The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-27
Interested in Gold Mining IN the Cop
per River Territory.
IN The FAR AWAY KLONDIKE.
WIN Egsrter Disposss Of BIS Claims
to the Ohio valley Prospecting
Company, by Whom He Has Been
Engaged as Manager Extensive
Operations to be Started at Once.
III. Egsrter Leaves March 10.


spent over year in the Rloudlke, has
disposed, Of his claims in the Copper
River region Of the Alaska EelondIke to
local company known as the Ohio
Valley Prospecting Company. The COM
pany has been financed and has organ
lied by the selection Of Oswald schrei-
Der, OF the Bremen & Mabis Company,
as president. Other local peoplelarge-
ly Interested are Messrs. Albert schenk
and Louis Bachman. Several Balu-
more capitalists are interested also. Mr..
Egerter has been made general man
aver. and is Entrusted with the develop
ment OF the claims acquired. BE leaves
for Seattle, Wash, on March 10, and
win take out an expedition early in the
spring. In connection with this enter
prise the following from the Alaskn
Miner. published at Juneau, Alaska. in
its issue of February 10. is Of interest:
The war department has made public
an Important report from Capt. w. r.
Aberci ombie. Second infantry, who
commanded the Copper river exploring
expedition in Alasln, last season. The
chief topic treated In the report Is the
LAYING out of the great trans-Alaskan
military route from Port Valdes, Alas
IA. 10 Port Egbert, on the Yukon.
while engaged on this work the officer
was charged to take note Of the mineral
resources Of the country, Of It's adapta-
ton for agriculture and stock raising
and the fuel and food products for man
and animal.
A 49, ia. n
ON lie 2ist OF April. A party OF old
railroad and trail builders were select
ed by Capt. Abercromble, and they
proceeded to the mouth OF Keystone
canyon. The harbor at V0ldes, owing
10 the proximity of the Japanese cur
rent, is accessible at all seasons Of the
wear to ships OF any size, except about
a mic and half OF Its head. The only
feasible site for a railroad terminal Is
narrow strip Of land. three-quarters OF
a mile broad. extending up the lower
river some 1--WE miles, and south OF .
small stream flowing from Robe lake.
There is practically a nominal grade
up the valley, passing through Key
stone canyon, with ordinary canyon
work, and emerging on the foot plain
OF the inner canyoo basin. From that
poInr there are two feasible routes. one
east OF Marshall pass, at the elevation
OF 100 feet. and down the Tasnuna to
the Copper river valley; the other,
turning north. crossing the mountain
range and Thompson pass, 1900 feet
high, thence down the Telthell river
valley, through the swampy pass at thee
head OF the Knata, thence down the
TOnsina into the Copper river valley.
Capt. Abercromble believes that the
future for a railroad through this sec
tion OF Alaska is very promising, ow.
ing TO the presence Of large zones OF
heavily mineralized copper deposits,
the development OF which. he says, un-
doubtedly will yield a local tonnage OF
great value. He states that the prox-
unity OF tie and bridge timber, and the
abseEce OF any great engineering fea-
lures, would render railroad construc-
ton comparatively easy problem.
Mr., Edward Gillette, member Of the
expedition, contributes an important
chapter to the report, on the feasibility
OF establishing a practical railroad
route up the Copper river valley. He
draws a comparison between she route
from Seattle to Skngway, with the
Valdcs route. to the advantage OF the
latter. He shows that while the dis
lance from Seattle to Skagway is 1850
miles. rs against 1880 miles from Seat
tie to Valdes, the difference Is practic-
ulIY GlEEL ny kAlt ullAlAAllNANh iAoeAhN
OF the outside route. Then, vessels are
not required to pass through some four
hundred miles OF water claimed by n
foreign country, and Vnldes is much
nearer the center OF Alaska, Skngway
being two hundred miles nearer. by
railroad. to the Forty-Mlle country. In
surance rates on the inside route also
are double those on the outside route.
Mr.. Gillette believes that the devel-
opment of the country In the future
probably will necessltate the construc-
ton OF both lines from the northern end
of the Keystone canyon through
Thompson'B pass and by Marshall
pass. He recommends that the line be
constructed on a three-foot gauge. In
the interest OF economy and rapldity
OF construction, arguing that the mar
row gauge would fully meet the
needs OF the country,
Tho report makes comparison OF
the projected Valdes road and the eH-
Isting railroad from Skagway over
While Pass to Lake Bennett, showing
that the maximum grades are much
less: that the current value Is less,
and that the Valdes highest elevation
Is fully three hundred feet less than the
White Pass road.
The snow slides, from which the
White Pass suffers, can be practically
eliminated from the Valdes route by
the peculiar formation Of the country.
The poInt Is also made that the pro-
tected route would be entirely within
United States territory. He fixes the
probable cost at $753,5OO, or $22,b91 per
mile, the estimate being from Is to 80
per cent higher than rates in the Uni
ted States. A direct line from Valdes
TO Port Egbert. on the Yukon, would
be $40 miles long, and $50 miles would
AFFORD all the diversion required for the
line. The report refers to the trade Of
Central Alaska as an unknown guam
tity, but dwells at length upon the rep
utatiOn the country has Of possessing
ynst deposits OF copper ore.
The report says the soil 10 produc-
tive, that vegetables and hay may be
raised, that there is plenty Of timber,
and that hardy farmers, from Norway
and Sweden, would farm as easily In
the Copper river valley as in their own
country. The country also contains
coal Of good quality and marble Of
various colors,
In the same issue OF the Alaska Miner
appears the following advertisement:
Secondhand steam launch;
Wood.burnlnE; capacity 10 to Is tons;
April !. 1900; describe and name price. W.
H Egerter, Wheeling, w. Va"