The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-22
Pierre Humbert to Build Over
DaltOn's Trail to SeIkirk.
MEN AND SUPPLIES At CHlLkAT
fne Boston Banker Was First In the
colorado Party to Be Sent Over
the Pass In February-Route Sur
seyed for 100 Mile.-Active Grad
Ing Will Begin the First Of May.

r3erre Humbert, jr.. the millionaire
banker Of Boston. is in Seattle TO per-
sonaily supervise The work of establish
Dor On Chilkat inlet. over the chiikat
pass and by way OF the Dalton trail to
foft Se,kirk, on the Yukon. He is the
hacker Of the Colorado expedition which
sailed from Seattle for Pyramid harbor
last fad with eighty men. 400 head OF
cattle and horses and about GO tons of
provisions. hardware and feed. This ex-
petition is the largest that ever left any
port on the Pacific for Alaska.
Little has been said heretofore OF the
OBJECTS of the Humbert expedition. II
can be definitely stated at this time that
corps of engineers. In the employ OF
MT Humbert. has surveyed the route over
the pass to the Yukon. and has estab-
iished the grades TO be followed by the
route for the first loo miles. The expedi-
tion which went north on the Colorado
several months ago is still at Pyramid
harbor- 1t will be up the river and
across the mountains when the river
freezes solidly. By May l Mr. Humbert
expects TO have actual construction Of the
line under way
Although Mr.. Humhert will say but lit
tie OF his plans at this time. he admitted
last night that he expects TO have work
on his railroad under ful swing as soon
as spring opens in Alaska. The purpose
OF sending the immense expedition north
on the Colorado last fall was TO estab-
lish himself in the territory and have his
supplies on the ground available for use
by large force of workmen. as soon as
conditions would permit of active opera
tons. Fort Selkirk is to be one of the
bases of operations. II is mis- present OBJ
iective point, ard thither will be sent
large part OF the immense OUTFIT of pro-
visions and supplies which are now at
Pyramid harbor.
A fact that has not generally been
known cropped out yesterday. II is that
while other people were planning and
figuring on a survey of railroad route
10 the Yukon, Mr.. Humbert's engineers
were actually on the ground 1t was this
party of engineers that was met by Ed
win Thorp and George Stewart on their
long tramp from Dawson over the Dalton
trail last August. They were several
weeks in advance of the party sent north
by Henry Bratnober. the Rothschilds'
representative. In establishing himself
in the territory with men and large
amount of supplies. Mr.. Humbert has
gained very material advantage over
his competitors in the field Of Alaskan
railroad building, the Importance of which
will be manifest later on
"You can say that / am charmed with
Seattle" said Mr.. Humbert last night.
1T Is evident to me that the business
men of Seattle are thoroughly alive 10 the
opportunities that confront them. / have
visited the stores of the city and have in
spectod the shipbuilding yards. Much as
| had heard of Seattle. | was not pre-
pared for the hustle and activity, the en-
ergy and business foresight displayed
everywhere. In fact. IL is A relief TO me
10 get TO a city where there is something
doing.
Now will tell you that have heard
that Seattle Is recognized by the Yukon
miners and those who are now preparing
to go 10 the northern country as the GEN.
trail and Quitting point for that business.
yet | had not realized how great this
movement was until came here yester-
day | am impressed with the conviction
that the people of the country recognize
this fact. that now is the golden oppor-
tuntty to reap a fortune in a most prom
Using region about which comparatively
little is known. except the one fact con-
coded by every one, and that Is Its min
eral wealth.
Men of grit and enterprise are placed
IN q position NHeff they can reap ioi lulitS
in an age when combinations of capital
tend to diminish the power OF the indi-
vidual. That a great future Is in store
for Seattle is also plain 10 me. II is
simply a matter of geography, and Seat
tie is endowed with not only the location
requisite to constitute her the pivotal
point for the Yukon trade. but she has
business men who see the advantage pos
sessed by the city and are willing and able
to utilize II.
There Is no doubt in my mind that the
business houses of Seattle are amply pre-
pared 10 eqnip and sustain the vast i'm
migration which has set in An this di-
rection from he crowded commercial CEN
ters OF the East.
you can say that I was perfectly
amazed n the capacity shown by your
shipbuilding yards In building such n
fleet OF river steamers as is 70 be required
IN handling the crowds on the Yukon
river. ! took 4 distinct pleasure in visit
ing those on the water front. at Fremont
and at West Seattle"
Mr.. Iumbert concluded by saying that
he expected his expedition would cross
the Chilkat pass 81 February. and that
the preliminary surveys OF the road to
Fort Selkirk viii he completed by April.
Actual construction i to be begun i'm
mediately thereafter.