The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1898-02-11
THE YUKON RUSH
HOW THE THOUSANDS WILL
? REACH ALASKA.



How many will go TO the KIondike
next year, how will they be transport /
ed, are questions now being asked by
transportation companies and the +
thousands interested in one way or an
other in the great movement about to /
take place. Even the man going |
thither to seek his fortune is vitality in
terested in these matters. II there 10
too big crowd he may not be able TO
secure passage, or to get proper
outfit, or be successful in transporting
il into the interior. He would better
not trust TOO much to luck nor depend
too much upon being able to travel in
the regular way. Certainly, so far as
the regular steamers are concerned,
their berths will all be engaged weeks
in advance, and the man v ho neglects
to secure passage early may have to
wait long time for his turn to come
around. Even on the overland trains
there is promise Of inconvenience, il not
delay. SO great rush, all in one d.
rection, will tax the rolling stock OF
the railroads to its utmost, since cars
will have to go back empty.
The lowest estimate of the number Of
people who will start for Alaska next
spring is so. coo, while some who have
given the subject much attention place
the figure as high as 100000 At an
average of 800 TO each vessel. it would
require 10 steamers to convey the min
imum Der, while $50 would be
necessary to accommodate the maxi
mum. To send ITO steamers in the
months OF February. March and April
would make it necessary for two to
sail each day. There is now advertised
not one -quatrer the steamers necessary.
The others will no doubt be provided,
for there are numerous transportation
projects on foot, but nothing definite
about them can yet be said This is
sufficient to show that the man who
intends to join the first great rush by
the way Of the passes and lakes would
do we'll to make sure OF his passage to
Dyea or Skaguay. As to the route by
the way Of St. Michaels and the river.
that will not be open till June, and
extensive transportation projects now
under way will be sufficiently developed
long NtlOIt llldl tlAlC ~ AAA@ht - W.
to postpone any estimates until later
There are but two we'll known and
undeniably practical routes to the fu-
kon mines One is by the mountain
passes from Dyea and Skaguay to the
. lakes and thence by boat down the lakes
and rivers, and the other is by ocean
steamer to ST. Michaels and thence W
the river by light draft steamer. AL
other routes are yet to be proved, and
all who try them must expect to meet
with the tribulations and uncertainties
that lay in the path OF the pioneer
Undoubtedly the great majority Of Tu
koners will try the passes, since the
mines can be reached in this way TIVE
, or three months earlier than by steam
E er, and, Of these the greater numbe
will 90 over the regular Yukon trail b.
: the way of Chilkoot pass, the mex
greater number going from Skaguay owe
the White pass.
1t is we'll thoroughly to understand
. this route and its variation as to tn
two passes. Linn canal, about 10
miles north Of Juneau, penetrates
number OF miles northerly into tn
4 coast mountains, the very head Of it be
Z ing divided into two arms by rock
promontory. Into the easterly arm
d flows Skaguay river and into the west
4 erly arm the Dyea river. Both ar
j. rapid, ice-cold mountain streams, nav
!. igable for canoes only Tor several miles
At the head Of these arms are locate
; the new towns of Skaguay and Dyea
From these points it is necessary I
cross the high mountain divide {
:. Lakes Lindermann and Bennett, wher
> boats are constructed for the journe
!, down the river Until the past seaso
. the Yukoners have used the Chilkoo
pass. from Dyea, exclusively, the Chi
: kat Indians packing all the supplies q
the usual rate of 10 cents a pound
The route is % miles long, and III
summit of the pass is 3, 200 feet higf
The Indians have always refused /
pack by any other route. declaring tn
TO be the best one. Last summer, oV
ing to the great rush and the cage
/ ness Of all TO get over at any cost, III
e Indians raised their price for packing
: until often as high as dollar poun
. WAS DAlu lutlu- Anl1f anu TIC NAONNt
= condition of the trail. led many to Il
the Skaguay trail, which, though
n miles long, was asserted to be bette
e because the summit OF the pass WI
$ some 500 feet lower. 1t was foun'
\ however, that the trail was not so goo
that the river hal to be crossed sever
times, and that, though the pass WI
somewhat lower, the trail led up al
down hill so much that the actu
u climbing done was greater than by Il
Chilkoot pass. where the ascent VI
i gradual TO the foot of the summit
: vide, when one very steep climb VI
y necessary. The practical result W
y that a very much larger percentage
!. those who tried the Chilkoot pass SD
u ceeded in reaching the lakes, than
q those who attempted the Skaguay rout
Il Nevertheless, improvements are nc
&c being made on both trails, and bo
" will be extensively used in the sprin
&c il being much easier to 60 in over Z
II snow, when the rocks and mud viii
z made the trails so difficult last fall a
- covered up.
$ There are projected improvement