Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-11-24
OUR ALASKA LETTER.
Transportation Companies MANY
Companies Formed.
Settling Telephone Poles In GrOund Which
Never ThawS.
Especial Cores spOndenca Herald & TTibunel
TACOMA. November 0. 1897.

TACOMA, November y. 1877.
And now the transportation people
are saying 100000 people will go TO the
new Alaska gold diggings next spring.
That would mean 30 900 per month for
February, March, April and May. There.
fore about 200 steamers carrying $50
people each would be required, pro.
Vided each mude round trip monthly.
Already there are fully fifty steam ers
in the service and during the past week
ffteen'new ones, including several Of
the largest Atlantic Ocean liners, have
been engaged for use during the Klon
dixie rush. Several Of the new COM
papies that will 20 into the water trans
portation business have been organized
in New York, Philadelphia and Chi
cago. But other cities are represented,
Including some Nebraska. Missouri
and New York State points, The de
mand for lumber to build steamers for
ocean and river travel has already be.
come II feature of local trade and the
ship yards are as busy as a bee hive
when the bees are about to swarm.
Considering the immense shipping z
business already done on Puget Sound
the sight during the next few months
when scores Of new steamships and
sailing vessels are being loaded, will
be sight to behold Already steamers
and sailing craft come to Puget Sound
from all parts of the world and carry
away lumber, shingles, brick, lath,
sash and doors, fl ur, paper, wheat,
coal and salmon to the four corners OF
the world. The leading newspapers in
the cities Of the Sound print a weekly
table each Monday morning showing
where these vessels are, what they are
loading, and for what port they are
bound. Yesterday morning the Seattle
Post lntelligencer. in its table, reported
twenty ships and steamers at Tacoma
and five at Seattle loading and dis
charging cargoes. At Tacoma, where
the vessels are thickest, the scene il
already one OF intense interest. AT
times it is possible to see vessels load.
ing simultaneously for China, Japan,
Alaska, South America, California
eud Oregon. Atlantic States, England,
France, Central America, Australia
and the Hawaiian Islands. With the
addition of the many magnificent
steamships that are to join the Puget
Sound feet from the Atlantic seaboard
the picture presented to the Klondikers
as they come and go will be one of
veritable water carnival.
While it is true that many Klondike
companies are being organized for the
promotion Of impracticable schemes,
devoid Of capital or backing, it is nev.
ertheless, true that the legitimate com
panies already in the field throughout
the country for the one purpose OF
transporting people to the Klondke re
gion by water represent an actual in
terested capital of $15.OOO,O 900 In five
of the largest of the steamers the CramI
shipbuilders will be interested and the
headquarters of these vessels will be al
Tacoma while plying on the Pacific
coast.
Transportation is one of the great
problems connected with the rush &C
Klondike. Many of the best minds in
the country are at work on its solution
One day last week no less than five
of the general passenger agents of rail
roads in the United States called at the
Klondike Bereau at Tacoma. Among
the number were John Sebastian, OF
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
Railway; S X. Hooper, of the Denver
& Rio Grsnde; F. A. Wadleigh, of the
Rio Grande & Western. I'VE know al
about railroadiug and taking care o t thu
crowd, y said Mr.. Sebastian, the spokes
man of one Of the parties, but we de
not know everything about your steam
boats. We are just now getting ou
new folders and maps for the Klondk'
business, and we must have the lates
and best information.
But the railroad and steamship mel
are not only hustlers in sustaining
communication with the Klondike
The electricians are at work and tele
phone line from Haines Mission t
Dawson ia the latest A. G. Sands, o
this city, is ready to build telephon,
line from Dyea to Lake Bennett owe
the Chilkoot Pass aud for the more so
rious work Of reaching Dawson City OF
the "pboDen all Of next summer vii
be given up by the telephone compan
lee. The long distance line will trsvers
the Dalton trial, striking the Yukon a
Fort SelkiIk. For over 900 miles tn
poles for this line will have to be set il
ground that never thaws. Some peopl
have curious ideas about how the hole
should be dug. Some experienced con
tractors contend that the hole for eacl
pole will have to be burned down
the same as the Klondike miner burn
the frozen earth to reach bed rock-b
burning wood on top Of the frozel
ground, thus thawing four to six inche
OF earth by each fire. Superintendent
Sands states, however, that a uumbe
of fine steel rowbars will be used an
a small portable forge will be take
along with the construction gang t
] sharnan tho hura IT, hot..e an. IN -,