The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-30
CANADIAN YUKON ROAD.
Journey of Months viii Soon Be Re
duced to Seven DAYS.

Toronto. Ont, Jan. 29-Nothine
could create a much hvelier interest
than has been aroused all over Canada
by the announcement of the contract
between the Dominion government and
Messrs. Mckenzie and Mann for the
construction of a railway between the
Stickeen river and Teslin lake, in the
Yukon country. Everyone is talking OF
il, and the newspapers, government and
opposition alike, ccncede the deal to be
a master stroke on the part of the gov
eminent.
The Toronto Globe government
prefaces a strong leader with the fol-
lowing:
The extent of the revolution which
VIII be effected in the problem Of trans
Pcrtation to the Yukon gold country is
best understood when it is stated that
the journey between Victoria and Van
couVer and Dawson. which is now a
matter Of months and attended with
appalling difficulties and hardships,
Will, during the season of navigation.
and after the projected railway has
been completed. be reduced to about
seven days, while the dangers and pri-
vations win be little more than those
which any traveller undergoes in a
train or steamboat"
The Toronto World Opposition. in
an equally strong article, says:
THE deal not only calls for the con-
struction of this railway altogether in
Canadian territory, but it prohibits the
construction of any rival line This
through rail and water route is not
only z purely Canadian enterprise, but
its duplication by the United States is
an impOssihiliJy. Herein have we de-
spoiled the Americans of their power
to harass US in the KlOndike trade All
traffic, whether passenger or freight. is
bound TO gravitate to the line of least
resistance and VIII certainly be identi-
fed with the Yukon railway. The only
possible rival the all-Canadian route
may have is that via. St. Michaeis and
the Yukon river, but this involves an
ocean ana river voyage of 400 miles.
One would as soon travel from New
York TO Chicago by the canal and lake
route as TO go to Dawson by the Yukon
river. This, then, is the first great fea-
ture of the all-Canadian route. 1t viii
command the traffic. It will have no
rival, and in addition to its UNIQUE ad
vantages in this respect, the all-Cana-
Dan route viii be handicapDed nv no
tariff eXactiOns or customs house re-
strictions. This deal settles the whole
Yukon transportation problem"
An Ottawa dispatch says Sir Charles
Upper, the veteran leader of the Con-
servative party in the house of com
mons, gives the government credit for.
acting with such vigor, and he asserts
that the opening Of the all-Canadian
route is the proper course to pursue.
He does not anticipate any trouble
with the United States in transferring
cargoes from the ocean boats to river
boats at Wrangel, while the Teslin lake
railway is being constructed. If. how
ever such should happen, Canada has
Fort Simpson TO fall back on. which
vii: be equally serviceabIe.
Messrs. Mckenzie and Mann have the
capital and resources and energy to
carry cut what is acknowledged nv an
competent authorities OF be a most
costly and hazardous undertaking. They
are probably the only men in Canada
who could put the road through bv
Sept 1 next, the time specified. Extra
ordinary measures will be taken by the