The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-14
THE SKAGUAY WAGON ROAD.
WORK BEING RAPIDLY Pushed
ON A BIG ENTERPRISES.
People VIII BE Able to Cross Main
Canyons With sl~ds During the
Wfnter-FreiEht viii He Carried
for Fear, Perhaps Two Cents.


BY the Pozt-Intelf.gancer Alaska News
Syndicate.
SKASTAY. Alaska. Nov. s.-"FIfty
men were pat At work this morning on
the construction Of the proposed wagon
road between this pIace ard Lake Ben
ssAtt- More viii be added as the work
progresses until every available man, that
can De employed wiki profit, will be uftl-
lied and tks work pushed 10 completion
as rapidly as men and money can do it,
This In brief was the statement II
George a Bracket, formerly of Minne-
spoiis. 20 a Post-Tatelilgeacer Alaska
nsws syndicate representative this MORN
lag.
Mr.. Bracket then detailed the PLANS
of the eompany--the skagllay ard Yukaa
transportation and Tradiag Company
rs Tar as they have been Hsatur@d. A
Partial organization OF the company was
Effected here some weeks ago. since which
time the work OF organize glun has baea
completed AID outside capitalists have
been interested in the project Among
the prominent nonresident stock holders
ere ox-congTessrnan j. III. Aeklen, l.. K,
Tart. John q. Greener, Y. r. Scnwab. Of
NJ pills. Tenn; -. A. Euiieu Of the
Portland Bridge Co, and Ben williams.
at Portland, George r. Bradley. of the
Kerry Lumber Co., Seattle, and John +.
Hartman jr. The officers of The concern
are r NJ Ward of Skaguay, president:
George 4. Bracket, Minneapolis vice
president and general manager: l.. j..
Hatch. Skaguay. secretary. David Sam
FOR. SkagpaF. treasurer. n. Mel. Brown.
S@attla. superintendent Of bridge COLI
atructiOn aEd Norman X. Smith. Skag-
nay. chief engineer. The company has
beeu Incorporated under the Iaws OF the
state % Washington wish the head oiiice
NJ sfsst Il
a survey of the proposed route Of the
read vas made early In the fall, under
tie direction Of Norman r. Smith. civil
engineer. The road viii foliaw, for the
most part, the valley OF the skaguay
along the river bed. and !ie grade Will
uUl exceed fauT per cent. To she summit,
a distance Of II i~3 miles. f.he distance
from tlre summit 10 Lake Bernett is II 2-3
miles with a gradual dows. grade al
lnasi the entise distance. Seven bridges
wlll be faiI{ three Of which will be of
iFon. The bridge which viii he erected
"a the FRS crossing Of the Skaguay ris
hds been purchased and paid for from the
Portland Bridge CO., and will be shipped
from that city on November ~. Manager
a. A. Builen. OF the bridge company. and
= force of men viii accompany the struc-
sure here and on arrival will immediately
begin it's erection. This bridge will have
"a 25o-foot span. the other iron bridges viii
be I55 and 10 feet long, respectively, and
viii he erected as soon as they ram be
constructed. The remaining bridges, four
ia nunher. will be built OF wood.
1T Is the Intention OF the company"
said Mr. Bracket. TO push the work as
vigorously as possible, so that people can
sfoss the main canyons with sIeds during
the coming winter. We expect 10 have
the bridge completed not later than
March next possibly before. Much nj
the work Mp the river Will be rock work
aud filing. and We believe that this ear
he prosecuted the greater part if not the
whole OF the winter season. AS much
work az Is possible viii be doEe before tho
heavy SHOWS fan in the canyons. and we
are confident that we will have the bridge
work 80 well in hand before the heavy
SHOWS fab that it can be completed before
March |. No pains or expense Viii he
spared "a overcome all obstacles that may
present themselves.
The business men Of skaguay have
shown faith IN the enterprise by putting
az their money. and the balance Is as
surcd. and the read viii he built for cash
II men and money can build the road II
Viii be done. We do not propose 10 ;igh
any other enterprise that has for It's OBJ
iest the increasing Of the transportation
facilities into the interior We are salts
ted that there will be more work 70 do
than can be handed by all OF the routes
into the Yukon country. Neither the
Skaguay nor the Dyea trail viii he able
Is take care II the people who win come
th!s way nor VIII the Stickeen river. the
Dalton or the 81. Michael routes. But Ne
propose 10 handle as many as possible.
and to handle them quickly.
As soon as congress meets that body
VII be asked to give us franchise IN
erect aud maintain a system % toll
bridges between Skaruay ard the interna~
ii0ral boundary. ! have been assured hy
several United States senators and con-
gressnen. ineiudiag those from my own
state. NAT they VIII lend every assistance.
and We 10 net anticipate arg trouble in
securing the privilege sc ask for From
the international boundary 10 Lake Hen,
metz tae Gsfsadjan government will, III al.
probability. take steps 10 AID the compile
fton Of the ro8d although charter has
already been granted to the British Yu-
ken Company. bat what that company
proposes 10 do DO not know
The eosG or transporting freight is an
important stem. and W. prorase - make
Ii just as reasonable rs possible. and the
tolls - De charged viii NOT exceed cent
pound. and we probably viii be able 70
make a maximum charge al cents"
Mr.. Bracket hult the first Asl miles o.
tne Northern Pacific railroad under the
lay Cooke regime. ana Is Il we'll known
railroad builder and "a man 81 cxceilen,
executive ability.
Work Is also being steadily pushed on
she skaeuAv and Lake Bennett tramwav
The right-of-w3y has heen cleared for
ihree miles. ard ttes have hesa laid for \
distance II enc mile. The erection, % the
tirst hTidge over the SkaEu8v Is being
pushed rapidly and rocks sud i}es are he
sag gotten o1t along thc Has ~ Il IS clear.
Cd. y. y. Webster. chief % constitution
expects - have the tTatuwag cogupietcc
hy March :.