The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1897-12-18

covered up.
There are projected improvements
for both of those trails, in the nature
of railroads and trsmways, but as yet
only Chilkoot pass shows anything tan
gible. A combined railroad and tram
way is under construction and is prom
sed to be completed by the first of Feb
ruary, for the taking of freight from
Dyea through to Lake Lindermann. The
probabilities are that this convenience
will be provided by that time, or
shortly thereafter. The company oper-
ating it purposes TO contract to carry
freight from Dyea to the lake at price
much below what it would cost TO pack
it over, and to handle it so promptly
that by the time the owner can walk
over the trail his freight will get
through. With this tramway in opera
ton, and nothing similar on the Skag-
nay trail, the Chilkoot pass would get
all the travel. There are, however,
still other tramways and railroad pro-
jects ON both trails, but when they will
be ready for use is uncertain. At the
present time it would seem as though
this Chilkoot tramway will be the only
thing ready early enough to accommo-
date the first rush in February and
March. Until that time, there is APP
parently little choice between the trails
for winter travel, and those who go in
before February may take either. For
those who go in over the snow Yu-
kon sled is necessary. This is a strong
skeleton sled and may be purchased at
any regular Quitting point. Many
take dogs to help draw sleds, but all
can not do this. If it is done, special
provision must be made for food for
the animals.
After the lakes have been reached,
/ the remainder of the route is the same
for both passes, consisting of abont 500
miles of lake and river navigation to
Dawson City, at the mouth of the
Klondike. 1t is 80 miles further to
Forty Mile, and Circle City is 300
miles down the river from Dawson.
The new town of Rampant City is still
about 500 miles further down the Yu-
kon, at the mouth of Munook creek,
not far above the point where the
Tannanah flows into the great river
This entire lake and river journey is
made in strong boats, usually built out
of timber whipsawed by the Yukoners
on the banks of Lakes Lindermann or
Bennett. There is a small saw mill
there, but it is unable to cut enough
timber to fill the demand. Doubtless
other mills will be taken in as soon as
the tramway is completed, but miners
should not rely upon this, but should
take an outfit OF tools and material for
building boat, as we'll as oars and
rowlocks. Efforts to take in boats over
the pass last fall were unsuccessful
even in sections Though it might be
easier to do so over the snow, it is
doubtful if it would not consume as
much extra time and labor as the
building of boat would require.
When the tram way is at work, special
~ constructed boats could no doubt be
taken in to advantage, and valuable
time be saved.
The route leads through Lake Under
mann, miles, a portage to Lake Ben
nett, l mile; down the lake, "a miles
through Cariboo crossing to Lake Tag
ish, ? miles; down the lake 10 miles
by river to Lake Marsh, miles
across the lake passing Windy Arm
10 miles. Those who so in the win
ter and early spring can proceed to this
point by drawing their boats on sleds
but there they must wait for the ice tC
break up before proceeding down the
river in their boats, unless they intenC
to go through light, dragging a sleC
over the snow and ice. Twenty five
miles below Lake Marsh is the dreaded
Miles canyon, and just below thii
place are White Horse rapids. Boil
of these places may be safely run il
the boat if the utmost care is exer
cised. Many boats have been wrecked
here and their contents lost, while sew
eral unfortunate men have beer
} drowned. No one should attempt thes
difficult passages without first havin,
, carefully studied the situation. Thirt.
: miles further down the river is LAX
/ LIE Barge, 30 miles long. Five Finge
rapids are 1853 miles below this lake
and Rink rapids are miles further
These are the last of the specially dan
gerous places, though care must be ex
, ercised during the entire journey.
AS to other routes from the coast
} there are but three that have an.
) prominence, and none of them is as We
= sufficiently known to make it advisa
BILE for the ordinary gold seeker to at
, tempt them. One of them is the Dial
ton trail, leading noItherly over tn
| mountains just west of the Chilkoo