The herald., 1897-12-14
Preparing for a Great
Rush to Alaska
MANY HUNDREDS ARE GOING
PHILLIPS ROCK ISLAND ExCUR-
Z SION AGENCY TO DISSOLVE
Randsburg Will Probably Celebrate
Rail Connection-More Tourist
Lines Added

That a great rush to Alaska is an
ticipated in the early spring is evidenced
by the preparations being made by the
railways. in order that they may be
prepared to handle the profitable traf-
fic.
Southern Pacific, recently in the city,
said: "Our company has detailed sew
eral Of our best men to put this matter
In shape, for we have lines both to San
Francisco and Portland, and connection
for Seattle, and will be called upon to
handle more Of this business than any
other line.
Our interest in the passengers will
not cease with landing them at the des-
tination Of our rail lines, but we shall
be in position to make through book
age at our principal traffic offices, hav
ing secured accommodations by various
steamship lines. among them the Alas
ka Commercial company-who have now
under construction the steamer st.
Paul, which will be specially adapted
for the traffic. The st. Paul will accom-
modate 256 cabin passengers, and will
be ready to sail from San Francisco for
st. Michaels about June LIST. Other
boats will be dispatched within a few
days thereafter, and will make the trip
to St. Michaels In about ten days. For
the trip from st. Michaels to Dawson
City. river boats Of large capacity will
be used. This route will avoid the perils
of mountain passes and rapids of the
overland trip.
Representatives of the Southern Pa
cific will meet the passengers at San
Portland, Tacoma and Seat
tie. as the case may be, and render them
all possible assistance in embarking.
UNLESS all signs fail, the migration to
Alaska in 1898 will be one of the most
movements ever witnessed"
PHILLIPS AGENCY NO MORE
r. w. Thompson. local passenger and
freight agent for the Chicago, Rock Is
land and Pacific railway. announces that
after January LIST the excursion agency
known as the Phillips Rock Island will
be discontinued, and thenceforth the
Rock Island people will conduct the ex-
cursion business under their own man.
agement. This will be great surprise
to many. as the Phillips Rock Island
agency IL one Of the Oldest and best
known In the United States and has
Handled more people between
New England and the Pacific coast than
any other excursion agency. It is re-
ported that Mr.. Phillips will not retire
from the business, but that he will or
ganize new company. to be known as
the Phillips -Judson Excursion agency.
He Is at present in the east consulting
with officials Of the Chicago and Alton
and 1t is more than probable
that shortly after the new year a new
agency, with Mr.. Phillips at the helm,
will be bringing tourists into Southern
California both by Ogden and Ell Paso.
TO CELEBRATES RAIL CONNECTION
Construction trains are now running
between Kramer and st. Elmo on the
new Randsburg railroad, and it is ex-
pected that by next Saturday passen-
ger trains will be running from Kramer
to Johannesburg on schedule time. 1t Is
probable that some time during the
holidays the Santa Fe-Pacific Railroad
will arrange for big excur-
sion to the new mining district.
The people Of Randsburg are already
discussing the proposition Of celebrat-
ng the advent Of rail connection with
the outside world, and 1t is thought that