The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-29
EXPLORING COPPER RIVER
Captain Abercrombie Reports The
Results of His Expedition.
Progress of the Work of Laying Out
the Trans-AlasLnn Military uond-
Edward Gillette Contributes nm
Important Chapter ON the FEAST
bility OF Alaskan Railroads.

Capt. ". R. Abercrombie. Second United
States Infantry, commanding the Copper
River, tAlaska) Exploring Expedition dur
ing the season of 1899, made an official
report of his operations TO the Secretary
OF War Saturday.
The report covers variety of subjects
in which the inhabitants are deeply inter-
ested. One OF the important topics treat
ed is the work thus far performed in lay
ing out the great Trans-Alaska Military
Route from Port Valdez. Alaska, to Port
Egbert, of the Yukon.
Captain Abercrombie left Washington
March %. 1899. under instruction from the
War Department to open a military road
from Valdez TO Copper Center, Alaska.
in the course of his labors he was in
structed TO select suitable locations at
Valdez, Copper Center, the crossing OF the
Upper Copper, the crossing OF the Tanana,
the head of Forty Mile Creek, and such
other points as in his judgment might be
deemed proper for military reservations.
In addition TO selecting available rou es
Of travel and feasible routes for railroad
sdaptability OF the country for agriculture
and stock raising. He was also to take
note of the mineral resources OF the coun-
try passed over. well as the resources
in matters of timber, fuel, and food pro-
ducts. He was expected also to report on
the material best suited for food for ami
mails, as well as upon the location and
condition of the natives of the territory
explored.
On the arrival of Captain Abercrombie,
April q, 1899 at Valdez, he met a motley
looking crowd that had just arrived from
a long journey over the Valdez glacier
from the Copper River Valley. From re-
ports received he was led to believe that
hundreds were dying of starvation and
scurvy in the region named. Subsequent
investigation demonstrated that these re-
ports were not eNaggeration.
Captain Abercrombie reports that the
harbor at Port Valdez is what is tech
nically known as a submerged valley, the
head of which is filed in with the glacier
deposits and terminal moraine. The har-
Dor from Stanton Narrows to the mouth
of Lowe River is about ten miles long by
three miles wide. Owing TO the great
depth of water and the proximity of the
warm Japan current the harbor at Valdez,
with the exception of a mile and half at
its head, is accessible TO all seasons of the
year to ships of any size.
Captain Abercrombie believes that the
future for railroad through this section
OF Alaska is very promising, owing 10 the
presence OF large zones of heavily miner
allied copper deposits, the development of
which will unquestionably yield a local
tonnage OF great volume. He states that
the proximity of tie and bridge timber,
the abesnce of any great engineering fea-
lures, would render railroad construction
in this section a comparatively easy prob
lem for mountain division.
The total length Of the road, which
Captain Abercrombie believes TO be FEAST
BILE for railroad construction, for pack
horses, is 90 miles; the total length OF the
road TO re excavated is about IS miles;
the total length OF the road TO be cleared
and grubbed, 81 miles, and cleared only
u miles. Twenty-six bridges were con-
structed. exclusive of small culverts, with
a total length OF s5s feet. The largest
bridge is 12l feet long. These bridges
have 40 spans. the longest span Of 30 feet, |
being in the bridge over the China Canon. |
Two bridges have four spans each and |
three others have two spans each. Eigh- |
teen spans measure % feet or over. Nine |
long cribs were constructed; q ,224 feet of |
logs were used in stringers and stills. |
These bridges have a width of 9 feet.
Mr.. Edward Gillette. engineer of the Cop |
per River exploring expedition, has contrib |
uted very Interesting and important |
chapter TO the report of the feasibility Of |
establishing a practical railroad route UP |
the Copper River Valley. Mr.. Gillette says |
that the southern coast of Alaska affords |
very few good harbors.
From the shore back into the interior /
the coast range presents few practicable |
routes. Nearly all of the canyons and /
drsinages along these mountains are filled /
with Zee, and where the natural routes into
the interior as a rule. would be found an
absolutely prohibitory condition for travel |
exists. The stupendous masses of noun
tains and ice-filled canyons back of the
green wooded islands along the sea coast,
while forming probably the grandest seen
cry on this continent, give no encourage
ment to the explorer or engineer in search
OF practicable route for q railroad into
the interior of the country, combined with |
that OF starting in a good harbor.
The route from Seattle 10 Skaguay, COM
monty called the inside passage, is well
known. from the fact that most OF the
Alaskan and Klondike trade has been con-
1ucted in this way. Until recently it was
thought that the future development OF
central Alaska would be governed by this
route. which passes through some 400 miles
Of foreign country subject 10 the jurisdic-
ton OF foreign country.
The distance from Seattle to skaguay
Is 1850 miles; from eSaitle TO Valdez
] ESQ miles. This distance is practically
Offset by the unimpeded passage of the
outside route Valdez being AIS miles
west and 40 miles north OF skaguay, this
port is that much nearer the centre of
Alaska than Skaguay. and 200 miles nearer
by railroad to what is known as Forty
Mile country.
The ruling question, however, being cheap
freghts. the element OF fast time is rot
30 important a matter. Mr.. Gillette says,
rs that Of furnishing supplies 10 miners
md prospectors at the lowest price possi-
bic. As an Illustration OF this, insurance
-ates afford fair index Of the comparative
safety of the two routes, those on the
inside passage being double that of the
outside passage.
The development of the country in the |
'uture, Mr. Gillette says, will probably |
lecessitate railroad line over both routes |
rhe preliminary surveyed by him com
nands both routes without Joss of dis
.ance or grade. From Dutch Valley TO
Thompson Pass the elevation 10 be over
some is 1000 feet. Fortunately for the
success OF this route the side wall Of the
valley is formed by succession of flats.
DR. benches" which are from 50 to 500
Yards wide. and which afford a most ex-
client opportunity to support a railroad ,
inc and furnish all the room desired TO
ievelop distance and reach the summit
With practically any grade desired.
Mr.. Gillette remarks what may be very (
veil conceived. that the trade OF Central I
iiaska is entirely an unknown quantity
i the present tine. The greater part q, !
bis region is yet to be explored aud then ,
o be prospected. Rumor has always given !
his country the reputation Of having vagt
mineral deposits OF copper ore, and, he I
avs. this is being demonstrated as a fact