The Cordova daily times., 1923-03-27
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1923
IMPORTANT DEMONSTRATION

A demonstration of great economic interest to Yukon, Alaska and the entire widespread sub-Arctic region is being carried on this Winter in the Mayo silver camp. That demon stration is in respect to transportation with the modern caterpillar tractor The Treadwell Yukon Company introduced the caterpillar into the camp last Summer, and Immediately put it to work on the partly completed roads, and found it could be operated to great eco- homie advantage in the Summer and even m the muddy periods during the fall rams. 1t now is being proved according to all reports from the Mayo camp, that the caterpillar IS even greater success in Winter than Tn Sum- mer The machine is what IS known as a ten-ton Holt caterpillar, of the make used extensively in the war and built on the same principle as the famous fighting tanks. It IS reported by good authority that the cater pillar at Mayo is hauling the silver ore ot the Treadwell Yukon Company over the forty three mile stretch from Keno Hill to Mayo Landing at cost of $5 to $7 a ton, or at one fourth to one-fifth the cost of hauling with horses. The machine is said to work con- stantlv day and night, and in the lowest temperatures, with perfect satisfaction, and to haul on the snow covered road fifty to sixty tons of ore per trip, with aid of trallers, and to make a round trip every forty hours. The snowy roads of Winter pack hard and arc converted into boulevard by the "cat" and its traiers Allowing that all these points in favor of the caterpillar are correct, it may be expected that this type of machine will work revolution in land transport in this Territory and elsewhere in the North.
 The point has been raised that the intro duction of the tractor or caterpillar may dis place teams and teamsters This may prove the case, but if the great saving in cost of hauling which is reported from Mayo obtains, operators may be expected to speedily adopt the new modes of transport. The saving on the hauling of ton of ore affords such a wide margin that much lower grade of ore will thus be rendered workable, and so much more of that class of ore brought into range of profitable operation that it should work a compensation by affording additional new work for the teamsters displaced and for many others Both the machines and the ad- ditional mining would require more men. and the general development throughout the Mayo and every other mineral camp in the North land should be accelerated.
 A great portion of the resources of the Northland long have lain dormant because of the forbidding cost of transportation in re- mote areas. It has been said by well ll-known Yukoner that the demonstration of the suita- bility of the caterpillar to this region and the great saving it effects are of more i'm portance at this period than the finding of a new silver lode. new lode is of importance to the immediate locality, but the demonstra ton of practical, new method of transport for the Northland is of vital concern in the opening of the entire sub-Arctic empire.
 The machines in question not only can be used in the hauling of ores to market but likewise in hauling supplies of all kinds on