The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-05
THE RISE OF skAcuy,
Sudden Development to q Bus
thing and Populous Seaport.
TRAVEL BY WHITE PASS TRAIL.

The Most Popular Route 60 the Klondiks
at This Season - An Expsrisncs ON the
| Dalton Trail - Intervicw with General
Marian Of the Government Expedition.
(From Our Special Correspondent
SEATTLE, WASH, March 8.
From disappointed argonaut who
has just returned from a sojourn Of sew
eral months at Skaguay have received
an interesting and picturesque descrip-
ton of that sudden town. 1t appears
that what at present is busting. hus-
Ting, but wild, woolly and rampant
town was last August merely some 90
huts strung along the beach. Now three
wharfs lead to deep water, and several
warehouses shelter freight as it comes
In. A sawmill sings merrily in the dis.
lance, an electric light plant is in full
operation, and telephone gives conneo-
tion with Dyea, just across the water.
There are about 100 business houses of
various kinds in Skaguay, quite good
newspaper, a church, a public school, q
postoffice and about 90 Of those FAD
vance agents Of prosperity" and subse-
quent distress, saloons and gambling
houses. The latter are run wide open.
OF course there is a law prohibiting the
importation of liquor, but smuggling
goes on constantly.
Some 400 log cabins and frame cot
tages comprise the residence portion of
the town, thrift and enterprise are dis
played ON every hand, and 2, 500 would
be conservative estimate of the num-
Der of inhabitants. And just at present
Skaguay is where the people flock, for
at this season the Skaguay trail by
way Of the White pass is far more at
tractive than that by way of Dyea and
the Chilkoot. AS soon as warmer wealth
er sets in, however, conditions will be
reversed unless steps are taken to cordu-
roy or otherwise improve the swamps.
The Canadian police now pay 80 cents
per pound for taking their freight to
Lake Bennett over this route. A good
horse with "cayuse" as leader will
haul 200 pounds to Lake Bennett in
about eight days. Few prospective min
ers are able to pay that rate, however,
and consequently much freight is being
dragged on hand sleds, 200 pounds be-
ing fair load and the time about the
same as that made by the borses.
The Relief Expedition.
The Skaguay trail is the one selected
by General II. @. Merriam for taking in
the advance portion of the government
relief supplies, some 80 tons of provi-
sions.
1t is proposed to use mule and horse
power for this transportation. Each an.
imal is to carry enough forage for 30
days, or, allowing 20 pounds of hay and
grain per day, say, 500 pounds in all.
"This will enable an animal to haul
but about 500 pounds of provisions in
addition to his forage" said General
Merriam to me. 1--WE intend to take
the goods as far as the river before the
ice breaks up" he continued. "Then
RATS or boats will be constructed, and
we shall proceed down to Dawson City |
as best we may. Late? OF course it will
be late before we get there, but even !
that will be far in advance of anything !
that can be got up the Yukon from st. !
Michaels. -
"What are the facts, general, to the |
best of your knowledge, as to the need |
of food at Dawson City?''
1.-The latest information l have-and |
have been in communication with ev- !
cry one l could get hold of who has Just |
come QUITS that there is no pressing
need of food, and this has been the tenor
OF my advice to the war department. l |
have learned that the stores that were
SO long closed in the hope of higher
prices have all been opened, and that |
flour that was selling in December for
vi. 90 per pound is now worth but 35 |
cents. My duty, however, is not to
question orders, but to obey them. We
are proceeding with all haste, but the
are without precedent. Here
tofore when we have attempted to pene-
trate new country we could rely upon
grass-an almost indispensable condi-
ton for easy and speedy transition
forage. Now we must not only take in
every ounce that men and animals need |
for food during the journey in. but for
age for the return trip likewise
"How about the reindeer?''
Il strongly favor the idea of taking
them into the country, though not for
carrying food supplies. am reliably
informed that the moss they require for
forage grows in Alaska, and am salts
lied that their introduction is measure
which the government can well afford
to undertake. AS to the Laplanders who
accompany them-well, we'll try to
manage them in some way"
Great activity has been displayed in
building the wagon road along the right
bank of the Skaguay river At least $50 !,
men were employed. Hundreds of blasts
were made every day, and millions of
tons of rock were broken up and either
hurled down the embankment or used
to level bad places
skaguay Overcrowded.
People are sailing for Skaguay ON
every steamer by hundreds, and the
town is full of idle men looking for