Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-13


the Skaguay trail and that horses can be
used all the way. But there are not more
than 300 horses to move all the tons o!
provisions, and the road is so heavy that
slow progress is made. Then the charges
horse wagons hauling provisions to a point
about four miles beyond the bridge. For
this they are charging $40 ton. Several
transfers told me that they had been
clearing more than hundred dollars a day
for three weeks. From the point where
the wagons stop the goods are being pack
ed to the lake-Lake Bennett-on horses
and men for $50 per hundred pounds. The
Indians, of whom there are very few here
are charging $33 per hundred. Few of the
prospectors are able to pay these excessive
charges, and nearly all are at an abso-
lutte stand still. And yet every day adds
hundreds to the thousands already here.
1t is difficult to learn anything about the
White Pass. 1t is said to be about 3 400
feet high, or about !, 100 feet lower than tine
Chilkoot Pass; yet there are said to be a
number of elevations and depressions be-
tween the Chilkat river and the pass
which, added to the height of the pass,
make 1t greater than the Chilkoot. We
could hear of only one party who have
reached Lake Bennett by this pass. They
were party of six under n civil engineer.
They were on the ground early when the
racking charges were low and it cost them
$1,000 to get through.
Returning through town." where we
noticed several saloons in full blast, we
watched the process of unloading the
steamer. On account of the impossibility
OF using the wharf, this work had to be ac-
complished by means of lighters and one
small tugboat. which was necessarily slow
Here our prospectors met with their first
disappointment. The boats which had
been cut and fitted, and which had cost
from 500 to sl20, though containing not
more than 50 worth of lumber had to he
thrown aside. The packers absolutely re-
1use to carry them-or any article more
than three feet long. Hundreds of these
bundles of plank lay around ON the shore
or foated off on the tide. 1t is said that a
saw mill has already been erected at Lake
Bennett, where these boats will be made
Tor $Io each. A saw mill is now being
erected here, which will be in operation IN
few days. We landed about 100 woe-bs-
gone-looking Klondikers, and about eighty
TONS OF stores. Both became Thoroughly
wet before they had an opportunity of get
''iiS uiuei cover. rive per cent would be
hish estimate of the number who will get
TO the hlondlke this year. winter resort
VIII spring up at Skaguay, where the
stores. the saloons and the gambling heIls
Will reap a harvest.
must not forget to mention that the
United States commissioner, who has re-
Gently been appointed and sent here. is NOT
mere ior Ills health nor the paltry salary
m al
Vi $i'o'o year. He is making more money
imam even the teamsters, for he is finin.,
iof petty ohenses and is collecting costs
that seem fabulous even where gold huh-
Dies up from the sands. In addition to
this' ne is recording the claims of the land
jumpers at s. claim, and has already
recorded several thousand
There are about 600 horses to move o,,o..
<'ooo tons of stores; they pack only 15o
pounds, and on account of the baayv car
oitlon OF the road make but a few miles
a day. The trail is about forty miles LONG
nom Skaguay to Lake Bennett, and he
SIDES all this the trail is blocked for miles
ana all travel occasionally stopped for a
nan hour or more by mired or unruly
morse. SO the readers of The Star can
easily perceive how impossible it will be
LOT more than a mere handful of pros-
pectors to get through before winter.
"hicn Will set in next month. A thousand
OF more horses are expected within the
next lew days, but it is difficult to see
now they will hasten matters.
ABOUT noon the rain stopped, and short
~ afterward We finished unloading and
steamed away for Dyea. leaving a drench-
ed and wcetched-looking lot of Kloudikers
behind
Dyea Is about six miles due west of Skap
uay, around a high point of land, and an
preaching 1t one gets the idea that il is
located exactly as is Skaguay, but, with
the sun shining the white tents. 1T pre-
scented a much more inviting appearance
than the latter place. We soon perceived
that 1t is located on much higher ground
well drained and out of reach of the tides.
On account Of the shallowness of the wa
ter, we could not go nearer than two
miles to Dyea, and at this point we began
to discharge passengers and freight on
lighters Getting a small boat, we made
for the nearest point of land, and after a
two-mile walk over a rough but high and
dry road, we reached the outskirts of the
village of tents. We found it very different
from Skaguay. We had been told that
there were at least 1900 men at Dyea, but
could see no more than few hundred
This was soon explained, when We were
told that there was delay of but few
days at Dyea, and that the greater num-
Der of those who had come We're well on
their way Over the pass. When we asked
why so many were going from Dyea 10
Skaguay we were told that all The Indian
packers Enough charging $33 per hundred
pounds) were engaged, that horses could
not be used on the Chilkost Pass and that
many of the late arrivals went over to
Skaguay in the hope of having their goods
packed over by horses. Over the Chilkoot
Pass 1t IS only twenty-four miles to Lake
Lindemann. The southern slope of the
pass Is very rugged and steep, and the
only pack animals which can be used are
burros-the southwestern donkey or jack
ass. We brought up number Of the ar
imals, taking them aboard at Port Town
send from the Walla walla, from San
Francisco. The northern slope from the
top Of the pass to Lake Lindemann il
gradual and easy. and can be made in
day or two. There is saw mill cutting
and building boats for. in this country, a
reasonable charge.
Although the White Pass from Ska9uay
hau hoon xufdolu oaxyo~<t~o<1 49,