The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-11-05

Daniel sprague, who has just left this
town for the Copper River country, in
the southern portion of Alaska, is au-
thority for the statement that survey
ors are already at work on the line of
the proposed Alaskan trunk railway,
and that ground will be broken ere
many weeks. He says it will soon be
possible to board train at or near
the mouth of the Copper River itself,
follow that mighty stream to it's
source, and go thence without change
of cars straight to Dawson City. II
will be not half so difficult to build a
through railroad to the <londike, he
the Adirondacks.
Capt. Sprague predicts that the Cop
per River and Klondike Limited will
dash from one end to the other of this
vast gold-bearing territory long before
the existing trails can again be trav-
ersed, and that the much-needed rail-
way will prevent a recurrence of the
mad rush over the frightful crags Of
Skaguay Pass. Moreover, to say no.
thing of the safety and immunity from
exposure, travel by rail to all the big
gold fields of the great Northwest will
be so much cheaper than any other
method-eXcept, possibly, the voyage
on river steamers along the Copper,
Chillyna, White and Upper Yukon
rivers, which last will be slower-that
robCdy will dream of attempting the
dreary and dangerous tramp over the
trails. The railroad will monopolize
the transportation of perishable freight
and will find favor in the eyes of mer-
chants for the carrying of most other
commodities on account of the short
ness of the route. 1t will make the
journey to the northernmost gold re-
gioLs as easy and almost as rapid as
trip to the Maine woods.
AS for its usefulness along other
lines says the captain it is the one
thing needful to the quick development
of the territory and to the enlighten-
ment of the world at large in regard to
the Vastness and variety of Alaska's
natural resources. When men of other
nations, he prophesies, really arrive at
an understanding of the enormous pos
sibilities of sudden wealth that have
been locked 80 long in the broad bosom
of this land of gold, they will flock to
this country in small armies. Ameri-
cans, he says, will have to be prompt
if they wish to enjoy the first chance
to gather their own riches.
Gone to the Copper River
The captain. who is q veteran Alas
kan, having been a pioneer in the
country along and far to the north of
Prince William Sound these past eight
years, has gone to the Copper River
to join the exploring and prospecting
party led by Mr.. Louis c. Frey of
Newark, n. j., who is the Alaska man.
ager of n New York corporation. Mr..
Frey has sent several encouraging re-
ports to his colleagues in the metropo-
lis by way Of Sitka and Seattle, and
has ordered large reinforcements to his
already good-sized forces. His staff of
mining and civil engineers, surveyors
and prospectors was chosen from
among the most experienced men in
achieved astonishing results. A strong
additional force of skilled and I'M
skilled labor will be placed at his COM
mand as soon as the new men can be
transported to the Copper River, when
active work on the railroad and town
site will be begun at once. The ex-
petition is already backed by a great
deal of capital, and the corporation
which 1t represents is still putting
every dollar 1t can raise into Alaskan
investments.
Your correspondent Travelled from
Juneau to Sitka with Capt. Sprague.
and was much enlightened during the
journey by that gentleman's unvar-
nished account of the mineral wealth
of the Copper River country. Before