The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-26
Survey Of Railroad Through the
White Pass Almost Completed by
an English Syndicate.
MANY PEOPLE DISHEARTENED
AND WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO REACH
THE KLONDIKE THIS SEASON.
Return of the Steamer willamette
Treasure ship Portland Expected
TO-Day-Stories from Alaska.

SKAGUAY, Alaska. Aug. IT, via Seattle
Wash, Aug "a civil engineer of Juneau,
c. f. Garthsde and six assistants are now
surveying the White pass in the interest or
an English syndicate, which intends TO run
a railroad from Skaguay, the entrance TO
the pass, to Taku Arm, d distance OF sixty
eight miles. and eventually to the Hootallh-
qua river, 10 miles. T.. A. Rellnghurst, OF
Victoria, is one of the principal promoters
of the scheme. This road. when completed
will form the shortest and quickest route 10
the Yukon country. and it is the intention
of the company to build wharves ana ware
houses at Skaguay The highest altitude OF
the road will be the summit OF the Whlte
pass. 26 900 feet The summit is about TWEEN
ty miles from Skaguay. The party mas
been at work since July Is and expects TO
have the survey completed in two weeks.
They are now twelve miles up the river.
Although the exact cost cannot be esti-
mated yet 1t is known that the ROAD VIII
cost more per mile than most railroads, but
as the trail is the natural outlet from the
Yukon. the promoters expect to reap large
returns The present trail over the pass,
used so much at present by in-going min
ers. was cut by this company, with the idea
of diverting the travel from Dyea and the
Chilcat trail, and IT made an attempt to
prevent professional packers from charg-
ing more than 10 cents pound. In this,
however, the company was unsuccessful, as
the rate is now 30 cents.
Mr. Garthside states that it Will be i'm
possible for more than one-quar2r OF the
people now on the trail to reach the Klon-
dixie this year. Work on the railroad VIII
be commenced in the spring and the road
TO Taku will probably be completed in six
months from there. Skaguay is destined to
be a large town and should the railroad be-
come an assured fact, will distance Juneau
as an outfitting and general commercial
point. Many of the Juneau merchants have
opened branch stores here already. The
great majority of people arriving here can
nc possibly get down the river this year
and those of them who already realize this
fact are locating lots in Skaguay and start
ing to build. In a year the town Wall UNI
doubtedIy contain $500 to 5000 inhabitants
The various paths and trails leading
through the forest have been christened
and the infant town has Broadway and
several avenues.
The White pass in its present crude con-
dition, is practicable fer the entire distance
to Lake Bennett and man without pack
can go over it in twenty-four hours Pack
animals can traverse it with a load of 100
pounds, and it seems to be the better trail
for those who have brought horses with
them For the miners who have no horses,
the Chilcat pass seems preferable as IL is
impossible to hire men here to pack out
fits The White trail has been cut through
to Lake Bennett only about week and so
far very few have passed out of the lower
end, although hundreds of miners are
camped along it. Frank Slavin, the pugi-
list is reported to have been the first man
to emerge al the lake. His outfit was badly
broken up by the packers and he refused
to pay for it's transportation.