Evening star., 1899-03-20
THE COPPER RIVER VALLEY
Captain Abererombie Describes New Way
to the Klondike.'
Gateway Opened to Route From
Salt Water to the Interior
Chances for Investors.

Cdpt. w. X. ADeTCTOIIlDle, ~ 1Hltcu SldteS
| Infantry. who is~now in this city making
| preparations for exploration of Alaska
next summer. has made the following state
ment in regard to the discovery of an 'all-
American" route to the Klondike:
| II made the start at Fort Valdez, Prince
William sound. and went through to the
mouth of the Tenenna river, and then to
Belle Isle, close to the boundary line of the
Yukon river. I found the al-American
| route starting from Fort Valdez, going
through what is known as keystone pass
| in the Coast Range mountains, crossing the
| Copper river at its junction with the Klu-
tena river and thence crossing the big bend
of the Copper river in almost direct line
to the confluence of the Slahna river with
| the Upper Copper river. Leading from the
Sahna over into the Tenenna valley We
found number of passes; crossed the Ten
enEa at the mouth of the Telling, thence
over to the headwaterS of the Forty Mile;
down the Forty Mile to O'Brien creek and
up OBrien creek and over the divide to
Eagle City, a distance of about $50 miles
| The greatest altitude crossed on this route
was between 5000 and 1000 feet lower
gradient than that of any other pass into
Alaska.
The Copper River Valley.
"The Copper River valley found to
be ancient lake bed which averages 20
miles in width and about 200 miles long
1t is a succession of terraces from the
mountains on each side, and terminates in
an abrupt escarp at the river bank. Where
streams have cut through these terraces a
black soil is shown from depth of four
to six feet. Native grasses, berries and
flowers are found in great quantities, and
of a most luXuriant growth. Some of the
finest T have In the
greatest profusion. Gardens planted in the
latter part of May yield until the first part
of September all of the usual garden truck
and in some instances fairly good potatoes
II was found that the drainage of the land
greatly affected the growth of this garden
truck. Those who selected their garden
sites on slOping soil, with a southern eX-
posure. had extremely good results, while
those who planted on the low, soggy fiat
ground made failure. j regard the agri-
cultural features of the Copper River val
ley as very bright, and consider that there
are great opportunities for the hay rancher
in raising hay for the supply of forage for
the pack animals.
The great mistake of people who went
to Alaska last summer was in not taking
pack animals. We have experimental with
all kinds, and find the Montana range pony
to be the best adapted. He ought to carry
about $50 pounds. All supplies should be
put in about ffty-pound packages and
double sacked
side and a paraffine sack on the inside. This
adds somewhat to the cost but repays the
purchaser, for the reason that he gets his
goods into the interior without damage
Last season the proSpectCrs purchased
thousands of dollars worth of trash which
they afterward threw away. We found
such articles as fur coats. cheap shoes,
books of various descriptions on mining
and medicine chests strewn distance of
ninety miles. For persons contemplating a
trip TO Alaska the very best articles should
be purchased. regardless of cost.
The Proper Outfit.
I'm a general way / might say an outfit
should consist Of sou'-wester slicker and
a pair of rubber boots for wet weather
For winter heavy wooden underclotlAng
and horsehtde shoes such used by our
expedition We're made by man named
Smith in Philadelphia; a rubber shoe with
q leather upper. canvas clothing, blanket
Qined), fur-lined gloves, German socks and
snow packs. These snow packs should be
large enough to admit of putting a thin lay
er of very fine grass hay in the bottom.
1t is absolutely necessary to keep d man s
feet from freezing. that his socks should be
kept soft and Diiabe. The feet require
greater care than any other portion of the
body. There are now at Fort Valdez seven
or eight men who will be cripples for life
because they did not pay proper attention
to their foOtgear.
The minerals of Alaska show strong in
dications of developing. There will proba-
bly, be some sensational placer diggings dis
covered during the next year in American
| territory. There have been locations made
| of some very promising copper properties
and 1t is possible that quicksilver, galena
| iron and coal will be located and recorded
during the coming season.
Chances for n Poor Man.
'"The chances for a poor man to make a
fortune in Alaska are not encouraging ow-
| ing to the fact that transportation is so ex-
pensive and labor so high. To the poor
man I would say wait until the operator
| has developed the quartz claims, which he
will do within few years and then VEN
| ture in. To the small farmer who wants to
raise hay and grain, l would say | believe
there is a fairly good field waiting develop
ment in the Copper River valley. If the
government can build a military trail
through the Coast Range mountains to the
Copper River valley l believe 1t will have
solved the question of settling central Alas
ka by opening a gateway from salt water
tor with his few head of cattle can enter
and leave the country without exoroitant
taxation over toll routes
fort Valdez is a beautiful harbor almost
landlocked, and accessible at any time of
the year. 1t is almost a direct line from
Prince William sound to Belle Isle on the
Yukon river. If the trail through the kew
stone Is properly constructed beef cattle
can be driven from Fort Valdez to the in
terror of the country without difficulty
The route which we have discovered is
much shorter than any of the others and is
far more accessible We do not have tho
trouble of going over the glaciers and other
almost insurmountable difficulties.