The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-12-16
THE YUKON RUSH
HOW THE THOUSANDS WILL
REACH ALASKA.

HOW THE THOUSANDS WILL
REACH ALASKA.
There Are Many Routes spoken Of, But
n Yet Only Two Are Advisable fo1
the Gold Seeker to Attempt-some
Of tho Difaculties to BE Overcome.
Especial Correspondence
How many will go to the Klondike
next year, how will they be transport
ed. are questions now being asked by
transportation companies and the
thousands interested in one way or an
other in the great movement about to
take place. Even the man going
thither to seek his fortune is vitality in
terested in these matters. II there is
too big crowd he may not be able to
secure passage, or to get proper
outfit, or be successful in transporting
it into the interior. He would better
not trust too much to luck nor depend
too much upon being able to travel in
the regular way. Certainly, SO far as
the regular steamers are concerned,
their berths will all be engaged weeks
in advance, and the man who neglects
to secure passage early may have to
wait long time for his turn to come
around. Even on. the overland, trains
there is promise of inconvenience, if not
delay. So great rush, all in one di-
rection, will tax the rolling stock OF
the railroads to its utmost, since cars
will have to go back empty.
The lowest estimate of the number of
people who will start for Alaska next
spring is so. 0OO,, while some who have
given the subject much attention place
the figure as high as 100000. At an
average of 800 to each vessel, it would
require ITO steamers to convey the min
imum number, while $50 would be
necessary to accommodate the maxi
mum. To send ITO steamers in the
months of February, March and April
would make it necessary for two to
sail each day. There is now advertised
not one -quatrer the steamers necessary.
The others will no doubt be provided,
for there are numerous transportation
projects on foot, but nothing definite
about them can yet be said. This is
sufficient to show that the man who
intends to join the first great rush by
the way of the passes and lakes would
do we'll to make sure of his passage to
Dyea or Skaguay. As to the route by
the way of st. Michaels and the river,
that will not be open till June, and
extensive transportation projects now
under way will be sufficiently developed
long before that time to make it we'll
to postpone any estimates until later.
There are but two we'll known and
undeniably practical routes to the Yu-
kon mines One is by the mountain
passes from Dyea and Skaguay to the
lakes and thence by boat down the lakes
and rivers, and the other 10 by ocean
steamer to ST. Michaels and thence up
the river by light draft steamer. All
other routes are yet to be proved, and
all who try them must expect to meet
with the tribulations and uncertainties
that lay in the path of the pioneer.
Undoubtedly the great majority of Yu-
koners will try the passes, since the
mines can be reached in this way two
or three months earlier than by steam
er, and, of these the greater number
will 90 over the regular Yukon trail by
the way of Chilkoot pass, the next
greater number going from Skaguay over
the White pass.
It is we'll thoroughly to understand
this route and its variation as to the
two passes. Linn canal, about 100
miles north of Juneau, penetrates a
number of miles northerly into the
coast mountains, the very head Of it be-
ing divided into two arms by rocky
promontory. Into the easterly arm
flows Skaguay river and into the west
erly arm the Dyea river. Both are
rapid, ice-cold mountain streams, nav
igable for canoes only for several miles.
At the head Of these arms are located
the new towns Of Skaguay and Dyea.
From these points it is necessary to
cross the high mountain divide to
Lakes Lindermann and Bennett, where
boats are constructed for the journey
down the river. Until the past season
the Yukoners have used the Chilkoot
pass, from Dyea, exclusively, the Chill
kat Indians packing all the supplies at
the usual rate of 10 cents pound.
The route is ~ miles long, and the
summit of the pass is 5000 feet high.
The Indians have always refused to
pack by any other route, 0eclaring this
to be the best one. Last summer, ow-
ing to the great rush and the eager
ness of all to get over at any cost, the
Indians raised their price for packing,
until often as high as dollar pound
was paid them. This, and the crowded
condition of the trail, led many to try
the Skaguav trail, which, though Al
miles long, was asserted to be better,
because the summit of the pass was
some 500 feet lower. Il was found,
however, that the trail was not 20 good,
that the river had to be crossed several
times, and that, though the pass was
somewhat lower, the trail led up and
down hill so much that the actual
climbing done was greater than by the
Chilkoot pass, where the ascent was
BIduuAA W tuo AOOt Vi TIC 5uAAullb III
vide, when one very steep climb was
necessary. The practical result was
that very much larger percentage Of
those who tried the Chilkoot pass sue
ceeded in reaching the lakes, than Of
those who attempted tn. Skaguay route.
Nevertheless, improvements are now
being made on both trails, and both
will be extensively used in the spring,
it Icing much easier to 60 in over the
snow, when the rocks and mud which