The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-19

Steamship AI-kf In-Two Hundred
Men BusiIy at work ON
the Trail


the Trail
Steamship Al-Ki arrived from Dyea and
Skaguay al o'clock yesterday morning.
bringing the latest news yet received from
those who have gone north on their way
to Dawson. City and the Klondike. This
news leaves one in about a. much uncer-
tainty about the real conditions there as
at anytime during the past two weeks,
and there is no one on board the Al-N
who really knows whether the Skasuay
trail is open or not.
The ALIKE left Skagusy last Wednesday.
At that time 200 miners were at work on
the trail to the lakes. and on the trees
near the town" notices were posted call
ing for 200 more men. The notices stated
that they were posted by order or the
miners themselves, who have undertaken
TO build the trail through 10 the lakes,
that no compensation viii be allowed for
work and that no tolls viii be charged
over the trail when completed. There
was a rumor In circulation at Skaguay
just before the steamer left that the trail
was completed and now ready for use. but
this was not credited by those who claim
TO be familiar with the situation.
1t is said that the trail now being built
out from Skaguay is over different route
from the one heretofore laid out, the
change being made necessary by the fact
tEdl the Ola route went tilIoueu abN-%
forty lakes, or boys. at the other end.
through which 1t was quite impossible TO
get an animal with pack, or even for
a man 10 90 on foot. The latest reliable
report at Skaguay was 10 the effect that
the trail was completed TO distance OF
seven miles from the lakes, but absolute
ly nothing was known OF the last seven
miles. There are rumors OF different men
having passed over the Skaguay tran
r4.. r1f he
is stated as positive fact that the Slavin
party Is the only one that has reached
the lakes from Skaguay. and this party re-
ported Il impracticable 10 get any sup
plies across with the trail in the condition
II then was. 1t was on the strength OF
this report that the miners set about
building. the trail themselves.
However, IL seems TO be accepted as a
certainty that the Skaguay trail will be
completed. and It is the opinion OF the Of
ficers and passengers on the Al-Ki that IL
is finished and open for travel by this time.
small sized army OF men would be at
work on IT, Il is said, by the first of this
week. and there can be little doubt that
Il Is now passable.
Miners and supplies are being sent
across the Chilcoot pass from Dyea,
though OF course I'm limited numbers.
The last rate quoted by the Indians for
packing was 26 cents pound. and the de-
mand still exceeds the supply OF Indians.
so a further raise is not improbable. An
Indian, with a pack strapped on his back.
will throw II off and pick up another
mans bundle for a raise Of cent a
pound. and they never cut prices after a
raise of this kind. Horses are a success
on the Dyea trail for a distance of eight
cen miles. or two miles beyond Sheep
Camp. Then there is short stretch over
which Il is barely possible for a horse 10
pass without any pack. after which they
can be used again for the remaining eight
or nine miles OF the trip 70 the head Of
the lakes.
Money spent for "knocked-down" boats
IS wasted All who were talked with on
board the AI-Ki this morning were agreed
on this point. They say there is enough
lumber from discarded boats az Dyes and
Skaguay TO build many houses and IL is
being used for that purpose in many In
stances. II is asserted that the first boat.
IN any shape. IS yet 20 90 across either
Chilkoot or White pass. although they are
used with some success IN tram sporting
supplies a few miles up from the landing
places. The trails are SO winding that
the lumber cannot be carried through it.
One Seattle man started over Chiikoot
pass with a small canoe, and Il is now
near the summit where he discarded IL
when scarcely half way over.
Tho tide Of travel is toward Skaguay.
which is now q tented town OF about
25o9 people Ii Is beginning to assume
somewhat metropolitan airs. II has four
saloons. three dance houses. and restau-
rants and coffee houses galore. There is
also a second hand store with a big can
Vass sign across the tent informing the
citizens that they can buy or sell out5its
boats supplies ''oF any old thing" and
tire proprietor Is doing land ONCE bus
B-4-z btar
mart. Speaking Of land Offices. there
IS one AZ skAguay, conducted by tie
United States commissioner. John L.
Smith and his two associates. who are
said 10 De working night and day record
ing town lot filings. for which they get
SO piece, one-haIf ~ the fees going TO
the government The surveyor gets S
for stalking of lot. and there Is a thris-
ing business being done right along, with
buying and selling town lots Some Of
tho officers % the Af-ki went ashore 10
get p LOT staked of bat were not al sue
cessful. because the surveyor had more
worx on hand than he could attend TO.
Those who did succeed were obliged 80
60 a considerable distance back. even tie
tide land along the rocky shore being
stakee OF by teuderfeet from the inter
Tor. who don't understand the tide land
legislation.
There Is also a blacksmith shop at
SEaEU&y. Il Wh5Ch four men are working
b. reinyA They keep their irnprovised
FORCES going practically day and night
and the men are said TO be 50 nearly tired
out that they can scarcely raise their
heads. They get 8 apiece for Shoesng
horses.
TIE sawulu a. Skaguay Is nearly con-
p}eGe6 When the Al-ki left there the
machinery was ell in place. and vas 20 Re
put IN motion the following day. Work
49, -. q.
naw wharf az skasuay. whtch h being
built b. responsible parties from JUnsau.
pale driver ard boom OF piles we're Sent
up from juneau several DAYS ago, and
the wharf viii - oornplsles3 within thrss
weeks.
All sorts OF craft are being utilized n
carrying passages and lumber from
Juneau % Skaeuay. AID high rates are
bang charged Fare on these Hifis steam
srz from Juneau 20 Dysa 81 skaguay Is