The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-03
NEN YUKON STEAMER LINE.
Three Steamers Now Under Contract
to He Built by the Morans-
Jane. r. Light. Founder and
Vice President of the Company.

The Seattle and yukon Steamship Com
paay Is the name OF a transportation line
organized BY residents OF Chicago. Bos-
ten and other Eastern cities 10 operate q
A1s OK steamships between Seattle and
Dawson via st. Michael and the mouth Of
the Yukon river. The steamship Pro-
gresso, we'll known on the Pacific coast,
has been chartered for the line and will
make four round trips between Seattle and
81 hiehael. The ship-ouilding drm or
Moran Bros. Is engaged in constructing
three nrst-elass river steamers and three
steam barges, which viii be operated, car
rying freight and passengers between ST.
Aiicnaei and Yukon river points.
DANES Z. Light, OF Chicago, who Ia the
owner Of several valuable claims In the
hlondtke district. including No. Is below
discovery on Sulphur creek. is In Seattle at
present, arranging the details of the COM
panys business here. The contract for the
construction OF the river steamers and
barges was signed several months ago. but
has not been made public before. The Pro-
gresso Was chartered last fall for the Se-
attest. Michael route. Mr.. Light chose
Seattle as the terminus of the line. be-
cause, as he says, all OF the Alaskan busi-
ness is conferred here and TO this city will
hock the thousands of gold seekers VINO
the season.
Practically nothing has been said about
this lire, although ali Of the preliminary
negotiations with the owners OF the Pro-
gresso and the Moran Bros. Company were
conducted last October. Mr.. Light reach
ed Seattle from Dawson September II and
gave TO Post-Inteiligencer representative
the first authentic and complete account
/ OF the discovery of rich plaeers on Sulphur
IL IL -. g.
chael On the steam schooner South Coast
and brought with him quite quantity of
gold that he had made in mining deals or
taken out OF the claims he owns himself.
he went directly TO the ship builders,
Moran Bros, and had Specifications for
three river steamers drawn UP. completing
all arrangements for their construction
save the signing OF the contract. This was
done In Chicago last November during
Robert Moran's trip East.
To a representative of the Post-Intelli-
gencer yesterday Mr.. Light consented TO
outline some Of the plans OF his company.
He said that alterations would be made on
the Progresso by which she would be en-
abled 10 carry 400 first-class and 200 second
class passengers. Cabins will be built on
her deck and she will be made fit In ev-
cry particular for the Alaska trade. The
Progresso has at present freight carry
ing capacity of over $500 tons. When al
tered TO suit the requirements Of the Seat
tie and Yukon Steamship Company, she
will be able to take from 1850 to 2oOo tons.
The three river steamers will be light
draft and will be fitted with powerful
engines, electric light plants and steam
steering gear. Two OF them VIII be Ito
feet long, with beam measurement OF IS
feet. and depth of hold at Ga feet. The
specifications call for No. 1 steamers,
A. ,f
fir and finished in irst-class shape
throughout. One OF these will be named
the ]. p. Light. after Mr.. Light, and the
other Will be christened the f. X. Gus
tin, for a well known Chicago attorney
of that name who is secretary and treas
ursr OF tho company.
Each Of these boats will have q capacity
OF 200 passengers and 200 tons of freight.
The third steamer. to be called the T.
others, and will be used for towing
freight barges up the Yukon to the gold
mines. The Sullivan will be built on
the same lines as to quality as the other
steamers. and will be large enough 20
accommodate fifty passengers and carry
seventy-five tons Of freight.
The three barges are to be named the
Mars. Jupiter and Saturn. Each Will
have a freight-earrying capacity OF 20
tons.
Although there has been little said Of
the organization OF this company. and
the construction OF the river boats and
barges in this city. 1t was disclosed yes
terday that the company has fully COM
pleted its plans and Is ready to open an
office in this city. This will be done
before Mr.. Light leaves for the East on
business trip. which he will do the lat
ter part OF the present week.
Light n ri
last spring. He went in as the repre-
sentative of certain Chicago gentlemen,
including Mr.. Frederick X. Gustin. He
was equipped with good outht and Z
small amount of cash, both Of which he
utilized % the best advantage. He in
vested In claims, engaged in trading and
spent part of the summer prospecting.
He was few days in advance Of the
stampede TO Sulphur creek, which was
discovered in August. Previous TO this
some parts of the creek had been pros
pected, bat without any great success.
Then an old German located claim half
way up the creek, and in prospecting it
was struck with wonder and Joy to find
that the creek bed was lined with coarse
gold of the finest quality. Before the
news OF the new strike reached Dawson.
Mr.. Light, who had secured a quiet tip,
packed a weeks supplies on his back and
hurr1d over the divide TO the new gold
fields. He located No. Is above discov-
cry. and after working 1t a short while,
enough 10 demonstrate its richness. he
came out down the river TO St. Michael
leaving the claim 10 be worked by men
whom he employed. He has since re-
fused 10000 for the claim.
On his way down the Yukon, with the
purpose in his mind OF establishing a
steamship line from Seattle to the Yukon.
Mr. Light thoroughly explored the river,
making souncings as he passed over the
Yukon fats above Circle City. He Sc
cured reliable data from Indian pilots on
The river, and made up his mind Just
what kind Of boats would pay best The
and they embody his views.
Before leaving the diggings. Mr.. Light
secured the services OF Simon kissck. an
Alaskan Indian who had lived for some
years on the Yukon. and his TWO brothers
He purchased eighteen fulI-bloodsd Alas
ka dogs. six OF which he brought 20 Se-
attic with him Simon kisick accom-
panied him down the river. His brothers
are coming out to Dysa with the re-
maiader OF The dog teams, and viii take
Mr. Light and q party OF twenty-five into
Dawson on the snow and ice early in
November
Regarding this party. Mr.. Ligh, saii
last night: I'VE viii purchase every
thing We need IN the way OF provisions.
clothing and supple. II Seaitia. The
party was organized by myself. and I
will personally lead 10 into the gold fields