The San Francisco call., 1897-12-17
Three Steamers and Six Barges
to Be Constructed to Ply on
the Yukon River.
OTHER LARGE CONTRACTS II VIEW.
The Alaska Commercial Company
Decides to Build Four New
River Boats.

In the sense of selling vast quantities of
merchandise San Francisco will be bene-
fitted by the development of Alaskan
trade, but still more important advant-
age is secured in the building OF ocean
and river steamers 10 carry supplies 10
the points OF destination. The facilities
possessed by the city as manufacturing
point are now appre C .ated.
Three Yukon River steamers and sew
eral barges ordered by the Alaska Ex-
plorat'on Company will be constructed il
this city. In lac, the work is now under
way. Yesterday men were en- mployed TO
prepare the vacant lots on Spear street,
just north of the Sailors Home for a ship
yard, where the steamers and barees will
be built. Large quantities of lum Der have
been purchased and will soon be on the
building grounds.
The boats and barges will be constructed
in sections and sent 10 OunaIaska, where
the sections will be fitted tog ther and The
machinery put in. From that point the
barges will be towed 10 the mouth of the
ukon, distance oil 700 miles. The sh p
yard on Spear street will be one of the
busiest places in the city before many
dars go by.
The activity displayed by the A aska
Exploration Company is not exceptional.
1 he fiees Of the Aia ka Commercial Com
pany will be enlarged to meet tie Ia
creased demand for river and ocean trans
porlation.- 1t was ascertained Yesterday
thai the managers of this company had
decided finally 10 build four new steamers
for the Yukon. 1t is almost certain tnat
ihe boats Will be constructed in or near San
Francisco. The advantages possessed oA
San Francisco will be utilized III the con-
SIruCtlOn OF the craft
An ocean-Solng steamer of 1900 tons
capacity is now building at the Union
Iron Works for the Alaska Commercial.
Company This ship, to be cnristened
lhe St Paul, viii ply between this CITY
and s.. Michael
a 13 0-ton Ccean steamer for the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company Is olso III pro-
cess OF construction at the Union Iron
Works.
Word comes that the Northwest TIT d.
ing and TRANSFORMATION Company has de-
clded TO build new boats Tor the Yukon
lrade In order 10 match the facllIlIes OF
'he other Dig companles now contending
or the Alaskan trade. 1t would not be al
all surprising II other important contracts
were placed In this city within the next
ten days. The material, tie machinery
and the skilled workmen required to build
the best boats IN the shortest space OF
time can De found in San Francisco.
Sym ny for other points may cut little
9gure, but as i rule there is not much
sympathy In a big commercial transac-
tlon. In preparing for The tran portation
of merchandise on the Yukon next sum-
| mer, ume Is an ssential element. Ii a
Doat Can be turned out In San Francisco
quicker. better and cheaper than il can
be constructed elsew here, the contract
or the bullting will come to our builders.
Merchants, broad of mind and quick in
the 1scultles OF percep ion, comprehend
that an empire in the Northwest awaits
development. The readiness with which
the London Exploration Company and
the Rol hschilds subscribed aud paid tor
the stock of the Alaska Exploration Com
pany OF this city shows that the magni-
| tude of future development in Alaska is
Justly estimated In Europe. 1t Is a signiti
can't fact that the Alaska Commercial
Company is d termined 10 maintain / s
commercial prestige in that quarter.
The merchants of San francisco are
said 10 be slow in raising money 10 au-
vertise and herald the splendid oppor-
tunities presented for Quitting in this
city. 1t is remarked that Seattle raised
S5O, 900 in twenty-four hours as a fund 10
loom that place as an outhIting point,
while our merchants have been month
sing SO, 600 10 advertise this city. The
recent heavy inve tments of capital by
the shrewdest business men OF the world
should be an objec lesson to illustrate 10
San Francisco people the value of the
prlze offered for com mercial enterprise.