The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-14
Feasibility of Construct
ing a Railroad to
That Point.
Thrilling Experience With Ice
bergS and Glaciers on
the Way.
Favorable Report VIII Be Made and
Tires Lines May Be Built
Next Year.

JUNEAU, ALASKA, Sept 6.-After
nearly thirty days full Of adventure our
exploration party has returned from a
journey to Lake Teslin, in the interior of
Alaska, through wild, rich, rugged and
beautiful country, which few white men
have ever seen. Our trail marks route
to point whence it is easy travelling to
the KIondike.
1t was like making n tour OF discovery
through a new world. Final preparations
were CON- pleted Monday, August II, and
an hour later. in a driving rain. We left
Juneau and laced the mountains.
The object OF the expedition was to in
vestigate The bility of railroad to
Lake Teslin. This lake nay be reached
aud navieated by steam boats from the
mighty Yukon by way of lis outlet, the
Hootalinaua River, making navigation
entirely possible from st. Michael to the
head of the lake.
The railroad project is backed by Pres
ton Lea, cap talist, banker and head of
the Str ct railway system of Wilmington.
DEL, ex-senator Willard Salisbury of
Delaware. and capitalists of New York
and Philadelphia whom they have assoc
ciated with them in the enterprise. A
preliminary survey was made two years
ago by P. /. Packard. hence the railroad
does not owe its inception to the new dis
coveries on the Klondike.
The expedition comprised 2. /. Packard,
agent and promoter OF the Yukon Mining,
Trading and Transr ortalon Company,
which is another name for the railroad;
William Abbott Pratt, who holds the
chair of electrical and mining engineering
in the Delaware State University, and
their assistants, T. G. Jannev of Balti-
more, Nd, and A. E. Johnson of Victo ia,
B. c.; William J. Dick, civil engineer
formerly Of Portland, Or, who, in 1887,
assisted Professor Davidson and party liz
esta blishing bv trian uation the altitude
of Mount ST. Elias; 3. S. Johnson, gene raj
manager OF the Alaska and Yukon Gold
Expectation and Trading Company, with
headquarters at 322 Pine street, San Fran
cisco; Virsil Moore of San Francisco. and
your special cores ondent.
The expedition was also to have been
Joined by f. w. Johnson of San Fran
cisco. formerly a construction engineer OF
the Southern Pacific Railroad Company,
but he was detained at the last moment
and the party had to proceed with one
les Johnson. ]. S. Johnson's cbiect was
to inspect the mineral resources of the
country. Added TO the rarity were a
mum Der oft Indian packers, several of
whom were also found to be named John
son. Serious trouble was had III the will
derness with the Indians. but that story
| comes in its proper place in the mar
rative.
Leaving Juneau the party padded south
oh fan mil tn TaEn nj Hat
is about thirty mics long and fir, m one
to twenty miles in width, finally termin.
ating in the Takou River. Our camp
was made the first night at the mouth
of the tunnel of the "Takou Queen"
quartz ledge. This ledge was loca ed
about five weeks ago by William Gill
ber:, Louis Steen, William Jones
and Patrick Levy of Juneau. 1t is con-
sidered very promising property. About
midnight several OF the party were aroused
from slum Der by the encroachment OF the
tide, ana were compelled to take up their
beds ana walk to higher ground. AS
there was no room on which to pitch their
beds second time they had 10 wait till
after the tide turned before they could
take another snooZe.
Several immense glaciers wall the sides
of the inlet. They continuously break off
and let down big icebergs into the water.
When carried down by the swift current
OF the river and swirling in the tide hey
make navigation of the inlet very nazard-
Gus. This scene is one never to be forgot
ten. Hundreds of icebergs of varying size
and fantastic shape move in endless pro.
cession, some in straight line, others in
circle, and still others as though they
were going through the figures OF ''for-
ward and back" and grand right and
left" in silent quadrllle. One huge berg
resem bled a castle OF the time of Louis ~
as closely as ANYTHING could that Is rot
castle. 1t Sc emed painted IN modern style
and color. White ice at the base resem bled
marble found alton, and it was SKY blue
to its serrated battlementS. The morning
sun tipped the white minarets with gold.
Others reminded the spectator OF battle
ships and monitors. They had decks and
turrets and towers of ice. Al shutdown,
when the iiie turned toward the open sea,
the first iceberg sailed ma 'sticaliy by u.s.