The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-14

He was followed by countless others in
chill parade.
But the most animated sight OF all was
IN the early morning when the mighty
Iakou River struggled against his an
Gent antagonist, Old oceans tide. IN the
center of the inlet the river seemed TO
have the better of the fight. Der,s and
noes, hapiess against the current, were
swept on toward the ocean. But the in
coming tide met them broadside op
Slowly old ocean triumphed, and the
tickle. forms turned back. Like a sum-
mer girl with two lovers. some were UNI
decided and rem aimed stationary, with
out choosing between tide or current.
Others in the eddies, near the shore, hesl-
tated, clrcied one way and then The other
and finally turned back 10 the parent
glacier. The whole spectacle was not un-
like stately minuet, with the booming
OF the avala nches Of ice as they fell from
the fronts OF the glaciers as its fitting
music.
strong breeze came with the changin E
tide. and with sails spread we were soon
moving up the river. For twenty miles
on each side steep and scantily wooded
mountains descend to the water. There
is no spot In the entire distance fitted by
nature for mans habitation or even a
camping-site. At 3 o'clock in the after
noon, as We began TO get into thicker ice
and nearer the glaciers, the old chief be-
came more cautious and a little anxious.
Inc Ice broke from the glaciers and Tell
into the river with an almost deafening
noise. Annalatchi wanted to 60 into
camp on sand bar. Mr.. Pratt would not
consent 10 this and the reluctant Indians
sullenly continued on the course up the
river. All went well Till we rounded
promontory OF rock. There the current
ran at least ten miles ali hour. We had
scarcely turned the point when we saw
suddenly rushing down upon US nine
great icebergs. There was ice TO the left
OF Us, ice 10 the right Of us. ice all around
us, and the point OF rock behind. 1t was
critical momen.-perhaps the most dan
gerous in the experience of every white
man present.
The lcebergs Ca me nearer and nearer.
TO be struck by them meant death. Not
an instant was 10 be lost But mighty is
the paddle o. the Swash. A cultural ex-
clamation from Annalatchi and The pail
dies sank deep into the rushing flood. A
few quick, swift strokes and the canoes
shot through a narrow opening. The ice
bergs were behind US. We were safe for
the present though still in the treacherous
ice.
AT this point we were passing the two
glaciers. one of which is called dead"
and the other "alive," owing TO their COM
parative activity. The dead glacier was
biOnL COiOt Tue 1--WE one UIue. we
could but dimly see the ice breaking off,
but We could plainly hear the thunder of
Its fall. Waves were made to roll across
the inlet when an unusually large section
OF the glacier spiashed into the water.
These glaciers flow down TO the water on
elther side OF great, round mountain.
After passing them the way was free from
The dangers of floating ice. As We pro-
ceeded the river grad ually widened and
became more shallow.
So much for the trip; now for the prac-
tlca results: From lidewater to Lake
Teslin is 140 miles, OF which eighty miles
are by Land. The Takou River runs over a
fiat of rock, gravel and sand from one to
Two miles wide, traversed by the river i'll
from four 10 twelve channels. Mr.. Pratt,
after careful survey of The whole coun-
try, says a railroad can be built from
juneau to Lake Teslin without a single
grade to exceed 3 per cent, unless from
motives OF economy it is found desira BILE
10 make a sleeper grade and shorten the
distance. He estimates the cost of con-
s:ruction of a broad-gauge road at about
$4,000 per mile, with the additional ana
consid erable cost of transporting mate
rails from The States added. There is
wood enough on the ground for cross
ties, but it Is not standing along the
route.
Work on a road to be used next winter
and spring by sleds may begin this fall.
The plan of the projectors will in all prob
ability be to construct the first half of the
road from the head of navigation to the
lake next season, and the remainder of
the road year from next season. The
terminus OF the first half would be at
Silver Salmon River, and a wagon road
would be made from that point on 10 the
lake. As now surveyed the railroad will
come out twenty miles below. instead
n . = h. oE
graphical notes were taken By Messrs.
Packard and Pratt.
The contin ement of The Takou r yer to
one or two channels, so as TO make nayi-
CATION easier, will be among the first work
TO be done. 1t is ten miles south from
Juneau to Takou Inlet ana thirty miles
up the inlet to the mouth of the river
Ocean steamers can run up to the mouth
OF the river.
The first river of any importance enter
ing the Takou is the Tall-su-k kay, which
flows in on the west side, about thirty
miles from the head of the inlet. Twenty
miles further on the Inklin River enters
from the east. This point Is called the
First Forks, and Is really the head of
the TaKou. Here also the Nah-ka-na
comes down from the mountains. Ten
miles up the Nah-ka-na the Clo- col ene
River enters. The road may not be con-
structed from Juneau to the head of nav
CATION until it is completed from that
point to the lake.
The building of the road is said to de-
PEND only on the report of Pratt and
Packard. Their report will be favorable.
Mr.. Pratt left uneau to-day on he steam
ship City of Topeka, to be in Wilmington
ana Philadelphia as soon as possible and
make his report.
Mr.. Packard and the others OF the sur
veying party will 20 10 work after a few
days rest surveying the road from Juneau
to the head OF navigation. If he cannot
get through 20 the Klondike this winter
j. S. Johnson will remain camped at Lake
Teslin. He said he had seen enough min
erai on the trail to the lake to set dozen
companies to work.
Ii all present plans are carried out
there will be three different lines of rail-
roads toward Dawson City: One from
juneau up the Takou, another up the