Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-02-19
BY TRAIN TO KLONDIKE.
Every Tuesday From Portland, Me-, to
Vancouver ON The Pacific.
A Wonderful Run of 3iS3 Miles without
Change of Cars jules Verne Sot in u
With the Modern Methods of Passenger
Transportation.

The literature published and other efforts
made by the difer.u, railroad lines II
secure business TO tn. klondike gold fields
shows tn" advancement made in the past
few wears IN this line OF work. The simp'r
fact that n tourist sleeping ear line with ears
leaving Portland every Tuesday .rummencin :;
February 10Th. has been tpaul urated 10 s,nn
the continent from thu Niautic ocean NJ
Portland, Me-. to the Pacific ocean az Van
couver. making II run of 1888 miles without
change, is something never before heari
OF, and Il few yeas ago would have seemed
rs much Il dream ns jules Ncrnes "Around
the World in Eighty Days. which time has
not only been accomplished, but shortened
10y the modern methods of passenger trans
portation.
OF Cobb's klondike parties, being personally
conducted tours similar to those made
famous by Raymond 4 Whitcomb. which
arranges for transportation. furnishing OF
supplies for eighteen months, from Port
land TO Dawson city, Copper River. Ska
quay. Dyca Wrangel, Juneau ana all the
landing points for II lump sum to relieve the
prospcctor of all trouble en- route.
One railroad folder that has been cir
cu'ated reads us follows Gold, gold, yell
low. cleaning gold everywhere, plenty as
mosquitoes, fish and filth; and this
Is but tho beginning. The Klondike
is only ono small creek In over 10000
miles of collaborating waterways. Gold
has been found on every river AMI
creek that flows into the Yukon. where tho
sound of II prospector's pick and pan has
ever been heard. The vast quartz lodges.
from which all this placer gold comes. are
still to be discovered. Tho worlds greatest
gold mines arc probably yet to be found in
this land Of the aurora boreals and the mid
night sun"
Previous to the present year, travellers to
Dawson City could reach that place only
after several months Of travel via the st.
Michael route and up the Yukon river. IL dis
lance of almost 1000 miles, or across tho
dreaded Chilcoot, Chilcat and White pas 'cs,
where tho hardships were so severe that
even II man did reach Dawson city alive
his health was more or less shattered. All
this Is now changed, as much work has been
done on these different lines of travel. lines
Of pack horses established for the carrying
Of freight and various transportation teams
incorporated. tramway will soon be in
operation over the Chilcoot pass. u steam
railroad is talked OF from the head of Cop
per region to Fort Solkirk on the Yukon,
only short distance from Dawson City.
and work on the overland wagon road from
Ashcroft route from Edmondston, b. G.. has
been pushed forward by the Canadian gov
eminent, so that travel via that route is
comparatively easy.
Another route which is just now claiming
the most attention is that via the Stikino
river aud Lake Teslin. which promises to
bring New England withina fortnight's jour
ney OF Dawson City.
The Canadian government has contracted
for the construction of Il railway from the
Stikine river to Tesin Lake. which Is to be
completed by the first of September next in
conjunction with n line Of steamers down
the Yukon water stretches to Dawson City.
One OF the provisions OF the contract is
hat snow road shall be built at once from
the mouth OF the Stikne opposite WrunCel
to Teslin Lake and be ready for operation
by 10th March next with depots and shelter
ing stations at intervals of twenty-five miles
so that the route can be utilized By tn ,se So-
ing in early this spring, and the railway is
to be operated as 1t advances toward Lake
Teslin.
A telegram just received from Vancouver
reads: "Four men arrived Sunday who
came down Stikine river and reported left
Telegraph Greek 1-11-9S. laid Off two days.
arrived at Wrangel 1888, twelve days
actual travel. Came light, just enough
grub for trip, hauled by five dogs. We're
S sins snow s Shoes sa. HaS came whole
hard trail all the way. Snow not
deep enough to binder; weather mol
crate, not below zero entire trip. Met
first party going inland about 100 miles from
Wrangel, every five or ten miles stragglers,
all making good progress. Those going
now can make trip without delay. Dogs
best feed on dried salmon. Plentiful ut
Wrangel. If taking stock now, must carry
feed as none on route. Camp made each
night on trail
Another late despatch reads as follows
"Authentic information just obtained regard
ingthe Copper river proves that this pro.
posed route is utterly mpracticable. A short
distance from the sea the river divides into
several mouths, all of which are beset with
flats and sandbarS, and the water Is eX-
tremely shallow and swift. Further up the
main stream are numerous glaciers which
project and are continually breaking Off into
the river. causing whirlpOols and eddie.
es through deep canons in furious
rapids The river is not navigu-
BILE for steam craft Of the ligktest draft; even
Indian canoes in most eXpereced hands
can only be used in certain places Naldos
bay. to the North of Copper river, has .
glacier at the head of navigation, which il
impossible except on foot ut great hazard
pack animals are unable to cross 1t under
any circumstances. The interior OF this dis
trict Is UNEMPLOYED, but. from the nature of
the surrounding country, 1t is deemed to be
one that will remain n sealed region"
Realizing the advantages offered by the
United States Mining laws and on account of
Copper River region, which Is in the United
States district, the Canadian government have
made important changes In the Yukon Min
ing Regulations us follows: "The size Of
the claims have been increased to $50
feet and the royalty collected by the gov
eminent reduced to ten (10) per cent.
on the annual output of over 50. 500.000.
no royalty being charged on that
amount. The system of issuing 'freo
miners certificates has been adopted.
These certificates, the possession of which
confers upon the miner the right to enter.
locate, prospect and mine, for any minerals,
leges, are issued by the collectors of GUS
toms at Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and
Victoria, and by other officers of the gov
nmeht ut Winnipeg and other western
Canadian towns. They must be applied for
personally and without one no right or in
terest Of any person or company In mining
claim will be recognized by the govern
ment These certificates are valid for one
year only when they must be renewed. They
cost SO 90 per year for an individual (who
must be Is years or over) and from $50 90 to
$4,000 for company. according to the
amount of the capital stock"
All this shows what Il tremendous al
vancement is being made in transportation
facilities, and what a few years since would
have appeared to be an almost insurmount-
able difficulty now becomes only aquestion
OF time and capital required to carry out the
project.
Both Satisfied.
ct wish were an ostrich" said
Hicks angrily, as he tried to eat one
of his wife's biscuits and couldn't.