The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1898-01-14
The Spring Rush to the Klondike Is
About to Commence
February Is Said to Be the Best Month
of the Year to Cross the Passes
100, 1000 People to Go North.

interesting information aside from the
joint project Of relieving destitute gold
seekers. The Canadian authorities and
the United States officials, who will be
concerned in taking care of it, have
been conducting Investigations to fore
cast the probable movement to the gold
fields the coming season. There are
certain preparations by both govern
ments which must be gagged by the
amount of travel toward Alaska.
After the exchange of Information
acquired by both governments it was
agreed in the conference that the num-
Der of people going to Alaska to seek
fortune will exceed 100, 900. This nun
ber of argonauts will go in the next
seven months. Results of the inquiry
show that the movement will be fairly
under way much earlier than was ex-
pected. In the month Of January
about 5000 will leave Pacific coast
points By February the movement
will begin to assume huge proper
tions.
The opinion expressed by the Can
adian Minister, and concurred IN by
the representatives of the United
States, is that February is the best
month of the year to reach the Kion-
dixie by way of the passes. This is at
variance with the common understand
| ing. Prof. Pritchett, of the Coast
Survey. which has gathered great
deal of practical as we'll as scientific
knowledge about Alaska. explains why
this is so. There is a great deal of
moisture aud the snow fall from Sep
tember to December is very heavy. 1t
lies lightly ais it falls but in December
it begins to pack The process con
tinues through January and by Febru-
ary the surface is so hard that there is
more ease in an overland trim by the
passes than at any other time of the
year. This fact has become we'll un-
derstood on the Pacific coast and thou
sands are intending to take advantage
! of it,.
From transportation companies, from
outfitters and from all sources avail
able, estimates have been sought as to
the probable number who will leave
for the gold fields between January /
and August l.. In this way the con
clusion has been reached that the ad-
dition to the gold mining population
will be at least 100. 900 Prof Pritch-
EFT regards that as a very conservative
estimate. He would not be surprised
from what he has learned to soc the
movement much greater Every trans
portation route, he believes. will be
taxed to the utmost
The parties to the conference the
past week. Canadian and United
States, agreed in their opinions that
the promise of the new gold fields has
not been overdrawn. Thus far the in
formation points to the greatest devel-
opments on the Canadian side OF the
line. The spirit OF the conference is
said to have been satisfactory. The
authorizes of the two governments will
cooperate in the relief expedition, and
later it is expected that the two gov
ernments will work in harmony in
furthering this gold seeking move
ment. to be perhaps the greatest of a
single season in the whole history of
such rushes. The Canadian Minister
furnished the officers of the United
States with maps showing the stations
and details of mounted police estab
lished at short distances along the Can
adian route. The Canadian Minister
regards the provision made by his gov
ernment for the maintenance of law
and order on the Canadian line as
ample.
AS soon as navigation opens the
Coast Survey. under the direction of
the administration, will undertake a
work Of the greatest importance in con-
, nection with the movement to Alaska
A boat will be sent North with a
party of government engineers and
surveyors to fiud, if possible, deep
channel to the mouth of the Yukon.
Congress will undoubtedly sanction
this expedition. The Yukon is deep
river, but opposite its mouth spreads
a vast bar. Some sOundings have been
made, but no such thorough search as
is contemplated. Under the present
arrangement, ocean going steamships
do not approach the mouth of the Yu.
kon. They make a long detour to the
northward and land at St. Michael's.
There the connection is with light.
draught boats for the Yukon. The
river boats are not adapted for service
outside OF the mouth. When they
come down stream they are obliged to
wait at the mouth until there is calm
weather outside. and then make the
run for st. Michaels. In the same
way, when at St. Michael's. the river
boats can not start for the river if
there is rough sea. Long and costly
delays are occasioned by this condi-
tion.
The Coast Survey people believe that
a deep channel may be found through
the shoal and marked with buoys so
that ocean steamships can. go directly
to the mouth of the Yukon and ascend
the river a considerable distance. per-
haps hundreds of miles, before trans
ferring passengers and freight to the
river boats. If such channel should
be found the time and cost of the all
water rnnka 70 tho Klnndike 1rnnld