The herald., 1897-09-20
WHITE PASS
BOULDERS
Will Be Given Big Doses
of Dynamite
1T TAKES A NEWSPAPER MAN
TO HELP THE MINERS OVER TIE
MOUNTAINS
If Scovel Has His Way He Will Build
Stage Line Through to
Dawson City
TO HELP THE MINERS OVER TIE
MOUNTAINS
.ssociated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
SEATTLE, Wash, Sept. 19.-The most
conspicuous figure Of the grand confu-
sion at Skaguay and the the White pass
is without doubt Sylvester Scovel, the
famous correspondent of the New York
World, who is organizing the necessary
tools and dynamite to put the trail in.
passable condition at considerable ex-
pense, enabling many to get through 20
the gold fields this fall. Mr.. Scovel is
now in this city, having arrived today
to communicate with the World.
Mr. Scovel brings the news, which will
come with comforting assurance to
thousands of people who have friends
on the pass. that at least 1000 men with
complete outfits will get through to the
Yukon river, though he believes that
only small fraction of this number will
reach Dawson City before winter.
From the best information he could
obtain, gathered from all sources, he
believes that $500 men have gotten over
the Chilkoot pass and have gone on
down to the mines. These, however,
have, with exceptions very few in. num-
bers, gone through with little supplies,
many with not more than 500 or 600
pounds, not more than enough to get
them to the gold fields where no fur
ther supplies are to be had.
"I4a White pass trail," said he, has
not been used by the thousands of men
who have been climbing over the noun
tains from Skaguay to the pass. In
stead of using the pass the men have
scrambled up along the sides Of the
noun tains, $50 feet above the pass. The
reason they have done this is the pass
itself is full of boulders, even its present
shane heing imnassable.
miting. To get away from the boulder,
.the miners have gone UP above the boul-
ders on the side Of the hill and left the
trail. The mountains are steep and the
made into good one.
Instead of following along the Ska
quay river bank, where there is an easy
grade, though Of course greatly OBJ
structed with boulders and in places
entirely blocked by precipitous points
which jut out into the river, they have
gone off to the side in their great rush
to get through in a hurry. The trail
crosses and recrosses the river and
makes long detours which would be un-
necessary by the use of little dynamite.
The sum Of $4,000 would make fine pack
trail to the summit and $4,000 more would
complete the trail to Lake Bennett. Not
more than $4,000 would be required to
build good wagon road the entire dis
tance.
"A man with two horses and, an out
fit weighing 1000 pounds could, by the use
Of the trail thus improved. take in his
outfit in five trips at the outside and the
expenditure of less than eighteen days
time. The possibility of making this
trail a good one has been told me by four
different engineers of high standing.
sent up into that country by different
railway companies, whose names 1 am
not at liberty to state. A railroad could
be built on the same route, but of course
what Is wanted is an immediate outlet
for the people there and on the way. A
trail that can be packed over with horses
is absolutely needed, for men are not
coot TRAIL of course, cannot be used for
horse packing.
1.-THE men who have gone to the Ska
quay pass with determination and grit
have succeeded In getting over it with
their outfits, while those devoid of those
qualities have given it up in despair 1t
is from the latter class that you have
heard so much of the terrible hardships
of the trail-tenderfeet who were either
unaccustomed to work, or afraid of it.
when I arrived at Skaguay and had
been over the route and had secured a
thorough knowledge OF the conditions
it, I saw that the confusion
would continue to increase until the men
would organize and make a united effort
TO fix up the trail. But none of the men
were willing to put up the money neces-
sary to buy dynamite and tools, and they
did not know each other and. were sus-
picious and distrustful. Every man
wanted to push on, but was unwilling to
do anything to. help out others. 1 doubt |
II even the Greek retreat from Larissa
was characterized by such a desire. on
the part of all to get ahead Of others.
There was no head nor authority. In
this dilemma, recognizing the need of !
action, in behalf of the New
York World, provided ample supplies
Of tools, being sure, with the tools in
their hands, the Apercans on the trail
would pull out of thelnud. This they did
When the news arrf1ed that the World
had provided the NECESSARY dynamite
Ind tools, the men oAk kanized and went
10 work, 800 of themy Three points of
'ock, which jutted OF into the river
and which necessitated Ppg and labori-
,us detours, were BIAS u out, saving
rom two and half to{ Bree miles Of
ravel, making passable route for hun-
lreds of men and horses"
RELIEF SCHEMES
WASHINGTON, Sept 19.-The repre-
'entatives of the Northwestern Trading
Ind Transportation company, Messrs. P.
3. Weare and Michael Cudahy of Chi
,ago. arrived here today. They came at
he special request of Secretary of War
Alger. who desired to confer with them