The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-03-26


some other route or some other objec-
tive point than the klondike region.
OF course, transportation facilities from
the coast ports to Alaska have been
provided for Dyea and Skagway, but
doubtless as soon rs this blockade so
develops that intending gold hunters
demand to be taken somewhere else,
steamers will leave the Dyea and Skag-
way routes and seek other ports, such
as Copper river and Cooks inlet. AT
these places there is room for ALL No
narrow canyon trail confines the gold
hunter TO a particular route, but there
is opportunity 10 spread out over
wide expanse OF country, now practic-
ally unknown, but reported to be rich
in gold. There are said to be low
passes through the mountains from
both Copper river and Cooks inlet,
leading over TO the Tanana and to- the
head waters of Birch creek, by which
the now promising gold fields ON the
American side of the line may he more
easily reached than by the route across
the Chilkoot pass and down the lakes
and rivers. The government is now
fitting out an expedition ior Cope,
river. Undoubtedly these routes will
be opened up the present season by
prosp ectors even should rot the great
stream OF travel he turned in that direc-
ton.
There are already Indications of II
desire on the part OF gold hunters TO
abandon their idea OF going to Dyea
and Skagway, and to stike out for the
Copper river and Cooks inlet. Be-
yOnd doubt this tendency will rapidly
/ increase rs the crowded condition of
/ the passes becomes better known. AT
/ present the only facilities for reaching
/ Copper river and Cooks inlet is the
J United States mail boat operated by
! the Pacific Coast Steam Whaling Com
/ pany from San Francisco, the two
/ small steamers now on the route from
Portland to Copper river, and the small
( steamer running from Port Townsend
I to Copper river. These steamers are
/ already inadequate to meet the demand
/ and doubtless more will soon he PUT
on the route.
Attention has also been turned in the
direction of the route Ivy Fort Wrangel
and Stickeen river, Telegraph creek
and Tcsln lake, but rs yet, facilities
have not been provided. Several
4 small river steamers are being con-
structed for the Stickecn river. to PLY
between Fort Wrangcl and Telegraph
creek, which is the point OF disem bark
alton for the overland journey of the
30 miles to Lake Teslin. On this
stretch OF 90 miles 1t is proposed 10y Il
Canadian company to construct Il rail
road the present year under a special
4 grant from the Dominion parliament of
20, 900 acres of land per mile, and
the time set for IT'S completion is the
first nj September 1t is thus seen
that, for this season at least, only such
travel can go over the Stickeen route
as can De handled by pack animals.
and this, of course, cannot be very eX-
tensive. Possibly sevetal Thousand
people will attempt this route, with
the probability that large portion OF
them will make failure oi THEN
effort Should this railroad be built
and a sufficient light draught steamer
be placed on Lake Teslin and Iloota.
linqua river, i'm another year the Stick
cen route would be the favorite one.
Undoubtedly Il great many who in
tend to 90 10 Alaska are waiting to take
the ocean and river route during the
summer months. lele there is u.
much uncertainty a. on the passes
The facilities have vet to he provided.
Possibly as many US 80 small steamers
are under construction or have beer
purchased for use on the Yukon the
coming summer; but navigation of that
river is expensive and dangerous
Channels are narrow and tortuOus ant
known only to few people. Fuel il
very difficult 10 procure. and it is I'M
derstoOd that the companies already
operating on the river have secured al
that can I've had for several hundre,
miles from the mouth of this stream
! These companies will not take miners
outfits, preirerring to take in goods fo
their own stores and sell them t.
miners after they yet three. Conse
quently miners wishing to take outfit
will nave to depend on Independent
boats which promises Ia he very nm
. certain reliance Certainly one goinI
, by that route should not undertake
I unless the transportation company con
tracts with him to carry him clea
r through to his destination. This, how
ever, is matter about which NOR
n will be known few months later. A
: stated above, the natural outcome q
: the present condition of affairs wOul
| hn no of M