The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-20

Shippers TO make contracts. If possible
which will bind the steamship peopIe to
Iahd freight safely on the beach. be
cause there is 10 harbor on this coast
and goods must be landed in small bos+s
In a strong surf, and are frequently lost
or greatly damaged in the operation.
once 2sAore, travel into the interior is.
Dy canoe on the streams, or by dog team
or reindeer overland. trained reindeer
costs $3.50, and Will keep in good condition
or the moss of the tundra both winter
and summer. There are sad 10 be about
thousand Of them on Seward Peninsula
RAILWAY PROTECTED.
A preliminary survey has just been
completed by Messrs. Rutledge and Car
side for a standard gauge railroad %
be known as the Alaska-Slberian railroad
from Port Clarence, on the Behrng sea.
to Kaltag, on the Yukon river, by way
Of Nome City. Port Clarence furnishes
the only deep harbor In those waters and
IS eighty-tive miles northwest Of Nome
This connection by raj with a good apd
safe port will obviate the expense and
great discomfort of lighterage from
ocean going vessels in the heavy surf, as
well as the enormous expense Of Dc
murrage on account of storms, as here
tofore, to say nothing Of the danger tC
human life The cost OF construction of
this line for the hundred miles already
surveyed is estimated at $500 OO0
A conservative estimate as to the cos
Of Eghterage, loss Of goods, etc. during
the last season amounts to something
like $l,5O00O0 The dischargiug Of tn
last cargo of the Roanoke alone cos'
$4,000, averaging $40 a ton, while the cos
of discharging the Bertha's cargo on heI
final trip amounted TO $4,000.
From Port Clarence, which is sheitere,
from the wind, the road will follow IN,
beach, passing the New Eldorado, Oh,
Sinrok the Penny river and the Nomt
districts to Port Safety. the town o
Bonanza District; thence through the
Fish river and Norton bay districts g
Kaltag, where it will connect with Yukol
river steamers.
There has been some talk Of the con
struction Of wharves for the landing o.
freight on the beach at Nome, but thi
idea, 1t is believed. will be abandoned
impract cable The first obstacle 70 b
encountered is the shallow water, whic.
extends out from the beach for at leas-
a mile. A pier built Of piles for thi
distance 10 enable deep sea vessels q
discharge freight and passengers, WOuI'
have to be constructed each year, sine
the heavy ice1Oes would probably Wrec
the piling as the ice went out in th
spring A short per, even for one season
could hardly withstand the storms tina
sweep over the coast OF the Behrln2 Sc
at this point. and if the structure was nc
altogether torn away small boats
barges could not be landed at it durln
heavy weather.
Port Clarence. the proposed terminal
this line of railroad, is only q few mile
distant from Cape Prince Of wales, wh!c
is the most westerly portion Of Unite
States territory on the mainland, the la'
ter being so far West, in fact, as to
almost within hailing distance Of Ru-
STA. the Shores Of Siberia, separated froI
America only by Behring strait, beln
plainly visible to the naked eyes at th
particular pOiat.
The survey of this line Of railroad va
considered Of sufficient Importance
necessitate preliminary work being don
in midwinter. Bravins the tempests
this Northern cline at this season is u
light matter. but notwithstanding d.
many obstacles and dangers 10 be me
and overcome. the surveying party, hea'
ed by the official engineers OF the con
pany, Messrs. Rutledge and Garside. Wa
undaunted. and carried the work throug
to the finish The camp outfit and sur
plies were conveyed by reindeer and do
teams. and the party, guided by d nativ
set foINh early in November.
HINTS AS TO OUTFIT.
The adventurer. having decided upon
route. will probably turn his though
next tn his outfit. The report goes ln
this subject minutely and practically. az
visine the use Of certain kinds of foo
clothing and tools and the rejection &
others for reasons founded on actual q
per.ence and common sense. For ~
stance, foods which take much cookir
should be avoided because the couutr
supplies no fuel OF its own. Driftwo'
on the beach Is the only resource f.
those who cannot afford TO buy or tai
in kerosene Mosquito proof gloves az
head dress are necessary, because n
mosquitoes are worse up there than
New Jersey man ever dreamed or Ru
Der clothing is indispensable. for when
isn't freezing at Cape Nome il is &c
orally raining. Anti-scorbutics cannot
overlooked, for scurvy is easily acQuir
and economy in nourishing food is q
most reckless extravaganza because
phoid pneumonia IS engendered by
climatic conditions and by the unhygle
&c state of the camps. In a large nuI
Der of cases last summer II proved tat'
What profit is there in trunkful OF 80
dust If one does not live to bring It ba'
TO civilization?