The San Francisco call., 1897-10-05
FEARS A PLAGUE
AT SkAGUAY CAMP.
Dominion Surveyor Macarthur
Goes Over the Dalton Trail
and Finds an Easy Grade.

VICTORIA, z. c., Oc:. 4.-Some inter
esting information is nished in regard
TO routes TO the Yukon by ]. J. Macarthur,
the civil engineer sent by the Dominion
Government last May TO make a topo-
graphical survey of the Dalton trail and
the country adjoining. This trail, which
lies west and north of the Dyea trail, is
far superior in Mr.. McArthur's opinion to
the Dyea or skaguay routes. Indeed ne
con demns the SkaRuay trail as no good.
The Dalton trail, on the other hand, is
of easy access and the grade is not heavy.
From Chiikat Inlet, where the trail
starts. the first forty miles is on the river
fiat, with an easy grade, thence 10 the
local divide, which is 5000 feet above sea
level and fifty miles from the water. One
m lore local divide is crossed twenty miles
further on, at the watershed of Alsek and
Chilkat River.
The rest OF the trail to the mouth of the
Nordeskloid River is suCcsssion of Al
pine valleys, with hardly ercepti bic di-
vices. Tins brings the traveller to Five
Fingers. 24O miles from sea. well on the
way TO Dawson and beyond the difficulties
met with on the ont-r trails.
From Five Fingers it is all water travel
the rest of the way. By the Dalton trail
a man going i'll light, with q sadd le-horse
and pack-animaI, can reach Dawson Citv
in fifteen days, M. Macarthur SAYS, and
can make thirty miles day easily. With
large pack train fifteen miles a day can
be made over the trail and Dawson r ach ed
in about twenty-five days. That applies
to summer travel. for in winter, owing to
the snow, it wonld be difficult TO get into
the Yukon. Seversl bands of cattle went
over the Dalton trail this year and SO good
hal ha nj lie faff a
the way.
Henry Bratnober, representative of
the Rothschllds, came back by the
Dalton trail on his way from Dawson
City. He left Dawson early in Septem-
Der, and by that time the cattle anu sheen
were beginning to arrive. Fully 1900
sheep and 400 head of cattle would have
reached Dawson before the river frcze up,
so that The supplies will not be likely to
run short.
II is understood that MIR. Bratnober
succeeded In securing one property for
his principals, but the prices demanded
were SO exorbitant that be aid not hnd 1t
worth while trying to secure others.
The scenes on the Skaguay trail-dead
and starving horses-im pressed Mr. Nc
Arthur as something very horrible. Hun
dreds OF these unfortunate animals are
rottiDg where they died, and more might
be seen abandoned to die of starvation.
The water that flows over their dead
bodies is used by many people in Skaguay,
and there may be something like plague
this winter in consequence.
SEATTLE. WASH, Oct. 4-The pros
pect Of famine in the Klondlke this winter
has given birth to many schemes more or
less feasible TO relieve 1t. Among these
plans none seem to have more a
prospect of success than the one evolved
bv Charles E. Peabody, manager OF the
Washington and Alaska Steamship Com
pany. He Will send north on the bark
Colorado 425 head OF hogs and cattle with
sleds, saddles and wagons. Thev will be
driven over the Dalton trail 10 Fort Sell
kirk in charge of u party of fifty packers.