The morning Alaskan., 1898-02-01

along the road now. because everyone Is taking advantage of this msrvslously fine weather to get over tie divide. Presently Lake Bennett. at the point where the skag,as trail strikes It. will be a young city.
 Tie skaguas r-ssimist is singing very small these days Last summers trail, new and undes .ioi.sd. went to pieces under the foa falls hf 5000 hcres. The Dyea winter trail had been in use twen- ty year, h.nc. |, was the Lest and would alway hs the Lest, If fg no other reason than ,hst tI,. Indians used It. and the Indians never riade a mistake. The pessimist forgot thst the uidian had selected his I,n,h to carry his stuff on his back, and il.n, the white man never contemplated bsinr transformed into a pack horse. rI- drst white man that came into th- country begas to look about for Il Iail, al, which he could use his best servant. th. horse. About two years ago the White Iass was found, but there were few people to use if. and no horses, SO it ~s- no' used much. Last summer fe~ i-,uilers were moved \ little and the trc~, were blaxed. Every one knew tl,ai t~. ar thre difficult hills were crossed that need not have been, aud sev.rai stretches of fmall tim- bers were laid in the mud and called corduroy >o las; summer the Skaguay trail was not q giir,ering sucie~s. The pessimest nov says. well, admit that the Skaguay trail h all right for winter time, but just ~.,i fer the snow 10 go! It will be nowhere. The pessimist for gets that the .ane people who have built town oi .'H1 people in five montl,s witt bsJf n pi.lsr-.2o'Iars worth of building, gre looking to the Skaguay traiI-wuh what 1t may de- yelop into-icr their continued growth and prosperity. The prediction is safe, that these people will see to 1t that there is summer trail.
 The town conncil of skaguay has granted to the wagon road franchise to occupy Runnall. street with a narrow guags steam roai. Mr. Bracket has al- ready set gang "f m.n to work getting ready for the iron work and engines which arc ss pe-t,-i not later than Feb ruary 18th. A month later the road will be in operation. Mir. Brsckett has promised the council to have the wagon road proper completed to the summit by -Feb. 10th. From that point to Bennett the snow roa.l will be serviceable until May ist. Befor. that time the wagon road will be completed to Bennett, and goods may be hauled by double team from the terminus of the narrow guague road to Bennett st cost 50 low that the transportation ot goods from salt water to the Youkon river districts will be an ordinary commercial proposition.
 
 What then. w.li. the balance of the story hinges un the resources and capac' ity of Alaska fer permanent develop
 nent. The most disappointed gold seek or returning from the interior has no, ventured one wvr'l questioning the marvellous wealth of Alaska in gold, But in the wild unrrasoning rush for yellow nuggets, Ala-kaIs vast under. ground treasury has been neglected or forgotten up to date. sPerhaps the diff culties of intsrc"ir-e and transportation have made it unlroftable to stop for les than big gold nuggets that can be imme' diately transformed into money without the expenditure ordinarily incident te