The San Francisco call., 1897-08-14
TIME To
STOP THE
MAD RUSH
Continued from First Page.

miners have been constructing permits of
wagons hauling for about twenty miles of
the distance and the remaining seventeen
devolves upon pack horses. None of the
course prohibits the use of horses"
Hinkle says the reports that attempts
have been made TO use the White Pass,
which resulted in failure, and that traffic
was still taking the Chilcoot are mistakes.
The White Pass is being used right along
and from present indications will soon be
the only one OF the two in use. Mr.. Hin.
kle says further:
when the rush started the Indians at
the Chi.coot Pass were charging IL
cents pound for packing to the sum-
nit. This splendid profit satisfied
them then, but when eager gold-se ekers,
whose mperature was so high as to
brook no delay began to arrive higher
prices were offered by some to secure ear
lier service from the human pack animals.
This competition soon raised the rates to
such figure that the men of moderate
means were excluded. while those taking
a grubstake and a syndicate's expense
money were rushing on into the Yukon.
Considerable feeling resulted, and several
efforts have been made to mitigate the
evil by restricting the prices to be paid for
packing"
Hinkle says Skaguay will be the largest
city in Alaska. 1t Is beautifully located
and from present indications is the sea-
port for the interior. lie believes the trail
will he used all winter Skaguay already
has assumed the features of boom town.
Real estate dealers are plying their trade
in corner lots, and few eating establish
ments, sleeping apartments and stores of
a permanent character are in sight. The
unsteady wharf set in the rocky mountain
side is being strengthened. There is now
much more freight dumped in the little
city than can possibly be transferred over
the pass this fall and winter and each
steamer brings substantial addition.
Letters w aich came down on the George
w. Elder via Astoria were received here
tonight. They state that 5000 people are
now blockaded at Dyea and Skaguay, or
engaged in pellmell rush over the passes.
OF these about one hundred are women
who accompany their husbands. When
horses now en- route arrive there will be
eleven hundred pack animals at Dyea and
Skaguay, but it will take these animals
four months at the very least to carry over
the passes the several thousand tons of
freight now blockaded. About one miner
out OF every ten becomes discouraged on
reaching Dyea, ana sees the impossibility
of getting his outfit over the pass this fall.
These are selling outfits and returning to
Puget Sound rather than spend the win.
ter at Dyea consuming their provisions.
The troubles of the miners begin when
the steamers anchor at Dyea, mile and a
half from shore. There being no dock
there all freight must then be lightered
ashore on barges and small boats. The
tide rises to a height of twenty-five feet
and it is dangerous to leave goods on the
beach more than a few hours at time,
consequently the outfits are placed on
great shelves in rocky cliffs which line the
bay on either side. The miner never
finds any two of his packages in the same
place, and the pulling. hauling and fight
ing which results when two or three hun
dred miners are each engaged in trying
to get hold OF the various parcels com pris-
ing their outfits is said to be iude.prib-
able.
Ali horses landed at Dvea are pushed off
the gangplank mile and q half from
shore and must swim to land. At
Skaguay they can be landed on the new
wharf.
F. E. Ames, who went to Skaguay with
a pack train, has written asking that big
lum ber wagon and four horse team be
sent to him on the next steamer. He says
that wagons can be used for half the dis
tance on the White Pass trail.
Another letter states that part of the
trail beyond the summit of White Pass
runs through very marshy ground. A
week ago plans were being made for sew
erdI hundred men to go ove- in body