Stikeen River journal., 1899-06-10
WATCHTH|S SPACE F.
 NEXTWEEK!
THE ALl-CANAD|AN ROUTE Is Strongly Recommended by Lou.
 is COste, Who Made an
 Exploratory Survey Thereof.
From The World Van, E. c.

From The World Van, E. c.
 "A return was brought down to the House of Commons on the 18th. inst. embOdying reports of Louis Coste, late partment, and at present in this city The returns contains some valuable evidence corrobOrative of the Govern ment's assertion last session that the Stikeen-Teslin route was the best all- Canadian means of access to the Yukon District. Mr. COste, it may be remark ed, forwarded his report in ignorance of the fact that the Government had been thwarted in their endeavor to se- cure the construction of the line, and | for this reason his unbiased view Is val uable as showing the justitiabillty of the Administration. Mr. COste report ed that the Stikeen river may be navi- gated from the middle of May until November. Mir. Coste went on to say: 'From all have heard and seen on the coast. 1 believe that, being given that the portage from Glenora to Tes- lin lake is improved by the construc- tion of railway or wagon route, the Stikeen route will be the cheapest and best inlet into the Yukon territory for all provisions and mining supplies re- quired in that country during the com ing season, particularly as it is known by MT. Hamlin's report that the Hoot- alinqua river offers no obstacle to nav igation, and that the Lewes and Yukon Rivers are navigable. A great num- Der of people are anxious to avail them selves of the Stikeen route, and I must therefore strongly insist upon the nec- essity of improving at once that part of the route which lies between Glen. ora and Teslin lake. Had it been DOS. sible to construct the prososed railway between these two points in time for the opening of navigation, I have nc doubt but what a large majority of the goldseekers or traders intending to go intO' the Yukon would have adopted that route. |" Mr. Coste recommended that wagon road should be built from Glenora and Teslin lake without delay Afterwards he pointed out that a rail road could replace the wagon road MT. Coste goes on to say: When the railroad over thls route is built ii would certainly assure to Canadians the vast trade of the Yukon and the larger share of its immense riches con. tained in that territory and in the nu merous mining districts of British North America. Concerning the con- struction of a telegraph line from Que snelle, the present terminus of the Government telegraph line in British Columbia to Dawson City, by way o1 Telegraph creek, Teslin and Fort Sel kirk am able to report that the con- struction of this line would be an easy matter. The country is an open one, in which, however, timber suitable for telegraph poles is plentiful. The aver age cost per mile should not exceed $275 per mile..'
 "In connection with the foregoing it may be of interest to learn that party consisting of surveyors and engineers passed through the city few days age en route for the north. Their move ments were kept quiet, nevertheless i, leaked out that they had been sent to survey railway line from some point on the coast :line of British Columbia in a northwesterly direction to the Stikeen river, and thence by way ot Lake Bennett, and Yukon and Selkirk to Dawson City,"
 Regular Church Services-Presby- terian Church..