The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-17
SURVEY WORK N alaska.
PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPING 4
NEW ROUTE TO THE YUKON.
Assistant Superintendent Pratt
Points Out That IL the kusi1ivak
Channel WIS Buoyed II Might
Be used to q Great Advantage.

WASHINGTON. Nov Is-ASsis.an. SUI
perinien1ent G. III. Pratt has submitted 10
Superintendent Pritchelt, OF the coast and
geodet!c survey. a report OF the coast sur
yey party operating dur'zS the past sum
mer in Alaska. The report notes the dis
covery Of 2.5D additional square miles OF
United States territory and deals with the
work accomplished IN the interest CT Alas
ka Referring 10 the newly explored ter
ritcry Of the United States, which hitherto
has not been included as a part OF ihls
country. the report says:
The kusilivak channel extends very
nearly parallel with the shore until about
naE way 10 the krypniak. when II turns
seward. and when beyond the sight 0;
land spreads out into a lar with from SIX
10 eight fse; Of water al low tide. TIE
fats are irregular with r-snd pockets. etc.
The shores in the vicinity OF kusi,ivak
mouth are about twenty five miles further
out into Boring sea than Indicated on the
published charts. In round numbers this
differences includes an area OF about $50
square miles. The highlands of Cape Dyer
were almost always obscured by clouds.
bat IL would seem that Its present longi-
,ude Will not be much changed. whereas
there Is a possibility Of placing It's latitura
more TO the southwark. There IS about
two feet OF water on the bar at the Apnoon
channel entrance at mean low water, and
INSIDE or u quite an Intricate chanae- Inc
proposed chart Of this locality should %
sent 10 St. Michael by next seasons coast
survey party. whose very frs duties should
be to Te-examine for changes and thorough
~ buoy out this channel, as the ice viii
carry off buoys left this year; 10 determine
and then plat the buoys on their charts
and then turn them over for general dlStri-
+ button"
A chart ia recommended. covering the
stretch from Cape Dyer TO Besooro island.
TO assist vessels trying early in the season.
as they usually do, 20 get Through 10 81.
Michael by going through the Ber.iig sea
ice. supposed 10 be swept off shore some
what by the currents from the river mouths
and the Yukon bar or flats. Continuing.
the report says:
The up-river traffic for the coming sea-
viii he. as heretofore, deep SEA craft TO S..
Michael. transfer 10 river steamers, which
will go Via the Aphoon channel
This entrance is the worst they have 10
contend with and has only about TWO feet
on the bar al mean low water, and is rath-
er intricate. It's advantage is that river
boats can be IN sight Of land all the way
from ST. Michael 10 the entrance. the only
really dangerous position being in rounding
s.. Michael island, a distance of about
twelve miles in northerly weather where
as the kusilEak although having sufficient
water. has the very serious Disadvantage
OF beng so far off shore that no natural
landsrnarks can he used for finding and
entering Il. From tia north shore Of Cape
Dyer 10 the Kuslltvak entrance IS about iif
the Aphoon entrance and even If the kus.l-
WAX could be as easily. found. this small
difference in distance would not he sufii-
c!ent 10 change the routes OF the cider
transportation companies. that have costly
warehouse facilities at St Michael. IL is
TOW a-foregone conclusion that the paSsen-
ger business of the Upper Yukon country
IS and Will remain via the passes. while for
long time the great bulk of the freight
VIII go via the rivers mouth.
There are now between sixty ana seven
tear tsx fF,e,
business and still freight was left be hind al
81. Michael when the season closed IN.
The ocean traffic has been proportion
ate, there being as many thirty deep
water vessels at anchor i'll ST. Michael and
Orange at a time, the average during the
season being twenty, The greatest STUN
bling block IN the 81. Michael freight bus:-
ness is the transfer from ocean TO river
water depth being such that ocean vessels
do not anchor within about two miles Of
the nearest shoalwater landings Ocean
vessels can be run on n comparative close
schedule, as 10 time, whereas the uneer-
tainty Of the time of arrival OF the river
boats due 10 getting aground. varying
strength OF currents. etc varies al times
as much as two weeks and consequent de-
lays 10 ocean vessels calaSe loss Sorl}eti lines
an entire trip during the season. If next
years EXAMINATIONS should develop the
fact that some where in ScammOn hay the
shores We're bold enough 20 enable sea yes
sels 20 discharge ar docks then bv arti-
ncialy marking the kusilivak entrance 81
that l. could he readily found the cost Of
freight transportation could be sensibly