The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-22
r. canadI.n Pacific Rallwav Comp.ny.

TIE CANADIAN Racinc RAILWAY NOiiIpali>'
the giant octopus that doomed the Suckeen
river route 10 the interior OF Alaska, 10
the material loss % hundreds Of pros
pectors who tried g. has gone out Of The
Alaskan transportation business.
The announcement was made in Nlcioria
yesterday that the company's fine oceaa
steamers Tartar and Achenlan would 20
longer operate between British COLUMBIA
ports and Lynn canal, and that the SICK
cen river feet Of four steamers would oe
permanently Withdrawn. II has been
known in marine circles fo- long time
that ali six OF the company's Alaskan
feet on the river and ocean runs were op-
Grating at a loss. For that reason the an
nouncement Will not cause much surprise,
The Canadian Pacific Railway Company,
backed up by the dominion government,
tried to make an all-Canadian route 70
the interior. The thinnest strip Of Amer
lean territory that kept the soil OF the
great Northwest Territory from touching
the waves Of the Pacific is crossed by the
Stickeen river. This was at once taken
hold Of as the foundation OF route 20
the interior.
III the Casslar excitement years ago,
steamers had operated successfully on the
Stlckcen from Fort Wrangel 10 Telegraph
creek. a distance OF lG0 miles. Beyond that
the route vas 10 go overland 70 Lake Tes-
lin. q distance OF 40 miles. This stage OF
the trip was 10 be made easy by the build
ing OF a government wagon road, TO be
followed by a lire OF railroad. That the
other routes TO the interior might not get
the winter travel. it was advertised that
FOR several months the St!ckeen river could
be assembled on the Ice with great ease.
In the meantime the Canadian Pacific
rushed work at Vancouver on a fleet OF
four river steamers. TWO large steamers
were purchased for ocean connection. The
Mckenz.e-M Mann grant. calculated 10 help
the railroad part Of III. route along. was
rushed through the lower house, and ev-
erything looked bright for the all-Canadian
route.
Then came the trial Hundreds of min
ers shrugged over the frozen surface OF
:he river in vain effort to get their sup
plies 10 Telegraph creek before the break
up. The ice went out earlier than usual
and the crack steamers were soon carry
ing hundreds Of Yukun-bound prospectors
Up the river. The wagon road did not
materializA. Instead there was an Indian
trail that either ran through a rocky COun-
Try or across terrible swamps. The rail-
road grant was finally turned down, and
work was abandoned. Men struggled on
10 reach Lake TeSlin, for by that time Il
vas too late to turn back TO another route
The difficulties were SO great. however.
t1at even the stoutest heart gave way un-
der them Outfits were abandoned and The
river steamers We're again crowded TAX ng
the miners back 10 the coast. Then the
river got low. and the stream OF miners
going In VAS az an end. Consequently the
Canadian PJciiic's river boats tied up At
u hig wharf a. Wrangel, where they have
been Tor The last month.
The big ocean steamers Athenian and
Tartar hal never found enough business
between Victoria and Wrange, and consa-
qu"n:ly had been continuing the run 20
Skagway and Dyea. They KEEP. Up their
trips after the river steamers were tied IN
The Canadian Pacific could not keep 40
losing game forever. and yesterdays an
Houncement shows that they admit f.
The Tartar was the largest and finest
boat ever operated on the Skagwav run.
Her running expenses we're more than thn
receipts on most trips. The Atneniau was
a smaller boat. but capable Of carving a
big cargo Of freight AMI passengers
The river ticet consisted Of four steam
efs. the peilXie. Mcconnell Hamlir ana
nnchcsney. The OeivIe and the Nrro,-
nell wfra among the finest river steamers
ever huiit On The coast. They were east
a0d g'u,a carry 10 passengers The Ogi1-
We mad" the trip M the St5ckeen in ;yvca-
ty-SeFto hours t. Other two steamers
VIZ" smaller bat good carriers Seyer,,
other steamers Were completed ~ Xa9cot,-
N,r hut never sent up