The herald., 1898-01-28

about 100 tons burden respectively. find
that an eight ton machine will do the
work quicker and easier The seven To-
comotives are practically ready now for
shipment to Portland, where they will
be assembled and then shipped, together
with thirty-two cars. to Dyea. Here
they will be put up and placed in readi-
ness for the expedition which leaves
that point on February 18th for Dawson
In charge of Captain Brainard of the
United States Army.
"Chilcat Pass will be the greatest
obstruction encountered on the first trip.
There is no part of the pass, however,
that presents a grade greater than 30
per cent. These locomotives can climb
such grade readily. Each machine will
have steam windlass attached and by
means of this the train can easily pull
itself up at a remarkable speed. 1 cal
culate on getting over the pass in less
than forty-eight hours with the first
train. The way once opened. subsequent
travel will be easier.
Captain Brainard thinks that the
trip to Dawson City will require about
fifty days; l think thirty days will be
more accurate. Some bridging will
doubtless have to be done, and parts of
the trail opened by blasting. However,
these things are readily obviated.
1.-The cost of building and equipping
this train will be less than $35, 900. Each
locomotive will cost about $4,000. The
passenger and freight cars and their
nSnort1tfOr tn nuaa ,,,i11
$4,000"
The locomotive is very simple in con-
struction and principle, consisting of q
boiler, twin engines driving wheel and
other necessary appurtenances, sup
ported in steel frame. The frame rests
upon runners fore and aft, and the loco
motive proper is hinged to the frame by
steel beams. The great feature Of the
machine is huge traction wheel be-
tween the runners. There is a drum in
the Wheel and the wheel is rotated by
an engine with horse power ranging
from 20 to go, geared from five to one up
to nine to one. The traction of the CYL
inder prevents the snow from clogging
1t and at the same time congresses the
snow into solid mass, thereby giving
suff1cient resistance to enable the teeth
to pull train burdened with a 200 ton
weight.
A LOS ANGELES PARTY
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 27.-Among
the gold seekers who sailed for Alaska
yesterday on the City of Puebla We're E.
II. Turner, Charles Beckett and Chas
Crew of Los Angeles. They form por-
tion of party of fifty men, the personal
friends of a Los Angeles merchant
whose partner is the alleged discoverer
of the dry bed of a river filled with gold
where several thousand dollars can be
taken out daily. Mr.. Turner, who told
of the object of his trip north, refused to
go into details, but declared his faith in
the story told in letter from the part
ner of his friend in Los Angeles who is
bearing the expenses of some of the
party.
A WILD RUMOR
TORONTO, Ont, Jan. GA special
dispatch from Winnipeg says: Word
comes from ottawa to engage a relia BILE
man to carry important secret dispatches
from the Minister of the Interior to Com
missioner Walsh at Dawson City over
land. Hayes, the celebrated guide of
make the run in 35 days with a dog train.
1t is believed that the government has
decided not to allow aliens to hold min
ing claims in the Yukon, owing to the
attitude of the United States govern
ment towards Canada trade interests on
the Pacific Coast.
THE HUMBOLDT CHARTERED
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 27.-The
steamer Humboldt has been chartered
for the Alaskan trade by John A. Nc
Gee, Jr., at a stipulated rental of $685.,
900 month for five months. This is the
highest rate ever paid for a vessel on
this Coast.
The Humboldt is practically new boat
and during her short term of service be-
tween San Francisco and Coast ports
has become a favorite with the general
public. Her original cost was $14O, 900.
During the term of the charter Mr.. Ka-
sums aggregating what it cost to put
her afioat.
STEAM SCHOONERS FOR ALASKA
PORTLAND, Ore, Jan. 27.-The
Northern Pacific Company has char
tered the steam schooners Pasadena,
Alcatraz and Alcazar, and within the
next two weeks will place them on the
route between this city and Alaska.
ONE MORE STEAMER
STOCKTON, Jan. 27.-Negotiations
are being carried on between the Cali