Stikeen River journal., 1899-06-03
The GIenora- -Tes|in Railway. Early Construction an As.
 sured Fact.

There are not many persons who are aware that the proJect of building a railway from Edmonton, or some other point to Dawson City via Dease lake and Teslin has not been abandoned. In fact the Dominion government are quietly at work on the preliminaries. Mckenzie Mann X Co. have been gran ted d franchise. and those who are III close touch with Canadian Politics as- sert that at the last moment d substan- tial cash subsidy will be tackled on and passed: thus assuring the early con struction of the road. At this moment there are several exploratory survey parties going over. the ground, and they have already reported the feasibi lity of the project. If the idea is car- ried out the EldoradO of the north will have direct railway communication Wi'h the east and the iournay to the Nlon dike will occupy scarce y a. many days as it how takes weeks.
 The portion oEthe journey between Dawson and Dease lake. hrs already been explored, also d portion Of the Stikeen river. A party under the lead ership of Mr. O'Dywer, of the depart ment of railways and canals is now en- route to make a survey from Hazleton to the headwaters of the Skeena and another party is now in this city. en- route to explore route on that part of the Stkecn which has not been covered and the two parties will meet some- where at the head-waters of the Skeena river
 When this has been accomplished and it is expected that the parties will meet in September or October next, the only portion of the route uncovered will be the portion from Edmonton to the east boundary of British Columbia. Mr. V. H. Dupont having last year made survey from the junction of the Parsnip and Findlay rivers to the boun- diary line between British Columbia and the North west territories. The party in this city is under the direction of Ar. V. II. Dupont. who is assisted by Mr. A. T. Kerr. both being government engineers, connected with the experiment. of railways. They ar rived from Ottawa d few days ago The party includes nine surveyors with | thirty back animals and ten tons of pro l wi for ,l. creek on the next trip of the Strath- coma.
 To a reporter of the JOURNAL Mr. Dupont said:
 We are here.' he began Ion our way to Telegraph creek and from there we shall make a rough survey of the Stikeen river, as far as the head waters which merge in the head waters of the Skeena and there We expect to meet a party that is being taken out by Mr. Q Dwycr to work on the Skeena from Hazleton to the upper reaches of the stream. The object of the work is to locate route for q railway from Daw- son City to Edmonton: or some other point within Canadian territory, access sible by rail or water; forming an all Canadian route to the Yukon. A con- siderable portion of this distance has already been covered.
 'From Dawson to Dease lake, and from the east boundary of British Col umbia to where the Findley and the l Parsnip meet was done last year and also portion of the Stikecn River. My own party and Alr. O'Dywer's will meet some time this fall and then the greater portion of the route will have been determined in a general way.
 Mr. Dupont was engaged all last sum- mer and autumn upon covering a por- tion of the territory included in this route, and returned to Ottawa in Janu- ary, since which tine he has been engag- ed in preparing his plans. He does not expect to be back in Ottawa before next winter as unforeseen delays may