The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-13
White Pass & Yukon Stock Started
at6,5O and Now Sells at $500
Per Share.
A New System to Be Built in the
Seward Peninsular-Maps
Are Filed.
Solomon City, at the Mouth Of the
Solomon River, the Start
ing Point.

From The Journal Bureau, Room As, Post Build
ing. Washington.
Washington. Feb 1s.-Maps and sur
veyors notes Of a railroad system in the
Seward peninsula, called, the Alaskan
district nearest Asia which were made
by Paul Heinz of Detroit, chief engineer
of the Council City & Solomon River
Railway company, organized to build the
system have been filed with the commits
sioner CT the general land office. The
company's general offices are in The
Rookery building. Chicago, and it's stock
holders are mostly Chicago. New York
and Michigan men. Paul Heinz. who is
in Washington with the general manager
of the company. j. Warren Dickson or
Chicago on business with the interior de-
partment relating to the company, speak
ing of the enterprise and the outlook for
it, said:
The system will connect all of the prn-
cipal mineral producing areas and centers
of population and mining known at pres
ent throughout the Solomon river. Coun-
Gil City Ophir Creek. Blue Stone, York
and Nome regions, with tidewater and
vessel transportation at Solomon City.
Grantley Harbor. Fort Clarence and Good
Hope Bay. thus gridironing the peninsula.
According to the United States mint re-
ports this peninsula is the richest min
eral producing area on the North Amerl-
can continent having produced in ten
months of 1902, s5,0oo,00o of gold alone.
Company Can Do Anything.
The articles of incorporation permit the
company not only to build and operate
railway system. but also to carry on the
business of mining to lease and develop
mining properties, to own and operate
work shops and factories. lumber mills and
yards. stores. hotels and restaurants. to
manage with or without any connection
with the ny's railroad and mining
business. and also to own and conduct
general stores.
TT is contemplated to build this year
the first section of the line. which will be
from Solomon City, less than 100 miles
east Of Nome. to Council City, distance
of about fifty miles. The right of way,
which we have already secured from the
government. gives us 100 feet on each
side Of the center Jine Of our tracks and
twenty acres for station grounds for each
ten miles Of constructed road. Already
we have over 13. 900 acres on which we
have complete railroad rights. thus afford :
ing US liberal terminal facilities and room
for stores. hotels, and 50 on:
Solomon, Cits,--at the mouth of Solo
mon river. the starting point Of our road,
Is the only practicable harbor for the
landing of freight and passengers for sey-
eral hundred miles along the coast. The
section traversed by the line to Council
City is low and flat, along the bank OF
the river. The unlimited beds Of grave
there is no timber along the coast for
belt Of twenty-five to forty miles, our
road back Of that will strike into good
timber Prices for lumber on the trails
run from 5000 to $500 per 1000 feet, and
all Of it is now shipped from Seattle
Tacoma and other points In the states.
mo better proof of the vast earring
possibilities OF our road is needed thar
the showing of three railroads built il
Alaska in the past five years. =
What Other Roads Are Doing.
1.-THE White Pass & Yukon road, built
In 1889 at cost Of something like
$4,000. 900 for liz miles, paid nearly 81
00O, 900 profit the first two seasons of its
operation. It's stock started at $3.50 pei
share in 1898 and is now quoted above
$500 per share. The company paid g
per cent dividend last year. s.-. 'r..s
The Little Wild Goose railroad, run,
ming only 5as miles between Nome Cit.
and Anvil Creek. which was built by {
California millionaire at a total cost Of {
little less than s30,O0O, is reported or
good authority to have paid the cost o
it's operation, making in one dull season
soS0000 net profit. The rate charged
for the five-mile. journey was 81 per pas
senger, and the freight charge was 50
per ton, being about the same as il
charged for carriage from Seattle t.
Nome. distance OF $500 miles.
THE Wild Goose company also bull
a short line Of about six miles from Coun
Gil City to Aplin Creek, which has pail
enormously on the small investment
1T is estimated that our road can b
built at a cost of from $4,000 to $1,000
per mile. On the surveyed route iron
Solomon City to Council City not singl
bridge will have to be built.
Il suppose very few people In tn
United States realize the extent and pos
sibiities Of Alaska. 1t has an area o
nearly 100000 square miles. equal to tn
combined area. Of the New England. mid
die and southern states. and millions Q
its acres have never been traversed by
white man. 1t is not by any means
frozen, barren waste, but in not fey
sections farming and stock raising ar
developing rapidly. 1t is the largest fis
and fur producing country in the world.
w. w. Jermane.