The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-03-26
ALASKAN SITUATION
A CONSERVATIVE OPINION OF
PRESENT CONDITIONS.
The Early Rush OF Eager Goidseekers
Having Congested the Passes. Other
Route. VIII Have to BE Opened.
Special Correspondence

Although the rush to Alaska may be
said to have only just begun, condi-
ton of affairs has already developed in
Dyea and Skagway which promises TO
disappOint the expectations of thou
sands OF eager gold seekers. The trails
across the Chikoot and White passes
are practically impossible because OF
the frequent and severe storms, and
will not be in good condition until
about the first of April The result is
that thousands OF men and thousands
Of tons of supplies and mining outfits
are crowded together on this side OF
the summit and have already reached
such number and quantity a. to create
a blockade.
1t has been generally understood
that it was foolish to go up to that
country earlier than March with the
expectation OF crossing the passes, and
that one who did so would simply sub
ject himself to long wait, to needless
hardships and possible sickness while
consuming supplies which should he
kept for service in the gold fields. Not
withstanding this fact, travel begun in
January and has continued through
February, an average of a steamer IL
day having landed men and freight at
Dyea and Skagway Those who took
A. Il =
feared blockade and were anxious to
get over the summit, expecting 10 wait
at the lakes for the opening of the river
to navigation. The blockade they
hoped to escape has come upon them
and they are not over the summit.
Many have spent "a month of hardship
and toll and are worse off because Oi
it than are the newest arrivals
There are not less than 20, 900 people
in Dyea and Skagway encamped along
the trails as far as the weather cOndi-
tions have permitted them to advance.
only u few miles at the most. The
quantity OF supplies, outfits, boats. Iua-
chinery, ETC.. averages not less than Il
ton to each man. This average will
he kept up during the month of March,
and by the first OF April, when the
work of getting over the summit will
begin in earnest, moderate estimate
of the number of men and quantity OF
freight that will be assembled there IL
90, 600 persons and 30, 600 tons OF
freight.
The only thing that has been accom-
plshed on the Skagway trail to make
it more passable than it was last SUM-
mcr has been the building OF some
small bridges, and some improvements
on the road leading out from Skagway.
There has been Il tramway project there
but no progress has been made with il.
The indications are that the Skagway
trail will not he materially better than
it was last summer, when it was block
AIDED and rendered practically impas-
sable 10y 5000 or 1 1000 people and THEN
outfits. OF course, as long as the snow
lasts in the spring the trail will be a
better one than when the traveller has
encounter mud and houlders, which
were such an obstacle year ago.
AS for the trail from Dyea. which is
the one experience has proved to he
the best, two tramways are are under
construction for the transportation al
goods. One OF these has tram rail
road from Dvea to the base of the sum
nit ridge, and an electric bucket sys
TEN across the summit to Lake lindc
mann. The other has two tram way
cables leading from the first and sec
ond divides and ending at Lake Linde.
mann. Connection between the last o
these and Dyea will he made witt
+ wagons and pack animals. Neither
OF these enterprise is ready for opera
ton, and the possibilities are that the.
will not be before the first of April
When in complete operation, their com
bined capacity will not exceed 400 toni
per day Assuming that Ivy the list
of pack animals 100 tons per day coul,
be taken over the White pass from
Skagway, this leaves the total capacit,
of all facilities provided for both passes
at 800 tons per day. This means l0'
days for transporting 30, 600 tons tina
will he accumulated there by the frs
OF April. I'm other words, accumula
tiOns could not be cleared away befOr
< the middle of June. The probabilitie
! are, however, that during the month
of April and May an equal quantity o
new freight would demand attention.
, In this calculation no allowance i
: made for the freight which could b
5 taken on sleds by individuals and b,
= the aid of dogs. This would be in
considerable. In fact, with such
mass OF humanity and of goods,