Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1897-12-17
THE YUKON RUSH
HOW THE THOUSANDS WILL
REACH ALASKA.

ef the Dimcuities 70 be Overcome.
Especial correspondenee.l
How many will go to the Klondike
next year. how win they be transport
ID, 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 vitally in
terested in these matters. II there is
too big crowd he may not be able to
secure a passage, or 10 get . proper
outfit, or be successful in transporting
1t 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, II not
delay. SO great a 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 90, 900. 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
Eintends to join the first great rush by
the way of the passes and lakes would
DO well to make sure OF his passage 10
'Dyea OF 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 is 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 go over the regular Yukon trail by
the way Of Chilkoot pass. the next
greater number going from Skasuay over
the White pass.
II 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
number Of miles northerly into the
coast mountains, the very head Of it be-
ing divided into two arms by rocky
pr0montory. Into the easterly arm
tiows Skaguay river and into the west
eriy 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 Skagnay and Dyea.
From these points 1t 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 al
the usual rate Of 10 cents a pound.
The route is, "a miles long, and the
summit Of the pass Is 5000 feet high.
The Indians have always refused to
pack by any other route. declaring 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 a dollar pound !
was paid them. This, and the crowded
condition OF the trail, led many 70 try
the Skaguay trail, which, though Al
miles long, was asserted to be BETTER
because the summit OF the pass was
some 500 feet lower 1t was found,
however, that the trail was not so 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
gradual to the foot OF the summit di-
vide, when one very steep climb was
necessary. The practical result was
that n very much IafUer nereantaga of I