The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-30
OPENING OF THE INTERIOR.
Transportatlon Problem Solved by
Railway Construction.

Probably no other institution has con-
tributed so much to Southeastern Alaska
development as the White Pass e. Yukon
railroad. which has the distinction OF an
American start and British finish. This
railroad. the first in Alaska. is liz miles
long. 1t extends from American Skag-
way. on Lynn canal. to White Horse. mt
the head of navigation on the British
Yukon.
The projectors OF the enterprise broke
ground in April 1898. and drove the last
spike at the terminus June s. 1900. II was
constructed under the general supervision
of Chief Engineer f. c. Hawkins. now
general manager of the road. The con-
tract work was done by M. ]. Heney.
In round numbers, the aoad. admitted, by
reason OF the rugged. mountainous coun-
try which it traverses, TO be one of the
marvels of modern engineering. cost So
100000. It's completion solved the prob
lem of transportation from the seaboard
TO the Klondike and other Yukon dis
tricts.
The memorable stampede of 1915 to the
new gold fields resulted in the loss of
hundreds OF lives and vast sums OF
money. During the eigh; months suisse
quent to the arrival of the Portland. in
the summer of 81, with the first great
gold cargo ever received IN Seattle. about
5000 people sought the new diggings. All
tried TO get in by way OF Lynn canal
ana the White and Chilkoot passes. The
dangers attending such efforts were in
Vulnerable. Fully fifteen thousand people
were strewn along those trails during
the fall of 1897. Many got as far as the
lakes, but they found IL impossible 20
transport their outfits across the passes
save at the risk OF their lives and the
cost OF much money. Several thousand
gave UP In disgust, hut returned again.
renewing their efforts in the spring and
summer of ises with better success. Dur
Ing the winter there were many dsas-
tiers. notably the great Sheep Camp land
slide. I'm which over sixty men and women
were buried beneath an avalanche Of
snow and ice while trying 60 cross Chill
koot pass Cold. hunger and disease car
RED off many more. Pneumonia. typhoid
fever and la grippe claimed victims by
the score. Hundreds OF horses died OF
hunger and exhaustion on the tran. and
their decaying carcasses were dumped in
to Dyea and other rivers from which the
weary gold hunters had 70 quench their
thirst
Next came the so-called Bracket wagon
road. corduroy and bridge highway
buiit at great expense BY Gen George A.
Bracket, as 2 partial solution 81 the tn
terior transportation problem. This high
way at once demonstrated the certainty
OF success as a money making venture OF
railroad.
The White Pass a Yukon reyolutionixed
transportation In the Lynn canal section.
The completion Of the railroad 10 White
Horse brings the KIondike within seven
days OF Seattle. During the summer
months the distance can be covered with
little effort In that time. The run from
Seattle TO Skagway Is made bs- the aver
age INnn canal steamer IN less than
three days L takes hu, ahou, fye hours
TO run 70 White Horse, and the distance
from that point 10 Dawson. AZ miles =
eaaily done IN three days. and under
pressure and favorable weather, in two.
Coming out. nearly as good lima can
% rnads IN summer.