The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-18

that have been received including the
word OF such men as Capt. Abercrorhie.
% Tie United States Coast and GecGstic
survey. and Hon. r. F. Willard. OF Chippe-
wa Falls, Wis. who made personal sur
vey from the mouth OF the river 10 its
headwaters. are thar IL is an exceedingly
rich country ard VIII have most pros
porous future.
One representation that is based on
the most thorough explorations Is Of more
than passing interest to those who are
watching the Developments of the Alaskan
territory. II IS THAI it offers the most
feasible and practical route into the in
terror. including the Klondike and Tanana
districts There is fine natural bed for
wagon trail or railway extending from
Naldes- When he was In Seattle, Mr..
Willard said in relation TO reaching the
interior by way of Copper river:
Take a steamer To Valdes: then take
the new trait UP the Lowe river, looked
out and made by the Capt. Abercrombie
expedition, and when you reach the sum-
init, eighteen miles from Faides, at an ell
ovation OF 100 feet, which point you have
reached without any glacier. turn TO the
left and strike the klutena river; thence
down 10 Copper Center. ninety-one miles
from Valdes. From Copper Center, on
foot or with pack animals so across the
big bend over the Willard trail, sixty-five
Il.
on this trail you win cross the Sanford
river and other minor streams also the
Copper river at klutena, where You will
have TO ferry yonT supplies and swim your
animals, and Siina all of which are quite
easily fordabie, except in high water
thence up the Slina river. 50 miles 10 Lake
Mentasta, where you Will strike the old
ketchumstock Indian trail which will lead
you to r'orty-M Mile station, 400 miles from
Valdes, and other points on the Yukon.
The entire distance is fairly good footing
for animals and one viii experience no
difficulty in going through in the. summer
season, only at short intervals OF high
water. This would be a good route for
wagon road or railroad, the latter with
very light grades. curves and reasonable
cost. This would also be a good live
stock route. especially for cattle, there
being plenty of feed from June until Sep
TENDER. After crossing the Tanana going
In from Naldes, there is abundance Of
food and fine meadows there being as
much as 1000 or 5000 tons of redtop hay in
one body"
There are many who believe that within
a few years practically all the traffic into
the interior Of Alaska will he by way of
the Copper river, both on account OF the
extreme feasibility OF the route and be-
cause ii offers the only line worth con-
sidering that is entirely in United States
territory.
Much of the gold said to be along the
Copper river has not been found but the
reason of this. given By those who have
hunted for and found it, is that ii has not
been prospected for az il has been else
where and will be there in the near fu-
ture. There are peculiar preparations
necessary to successful prospecting along
the Copper river. on account of the ex-
treme ruggedness OF the district and the
swiftness OF the streams. Owing to high
water, which Is prevalent until September,
II is almost impossible TO prospect along
the streams before that date with any
hope of finding what there is in the way
of mineral.