Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-31

have been purchased and shipped three
fourths Of the way from New York to the
North Pole, and that the same weeks should
witness the discovery and association Of as
splendid a corps OF civil engineers as ever
sighted a sextant or made war upon nature
yet such Is the fact.
When one has Travelled these stubbornly
contested miles in the open cab of a locomo-
tive, shot around compound curves, dashed
through snowdrifts into tunnels and out
again upon slender bridges, hung upon mar
row benches-mere inches in the oerpendic-
ular-bade defiance to glacier, moraine and
avalanche and then stood upon the summit
of White Pass in the teeth Of a bowling
blizzard, one forgets the capitalist in his
velyet-carpeted office, even the president in
his private car, and turns with frank admi-
ration to the little band Of nervy, keen
witted fellows, the construction engineers,
who, with their 1000 men, have defed and
conquered the allied forces Of Olympus and
Jack Frost.
The general name covering the whole sys-
tenn is the White Pass G. Yukon route"
but this Is merely a caption, and covers three
distinct charters. From Skasuay 20 the in
ternational boundary line, twenty-eight
miles, the road will be officially known us
the Pacific & Arctic Railway and Navlga-
tion Co." The majority of this stock is
held by Americans, or at least in the name
of Americans. The next division, which
Is now under rapid construction, crosses
British Columbia. and Is to be called The
British Columbia Yukon Railway Co." The
last division will traverse the Northwest
territory, and is to be known under the title
of British Yukon Mining, Trading and
Transportation Co." The stock covering the
British divisions is mostly held in London
and Montreal.
The road has been carrying freight ard
passengers as far as Glacier Station, about
five miles from the summit. for several
months. During February the receipts OF
the freight department alone were $500 per
day, and those of the passenger department
$500. Indeed, since the first Of January, tine
receipts from the fifteen miles of completed
road has equalled the pay roll expenditure.
including a construction gang OF between
one and two thousand men. Now that
freight and passengers ran be landed at
the top of the dreaded pass. Mr.. Gray antici-
pates that the receipts will be doubled.
Yet this fine showing is not Obtained by
reason Of exorbitant rates. BEFORE the
railroad was projected, the packers were
charging so cents per hundred pounds to
the summit. with no guarantee FOR safe de-
livery. The railroad charged 2 cents per
hundred pounds and insures against loss
and damage. While :his seems q ridicu-
lousy low rate, Mr.. Gray laughingly pointed
out that their charge :or fifteen miles was
the transcontinentai rate for a haul OF 1886
miles between New York and San Francisco.
1--WE have" said he. "hun1rels OF tons OF
freight waiting TRANSPORTATION to the In
terror. With present facilities we can not
handle all that Is presented, hut
Just as soon as our new locomotives
arrive, which have been specially con-
structed for mountain work, we shall land
freight on the head waters OF the Yukon
twelve hours after it's arrival In SkagWay.'
He pointed out Of the window as he spoke,
to a long line OF freight cars, containing
an indescribable tumble OF timbers and
machinery. mo said this keen young
traffic manager, in answer to my query,
that is not the wreck of Barnum's 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 time
between New York and Dawson" And the
astonishing reply was Fourteen days
That Mr.. Gray's schedule is correct is be-
yond dispute. A journey that one year ago
could not be made in less than two months,
and then only under circumstances of great
fatigue and peril, can now be made with
comfort in as many weeks. Here lis the
table:
New York to Seattle, four and a half days.
Seattle to Skagway, five days.
Skagway to Lake Bennett, via White Pass
e. Yukon rail WaV three hours.
Lake Bennett to White Horse rapids by
steamer, two days.
Around rapids by horse cars, three hours.
White Horse rapids to Dawson, two days.
Total, thirteen days, eighteen hours.
Like the Panama railway, this steel nexus
o. thirty miles saves an ocean voyage of
thousands, or a journey on foot both danger
Gus and eXhausting.
For the first Ave miles the road follows
the Skagway river. trayersing a fiat valley,
possibly a mile wide, tiOored with water
washed boulders scattered through a thin
growth OF cottonwood trees and shut in by
gray walls OF great height.
For a fourth OF this distance the log
cabins and board shanties of the town Of
skagway spread out like a fan. Then comes
the climb of Porcupine hill, a sharp prom
ontory jutting out into the valley from the
north. Winding in and out Of Its irregular
face on a three and nine-tenths grade, an
hours climbing brings tho 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
ofhng, begins a series OF landscapes which
must certainly attract tourists by the thou
sands as soon as their loneliness and
grandeur become known. California and
Colorado must look well to their laurels, for
with Mount 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 wiss
chalet to the rugged side OF a mountain.
Here the first snow obstruction is encoun-
tered. The heavy coach is uncoupled and
the Klondikers, shOuldering 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 nve
miles OF railroad construction in the coun-
try" invited me into the cab TO