The record-union., 1897-09-07

s SEATTLE, Sept CATER an exam
anation of thirty days of the Skaguay
trail, R. H. Stretch, q, mining engineer
of this city, says:
''Skaguay Valley was once occupied
by a huge glacier. Near the lower end
the rocks are ancient sedimentary or
stratifed deposits with innumerable
bikes and stringers Of granite aspect,
but all the upper portions Of the valley
and the summit of the range are moth
ing but a very coarse granite, without
any trace of any structure, but with
very strongly marked, nearly horizon
tai bedding planes, cut by nearly YER
1ical cleavage joints.
The action of the ice, which formerly
plowed its way down the valley, has
ground these rocks to polished surfaces,
the vertical faces supporting only
few Echens while the horizontal
benches, before the advent of the gold
seekers, were covered with thick car
pet of moss and lichens, which, though
with but very frail hold on the rocks,
gave sure and satisfactory foOthold.
Only in few places are there pebbles or
bowld ars, and but few rock slides, but
where these do exist the individual
powders are so large and massed so
arregdlarly that travel over them is
more difficult than over the solid I'M
broken benches. OF earth there is
practically none, but in the course of
ages a black vegetable muck has ac-
cumulaeaed in some Of the crevices and
an potholes along the river bottom.
"Scrubby timber. spruce, birch and
alder finds a foothold in the crevices,
the latter chiefly in the wetter bottoms,
and over such material the trail finds
ats way.
Distances from Skaguay are: First
crossing of river, 115 miles; end of road
81 miles; small lake, 5 miles; Porcu-
pine Creek, ~ miles; second crossing
of river bridge, 1112 miles; third cross
ing Of river bridge, 1872 miles; fourth
crossing Of river bridge. 14l2 miles;
fifth crossing of river bridge, ford, 1715
miles; summit, 10 miles; meadows, 26
miles; Lake Bennett, ~ miles.
Five miles out at the lake the ele-
walton is 400 feet. The trail quickly
ascends to $40 feet, then sinks to 470
at POrcupine Creek. In a short dis
tance the elevation is 1 400 and the
path zigzags down to the second cross
ing, LOCO feet elevation. The fourth
bridge is / 400 feet above the sea, and
2,100 feet. A descent is then made to
the ford, 1,S0O feet high, and then
comes the climb to the summit, an ele-
walton of 1900 feet From this point
to the lakes, the trail is not extremely
difficult
Mr.. Stretch says there is no danger
to human life in making the trip.
THE EUGENE BREAKING UP.
steamer Eugene, which started from
the Willamette River to-day for Daw-
son City by way of ST. AIichaels in tow
of the steamer Bristol, began to break
ap, and had to be deserted by the Bris-
toll. The Eugene is now lying in Alert
Bay in a badly damaged condition, her
hull being nearly demolished.
The officers of the tug Pioneer which
returned to-day from Skaguay, report
that both Dyea and Skaguay are free
of lawlessness and violations of the
civil law. Considerable rain is fall
ing, and many persons VIII return to the
Sound for the winter as soon as ar
arrangements can be made.
From officers of the tug Pioneer,
(which arrived to-day direct from Ska
quay, it is learned that previous reports
relative to legal action to be taken in
suppressing gambling and saleof liquors
at that place is no joke, as Governor
Brady has sent word that order must
DE preserved there, even If the entire
Omitted States navy has to be called up
son to enforce order Old Alaskans
here. who are personally acquainted
with Governor Brady, say he is man
who means all he says, and that if he
takes a stand he will carry out his
promises.
THE AL-KI SAILS.
SEATTLE, Sept 6.-The A1-Ki got
away at o'clock this evening for Ju-
neau, Sitka, Skaguay, Dyea and other
alaskan ports with 125 passengers and
twenty-five head Of horses and cattle.
kShe carried 600 tons of freight. and
left quite a quantity at the dock for
the Queen
The Rosalie sailed at 7:30 O'clock.
with forty passengers and thirty
horses.
A number of the Al-Ki's passengers
so TO join the miners camped at Ska
quay. in the hope Of engaging in re-
munarative business. Not more than a
dozen miners bound for the Klondike
were on board the A1-Ki
ALIEN LABOR LAW TO BE EN-
FORCED.
VICTORIA CB. c.. Sept GA letter