The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-07
TO DREDIE Alaska RIVERS.
Milwaukee Capitalists Backing
q Gigantic Scheme.
WILL OPERATE AT DAWSON.
With Dogs and Horses . Representa-
Long Winter Trip Into the lu-
terier to Investigate and Report
scheme VIII Cost It's hackers
Many Thou1and-Nay Net Millions

syndicate OF rich Milwaukee capital
lists has decided to see through an Alaska
dredging scheme the first cost of which
VIII not be less than s5e.ec9. but which II
successful gives promise of returns almost
beyond relief. Il is announced that the
promoters OF this latest concern have suf-
hcient money 10 make ii success and
therefore no stock will be issued.
They do not intend to invest their thou
sands without first making a careful in
vestigation of the conditions they Will
have TO meet in the northern country and
thar they may thoroughly post themselves
representative is 10 be sent to Dawson
at once TO make an investigation.
t. j. McGtade, of this city. will go
North for the company. With three old
fukoners, he will leave soon for Alaska
and push on 10 Dawson over the ice as
fast as the best dog team that can be pro-
cured will take him. Mr.. McGrade has
been engaged in mining on the coast for
long time and spent years in the Cook
inlet country. Several months ago the
WI" men VINO are DaCk Oh the pres
ent scheme sent for him TO go to Ban
mock. Mont, and spend several weeks on
board placer mining dredger. which has
been working there for number OF
months. He investigated the workings of
the machine, which was then clearing
about $500 a month while working In
very poor gravel. His report was so sat-
isfactory that tho Milwaukee men at once
began TO negotiate with Milwaukee con-
for III rfoy1 eta a
dredger for use on the tributaries OF the
Yukon river. 1t was found that it would
cost $4,000 10 secure the outfit. and get Ii
to St. Michael.
McGrade's Winter Trip.
The money Is ready and soon as Me
The money is ready and as soon as Me-
commenced on the dredger unless he finds
something In the condition of the gravel
which makes the plan impracticable. Mr..
McGrade said to a Post-Intelligencer re-
porter:
For the past two weeks / have been In
Seattle getting an outfit together for a
midwinter trip to Dawson over the ice. 1t
is absolutely necessary that the men l
represent get g report of the conditions il.
the North as early as possible. There.are
two things to he determined, the depth OF
gravel and condition of bedrock. and the
size and extent of the boulders in the
gravel. My first stop will be at the Stew
art river, where in all probability our
dredger will first be operated. ] am al
ready acquainted with the condition of the
Stewart river bars. of which there are
great many that can only be worked with
deep water dredger. There are no large
boulders in the Stewart river gravel and
we will be able TO work there without
trouble.
From the Stewart river / will push on
10 Dawson and investigate the bed Of the
klondike river. This river is to a certain
extent taken up already, but if we decide
to work our dredger on the Klondike We
will have no trouble In securing lays
from the miners, as they can only work
during the winter and then very slowly.
BY offering TO clean up their part of the
creek with our dredger without expense to
them, we will be able to work on a salts
factory percentage.
"Our boat and dredger Will cost $4,000
1t will take $l5,O00 to transport the outfit
in sections from Milwaukee TO st.
Michael. At the latter point the outfit
will be put together at cost of at least
$500 more. We will then be ready to
proceed up the Klondike or Stewart riv-
ers The company expects TO be at work
on the bars by the latter part of July.
Will He shipped Via Seattle.
The boat will be constructed entirely
OF steel, 20x90 feet. 1t will be self-pro-
polling and living rooms for the crew
and six men employed In operating the
dredging and sluicing machinery will he
on the upper deck. At Milwaukee the
boat viii be built, sections and machinery
properly numbered. shipped to Seattle.
thence to st. Michael on a chartered
steamer
THE iredge is of the elevator of chain
bucket type, which has worked so sue
cessfuly in Montana for several years
and Is extensively used in Australia and
New Zealand. 1t has one advantage over
the dipper and hydraulic dredges in that
II does not disturb the gravel in the act
OF digging. The action of the endless
chain Of buckets Is slow and quiet. The
material is picked up from the bottom
with the smallest amount Of agitation and
in a manner best calculated 10 retain the
gold.
when I first began to consider this
trip 20 Dawson the question or transport
alton bothered me a great deal. Some one
proposed goats for hauling my sleds. 1
looked into the matter and found that
they would he all right II they could
stand the cold. even went so far as to
arrange for several fine goat teams.
told nv plans 10 an old Yukoner and
he brought up fact that had not con-
sidered before. How was i 70 keep the
hungry dogs that are so numerous in the
north from making a meal off my goats?
with the exception Of their short horns
they look almost like sheep and a team
OF Yukon dogs would tear them 70 pieces
In no tine. The Yukoner told me / would
have 10 keep them In my trat =. night
and watch them carefully during the day.
So ] gave up the goat Idea I will use
horses and Alaskan dogs. When l yet
the horses down "a far as they will go
VIII kill them and use the flesh for dog
food"