Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-03-17

tIlo piit tAItilcllcc HAS proved 10 De
the best, two trauways are are under
construction for the transportation of
goods. One of these has Il tram rail
road from Dyoa to the base of the SUM-
NIT ridge, and an electric bucket sys-
tenn across the summit to Lake Linde-
mann. The other has two tram way
cables leading from the first and sec
ond divides and ending at Lake Linde-
mann. Connection between the last of
these and Dyca will be made with
wagons and pack animals. Neither
OF these enterprise is ready for opera
ton, and the possibilities are that they
will not be before the first of April.
When in complete operation, their COM
bined capacity will not exceed 400 tons
OF pack animals 100 tons per day could
be taken over the White pass from
Skasway, this leaves the total capacity
of all facilities provided for both passes
at 800 tons per day. This means 100
days for transporting $4,000 tons that
will be accumulated there by the first
OF April. In other words, accumula-
tions could not be cleared away before
the middle of June. The probabilities
are, however, that during the months
of April and May an equal quantity of
new freight would demand attention.
III this calculation no allowance is
made for the freight which could he
taken on slcds by individuals and by
the aid of dogs. This would be in
considerable. In fact, with such IA
mass OF humanity and of goods, it
would be almost impossible for freight
to he moved ut all on those narrow
portions OF the trail where the right OF
way would be the subject oi dispute
and contention If people interfcred
with each other last fall SO as to create
blockade on both trails with less than
5000 people attempting to 20 over, it
does not require great flight If i'm
agination to see the utter blockade that
would be created 10y 30, 000 people.
One who intends 10 go to Alaska may
well stop and consider what his chances
are likely to be in such mob. and
whether he would not DO better to seel;
some other route or some other objec
tive point than the Klonlike region.
OF course, transportation facilities from
the coast ports to Alaska have been
provided for Dyea and Ska4Way, but
doubtless rs soon as this blockade so
develops that intending gold hunters
demand to be taken somewhere else,
steamers viii leave the Dyea and Skag-
way routes and seek other ports, such
us Copper river and Cooks inlet. AT
these places there is room for all. No
narrow canyon trail confines the gold
hunter to II particular route, hut there
is opportunity to spread out over u
wide expanse of country, now practice
ally unknown, but reported to be rich
in gold. There are said to be low
passes through the mountains from
both Copper river and Cooks inlet,
leading over to the Tanana and to the
head waters of Birch creek, by which
the now promising gold field. ON the
American side of the line may be more
easily reached than by the route across
the Chilkoot pass and down the lakes
and rivers. The government is now
fitting out an expedition for Copper
river. Undoubtedly these routes will
he opened up the present season by
prospectors even should not the great
stream OF travel be turned in that direc-
ton.
There are already indications of a
desire on the part OF gold hunters to
abandon their idea OF going to Dvea
| and Skagway, and to stike ont for the
Copper river and Cooks inlet. Be-
You'd doubt this tendency will rapidly
| increase as the crowded condition Of
the passes becomes better known. AT
present the only facilities for reaching
Copper river and Cooks inlet is the
United States mail boat operated by
the Pacific Coast Steam Whaling Com
pany from San Francisco, the two
small, steamers now on the route from
Portland to Copper river, and the small
steamer running from Port Townsend
to Copper river. These steamers are
already inadequate to meet the demand
and doubtless more will soon be put
on the route.
Attention has also been turned in the
direction of the route by Fort Wrangel
and Stickecn river, Telegraph creek
and Teslin lake, but as yet, facilities
have not been provided. Several
small river steamers are being con-
structed for the Stickeen river, to ply
between Fort Wrangel and Telegraph
creek, which is the point of disem bark
alton for the overland journey of the
100 miles to Lake Tesln. On this
stretch of 80 miles it is proposed by a
Canadian company to construct rail-
road the present year under special
grant from the Dominion parliament of
20, 900 acres of land per mile, and
the time set for Its completion is the
first OF September. 1t is thus seen
that for this season at least, only such
travel can 90 over the Stickeen route
as can be handled by pack animals,
and this, of course, cannot be very ex-
tensive. Possibly several thousand
people will attempt this route, with
the probability that large portion Of
them will make failure of their
Effort.