Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-03-31
RAILW AYSIN ALASKA
Mr.. JENNINGS REPORT ON RAIL
ROUTES TO THE YUKON.

The First Would BE Over the Chilkat
Pass to Chilkat River-O One Over the
Chilkoot Pass and Another Across the
the White Pass-A Line From ,Iuneau.
The routes into the Yukon BY which
the goldfields of the Klondike can be
reached are today topics of widespread
interest. There are four other routes be-
sides that selected by the Canadian gov
eminent for their Teslin Lake railway.
two of which are better known and are
the principal gateways through which
the miners have poured into the Yukon
basin. Mr.. Jennings, the Canadiaa en-
gineer, who selected the Tesli,4 Lake
route, also visited the others and in his
report Incorporates much interesting in
formation respecting them.
In all cases the ocean voyage of the
Klondike bound traveller would termi-
nate in that arm of the ocean that in
dents the land on the southern coast of
Alaska and is known as the Lynn canal.
The head Of this waterway is divided
into separate bays or inlets, and from the
shores Of these open three lines of pas
sage over the mountains that divide the
Yukon basin from the Pacific slope. The
most western passage is known as the
Chilkat pass, which crosses the noun
tains and opens out into the Dalton
trail. Mr.. Jennings discusses the posi-
bility of a railway up this pass and
then northeast to the Yukon river by
way of the Nordenskiold river, dis
lance Of 245 miles. OF course after
striking the Yukon the journey north
ward to the goldfelds would be made
by boat. In fact, this plan forms part of
each proposition. The Yukon river is
to be utilized.
Such road would begin at Chilkat,
on Dyea inlet, at the head of the Lynn
canal, in Alaska, and would proceed up
the valley of the Chilkat river for dis
lance Of 30 miles, where an elevation of
115 feet above the sea level would be
gained. This is bottom land of clay al
luvial deposit covered with scrub spruce
and alder. For the next 80 miles the
valley of the Klahuna river would be
followed over somewhat similar coun-
try. In this section there would be a
number of 4 per cent gradients, but at
the fiftieth mile the summit would be
reached. From there to the seventy Sec
ond mile is the height of land, grass
and heather covered country composed
Of earthly soils mixed with loose masses
Of rocks and powders. At Dalton g
house, on the ninety sixth mile, the AL
seek river is crossed by bridge 100
feet in length. From there to the Nor
denskiold river much heavy work would
be met with. Then the course Of the
river would be followed and the valley
Of the Yukon gained at a point five
miles below the Five Finger rapids and
81 miles above Fort Selkirk. The length
Of such road would be $40 miles and
the estimated cost $23, 900 per mile, or
total of $5,635, 900. The inland or
Yukon river terminus would be in Ca
madam territory and the ocean port ter
minus in Alaska.
The second route is that from Dyea
up the Chilkoot pass. Dyea is on the
extreme northern end of the Dyea inlet
Of the Lynn canal and is, of course, in
Alaska. There is good depth of water in
Dyea harbor for the largest ocean ships
but good landing place would have to
be provided, owing to the high tides
and the shallow water inshore at the
head of the inlet. The distance from
Dyea to the summet Of the Chilkoot
pass is 10 miles, and the altitude at the
latter point is 8, 500 feet above sea level.
If the road began the ascent at the sea
and continued along the eastern side Of
the valley on mountain side in heavy
rock and earth work, the average gradi-
ent would be per cent after allowing
for loops and curvature.
Another plan would be to proceed
farther up the valley and make the
climb in the last 81 miles, which would
make necessary gradient of II per
cent-so steep as to be overcome only
by cable line or the use of rack rail-
Once over the summit the road would
proceed across broken country to Lakes
Lindeman and Bennett, and then to the
outlet of Tagish lake and on to the
shore Of the Hootalinqua river. in Ca
madam territory. There the road would
terminate and boats would be used down
the Hootalinqua and Yukon to Dawson
City. The length of this road would be
Ill miles, costing about $27,3lS per
mile or total Of So, 03O,OO
The third route is that by way of the
White pass. The ocean port would be
Skaguay, two miles up from the Dyea
inlet, in Alaska. In the White pas. the
summit is 1900 feet above sea level
and l6 miles distant from the coast. Ac-
oording to the engineer, the only feasible
way of passing through the rugged de-
file appears to be by beginning to ascend
with an average 4 per cent gradient
from about three miles from the sea
and winding along the mountain side to
the left, where high above the valley
the slopes are flatter than near the base.
After reaching the summit the road
would turn toward Lake Bennett, 25
miles beyond, passing over broken and
rocky country. From Lake Bennett the
same route would be followed as in the
line from the Chilkoot pass The Hoota-
linqua river would be reached at point