The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-26
TONS Of GIANT PONDER.
Alaska Railroad Contractors Pur.
chase 1t for Blasting.
NO MORE TO BE FOUND HEEEt


Every pound of giant powder n Seast,9a
was bought up yesterday by E. Ii. HuseeyG
who represents the capitalists who are To
bald the railroad from Skagway 10 Lake
Bennett. and eventually. TO the Yukon
country. The powder Is 10 De used for
blasting purposes. and the amount pur-s
chased was over twenty tons. There -
consequently "a shortage OF this explosive
in Seattle ana dealers have wired for ane
other supply. Mr.. Hussey has already p.ac~
ed orders for further quantity OF hiss1
explosives with the same dealers The
headquarters of this railroad. In the build
ing OF Dexter Horton d Co. was scene oe
great activity all day yesterday. The CONF
bined efforts OF the entire force of clerks
were necessary to buy the additional ma.
teriai that is wanted at Skagway and tn
arrange for its delivery at the wharves An0
loading on board the boats.
In an interview yesterday with a POST
InieiligeneeF reporter. Mr.. Hussey gave
some information which has not heretofore
appeared In public print. Mr.. Hns1ey 10
IN position to talk inteiligentiy about tie
White pass railroad. as he was left In See
attic by F. c. Hawkins with authority t0s
transact all necessary business and man.
age affairs In connection with the Seattle
headquarters. Mr.. Huscy. in fact. has
been the right-hand man of Mr.. Hawkins
ever since the project was irst talked of.
and is in close touch with every movement
that has been made. To the reporter he
said:
All That Ceala He Bsuxht.
The las, purchase OF any importance
made by the projectors of the railroad was
that of powder. / obtained every particle
to he found In Seattle. about twenty tons
In all. 1t viii be necessary 10 send the
powder to Skagway on a boat secured ex- {
pecisliy for that purpose. Tho matter OF
arranging for the shipment has been placed
in the hands OF tho Pacific clipper line.
We shipped Us tons OF steel rails to
Skagway on the steamer Al-Ki. ana also
the material for one OF the wharves that II
TO be built at the southern terminus OF tho
road. The rails weigh ffty-slx pounds.
which Is the primary weight. The wharf
material we sent north ON the A-Ki to-day
was mostly lumber, spikes. etc. We Aate
bought 100000 feet OF lumber from @. y.
Forbes. consequently very little win be-
gotten IN Alaska. 1t Is tho intention 6lf
Mr.. Forbes 10 secure nearly all Of it III
Washington There are loo piles at H1rtI
Blakeley ready for shipment. and pundrsA1s
more Of them viii be delivered at the wharf
very soon.
ZIP TO the present time we have EN-.
pioyea about 800 men In Seattle. They
are being sent north daily. We have.
learned that II il possible to get the rest Of
the men In Skagway. and / will not en-
gage any Others here until have word
from Mr.. Hawkins. We win aiso b ahIe
TO purchase a sufficient number OF horses
mi sK, Ax.-n .><xn
have to ship any animals or yehiceA north.
The wharf that Is to be built with sho
material sent north will be located, along-
side the wharf OF Capt. Moore. The ship
snent made yesterday also included mate-
rial for trestles. 1t IL impossible for me
to state the number OF trsstles to Be erect. I
ed. the side Of the river on which thU-
road 10 to be run has not yet been selected.
The engineers have made ccmplete and
thorough surveys for a route on both aides
of the river. and when Mr.. Hawkins iooka
over the ground and hears the report Of
the engineers, the question will be decided
In a very short time.
Work Will Ne Ditncait.
''The work OF building the road win 10
exceptionally difficult for many reasons.
In the first place. the country is net at all
adapted TO fallroading. and every tie and
rail will be laid under the most adverse cir
cumstances. In the second place. the work
vii be- carried on at distance Of 1.00o
miles from the base Of supplies. and there
is no medium OF communication by either
telegraph or rail-. Much patience ~iii b
required. but nevertheless II Is the inten-
ton 10 have the road complete and In OPP
Grafton between 6kagway and Lake BsFS-
nett by the last. or possibly the first. part
OF September Cara will De positively run.
ming by that sins. and tbs difficulties now
encountered In going over the pass will then
be a thing OF the past. Work VIII not be
stopped at Lake Bennett. but pushed ahead
until Dawson 10 reached.
''our charters from both the United
states and British governments cover 60
miles. but az Il Is yet impossible to say
what route viii be followed. more than
go miles may be laid In rails. When you
take into consideration the magnitude q
this undertaking an Idea OF the benefits
which Seattle viii receive can be gotten.
for nearly an OF our supplies will be pur.
chased here. The portion not bought here
will pass through Seattle, and more or lea0
henefs will accrue i'm that way. Bu<anesu
viii be greatly stimulated in both Seattle
and Alaska. and the northern movement IL
sure 10 increase In volume. IL this belief
not held by the projectors. the road
would never be built.
We arS not yet IN position 10 make
known ths Identity OF the projectors Of this
road but | will say that both American
ard British capital Is concerned, and thar
fine fnaneier:ng for the entire project was
conducted by Close BYos.. OF Chicago.
which Is a London firm.
Yes. the gauge Of the road Will be three
feet. which il known as narrow gauge"
VAN CAMPS Pork ana Beans.