The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-26
THR WHIrE PaSS.
An English Syndicate's Planto Open Up
the Gold Fields.

SKAGUAY, ALASKA, August H-via
SEATTLE. WASH. August 2J.-A civil
engineer Of juneau, c. f., Garthside, ana
six assistants, are now surveying inc
White Pass I'm the interest Of an English
syndicate. which intends 10 run rail-
road from Skaguay, the entrance TO the
pass 10 Taqua Arm, distance of sixty
eight miles and even TO the liootalinqua
river, 40 miles.
II. A. Rellinghurst. Of Victoria, is one
of the principal promoters OK the scheme.
Thiy road. when completed Will form the
shortest and quickest route 10 the Yukon
country, and IL Is the intention OF the
company to build wharVes and ware
houses at Skaguay The highest altitude
Of the road will be az the summit OF
White Pass $500 feet The summit IS
about twenty miles from Skaguay
The surveying party has been at work
since July 18th, and expects 20 have the
survey completed I'm two weeks. Ihey
are now twelve miles up the river. Al
though the exact cost can not yet De
estimated, It is known that the road VIII
cost more per mile than other railroads,
but as the trail is the natural outlet from
the Yukon the promoters expect 20 reap
large returns.
The present trail over the pass. used
so much az present by iugOlng miners,
was cut by this company with the idea
OF diycrting tho travel from Dyea ana
ChilcOOt trail and they made an attempt
10 prevent professional packers from
charging more than II cents pound.
la this. however. they were unsuccess-
ful. as the rate Is now 30 cents.
Mr.. Garthside states that 10 Will De Inn
possible for more than one quarter Of the
people now on the trail 10 reach the
KlOndike this year. Work ON tho rail-
road will boz commenced In the spring and
the road to Taku will probably De com
plctcd in SIX months from then. Sk1guay
is destined 90 be large town and should
the railroad become an assured fact. VIII
distance Juneau as an Quitting and gem
eral commercial point
Many Of the Juneau merchants nave
opened branch stores here already. The
great majority OF people arriving here
cannot possibly get down the river ms
year and those of them who alrcaHy rrhl-
he this fact are locating in Skaguay ana
starting 10 build. IN year the town Will
undoubtedly contain 300 20 1000 inhab-
itants. The various paths ana trans
leading through the forest nave been
chrlstencd and the infant town has "a
Broadway and several avenues.
The White Pass In It's present crude con-
ditiou is practicable for the entire dis
tancc To- Lake Bennett and a man without
81 pack can go over II in twenty-iour
hours
pack animals can traverse a. with loads
ana IN seems 90 be the better tran Tor
those who have brought their supplies
and horses with them. FOR miners WHO
have no horses the Chilc0ot fas5 seems
preferable as IT IS impossible to hire men
here to pack outfits -,.
The White trail has been cut through
Lake Bennett only about "a week ana ~
far only very few have passed over lh,
lower end. About go miners arc camped
Frink Slavin. the puzilist, is reported
fo have been tho first man 10 reach IN,
Lake. his outht. however, WAS paHly
L,opep nm nv tho packers and he refused
to nay for It's transportation.