Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-15
Eight Routes to the Gold Fields in
the Klondike Region.
DUTIES TO Be PAID BY THE MINERS
New Regulations for the Pros
pectors.
MANY ARE ENPEC d


to the gold fields of the Upper Yukon.
AT present there are eight routes to the
Klondike." he said. THE gold fields, it
should be remembered. are in Canadian.
not American territory; consequently, by
whichever route you go from the United
States. you are bound to cross the frontiers
OF Canada. On the other hand, one of the
best of the Canadian routes, that via
Wrangel and the Stikine, t-aveTses American
territory for q short distance, while all the
American routes pass through American
territory part of the way. 1t would have
been serious business for all concerned,
therefore. had the two governments fallen
out. instead of hing amicable agree
ment. about the bonding of goods and other
matters.
Four Common Routes.
First. there is the all-water route from
ports on the North Pacific to ST. Michaels
in Bcr:ng sea, and thence up the Yukon
river. forming a stretch of AGO miles of
navigation. This route is practicable for
about three months of the year, commence
ing in the beginning CT July. 1t enters
Canadian territory at the list meridian,
the western boundary of the Canadian pro-
lisional district of Yukon.
Then there arc three routes starting from
the head of the Lynn canal in Alaskan
waters, namely. the route by Skaguay and
the White pass. that by Dyea and the
ChIlkoot pass. and the third by the Dalton
trail. the last named :raversng undu-
lating country for so miles from Pyramid
harbor to Fort Selkirk. an abandoned Hud-
sons Gay Company post, at the confluence
CT the Lewes and Pelly rivers. which form
the Yukon. 1t is 112 miles from Selkirk to
Dawson City. The Skaguay and Dyea
routes. which were used extensively last
season, cross the coast range few miles
apart, and meet at Lake Bennett, about 80
miles inland The route from Bennett is by
lakes and rivers to Fort Selkirk $40 miles
away These two routes run through a
strip of disputed territory, but strike the
Canadian custom house at Tasish lake,
less than ~ miles beyond Lake Bennett.
At Tagish there is detachment of Cana
dian mounted police. Serious obstacles
Were encountered last year at the Chilkoot
ard White passes, but Americans are nov
constructing tramways through. At Lake
Bennett saw mills have been erected, and
prospectors and others build or pur-
chase boats TO convey them to the Klon-
GIhe.
Persons going in by any of the four
routes just described should take note of
the fact that they will have to pay duty
at the Canadian frontier on the goods they
take in. if such goods have been purchased
outside of Canada. Last year when there
was an unexpected rush of people and the
facilities for travel We're meager and I'M
certain. the Canadian government allowed
the free entry of miners blankets. per-
sonal clothing in use. cooking utensils in
use. and NJ pounds Of food for each per
son. charging duty only on excess. This
year that privilege will be practically abol-
ished and customs duties levied on every
thing the miner carries. except the clothes
on mis- back The Canadian government
does not desire to be nggardly. but Ii is
going to heavy expense to maintain police.
and establish courts of law. post offices.
treasury offices for the safe keeping of the
miners gold escorts for the gold. gov
eminent offices where drafts may be OBJ
tanned for gold. and other conveniences;
lagr y.ar,II.a to = he.
lay.
Under the United States law in force in
Alaska. no one is allowed to take up IL
mining claim except he he a citizen of the
United States. or has declared his intention
of becoming such The Canadian govern
ment does not exact any conditions of that
sort. All are welcome to enter the Klon-
dixie and take up mining claims, no mat
ter what their nationality: but. as just
said. goods bought outside of Canada. as
for instance. in the United States Eng
land. France or Australia, are taxed at the
Canadian frontier.
Routes Within Canadian Territory.
THE other four routes making up the
eight are routes lying within Canadian ter
ritcry, except that on the Stikine route
transfer is made from ocean steamer to
river steamer at Fort Wransel. in Alaska.
BY the provisions of the Washington treaty
OF 1871. the free navigation of the Stikinc
vas ceded by the United States to Canada
in return for the cessiOn to the United
States of the free navigation of the river
ST. Lawrence. Canadian territory begins
twenty-five miles from the mouth of the
Stikine- From Wrangel 20 Glenora, where
the overland route starts, the distance is
10 miles. Goods bought in Canada are
carried in bond from Victoria and Van
Couver past Wrangel to Glenora. From
Glenora the route runs through 40 miles
of level country to Lake Teslin. The
British Columbia government has built a
road between Gleuora and Tesin, and is
now surveying for a shorter trail. Horses
and mules are stabbed at Glenora and
stage coaches and pack trains will be run
TO Teslin, where steamers will carry the
passengers and freight to Fort Selkirk
and down the Yukon 10 Dawson City.
be procured at Lake Teslin for those who
wish to prospect en- route. the journey
from this side of Teslin to Dawson being
made through rich gold belt.
There Is no lack OF means of comrnu-
nicatiOn between Vancouver and Victoria
and Glenora. BY April the Canadian Pa
ciiic Railway Company will have two
ocean liners running to WranSel and
Meeting with river steamers to Glenora
The ocean navigation to Wrangel is
open throughout the year. The river
is open from May 10 the end of
October BY the end of January the river
usually forms q. good ice road. which is
used during February and March. The
ouEh test Of this route, which is the quick
est of the lot Two other transportation
companies are already running steamers
from North Pacific ports to Wraneel and
still others are getting ready for the crowd
expected IN the spring.
The second Canadian route starts frcm
Ashcroft and kamloops in British Column
bia- The trails from these two places
unite. follow the old Carboo road to
Quesneile and cut across country along a
trail built In the early COS by the project
ors OF the telegraph line to Bering sea and
Siberia. an enterprise which collapsed
Wntn the Atlantic cable was successfully
laid. TO Hazelton the Skeena and
thence to GlenOra. Ashcroft and KAN
loops are on the Canadian Pacific railway
a couple Of hundred miles east of VAN
cOuVsr.
Fast of the Rocky mountains lie the
Edmonton and Prince Albert routes both
being reached by branch roads from the
Canadian Pacific From Edmonton there
are two main lines of communicatiou-one
by the Athabasca and Mackenzie rivers TO
Fort Mcpherson and the Arctic circle and
theme" by the Porcupiue TO the Yukon be-
low Dawson City: the other by various
ways reaching the Lard and crossing a
ROld-bearinS tract TO the PeIly and The
Yukon. The latter is nv nar-on.