The San Francisco call., 1898-01-21
RATES HAVE
 TAKEN 4 JUMP An Advance Ot Twenty Five Per Gent on the
 Skaguay Route.
Nearly Every Available Vessel in Port Has Now Been
 Chartered.
Late News From Dawson Shows That Food Commands
 Big Price.

Following the example set by the shipowners in Alaska, the Pacific Coast Steamship Company and the Pacific Steam Whaling Company yesterday advanced rates between here and Alas ka p per cent. Beginning yesterday passengers had to pay S62 first class and $41 second class from San Fran cisco to Dyea and Skaguay, while from Seattle to the same points the rate will be $50 and $35. From San Fran cisco to Orca, Copper River. Portage Bay and Valdes Pass on Prince VII Hams Sound the rate will be s100 first class and $75 second class, while from Seattle to the same points the rates will be $9O and S70. The rates from San Francisco via Portland to Dyea and Skaguay will be the same as from San Francisco direct. Freight rates have been advanced to SIS a ton and pas sengers will now only be allowed 150 pounds of personal baggage.
 The charter of sailing vessels and steam schooners still goes merrily on. It cannot last much longer, however. as the supply of craft that are guar anteed to keep affoat for a reasonable time has almost given out w. E. MighelTs line of coal-carriers has all been secured to take black diamonds to Dutch Harbor and Unalaska. Among them is the James Nesmith now on her way here from New York; the J. B. Brown, due here from Aca- pulco. from Australia; the Wilma, Car roltOn, ElWell, Wachusett, Sea King and General Fairchild. Another of his fleet. the Rufus E. Wood, will carry passengers from here to St Michael
 The Sintram, with the river steamers of the North American Transportation Company will be lowed to St. Michael or Dutch Harbor by the tug Fearless and when the steamers have been put together will tow them to the mouth of the Yukon.
 Among the vessels chartered for the Dyea- -Skaguay route are the Chilkat and Alice Blanchard The former will call at Seattle and Juneau on her way and the Alice Blanchard will make Port Los Angeles her starting point. The steam schooner Navarro Is to be built up to carry 150 passengers, and she will go into commission at once, while parties are now negotiating for the CleOne Kimball & Co.'S new steamer Dirigo is to leave Grays liar bOr for San Francisco tomorrow, and as her machinery is all ready for her at the Fulton Iron Works she will be
 
 week in March.
 The steam schooner Protection is ready to sail at a moments notice, and the Albion will get away Monday or Tuesday Both of them will go on the Skaguay run, the Protection stopping at Seattle and the Albion at Eureka only on the way. At Eureka the Albion will take on about twenty passengers and considerable lumber for use at Dyea The steam schooner Signal has also been chartered and on her return from Honolulu the schooner Anna will also go into the passenger business. The schooner Mary Gilbert, which was turned into a passenger boat several months ago, but could not secure any passengers and was laid up in conse- ouence, has been hauled out of retire ment and will go on the Copper River route
 The steamer St. Paul is to be ready for the Alaska Commercial Company in time to be at St. Michael when the river opens. Every part of her is ready, but the work of putting her together will not begin until after the launching of the Japanese cruiser tomorrow. In the meantime Leon SlosS and Captain Niebaum make frequent visits to the works to see that good progress is be- ing made with the vessel.
 Vessels that go to Nanaimo, B. C., for coal are finding it hard work to get 
 ground foreman of the East Wellington mine, came back with $20 900 in nuggets the miners have had the gold craze and in consequence there is very lit tie coal being mined out. When the rush fairly sets in it is feared that some of the mines will be deserted, and in that event the lack of coal carriers will not be noticed so much. All kinds of miners will rendezvous in Dawson City this summer.
 The latest and most conservative news regarding the Klondike country was brought to this city yesterday by friend of J. P. Marshall, a well known Portland business man. Mar shall together with a number of bank CTS and business men, sent a party of prospectors, headed by J. Whiting, the old Nevada expert, to examine the whole Alaskan gold situation. In a let ter to friend Marshall says:
 Whiting, our expert, has just arrived from the seat of the excitement. He brings accounts that vary in many ways from those brought by others. He left Dawson on November 23, and came through to bring gold and get provis- ions. He came in twenty three days with dogs, averaging as high as sixty miles some days. He says the river route is delusion and a snare"
 According to the report brought by Whiting, there are about thirty millions of gold cached and ready to ship. He