Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-03-23
ALASKAN SITUATION
A CONSERVATIVE OPINION OF
PRESENT CONDITIONS.
Having Congested the Passes, other
Routes VIII Have to BE Opened.

hPN''~' Noi'N"f'cAHehNN.J
Although the rush to Alaska may be
said to have only just begun, a condi-
ton of affairs has already developed in
Dyea and Skagway which promises to
disappoint the expectations of thou
sands OF eager gold seekers. The trails
across the Chilkoot and White passes
are practically impossible because of
the frequent and severe storms, and
will not be in good condition until
about the first Of April. The result is
that thousands of men and thousands
of tons Of supplies and mining outfits
are crowded together Oh this side OF
the summit and have already reached
ouch number and quantity AZ to create
a blockade.
1t has been generally understood
that it was foolish to go up to that
country earlier than March with the
expectation of crossing the passes, and
that one who did SO would simply SUBJ
ject himself to long wait. to needless
hardships and possible sickness while
consuming supplies which should be
kept for service in the gold fields. Not
witlstanding this fact, travel begun in
January and has continued through
February, an average of a steamer q
day having landed men and freight at
Dyea and Skagway. Those who took
this early start did 80 because they
feared blockade and were anxious TO
get over the summit, expecting to wait
at the lakes for the opening of the river
to navigation. The blockade they
hoped to escape has come upon them
and they are not over the summit.
Many have spent u month Of hardship
and toll and are worse off because OF
it than are the newest arrivals
There are not less than 90, 900 people
in Dyea and Skagway encamped along
the trails az far as the weather condi-
lions have permitted them to advance,
only few miles at the most. The
quantity OF supplies, outfits, boats. ma
chinery, etc, averages not less than a
ton to each man. This average Will
be kept up during the month OF March,
and by the first of April, when the
work of getting over the summit will
begin in earnest, moderate estimate
Of the number Of men and quantity OF
freight that will be assembled there is
$4,000 persons and $4,000 tons of
freight.
The only thing. that has been accom-
plished on the Skagway trail to make
it more passable than it was last sum-
mer has been the building of some
small bridges, and some Improvements
on the road Leading out from Skagway.
There has been tramway project there
but no progress has been made with it.
The indications are that the Skagway
trail will not he materially better than
it was last summer. when it WAS block
AIDED and rendered practically impas-
sable by 5000 or 1000 people and their
outfits. VI course, rs long as the snow
lasts in the spring the trail will be a
better one than VIXEN the traveller has
encOunter mud and boulders, which
were such an obstacle a year ago.
As for the trail from Dyea, which is
the one experience has proved to be
the best, two tramways are are under
construction for the transportation of
goods. One OF these has tram rail-
road from Dyea to the base OF the sum-
init ridge, and an electric bucket sys-
TEN across the summit to Lake Linde-
mann. The other has two tramway