Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-02-25
CoOK INLET TO THE ~,
Need of Railroad to tb.
Alaska. f

AIa., 20 the InteriO,
Among the many railroad ..i7
projected for the Yukon ona ssnehs q
terror of Alaska this season. $50" me me
tnat is receiving careful cOnsida's.9 Ins
among promoters is line tr,u''aI' trnUs a
inlet over the glacier and ui ~ W
Tanana river. uO"n ID
The subject is one that on.
attention of railroad men of ,SaS aScs 10
Several surveying parties, it s' is ,sOl .ola
eu, Will be sent early to the NO,,SE tEV1
the purpose of ascertaining as % sa'a
possible the most feasible routs ao'a y
the coast to the interior Thu aT% Iua
Teslin and Stickeen river ropta % h.. A
celved good deal of attention roa'Ea aa' -
and every move of the surveviNs NY
ties is closely watched by the Cap,E., | H.
Pacific. This road will cprtoin%s lai
among the first to penetrate tba ",
OF Alaska at the first favorable oDa.. nau
tunity. 1t is not expected that opp pE
the great transcontinental system, ,''
contemplating an extension, hut ANY
traffic connection it could form worI ~
1t Is understood, be most welcomo
is not unlikely that if an ovo,l,.iA
route to Dawson should ever bpcOm1
possible, the British road would he tbs
first to offer its help in backing A.
project. "'
The Portland Telegram saws that
j. Stone, a prominently. known man
OF the Northwest, who is now h
Alaska, after looking over the stua
ton carefully, believes that it is anita
practicable to get line through to tba
river in American territory. Tbeim
portance of railroad in develOpiDp tba
vast resources of the interior, inGs,
ing the output of the mines, insuiDI
an adequate food supply to the miners
OF the Yukon, and, incidentally, help
ing to make the entire country tribul
tary to the Coast cities prosperous, d
treated in recent latter. As a routa
he suggests from Prince William sound
to some point on the Yukon, within
American territory, and advises that|
the value of such construction be inn
mediately brought to the attention d
congress by memorial.
"What this country needs most ID
railroad from some point on thd
Yukon, in American territory, I'd
Prince William sound, on Cook inlet
Of course, know nothing about thd
country to be traversed by such rail-
road, or the engineering difficulties that
have to be encountered, but | think
that it might be safely presumed that
they are not of serious character,
The mountains in the northern pOr-
tion of this continent are so nsignif'
cant that the whole country may b
considered one vast plain. The same
may be said of the northern part o.
Asia and also of Europe, where havt
travelled, explored and prospected, and
it would seem strange, indeed, ii th'
country between here and Cook inle
was an exception to every other par
of the world in this high altitude
Besides, enough has been found Ou
from actual observation to make
pretty certain that there are ho serlou
difficulties. There is sufficient tim
ber along the line for all the purpose
of construction and operation, and tn
snowfall is not such as to seriously ID
terfere with railroad traffic, and to m
mind a railroad is needed in this coun
try more than was ever needed IN IN
whole history OF railroading throughOu
the world.
"This country possesses an apuhu
ance of what all the rest OF the wOri
needs, and all the rest OF the wOri
possesses in abundance what the peopl
are sorely in need Of here, that Is, som'
thing to eat. There never was wln.'
in this country when there was sun
cheney of food, and this winter promls'
to be at least 100 per cent worse wa
any preceding one, and it is more 'la l9
likely that next winter Will DC s'i
worse in this respect. :.
"From what can learn it seems ln
possible that the supply OF iood u y
keep pace with the increase OF popu,
tion, and Icannot see how there can !,
any doubt but that railroad over '
route mentioned would be taxed ~
full capacity, as the country prouu. u.
nothing but gold, and all the heve''" 90
comforts and luxuries of life ana al,
thing else that may be wanted nJ I
come from without. One OF the 'r9u .,
of the construction of such a ra'iiV
would be an enormous increase III
production of gold"
Not the Only Riches
Unless the Canadian government
peals its regulation of last iall' reS',' W.
ing the size of claims to 100 fee'' VIZ
is not likely to be very much pro'pT r
ing on British territory this year