The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-11
SHORT. DIFFICuIT ROUTE.
Founder of Juneau Tells Of Way to
Reach the E<IondfI1e.


WICHITA, Kan. Aug. 10-H. Juneau. of
Dodge City. Kan, the founder of Juneau
Alaska, says: Il cannot see the reason for
advising travel by the Yukon river route,
a distance of $500 miles or more from
Juneau to the Klondike gold fields. when
there is shorter route. perhaps more diff
hcult, but practical, which is over Chilkat
pass, a distance of 400 miles from Juneau.
The passage of the Chilkat pass is ex-
tremely difficult. but has been performed
many years. This is about one hundred
miles from Juneau. Indians, both men and
women, are employed in making the ascent
of the pass. They carry goods on their
backs from the head of Linn channel to the
nearest point where you strike the Yukon
river, a distance of about seventy-fve
miles, and charge s15 to $40 hundred
pounds. Two weeks are required to make
the trip. An Indian will carry one hundred
pounds besides his own clothing and provi-
sions Weighing thirty pounds or more.
About two hundred Indians were at one
time engaged in carrying goods over the
pass, but the number engaged in the traf-
fic is much greater now. Mules and horses
are of no use in this mountain climbing
and hay and feed shipped in there would be
great luxuries at enormous figures. Only
moss grows there. The country is too
rough for animal travel
Alaska is a country full of disappoint-
ments. Thousands of people who go there
will be sadly disappointed They have no
idea of the many uiScomfortS. The country
Is covered with moss a vine that contains
prlckleS as sharp as the quilts of porcu-
pine, having saWlike edges, with the edges
into the flesh and stick deep. They break
as you pull them out and portion re-
mains in the flesh. The only way to re-
move them is to dig them out. These in
fernal pricks are about one and one-eighth
to two inches long, and there is eXcruciat-
ing pain when YOU pull them from your
flesh. Alaska is d terrible country IN
which to exc out an existence. 1t is
country on edge, so TO speak, ii is so noun
famous. Basins are mainly filled with ice.
Where there is no ice there is moss and
devils club, the latter being a vine that
winds around everything it can clutch.
Persons walking become entwined in a net
work of moss and devils club. There is
great store of precious minerals in Alaska
behind their almost mpenetrable barriers
with danger lurking on every hand-in
water, ice and cold.
of Juneau Alaska, in 1881. Gold was found
plentifully there; Along the coast Alaska
presents grand and picturesque view for
miles in extent from ocean steamer. 1t
is grand country to visit, and its scenery
world. Ice by acres is constantly tumblng
into the sea, making a noise like an earth
quake and endangering vessels; Mount
Crelon is a grand sight. 1t is three miles
high and stands in pyramidal form, with
towers above towers, like an enchanted
city of steeples in the distance. Ice does
not stick to the sides of these mountains,
but slides into the water in great ava
lanches.
alaska is a rich country from many
points of view. 1t is rich in minerals, but
not much vegetation survives. Portions of
the territory have extensive forests, and
the timber is very valuable. 1t is dark and
gloomy and lies partly within the arctic
circle. 1t has continuous lightness in sum-
mer and continuous darkness in winter. 1t
is a country of vast extremes, but it may
yet prove to be the richest possession of
the United States. All the terrOrs and hor-
rors of that country have not been over
drawn. Hunger and cold will claim many
more Victims but the hardships and dam
gers will not deter the venturesome."