Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-11-24

and the demands for positions on the
construction gang are very numberous,
inasmuch as those who thus seek EN-.
ployment hope to use the telephone pole
holes for prospecting purposes. Each
hole will, in measure, be prospect
hole, and may result in the discovery
Of many new gold fields.
AT any rate by next summer we may
expect to be able to introduce the
hello girl" at Dawson City, The tele.
phone people will not introduce the
telegraph business over their line.
They are in the telephone business,
and. therefore, opponents of the tele-
graph companies.
Telegraph Creek, at the head OF navi,
cation on the Stickeen trail route, is a
constant reminder of the attempt to
reach Europe via telegraph line back.
ed by American capital. Those who
are thinking about the Klondike and
examining the maps of that country
have, no doubt, noteG that there is a
place on the map named Telegraph
Greek. There is nothing up there to in,
dicate that the place should be so
named, but by delving into the history
OF telegraphy in this country the fact
is brought out that when Cyrus Field
was being called lunatic for boom ing
the Atlantic cable project, arrange.
ments were made to build an overland
line via Alaska to Siberia and Europe.
Gangs of men had the work well under
way when the Atlantic cable proved a
success and Cyrus Field was heralded
genius. One of the points visited by
the construction gangs was a point on
the Stikeen River now known as Tele
graph Creek.
Some Of the miners who are going
into the Klondike country in advance
OF the rush are to 20 by way of the Sti
keen River and Telegraph Creek.
Those who go before February l will
meet with disappointment. l have
carefully Investigated all of the routes
and while it is true that the Stikeen
River freezes over above point where
the tide does not dislodge the ice. il il
also true that it is impossible to make
headway until the heavy fall OF snow
is melted sufficiently during the day to
cause crust to form at night. On this
crust good headway can be made. II
is also true that while, as a rule, on y
from eighteen inches to three feet OF
snow falls in the interior of Alaska du
ring the winter, a six to eight foot fall
is frequently experienced near the
coast.
About 200 miners who believed they
could proceed as soon as the snow fell
at Telegraph Creek went there month
ago, but they will have to remain there
uattl February / unless assisted over
the trail by men who are to work all
winter packing in supplies and ma
terial for saw mill and amboats
for the headwaters Of the Yukon.
For the benefit of parties now organ
izing in the east to go to Klondike in
the spring, let me suggest thatit would
be wise to either send a representative
to make personal examination of the
situation at the outfitting and embark
ing point here, or, if the party is toe
small to warrant that expense, then
have the matter of securing desired in
| formation referred 10 friend of some
member of the party here or to some
well established and reliable business
house or to the Citizens Klondike Com
mittee, Too much care can not be ex
ercised. This is a word to the wise
THOMAS SAMMoNs