The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-19
Government to Build 2,400 Miles
Of Telegraph Line.
FROM vALDEs TO ST. MICHAEL.
CAPT. Abercrombfe in Seattle ON His
way North Tells War Depsrt-
menes PIans-Military Trail Into
Yukon to he CompIeted-Esstern
Syndicate May Build Railroad
Along the Same General Route.

II IL the purpose Of the government to
construct 2,400 miles OF telegraph In Al
aska and to complete the military ROAD
begun by Capt w. r, Abercrombie from
the sea, at Port valdes, to Fort Egoert'
on the Yukon. Operations, systematic
and energetic. are to be begun IN .ne
early spring. They Will be pushed with
all possible vigor each working season
until completed.
This Is the important announcement
made yesterday by Capt. Abercrompie
himself Capt. Abercrombie, whose name
is 10 inseparably connected with the mill
itary exploration OF Copper river. arrived
in Seattle yesterday direct from the ma
tional capital He is en- route to Port
valdes, where he goes to direct prepara-
tons for the commencement or spring
work Later he will be followed by com m
military police duty in the Copper River
Capt Abercrombie is returning. to Al
aska with enlarged responsibilities. In
prosecuting the work so well fnaugurated
by him last year and the year before his
official rank Will henceforth be that OF
dali. the commander OF the new depart
ment Of Alaska.
His Plans I'm Detail.
Capt. Abercrombie discussed In detail
the work which the government has UNI
dertaken in Alaska. LIS gigantic s,ni, v ,n-
this city. from which the government has
long dispatched all important Alaskan ex-
pedtions Hundreds q t thousands 81 a9 nd
supplies The 2.f0o miles OF telegraph line
will be built from a point at or near Port
vaides Along the route ro Of M me govern s
thence down the Yukon to St Michael.
For this work an appropriation OF $780, 900
the completion OF the military road. The
entire work cannot be completed In one
season. but n Is probable that the tele-
graph line will be completed from the
sea to the Yukon before another winter
sets III.
As for the trail. Capt. Abercrombie
thinks he can complete 1t during next sea-
son from It's present terminus. eighty
ss inland msns s The a gser 'wS r
ac ey ne 81 ha wh
tual construction the troops have nothing
10 do. Theirs is to be purely police SER
vice.
In the road extension Capt Abercrombic
says much bridge building Is necessary.
Many rivers and small streams have to
and heavy timbers viii na be required ~ IN the
construction OF the bridges. and all OF
this, Capt Ahsrcrombie states, Is TO be
nGs VIII be- nesde sna sor ss
tation OF this and other material and sup
plies the government has decided TO en-
ploy one OF its Pacific. coast transports.
designated.
Among other improvements the depart
apf .ne por vsass
hay. The necessity for this became ap-
parent as soon a. II was decided to push
the construction nsra Of the telegraph line and
valdes, and the great quantities OF ma
terial cannot be conveniently lightered
to shore 4 site for the wharf VIII be
his arrival from the East. He and Capt.
Richardson. adjutant general of the de-
gartment q Alaska. are expected to reach
seattle within two weeks.
Railroad Men Interested.
Capt Abercrombie's comprehensive re-
portion the Copper river country was or
dered printed as public document on
motion OF senator Eikins. and upon the
cate headed by Henry Willard. the rail-
road builder. IL now having surveys made
for railroad to extend along the general
valdcs To the Yukon. Two passes through
the mountain range are under considera-
tion. One Is Marshall pass. the extreme
elevation OF which Is LOO feet. and the
other Thompson pass. with a 2,e00-foot
elevation. From the former the road
would extend down the Tasnuna TO the
would extend through Thompson pass and
thence down the Teikheli river valley
through SwSmpy pass, at the head OF the
knata and on Down the Tonsina into the
The distance from Port vaides to Fort
Egbeft r. aio miles and u is estimated
that railroad could be built for less than
s&.ooo per mile. Tho construction OF
such road would bring the American
Yukon within quick and easy access from
the sea for all kinds OF traffic.
Capt Ahercrombie expects 70 leave for
Port Naldes about February e6 He viii
take an engineer corps with him and In
May the troops VIII follow. Many OF the
isborers needed would be obtained In Alas
ka.