The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-16
WELL FIXED COLORADO MEN.
RIVER STEAMERS BUILDING HERE
FOR LARGE PROSPECTING PARTY.
r>A.rt.kfnx hacked by W. 3. strait
ton. the Cripple Creek Millionaire
-Prospeefors Of Experienee 20
Eru,ore Yukon and Tributaries.

A Colorado party led BY joan H. MAC
kenze and James Casey, OK Color aoo
Strings. Col. has been IN the city sance
last october preparing Tor an expeoiaion
10 the Yukon river contracts nave ueen
h. for the construction Of the machinery
ard boilers OF two ugnt-draft river steam
ers ard the hull of one steamer. A LUZ
I'm, sailing vessel mas bean chartered 10
tax. the boats and the men with their
outfits 70 the mouth Of the Yukon. ana
from there they will proceed up the river.
nrospectinS the side streams for placer
or quarts locations
The venture Is backed by w. B. STRAIT
ton. the millionaire owner or the Inoe-
pendence mine Of Cripple creek. ana otnef
we'll known Colorado capitalists Mac
kenzte viii 90 as one OF the heads OF the
expedl,ion. For many years he has been
the personal representative OK w. s. STRAIT
ton. and to go on this trip TO Alaska ne
has resigned a position as manager OF the
Portland mine where he drew $le,V~ d
year James Casey mas oeen mining In
the state of Colorado for the last twenty
wears and Is the discoverer OF several
valuable properties. These TWO Will Do
accompanied by thirty prospectors. Sc
lected from the best men Ii tnat me Oh
business now In Colorado.
When Mackenzie and Casey frst came
here they engaged the services OF Fred
&. Bell. the engineer, to draw up plans
and specifications for two steamers for
the Yukon. He was directed TO design
what his experience dictated as the most
practical craft for prospecting IN the
shallow tributaries Of the Yukon.
The boats VIII be OF steel, not only the
hulis. but also. so far as practicable. the
machinery. They will be built with the
particular idea of combining strength
with the !ightest possible draft. The di-
mensions over all are as follows: Length,
50 feet; beam, l7ia feet; depth. feet. The
contract for the engines was given TO
the Washington Iron Works. and their
work is now half completed. The boilers
are being made by the Sumner Iron
Works OF Everett. The hull OF one or the
steamers will be built by Percy Copp, of
this city, under the direct supervision OF
Engineer Bel. In order to carry out his
part Of the contract Copp has taken a
large empty building near Halls wharf.
In North Seattle, ana tnere the non Will
be constructed.
The sailing vessel chartered will ar
rive in Seattle between April 20 and May
/ from San Francisco. On her broad
decks will be loaded the finished hulls OF
the steamers; supplies for thirty men for
two years and a half; small boats for
prospecting narrow, shallow streams: n.y.
draulIc pumps; sawmill and outfits. She
will sail about May 10 and will arrive at
the mouth of the Yukon early in June.
The engines will there be put in the hulls,
and cabins will be built on the decks.
When all is in readiness the expedition
will start up the Yukon. One Of the
steamers will go up the Tanana river and
the other will prospect in the Stewart.
Two months previous TO the sailing OF
the main party for the mouth of the
Yukon a number of prospectors. headed
by James Casey, win cross over the Chill
koot pass and will so down the Yukon.
gathering Information that will be OF
value To the expedition. AT some point
on the river they will meet the steamers,
and the two viii join forces. An assayist
and civil engineer will be with the COM
pany. Ii Is understood that the party is
going north with no more information at
the command Of it's members, as regards
locations, than any other prospecting out
fit would have. They will have one great
advantage; al are practical mining men
with years of experience, and they will
not be liable TO pass any good indica-
tions. They are not going for placers
alone, but viii look for quartz leads as
well. They will depend on the country
for nothing more than timber water ana
gold. Everything else will be furnished.
The river steamers will De equipped
with powerful steam pumps and hydraulic
mining plants Will be operated from the
decks by means of hose. Three steam
launches viii be built for tenders.