ent Who Has just Returned from
the Skaguay Trail.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-two repre-
sentatives of the North American Trailing
and Transportation Company-Messrs. p.
B. Weare and Michael Cudahy, of Chicago
arrived here to-day. They came at the
special request of Secretary of War Alger,
who desired to confer with them in regard
to the question of sending relief supplies to
the gold seekers in the Klondike country.
should the investigation now being made
by Captain Ray, of the army, show such
measures to be necessary. Shortly after
their arrival in the city the two gentlemen
went to the residence of Secretary Alger,
where they remained in consultation with
him the greater part of this evening.
The possibility of the need of government
aid of the miners during the coming winter
was broached by Secretary Alger in a Cab
met meeting during the past week, the
secretary feeling that the interests of
humanity dictated that some plan whereby
cid could be extended should be determined
upon in the event it was found necessary.
To-night's conference was mainly a pre-
liminary one in which, however, the whole
question was gone over in very thorough
manner. Mr.. Weare, who has spent some
time in Alaska was able to give the Sec
retary much information bearing on the
to place and other conditions which would
have to be confronted if aid were UNDER
taken. Secretary Alger said tonight that
nothing final had been determined on and
that nothing would be until a report had
been received from Captain Ray. The lat
ter is supposed to be now at Dawson City
and his report is expected here about the
middle of October.
An important matter upon which Secre-
tary Alger especially desired the opinion OF
Messrs. Weare and Cudahy was the FEAST
bility OF a locomotive sled designed to draw
logs and other material over the ice. This
has been in successful operation in logging
camps in Wisconsin and it's adaptabiity to
this work influenced the secretary to be-
lieve that 1t might be put into practical
operation in Alaska should relief measures
be necessary. The representatives of the
trading company had examined a drawing
of the sled and had it's workings briefly ex-
planned to them and they expressed the
opinion that it might be feasible for the
purpose contemplated. Secretary Ayers
idea is that the sleds might be taken to
St. Michael's by ship, but even if this were
not possible he believed they could be taken
piecemeal over the Chillxoot pass and
thence to the Yukon. Messrs. Weare and
Cudahy say there are ample provisions for
five thousand men for one year at st.
Michael's, and they believe that If found
necessary the sleds could be used to trans
port these supplies to Dawson City during
the coming winter.
Secretary Alger has received letter from
the superintendent of construction for the
patentee of the sleds, in which the writer
says he understands that the Yukon river
freezes solid enough to be used as a road;
Selxirk distance of $50 miles, the land is
practically level and a good wagon road
can be easily made. That, he says, is
within two hundred miles of Dawson City
and the river would furnish the road tha
rest of the way.
Secretary Alger tonight announced that
the company Of soldiers for the military
post to be established at ST. Michael'a
would leave Seattle during the coming
week.