Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-09-11
THE skAeUAY TRAIL.

Practical Work OF u Live Newspaper Cor.
respondent In Opening Up the Impassabi,
PaSs-No One to be Allowed to Make tn,
Passage without IL Contribution OF Work
on the Road-Mounted Police Take q
Hand.
SEATTLE, WASH, Sept 8. The follow
ing letter has been received from
oxas " Ii lasAa, dated August es;
sylseslrr scovel. % tse New York
Morhi, iAAded yesterday morning at
slsagaae BY d specially chartered tug
from .iueean with two tons OF blasting
powder and the necessary tools t.
equip seven complete crews for rock
work on the Skaguay trail.
In the evening there was meeting
at the foot OF the first hill, attended
by over 100 miners, who organized for
the workin front Of them and elected
an executive committee, consisting OF
James Christie, of Portland, president;
Philip Adams, secretary; {. A. Cramer,
OF Seattle, Mr.. Heacock and Mr.. Day,
as superintendents, who selected expe-
rieneed ran for the work on the rock
hills, and veteran loggers for the work
of corduroying the marshy places.
There were 10 Canadian mounted po-
lice also on the trail. They have
pitched in with good will, and say
that the building of this trail now will
enable them to get in the 70 tons OF
provisions in time to build and provi-
sion the mail stations in their terri
tory so that they can operate dog teams
all winter, and they agree to deliver
the mail every two weeks from the
Klondike to the American line. Work
is in progress for ID miles along the
trail, and all travel and packing has
been suspended untilit is completed.
| There have been some kickers, as
usual, but they are so much in the mi
nority that they have had to submit.
While believe this trail will be com
plete i'll ten days so that travel can be
resumed, don't start for this point cx
pecting to get over for at least 30 days
as it will take that long after the trai
is completed to get all the miners ovel
who are now there. There woult
never have been SO much trouble fol
small parties, but the swarm of people
95 per cent. of whom were tenderieet
and knew nothing about packing anC
mountaineering, has been the cause o.
congestion at this point.
Not nearly SO many discouraged
prospectors are selling their outfits
for song as has been reported, but /
good many who started for the Klon
dixie have given up that idea, have
turned town-site buyers and are erect
ing all kinds Of buildings and estab
fishing themselves for the winter a
best they can, One week ago lumbe
could be got for S27 per l,00o. Now il
is $50, and none for sale even at tina
figure.
Rubber boots, heavy shoes and OF
clothing are in demand and fetch bi;
prices. Hardware of all kinds sell
well. The Alaska Pacific Express Co
has made arrangements to open al
office here and has appointed IL. E
Battin, formerly of Portland, agent
The steamships Queen of Seattle, Ak
and Danube, of Victoria, have LANDED
over 400 passengers, 500 tons Of freigh
and 300 horses and mules since Angus
%, and still there is more to follow.
The Klondike excitement has turne'
the attention of the whole world thi
way, and will result in opening thi
territory as nothing else would hav,
2 done.
On board the steamer Queen on thi
trip are two parties, one organized il
, Chicago, consisting of four gentlemen
comprising doctor lawyer, commits
sion merchant and assayer, all unde
the guidance of L. l.. Bales, who ha
spent the past eight years in Alaska a
n trapper, hunter and guide. The.
will stay along the coast in the Alex
andrian archipelago this winter, anC
in the spring will thoroughly prospec
the Copper River country. The othe
{ party is headed by Il. Ii. Fisher, o
Los Angeles, Cal, and will push int
the Copper River country this winter
j. NJ. IAGGERrY.