The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-21
Elsbsy-0ps Ocean. Eisbty-Tbrcc
River and Six S&ickce1 River
StsAmsS EDSurs sbaDsa1tfa-
ciIiGes And kngI: Supplies for
AFsogaQtS.

The fears waiea existed last winter .ha.
the means n transporting nleU and sup
plies 20 Alaska would 5e insufficient - AZ
cormo,iate he thousands HNo Mould so
has been dlsp@llei ~ The provision -
great feet such has never before been
gathered on the Pacific ocean This. see
on6ed by Il flast Of river steamers for the
Yukon. the construction OF aeria. tram
ways over the Ch.lk0ot pass and around
the rapids o. the Yukon with asoE roa 5
as Ippro2 Chcs . them and almost 10 the
summit of the White pass fhe beginning of
railroad construction over saat route and
the placing ~ a fiset % small stsa merS On
the lakes ard the UPPER Yukon. has put m
entirely new comp EXON on affairs. The
facilities Cor water transportation are now
ample for all needs until The first arrivals
Of gold thls summer gives The world fresh
evidence o. the wealth hidden under the
ice-bound earth.
There are now in operation between Sc
attic ard the various ports Ct Ale ska Il
ocean steamers and sailing vessels. having
Oh aggregate capacity cf l2.32l ass myers
and 5a.cis tons Of freight Those .vsS"ls
which ply 20 St Michael vii be operated
In connection with IS river steamers on the
Yukon capable Of carrying a total OF II. -
passengers and - 80 tons Of freight. Most
of these vessels were built in Seattle and
Ballard and so far have given complete
era:ion on the Siieheeu river SIX steamers
capable Of carrying 1850 passengers and
loo tons IF freight.
The ocean steamers make one round trip
a month - 81. Michael. Cook inlet or Val
deg and from two 70 three Found trips
month 10 .ne Lynn canal ports. The Yukon
river steamers vii make from three 20
four round trips between ST Michael and
Dawson during the season Of navigation.
The StickeeD river steamers make round
trip between Wrangel ard Cilenora in fifty
- sixty hours.
In the subjoined table II has been found
impossible to segregate the vessels plying
10 the different ports. as some of those
running TO Lynn canal may be transferred
10 the ST. Michael route. and some of the
Copper river and Cook inle; craft take the
inside passage ard call at Juneau and
Lynn canal ports. The figures would.
therefore overlap 10 such an extent as TO be
worthless. The grand aggregate. however.
is sufficient 10 show the adequacy OF the
fleet to handle al the business which offers
this summer and 10 prove beyond cavii that
Seattle is the headquarters and starting
point for nne-;enths OF the Alaska trade.
The facilities have been so much i'm
proved that the Journey from Seattle 10
Dawson can be made within q days via
81. Michael and the time over the passes
and down the lakes and river has been re-
from Seattle 20 Wrangel - four DAYS;
thence 20 Glenora. two days: thence 10 the
head OF Lake Teslin. four or five days:
thence by boat 10 Dawson. ten or twelve
days.
The tragedies caused by snowslides on
the Chilkoot pass were mainly due TO ig-
norance of such dangers. They have
tended TO the education Of the people as to
the best means of avoiding such disasters
and this. with the improvements in the
means Of transportation. may he expected
10 prevent their repetition.
TIE accompanying tables give names. de-
scription. capacity and owners Or charter
ers of all the vessels running from Seattle
70 Alaskan ports. from St. Michael up the
Yukon 10 Dawson, and from Wrangel up
the Stickeen TO Glenora. The dates given
are subject 10 such DELAYS as frequently
occur on such long voyages as that 20 ST
Michael. and with such difficulties as are
necessarily incident 10 transfer Of freight
al that poiu. and at Wrangel and Lynn ca
nal ports. Thus a vessel may not actually
sail until two or three days after her nub-
l!shed sailing date: yet II would not be safe
10 presume on such delay. hut simply 10 he
prepared for such a possibility after ar
rival a Seattle