Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1898-02-25
COOK INLET TO THE YUKON
Nsed Of Railroad TO the Interior Of
Alaska.

i
terror OF Alaska this season, the one
that is receiving careful consideration
among promoters is line from Cook
Inlet over the glacier and down the
Tanana river.
The subject is one that engages the
attention Of railroad men OF the Coast.
Several surveying parties 1t is report
ed, will be sent early to the North for
the purpose OF ascertaining as soon as
possible the most feasible route from
the coast to the interior. The Lake
Teslin and Stiekeen river route has re-
ceived a good deal of attention recently,
and every move of the surveying par
ties is closely watched by the Canadian
Pacific. This road viii certainly be
among the first to penetrate the wilds
of Alaska at the first favorable ospor.
tunity. II Is not expected that any OF
the great transcontinental systems are
contemplating an extension, but any
traffic connection it could form would,
it is understood, be most welcome. 1t
is not unlikely that II an overland
route to Dawson should ever become
| possible, the British road would he the
first to offer its help in backing the
project.
The Portland Telegram says that p.
j. Stone, a prominently.known man.
of the Northwest, who is now in
Alaska, after looking over the situa-
tion carefully, believes that II Is quite
practicable to get line through to the
river in American territory. The i'm.
portance Of railroad in developing the
vast resources Of the interior, increas-
ing the output Of the mines, insuring
an adequate food supply to the miners
Of the Yukon, and. incidentally, help
ing to make the entire country tribu-
tary to the Coast cities prosperous, is
treated in recent latter. AS route
he suggests from Prince William sound
to some point on the Yukon, within
American territory, and advises that
the value OF such a construction bc i'm
mediately brought to the attention Of
congress by memorial.
what this country needs most is
q railroad from some point on the
Yukon, in American territory. TO
Prince William sound, on Cook inlet.
OF course, know nothing about the
country to be traversed by such a rail-
road, or the engineering difficulties that
have to be encountered, but think
that 1t might be safel. presumed that
they are not Of Il serious character.
The mountains In the northern por-
tion Of this continent are 80 insignif-
cant that the whole country may be
considered one vast plain. The same
may be said OF the northern part OF
Asia and also Of Europe, where have
travelled, explored and prospected, and
it would seem strange, indeed, ii the
country between here and Cook inlet
was an exception to every other part
Of the world in this high altitude.
Besides, enough has been found out
| from actual observation TO make it
pretty certain that there are 10 serious
| difficulties. There is sufficient tim
ber along the line for all the purposes
OF construction and operation, and the
| snowfall is not such as to seriously in
terfere with railroad traffic, and to my
mind a railroad is needed in this conn-
| try more than was ever needed in the
whole history of railroading throughout
| the world.
.This country possesses an abund-
ance OF what all the rest Of the world
needs, and all the rest OF the world
possesses in abundance what the people
are sorely in need Of here, that Is, some
| thing to eat. There never was a winter
| in this country when there was suffi-
cheney OF food, and this winter promises
to be at least 100 per cent worse than
any preceding one, and 1t is more than
| likely that next winter will be still
worse in this respect.
"From what can learn 1t seems i'm
possible that the supply OF food can
keep pace with the increase Of popula-
tion, and Icannot see how there can be
any doubt but that railroad over the
route mentioned would be taxed to its
full capacity, as the country produces
nothing but gold, and all the necessary
comforts and luxuries Of life and any
lIiItB clst bihb ulhJ w WdHtch InuHb
come from without. One Of the results
Of the construction Of such a railroad
would be an enormous increase in the
production OF gold"
Not the Only Riches.
Unless the Canadian government re-
peals its regulation Of last fall, restrict
ing the size OF claims to 100 feet, there
is not likely to be very much prospect-
ing on British territory this year. The
miners regard double claim to the dis
coverer, and a i00.foot claim 10 each
subsequent locator as inadequate COM
pensation for the risks which they take
in the Klondike country. II the mis-
sion Of the committee recently sent to
Ottawa with petition for a modiflca.
tion Of the regulations proves unsuccess-
ful. there will be a big exodusof miners
to American territory. AS a result the
vast area westward from the Alaska
Northwest boundary to the Behring sea,
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