Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-26

4 ridiculously low rate Mr. GRAY lauchingIv
pointed out that their charge for fifteen
miles was the transcontincntal rate for a
haul of 2S96 miles between New York and
San Francisco.
I'VE have" said he, hundreds of tons
of freight awaiting Transportation TO the
interior. With present facilities We cannot
handle all that is presented. but Just as
soon as our new locomotives arrive which
have been specially constructed for noun
tain work, we shall land freight on the
head waters of the Yukon twelve hours
after its arrival in Skaguay."
He pointed out of the window as he
spoke to a long line of freight cars, con-
tanning an indescribable tumble of tirnbers
and machinery. No" said this keen
young traffic manager, in answer to my
query, that is not the wreck of Barnums
circus, but four great river steamers in
transit, knocked down They are the
equals in every respect to the best on the
mississippi Long before navigation opens
we shall have our road completed to Lake
bennett, where these steamers will be
launched, to operate in close connection
with our trains. upon the lakes and Upper
Yukon"
when this is done, what will be the
Tune between New York and Dawson?'
And the astonishing reply Fourteen
days. That Mr.. Grays schedule is cor
rect Is beyond dispute. A journey that one
year ago could not be made in less than
two months, and then only under crcum-
stances of great fatigue and peril. can now
be made with comfort in as many weeks.
Here is the table:
New York to Seattle AZ days
Seattle to Skaguay. ) days
Skaguay to Lake Bennett via White Pass
ard Yukon railway, } hours.
Lake Bennett to White Horse Rapids by
steamer, = days.
Around rapids by horse cars, 8 hours
White Horse Rapids to Dawson. , days.
Total. II days, Is hours.
Like the Panama railway, this steel
MENUS of thirty miles saves an ocean voy-
age of thousands, or journey on foot
both dangerous and eXhausting.
Travelling Through Liquid Air.
For the first five miles the road follows
the Skaguay river, traversing a fiat valley,
possibly mile wide, floored with water
washed boulders scattered through thin
growth of cottonwood trees, and shut in by
gray walls of great height.
For a fourth of this distance the log cab
ms, and board shanties of the town of Ska
quay spread out like a fan. Then comes the
climb of Porcupine HILL sharp promontory
jutting out into the valley from the north.
Winding in and out of its irregular face on
three and nine-tenths grade, an hours
climbing brings the train to the top and
outer edge of this ridge, 1000 feet above
its base.
Here. with the forked head of Lynn canal
lying like a chain of Alpine lakes in the
offing, begins "a series of landscapes which
must certainly attract tourists by the thou
sands, as soon as their loneliness and gran
UeuF become KNOWN CalilOrnla and Col
orado must look well to their laurels for
with Mt. Mckinley, 1000 feet higher than
any other peak on the American continent,
and now the glorious scenery OF the White
Pass unlocked to the luxury-loving traveller
Baedecker will do well to give Alaska a
special and early edition of his guide book.
Five miles farther and we draw up to
Glacier station. attached like a Swiss chalet
to the rugged side of mountain. Here the
first snow obstruction is encountered. The
heavy coach is uncoupled, and the Klondik-
ers. shouidering their packs. take to the
trail.
Here again an unlocked for courtesy was
extended. f. b. Flood the brilliant young
engineer. in charge of the toughest five
miles of railroad construction in the coun-
try, invited me into the locomotive cab to
accompany him over his division, on a tour
of inspection.
Doubtless it was dsinterested kindness
on the Part of the fireman who proffered me
his scenic corner, but certainly my name
was Ephraim before we had proceeded
mile One deeply interested in this par
tcuiar piece of road might be expected to
endure the liquid air. which poured III
through the cabs open windows but to be
at the same time glued to the boiler and
fried to a turn on the other side was i'm
possible. I escaped to the tender.
A large force of men had been strung
along the line to keep the track clear but
do their best, the snow in some places
drifted in faster than they could remove
it. Nearing the summit we bucked into a
great white bank which had slid down
from the heights above. Retreating, we
tried it again. With sand box open and es-
cape valve blowing, the engineer threw
her wide open,' and away went the loco
motive like a mad bull with its head down.
A dull thud, a deluge of snow, and the
engine stops midway through the drift.
with wheels a-whirI Another :. run for it,
and We are through with a rush, and out
upon a creaking and trembling trestle.
Here the science and skill of the construct
ing engineer is put to its severest test One
laval fr,Il Of
snow. Shovels had first cleared the way
and tossed the white blocks down the
side; then came the rock men 20
prepare the foundation with drill and dyn-
amite, during the weather so bitter cold
that the hospital tents were filed with
frost-bitten men. Then the slender timbers
were lifted to the level of the grade and
the rails laid across.
Cost of Building.
AS I saw Mr.. Flood lean from the cab
and keenly watch every support as we
passed over 1 thought of Kiplng's Bridge
Builders Would it stand the test? Not
Of the roaring Ganges, but of the bueking,
painting, sentient engine. Above, the al
most perpendicular cliffs. down which men
had dangled from ropes while cutting the
1rst grade; below. the Scared, hungry ribs
Of granite the interStices filed with pia-
ciers in miniature But-we passed in
safety. The builders calculations had been
as true as his timbers. Another mile and
we drove through a tunnel under the back
bone of the last ridge; and. following the
contour of natural amphitheater stopped
before a long line of tents half buried in
snow. From one f1oated the stars and
stripes, and from it's nearest neighbor the
mon jack-between passed the interna-
ional boundary line. We were at the sum
nit of White Pass
The cost of the road so far has been
about $4,000 per mile. 1t is narrow gauge
rails being used. There are
more curves than straight lines Accidents
ire inevitable. But few have been the IA
alit1es, considering the danger of the work
IND the severity of the weather. Two men
lie beneath an immense block of granite
90 large TO be moved. Others have died
rom pneumonia and from freezing.
speaking of these things, one of the en-
.ineers told me that he believed nothing
mort OF divine interposition saved him and
lis men from an awful death last Noyem-
'er charge of giant powder had been
amped home and the warning signal given
lie and his assistants stepped behind an
ighteen-inch tree supposing that the blast
would be OF the usual force where 100
POUNDS OF explosive is used For some res-
on the spark machine failed to ignite
he iuse-a most unusual occurrence Alter
Waiting a sufficient period the engineer ex-
lmined the batteries and found that in