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T 
 
 AgH 
 Win 
 
 
 ( 
 
 S 
 
 L 
 
T 
 
 8ight Routes 
 
 To the — ''*:^::-^ 
 
 Klondyke. 
 
 By WALTER MOBERLY. C.E. 
 
 Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada, at the Department of 
 Agnculture, by The Colonist Planting and Publishing Company, Limited, of 
 Winnipeg, Manitoba. 
 
 >m-m^>mm^^m>m^i»^m^m 
 
 Whichever Route may be taken 
 to the Goldfields, 
 
 
 THE- 
 
 Hudson's Bay Company 
 
 Can furnish all necessary Outfits 
 
 and Supplies for Miners 
 
 and Prospectors. 
 
 Storf!8 at Wiuuipefc, Cal^itry, Edmonton, Kamloops, Vancouver. Victoria, 
 
 and other points. 
 
 urmt iMiiM 
 
- ^1 |"i ', ■fi.r'."." ^. i-i' •"fif^ri-i 
 
 ■ '■m^fn-ll^^ ';'!," uiii..,i»iflwi^^iffpipp™pp" 
 
 E. F. HUTCH INQS 
 
 OREAT NORTHWEST SADDLERY HOUSE 
 
 Will be headqurtera for all kinds of Prospectors' Supplies lu the way of 
 
 Paok Saddles, Bldlngr Saddles* Dnnmage Baffs, 
 Hobbles, Paok Straps, Rubber Blankets, 
 
 and everything suitable for prospectors in the way of {".i^ther goods. We have two good stores In 
 North and South Edmonton where all those supplies can be had at cheapest rate, or call while 
 passing through iVinuipeg and bay at headquarters. 
 
 Cor. Main and Market Sta., Winnipeg. 
 
 E. F. HUT0NINQ8 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 The Eight Routes page 7 
 
 St. Michael's Route " 8 
 
 Dyea Route " 9 
 
 Stickeen Rivor Route " 11 
 
 Takou Inlet Route " 12 
 
 Revelstoke Route '* 18 
 
 Mackenzie River Route " 16 
 
 Liard Route " 20 
 
 Historical Sketch " 83 
 
 General Information " 45 
 
 Latest Information on the Routes ... " 48 
 
1 
 
 ':■>''■ J 
 
 Of 
 
 good stores In 
 e> or call while 
 
 'OHiiies 
 
 EIGHT ROUTES 
 
 — TO- 
 
 WiTH Tahles op Distances, Cost op Oltpits, Map op 
 Routes, and otheu Inpormation 
 
 Compiled and Edited bv 
 
 WALTER MOBERLY, C.E. 
 
 For sixteen yeare eiij^ajrud in exploratory and eiijrlnecrin},' worlc on tlic Pacllic C last Moutitali: 
 rauKes for tlie Iiniicrial and Doininion UovernmeiitP, and tlic Canadian 
 
 I'atlHc Hallway. 
 
 I'rill.nilKO IIY 
 
 The Colonist PiiiNriNO & PiruMSHiNd Co, Ltd. 
 
 WlXNllKC , MANLI'iHIA. 
 
 \NLI'i 
 
 zii 
 
 {, 
 
 J 
 
 6' 
 
 / / 
 
Advkutisements. 
 
 Midnapore Woollen Mills 
 
 ..SPECIALTIES.. 
 
 KLONDYKE BLANKETS 
 
 MamifiU'tnriMl fiitinl.v of ruic Allierta 
 Wool, ivimiiitiinjr warmth and lifj-litness 
 of wt'iirtit. Lar»:e sizes 8.nU» fi'i't. i)rifes 
 froini>5.0<> iipwurilH. 
 
 MACKINAW CLOTH 
 
 Special Extra Heavy for Suits and 
 Shirts. Tailors on iiremlses. Oiittitters 
 for the Klondyke. 
 
 KINMAIRD SHAW & CO., CALGARY, AITA 
 
 THE 
 
 at 
 
 Edmonton 
 
 MILLING CO., UNITED 
 
 MANUFACLUREIIS Highest Grades Roller Flour from No. i 
 Hard Wheat. Mill nearer the Klondyke than any other. Save f, 
 freight. Our prices are below Winnipeg, Chicago or New York. 
 
 PUT UP IN DOUBLE SACKS EXPRESSLY FOR THE KLONDYKE TRADE 
 
 SEND $1 
 
 And get the COLONIST ALBUM (containing 
 64 pages of Western views) and Tiik Colonist 
 for one year. Address<i^^_ 
 
 THE COLONIST PRINTING & PUBLISHING CO., LTD. 
 
 AVINNIFEO, MA*!. 
 
Advkrtisioments. 
 
 :SSS^!^^^3g8B!8:^^ 
 
 .OTH 
 
 Suits and 
 s. Outfitters 
 
 iRY, ALTA. 
 
 LIMITED. 
 
 om No. I 
 ther. Save 
 New York. 
 
 YKE TRADE 
 
 I 
 
 fiST 
 
 ING CO.. LTD. 
 
 
 t-f'jf'ta tpjttAf^jOm i5j 
 
 it«i 
 
 
 
 WESTERN ONTARIO 
 GOLD FIELDS 
 
 '^ji^) 
 
 THE RICHEST 
 FREE MILLING 
 GOLD DEPOS- 
 ITS ON EARTH 
 
 DO Yoy 
 
 ^ KNoyy? 
 
 Ite' THAT our producing mines are averaging $20 per ton hi gold ? 
 
 ^ipif THAT each stamp mill handles of this ore three tons or over 
 
 W;*; per day ? 
 
 Iff THAT a ten stamii mill can at^d has earned over 8°/ interest on 
 
 1^ One and a Half Million Dollars ? 
 
 ^ THAT one mine but one year old has produced in gold bullion 
 j^ over $60,000, and is not yet down 200 feet. 
 
 fe THAT water, fuel, climate and transportation, are all in abun- 
 
 W^ dance and cheap ? 
 
 " YOU KNOW THE REST 
 
 For reliable information and particulars 
 regarding this marvellous country 
 
 ADDRESS 
 
 5lewton ©.tlDesterfiefd 
 
 <C:^>^WINMIPEG^ MANITOBA. 
 
Adveuti8h:ments. 
 
 KLONDYKE 
 
 -^VIA^^ 
 
 EDMONTON 
 
 IS THE SHORTEST AND BEST ROUTE 
 TO GET TO THE GOLD FIELDS, and.. 
 
 LARU 
 
 IS THE PROPER PLAGE FOR INTENDING MINERS /\| ITEITC 
 
 TO BUY THEIR NECESSARY UU 1 ll 1 j3 
 
 Our ten years' experience in supplying miners and 
 traders is sufficient guarantee that miners and 
 prospect* rs will find the right kind of goods at 
 the smallest possible outlay. 
 
 Branch Store at Slave Lake 
 
 Information as to Route, Guides, etc., furnished. 
 Correspondence solicited. 
 
 LARUE & PICARD 
 
 GENERAL MERCHANTS, 
 
 EDMONTON. ALBERTA. 
 
E 
 
 ITS 
 
 nd 
 nd 
 at 
 
 d. 
 
 }. 
 
 Introductory. 
 
 Since the first great Californian gold excitement of '49, there have been a 
 series of rich " strikes," generally in the most unexpected quarters of the 
 world, nearly always in the most remote, and never at more than one place at 
 a time. The Californian discoveries were succeeded a little later by even 
 richer discoveries in Australia, these again by those in the Caribou district of 
 British Columbia, while quite recently the attention of the world was attracted 
 to the marvellous free-milling propositions of the Transvaal, and still more 
 recently to the sensational discoveries of Western Australia. Each of these 
 districts has in turn been the great gold producer of the day, though under 
 very different conditions. California's, Australia's and the Caribou's rich days 
 were the results of placer diggings, while the Rand, which speedily became the 
 greatest producing gold field in the world, as well as Western Australia, the 
 scene of a still later activity, were only free-milling gold fields, where individual 
 miners with nothing but their pluck and their muscle had no opportunity of 
 acquiring a fortune excepting in the speculative occupation of " prospecting. ' 
 Indeed, since the days of the diggings on the Caribou, there has beeareally no 
 great discovery of a field where any man with a few supplies has the oppor- 
 tunity of delving his fortune out of the soil in perhaps a few months, until the 
 most recent discovery of all — and the one that promises to be also the greatest 
 — the rich placer deposits on the Upper Yukon, and its tributaries. Former 
 discoveries have been rich, and also inaccessible, but this latest one is 
 apparently the richest, as it is the most inaccessible of all. It appears to be 
 the fate of all rich gold fields that they shall be attended by many natural 
 obstacles in the way of climate and situation. It is probably just as well for 
 the adventurous men who are willing to face these obstacles that it is so, for 
 were such enormous wealth as the deposits of the Klondyke to be situated 
 within easy reach, the rush thither would be so overwhelming that a very 
 small percentage of the crowd would have any chance of securing a prize. 
 Under the present conditions the number of miners in the Klondyke must be 
 enormously diminished by the difficulty and expense of getting there, and 
 therefore these very obstacles become an advantage to those \vlio have the 
 pluck and the endurance necessary to reach the remote region. At the same 
 time, though only comparatively a few can go, all the world is intensely 
 interested, and everyone wants to know more about this extraordinary source 
 of incalculable wealth in the inhospitable regions of Arctic America ; and. 
 
therefore a handbook such as this will be welcome to just as many people who 
 have no idea of going there, as to those who are perhaps already making 
 preparations to undertake the journey next spring. 
 
 'ihis little pamphlet on the Klondyke has been compiled from the most 
 reliable sources of information extant. It is, ;is will be seen, edited by a man 
 who has had more active personal experience of exploration and travel in the 
 Northern ranges of the Rocky Mountains than any man living, and, therefore, 
 we have no hesitation in claiming for it a greater degree of reliability than any 
 publication that has as yet been issued on the subject. Mr. Moberly has had 
 at his command all the available information concerning this little explored 
 region, and this, added to his own personal knowledge of the subject, has 
 enabled him to produce a i.iost reliable guide to any one contemplating a 
 journey to the Rlondyke. The object has been not so much to add 
 testimony to the already overwhelming evidence that the Klondyke is the 
 richest gold field of the world, as to furnish definite and reliable information 
 of the kind that will be of most value to all who have made up their minds to 
 go there, or are still discussing within themselves the advisability of undertak- 
 ing the adventure. 
 
 THE COr.ONIST PRIN TINC; & PUBi JSHINCI CO., LTD. 
 
' people who 
 eady making 
 
 om the most 
 ed by a man 
 travel in the 
 d, therefore, 
 ity than any 
 erly has had 
 le explored 
 subject, has 
 emplating a 
 ich to add 
 idyke is the 
 information 
 Mr minds to 
 )f undertak- 
 
 CO., LID. 
 
 Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 Up to the present there are only two or three regularly travelled routes to 
 tillb Yukon placer fields, and all of them to a greater or less extent within the 
 Uhited States territory, owing to the anomalous direction of the undefined 
 international boundry line from Mt. St. Elias southward along the Pacific 
 Coast. These are, of course, via|the Pacific Ocean ; but for half a century or 
 gore the hardy and indomitable servants of the Hudson's Bay Company have 
 id regular routes of travel across the mountauis from the East. Our object 
 i to furnish a concise and accurate description of every known route. These 
 ascriptions have been compiled from information gathered from many so'-.r^^es, 
 but principally from ex-olificials and employees of the Hudson's Bay Comp.r •, 
 ll|d prospectors and traders, from the official reports of Oovernment explorers 
 attid surveyers and from missionaries, who have spent many years ''^ these 
 almost unknown regions. 
 
 > W'e find then that the gold 3esH.er has his choice of eight different routes 
 \h which he may reach the Klondyke, namely : 
 
 11. Bj- St. Michael's and the Yukon river. 
 •2. By Juneau to Dyea and the Chilkoot or White Pass. 
 3. Bj' the Stickeen river, Telegrai)h creek and Teslin lake. 
 4. Takou inlet. 
 5. Edmonton, the Y'^ellow Head Pass and Giscome Portage. 
 • ). Revelstoke and Cariboo. 
 7. Edmonton and the Liard river. 
 H. The McKenzie and Pon.'upine rivers. 
 The starting points are Victoria, Revelstoke or Edmonton, all on the 
 nadian Pacific Railway ; we mention \'ictoria in preference to the American 
 rts to the south because by outfitting at that place the traveller will avoid 
 ving to pay duty on the goods he takes to the Yukon country. Winnipeg 
 ght almost be called the starting point for all l;ut the Pacific Coast routes, 
 on account of it being the distributing point for the whole North-west, much 
 it would be required could be purchased to better advantage at that point 
 m at the smaller western towns. 
 
 However this question will be more fully discussed under the heading of 
 hVhere to outfit." 
 
 Before entering upon a detailed description of each route we might say 
 Ut the gold-seeker should be guided in his choice of road by several impor- 
 Lnt considerations, the most important being the state of his finances. He 
 lould also consider which route is most suitable to travel at the season of the 
 ;ar when he proposes to start, also whether he intends to make direct for the 
 Llondyke, or whether he wishes to travel through an auriferous country and 
 )rospect by the way. 
 
 Another question worthy of consideration is the size of the party, and 
 irhether the members of it are experienced in mountain travel. A " tender- 
 
8 
 
 Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 foot " party without an experienced guide should not think of attempting an\ 
 but the Pacific Coast routes. "Phvsicial fitness" is also a matter to be taken 
 into account in coming to a decision on this important question. 
 
 For the sake of convenience in making comparisons as to distances and cos 
 by these different ways, we have taken Winnipeg as a basis on account of it 
 central position on the Canadian Pacific Railway — a comparison of distance 
 and cost by each route will be found further on. 
 
 The St. Michael's Route. 
 
 
 This is the luxurious expensive way of reaching the gold fields — railronc 
 and steamboats all the way — but until many more steamers are plying from 
 Victoria it will be but few who can avail themselves of it. The great drawback, 
 and to many an insurmountable one, is that the steamship companies will not 
 carry more than 150 lbs. of baggage for each person — the reason of this beinu 
 that they do a trading business of which they have practically a monopoly. 
 
 I'lius a miner going to St. Michael's must have a long purse to enable him , 
 to buy his supplies when he reaches his destination. He also runs the risk of | 
 arriving at a time when there is a shortage of " grub " and famine prices are 
 prevailing. Should this route be selected a passage would have to be booked 
 some time in advance. 
 
 This route is named after an o'd Russian Fort on an island in the Pacifi( . 
 80 miles outside the mouth of the Yukon River. Travellers by this route take 
 the train at Winnipeg and go through to Victoria 1,600 miles, taking there a 
 steamer for Unalaska, or Dutch Harbor, on one of the AUeutian Islands, 2,000 
 miles from Victoria. There the steamer enters Behring Sea and continues in 
 its icy waters for 750 miles to St. Michael's, wliere the traveller takes a Hat 
 bottomed river steamer, and after a passage of 80 miles in North Sound, enters 
 the mouth of the Yukon, up which he is carried on the steamer 1,800 miles to 
 Dawson City, over 6,200 miles from Winnipeg by this circuitous route. Tht 
 cost of passage with berths and meals between Winnipeg and Dawson City is 
 $250, at the very lowest estimate, being $200 from Victoria. It is plain th, t .' 
 this is the most convenient route, but for all it is by no means a desirable oni'. •. 
 As the Yukon mouth is choked by drift ice till July, and as ice sets in again 
 in September, two round trips are all that can be depended on in one season. 
 Besides this, landing at St. Michael's is often difficult and sometimes impossibic, 
 while the passage of 80 miles from there to the Yukon on a river steamer is In 
 all counted a dangerous trip. With the exception of the portion on the h\J,h M 
 seas and the last 175 miles or so on the Yukon, this route lies entirely within f 
 United States territory. I 
 
Eight Routes to thk Ki.ondykk. 
 
 )f attempting an\^ 
 atter to be taken j 
 )n. 
 
 istances and cos 
 on account of it: 
 ison of distance; 
 
 The Dyea Route. 
 
 fields — railroac 4 
 ' are plying from f 
 : great drawback, 
 mpanies will not 
 son of this beinii _. 
 a monopoly. ^ 
 se to enable him 
 ) runs the risk of ' 
 mine prices are 
 ve to be booked a 
 
 id in the Pacific,] 
 y this route take 
 , taking there ai 
 ui Islands, 2,000] 
 md continues in; 
 ler takes a flat 
 th Sound, enters 
 r 1,800 miles to 
 )us route. 'J"hi 
 Dawson City is 
 It is plain th: t 
 a desirable oni', 
 ce sets in again | 
 1 in one season. 
 imes impossible. - 
 ^'r steamer is !)y 
 ion on the hiji . 
 s entirely within :^ 
 
 4 
 
 To date this is the most popular route if the numl)er of people passing 
 over it is taken as indicating popularity. Boarding a steamer at Victoria the 
 i traveller proceeds to Juneau, Alaska, some 900 miles, changing there to a 
 smaller steamer and continuing the journey 100 miles further on to Dyea, at 
 the head of Dyea or Taiya Inlet. From this place to the headwaters of the 
 Lewis, the Western branch of the Yukon, the distance is only 23 miles, via 
 Chilkoot Pass, or some 50 miles via \Vhite Pass, aud of these two the Chilkoot 
 has been the principal route of travel. The summit of this pass is just about 
 3,500 feet over tide-water, rather less than 16 miles distant, and 1,378 feet 
 over I-ake Linderman, 8 miles distant, to the northeast. All travellers agree as 
 to the main points when des:ribing this mountain pass. The following descrip- 
 tion of the journey is taken from a letter by L. R. McKenzie, with a party of 
 Manitobans : 
 
 " The first six miles travelled were along a river, with the roadrunninj; from 
 one bank to the other and a very hard path to pjetalonK ; sand and boulders, with 
 from six inches to two feet of water, with a very swift current. The balance of 
 the distance to the canyon is over boulders with fair footing. This is the end of 
 the wagon road, and 3'ou tliuu take to the woods and begin the mountain climb, 
 going up and up until the river-looks like a silver thread below; After leaving 
 Sheep Camp we began to reach a few of the " liigh spots " right up in the clouds. 
 For one thousand feet we had to stick " our toe nails in for all we were worth," 
 and take steps from four to six inclies. I will not undertake to say how deep the 
 snow is. When the top was reached the descent begun and if one lost his footing 
 he was liable to go several hundred feet before recovering his equilibrium. There 
 are six miles of this snow travelling. It is a hard looking path. 'J'he last six 
 miles are not so bad. l)i.t is rough as one wants. If you see anyone intending to 
 coine to the Yukon l>y this route tell them if they cannot pay for transportation 
 on the portage " don't come." 
 
 This gives a clear idea of what the Chilkoot pass is like, and it is well to 
 state that the track used by travellers is some seven miles longer than the one 
 measured by Ogilvie, being more windmg for the sake of somewhat easier 
 grades and better footholds. 
 
 But short as this pass is, it is a most expensive piece of road for the miner 
 having goods to freight acros.s. The Chilkoot Indians are the only parties 
 packing supplies over the pass. They are a wealthy tril:e, independent and 
 even insolent. Their present rate from Dyea to I.inderman is 25 cents a 
 pound, while it is feared the price may go higher. Now, if a miner goes fiiirly 
 well supplied he must take with him at least 1000 pounds of goods, and paying 
 25 cents a pound means a charge of $250.00 for freighting his goods a distance 
 of 23 to 30 miles. 
 
 When I.inderman is reached the traveller must either purchase a boat, 
 there being a small sawmill and boat builders at that j)lace, or go to work and 
 fell timber, rip it into boards and build his' own boat. A boat capable of 
 carrying two or three men and their su[)plies can be purchased here for $75, 
 but a great many whose purses are not overstocked will doubtless continue to 
 
V 
 
 lO 
 
 Eu;ht Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 \ I 
 
 fiiid the material and construct the boat themselves. In this connection it 
 mi;;ht be said that timber for boatbuilding is getting scarce in the immediate 
 vicinity of the lake. 
 
 'I'he boat being secured, it is comparatively plain sailing to the land of 
 gold— to Dawson, 552.64 miles further on. In all this distance only two or 
 three portages have to be made. The first one is across the neck of land 
 separating Lake I.inderman and Lake Bennett. A stream connects them, but 
 is too shallow for navigation at most seasons. The second portage is through 
 tho canyon 5/^ of a mile long, and two miles further on past the White Horse 
 Ripitls .iy of a mile long. The canyon may be run at high water, but the 
 White Horse Rapids are unsafe for boats. The miners do their portaging on 
 the west side of the river, and have made the p!ace convenient fo'- that pur- 
 pose These dangerous places are some 35 or 40 miles below the foot of 
 Marsh r,ake. The other rapids in the way are Five Finger Rapids and the 
 Rink Rapids, close together, and about 150 miles below the foot of Lake Le- 
 barge. Hut neither of these are considered dangerous by Mr. Ogiivie ; ordin- 
 ary watchfulness being all that is required to run them with safety. The 
 foriiier are formed by several islands in the river, and the latter by a barrier of 
 rocks extending into the middle of the river from the western shore. The 
 only care here is to hug the eastern shore while passing. 
 
 THE WHITE PASS, 
 
 So named by Mr. Ogiivie in honor of the late Hon. Thos. White, then 
 Minister of the Interior. It follows the same general direction through the 
 coast ranges as the C'hilkoot, but a few miles further south and east. It com- 
 mences about two miles south from Dyea and folujws the Skagway river to its 
 soarce and then down another stream emptying into a western arm of Tagish 
 Lake. lYoni here is a clear, unbroken navigation, connecting with the Chilkoot 
 route at Lake Nares, between Lake Bennett and Marsh Lake. This pass is 
 about 50 miles long and no where as steep or rough as the other, in proof of 
 which the summit of White I'ass is by Mr. Ogiivie stated to be only some 
 2,500 feet over tidewater, or about 1,000 feet lower than Chilcoot Pass, while 
 double the length, giving apparently an easy slope right through. Some work 
 has been done on the road over the U hite Pass, and it would now be a fairly 
 practicable road for pack animals when frost is in the ground, although then 
 there is great danger from the slippiness of the narrow path round the 
 mountains. In wet weather, horses and their loads frequently go over the edge 
 and that is the last of them : until this road is improved it cannot be classed as 
 practicable. 
 
 Should this route be taken it would be advisable to take pack animals by 
 steamboat from N'ictoria, and a good supply of horse shoes and nails should be 
 ini hided in the outfit for this journey. One important point to remember 
 when o.itfitting is that goods are taken from Dyea in bond to the international 
 boundary and that therefore the packages cannot be opened en route so an 
 assortment oi' provisions should l)e taken in separate packages to last the 
 traveller over this part of the journey. Information as to quantities for this 
 purpose can be had from the outfitters at \ictoria. 
 
Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 II 
 
 connection it 
 the immediate 
 
 to the land of 
 
 e only two or 
 
 neck of land 
 
 cts them, hut 
 
 age is through 
 
 White Horse 
 
 ater, but the 
 
 portaging on 
 
 fo*- that pur- 
 
 w the foot of 
 
 pids and the 
 
 t of Lake Le- 
 
 gilvie ; ordin- 
 
 safety. 'I'he 
 
 y a barrier of 
 
 shore. The 
 
 WHEN TO 00. 
 
 The proper time to leave ^\'innipeg, for parties intending; to take either 
 Dyea or the White Pass routes, is al)oiit the middle of March. They 
 lid then be over the coast range and have their boats built, on the lakes, by 
 time the ice breaks u\) and would then reach the diggings in June. 
 ; River distances on the C'hilkoot route are figured thus : Total length of 
 ivCr traversed to Dawson (Mty, 452 mi'es ; total length of lakes traversed, 95 
 liles ; total length of all rapids on route 2.7 miles : total fall in rapids, 32 feet ; 
 otal fall on river route from Lake Linderman to Dawson City, about 1,300 
 eet — in 547 miles, or an average of less than 23/3 feet of fall to the mile. 
 
 The 5tickeen River Route. 
 
 White, then 
 I through the 
 ist. It com- 
 ly river to its 
 rm of Tagish 
 the Chilkoot 
 This pass is 
 r, in proof of 
 ie only some 
 t Pass, while 
 
 Some work 
 w be a fairly 
 !though then 
 
 round the 
 ivcr the edge 
 )e classed as 
 
 { aniaials by 
 lis should be 
 o remember 
 nternational 
 route so an 
 to last the 
 ies for this 
 
 Travellers to the Klondyke have not as yet taken this route, though 
 
 ■Oisibly it is the easiest from the Pacific Coast. The Stickeen is a large river, 
 
 avigable for steamers for about 150 miles from tidewater, to a place called 
 
 'elegraph Crock. It enters the Pa ific Ocean near Wrangell Island and is for 
 
 few miles up within United States territory, but the freedom of the river for 
 
 atigation purposes is guaranteed all british subjects by treaty, so that, for all 
 
 eactical pui poses, this may be considered an all-Canadian route. From 
 
 "■^f^egraph creek, the head of the steamboat navigation, is a distance of 150 
 
 iiles to Teslin i-ake. This portage of 150 miles is over a practically level 
 
 ib'eland, indeed by explorers considered as a very fiat country. An old pack 
 
 *ail runs from Telegraph Creek the entire distance to Teslin Lake, and 
 
 nother eastward to Dease I>ake, the centre of the Cassiar mining region. 
 
 )esiring to open this route, to relieve the congested and dangerous Dyea I'ass, 
 
 (ic british Columbia government sent an engineer to explore it early last 
 
 pring. And so favorable was his report, dated July 8th, that steps were at 
 
 mce taken to opi;n the route, and a force of men sent to improve the old pack 
 
 rail and make it passable for freight wagons. At the same time a company 
 
 vas formed for building steamers to p'y between l*'ort Wrangell and Telegraph 
 
 'reek. Two of these and a large barge for freight are now being constructed 
 
 ind will be ready as will also the road to Tes'in Lake, by the time the spring 
 
 •u$h t') the Yukon sets in, say in March next. The C'anadian Pacific Railway 
 
 Johipany intend to run first-class steamers to I'ort Wrangell, and possibly 
 
 :onstruct a narrow guage railway from Telegraph ("reek to Teslin Lake. 
 
 Teslin f.ake is a narrow body of water, about 150 miles long, lying in a 
 dde valley surrounded by hills. I'roin the north end of the lake springs the 
 Pfslin river (the miners call it Hootalincpia River) and flows northwestward in 
 I i^ide swee|)ing valley for some i7t; miiesto its junction with the Lewis River, 
 
13 
 
 Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 ,ij 
 
 about 32 miles below Lake Lebarge. There are no known obstructioiisSj]^^ 
 navigation for steamers on Teslin Lake and River, while in the Lewis, bciild th 
 the Teslin, the only rapids met with are the five finger and the Rink RapiJet a, 
 and which even a tyro is with ordinary care able to pass in safety. ^^ ^^' 
 
 What is unquestionably in favor of this route is the fact that wheat, bar'^Sj.j'j^ti 
 and vegetables are successfully grown at Telegraph Creek and in the vicin,3|^edi 
 as reported by Dr. Dawson, chief of the geological survey department. 
 Dawson went up the Stickeen in 1886, taking from Telegraph Creek i^ 
 Dease Lake pack trail, and continuing on to the Pelly, down which he weiiti 
 its confluence with the Lewis, where he met Mr. Ogilvie, who had comtn 
 over the Chilkoot Pass. In his report Mr. Dawson expresses the opinion th] 
 vegetables might be grown throughout the entire tableland between Telegraji 
 Creek to Teslin Lake, along the shores of the lake and down thmuij 
 the valley of the Teslin River. If this were done health-giving vegetable fo( 
 could be guaranteed the Yukon miners, if not all the year around, at kri 
 during the greater portion of it, and at reasonable prices. In view of this i' 
 well this district will be opened up to the public by the spring season of i -S 
 
 The 
 
 Takou Inlet Route. 
 
 i 'I ( 
 
 This may yet become a practicable route, but as yet but little is known 
 it, and until more information is available it would not be wise for parties ' 
 attempt to take freight in by the Takou. 
 
 The following particulars are from Frank F. Meyersj, who went through 
 ]\i\y, 1897: 
 
 '■ The entrance to this inlet is ten or twelve miles south of Juneau, and i 
 navigable for the largest ocean vessel a distance of eighteen miles, to the incmi! 
 of the Takou River. This river is navigable by canoe at all stages of the w at < 
 for a distance of fifty-three miles to Nahkina River, where land travel hus 
 begin. A distance of seventy miles must be traversed before Lake Teslin— oiu' 
 the chain of lakes which form the head waters of the Yukon can be reached ' 
 boat with comparative ease. The total distance from Juneau to Lake Teslin 
 150 miles. The Yukon River is navigable for vessels of light draugl 
 except during freshets, which last about a month and usmilly occur in June, 
 going up the river in July our party found no difficulty, the shallowest win 
 being about two feet in midchannel. The Indians who took us up the river : 
 it is open from May to the middle of September for canoes carrying from tW' 
 four tons of freight. The wind during the summer is from the southwest 1 
 saiic were used on the canoe, which greatly assisted in working up against ii ' 
 mile uirrent. At the end of the fourth day the mouth of the Nahkina rivii si' 
 reached. From here we started for Lake Teslin on foot accompanied I' » 
 Indian guide and two packers. The course was up this stream until K. un 
 Creek was reached, which was followed four or five miles. Then we staru ' in 
 northwesterly direction over a low range of mountains, forming a beautilHi an 
 
 vast 
 bee 
 
 loi 
 
 "ir 
 
 lac 
 
 iloi 
 
Eight Routes ro the Klondyke. 
 
 13 
 
 wn obstructions 
 n the r.ewis, bel 
 d the Rink Rapi 
 safety, 
 t that wheat, bar^ 
 and in the vicin'^ 
 r department, 
 legraph Creek 1 
 n which he went 
 who had conic 
 es the opinion th 
 between Telegraj' 
 nd down thrrnj 
 ing vegetable for 
 Jar around, at k; _ 
 In view of this i: ■ 
 ng season of 1 S I 
 
 lulatinj? countiy. Accoi'dimj to the Indians with us the snow in winter only 
 
 lis here to a deptli of fiom IS to 24 inches. The vepetation was most luxuriant 
 
 :1 thousands ot head of stock could subsist. The country all the way from the 
 
 et abounds with Kame, such as cariboo, deer, ground-hog, grouse, etc. In 
 
 t it was so plentiful that all a person would rpquire in the waj' of an outfit is a 
 
 n, Hour and salt. The rivers and small lakes aie alive with fish. Several 
 
 ioties of berries were also found in great quantities. The object of our 
 
 edition was to explore this section, as well as to find a new route. On our 
 
 urn we followed the mountain range and devoted considerable attention to 
 
 si>ecting, but found no very encouraging prospects. On one or two small 
 
 earns gold was found, but not in sufficient (pumtify to w.iik. No thorough 
 
 sj)acting was done, as our supplies were running short. However, with tlie 
 
 ning uj) of this section, so that supplies can be taken in at icasonable rates, 
 
 gos can be made by hundreds of men on the various streams drained by the 
 
 kou, and also on the small streairs which empty into tlie lakes. On these 
 
 es th(» mining season is much longer and more worR could be accomplished." 
 
 The Revelstoke Route and the Yellow Head Pass 
 
 Route. 
 
 t little is known 
 wise for partic s 
 
 10 went through 
 
 3f Junenu, and 
 liles, to the mom 
 stages of the w.it 
 land travel h;is 
 lake Teslin— 0111' 
 can be reached ' 
 to Lake Teslin 
 )f light drangi 
 )ccur in June. 
 ! shallowest wat 
 IS up the river , 
 •yiiig from U\ ■ 
 he southwest • 
 up against ji 
 fahkina river a,, 
 sompanied !■ 
 ?am until K, 
 m we start! • ,.. 
 ig a beautifii; iui 
 
 The following description is written with the intention of showing how 
 the prospector may make his way through the (.Ireat Mineral belt of British 
 Qulumbia and the Headwaters of the Pelly — Yukon. 
 
 It is not claimed that there is at present any practicable route of travel 
 through the country here described to the Klondyke, but there undoubtedly 
 if a route to be made at comparatively small cost for pack horses and over 
 which a railroad could be constructed which would run through the gold belt 
 all the way. It is probable that many prospectors who have studied the gold 
 country of the West and who are heading for the Klondyke will look to this 
 route which ofl'ers the best chance for rich discoveries en route. 
 
 The localities where gold has so far been found in quantities and where 
 mining is still actively followed are about Rossland — several places in the 
 neighborhood of Fort Steel, in the country adjacent to Rock Creek on the 
 Shiiuilkomeen river and its tributary, Whip-saw Creek, in the Slocan, Trout 
 Lake, LarJeaux cou; ' •, Kootenay Lake, in the big bend of the Columbia 
 River, in (Cariboo, about the Omenica and Findlay and head waters of the Peace 
 River, in the Cassiar country, and now apparently richest of all in the Klondyke 
 district, which embraces a distance end to end of about 1,650 miles equal to 
 the entire length of Europe. 
 
 Between the junction of the Findlay and Peace Rivers and Klondyke is a 
 
 v«sl extent of this mineral belt, about 900 miles in length, that has not as yet 
 
 been prospected and for those going to Klondyke with pack animals this unex- 
 
 ored portion of the mineral belt offers a fine field for prospecting. The 
 
 rincipal difficulty they will have to contend with will be the want of a trail for 
 
 ack animals beyond the Omenica River, that is if they start from any [)oint 
 
 long the Cariboo wagon road. 
 
14 
 
 Ek;ht Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 tros 
 
 I unction fc^'^ 
 
 flu' 
 ." W 
 
 For parties starting from Edmonton, if they go by the Yellow Head 1 
 to the Tete Jeune Cache, on the Fraser River, they will not find much di 
 culty between those two points, a distance of about 300 miles, as a good \a 
 trail was opened over this line so far during the surveys for theC.P.R.I 
 1872-3, and a good trail was also opened from Kamloops to the Tete Jcn^'ea 
 Cache by the valleys of the North Thompson and Albreda Rivers. 
 
 From Tete Jeune Cache to the Ciis:onie Portage, a distance of about v% 
 miles would be through a timbered country, along the banks of the Fia- ^^X}. 
 River, as no pack trail has as yet been opened over this portion of the rdut 
 The better and ([uicker way would be for the prospectors to take along w .jt)ai 
 them a whip-saw, nails, etc., and construct boats at Tete Jeune Cache in wlib 
 to convey their goods to (iiscome Portage and drive their unloaded anim; 
 through the woods. They could thus without any great amount of difficult l'^™ 
 provided they knew how to handle boats and to manage pack animals, rcai 
 the junction of the Fuidlay and the Peace Rivers, and would ensure themsth; ^loi 
 thus far an almost level route to travel. The route from Edmonton via Atb poo 
 basca f-andinii; and Peace River, which would reach the same i)oint, viz., tlj^^. 
 fork ot the Findlay and Peace, would be much rougher and more dangeroi fQf.\ 
 
 S. Cunningham, who has fretjuently travelled by the trail via Lake > jsu 
 Anne, Sturgeon Lake to Dun vegan on the the Peace River, gives the distaiu |roi 
 in day? as follows : Lake St. .\nne to Athabasca River at tne 
 ALacleod, four days ; Little Smoky, four days ; Sturgeon Lake, three dny 
 Big Smoky, three days ; S{)irit River, three days ; Dunvegan, two days. 
 
 The Athabasca has generally to be rafted or boated across, the Litti ftp c 
 Smoky is always fordable and the Pig Smoky generally so. There is ver i°'" 
 little muskeg aiul a good deal of open country along this trail. Macleod Lak Wjeli 
 and Buck Lake across the Athabasca and Shining Hark Lake, between ih '^er 
 Macleod and Athabasca are good fishing lakes ; also Sturgeon Lake. 1^'i^' 
 
 A route from Edmonton to Fort Macleod can also be had by an old ti;;i j^g 
 through the Pine River Pass. This trail is represented as being throuuli . ** C 
 very rough and broken country. From the forks of the Findlay and l'ea( Nif^ 
 Rivers over the only divide between Rossland and Klondyke (a distance o ^''^[ 
 about 1,650 miles), is the only point on this long and nearly level route when ^^^ 
 we anticipate serious difficulty may be encountered for a railway, but ns tin it v 
 line is n a direction parallel to all the great mountain ranges, it will, \> »tri 
 believe, not present anything like the difficulties that the C. 1'. R. had to coi p^. 
 tend witli eiihur in the Rocky or Selkirk ranges. The great point to keep 11 ^^^ 
 view is that the route of this Northwestern thoroughfare should keep in ant lioi 
 through the mineral belt and not deviate from the course delineated on tli t>ai 
 accfimpanying map. From the forks of the I'indlay and Peace the route ^ij 
 would be over a practically unexplored country to I'rancis Lake, but it is iin 
 believed that there would be any great difficulties to encounter. From r,:ike 
 Francis to Dawson is descrii)cd in the Liard Route. The following fniii 
 reliable sources will give some idea of the prospects en route. In the sen.iti 
 committee of investigation at Ottawa in 18S8, Pishop Clut said : " Thert is 
 gold in the sand banks of the Peace river and in considerable (juantities, Imi 
 during the winter and in high water it cannot be mined. The miners ni ike 
 from $18 to $20 per day. There is copper, and one river bears the nanu of 
 
Eight Routks to the Klondyke. 
 
 15 
 
 s Yellow Head I 
 ot find much d; 
 i!es, as a good p? 
 s for the C.P.H 
 
 to the Tete Ju 
 Rivers. 
 
 stance of about r 
 )anks of the Fras, 
 ortion of the mut 
 to take along w 
 une Cache in win, 
 
 unloaded aniin; 
 iiount of diffi( 
 tack animals, re:i( 
 1 ensure themsdv 
 dmonton via Ath 
 me point, viz., t[ 
 d more dangeroi 
 
 trail via Lake > 
 gives the distanc 
 It tne Junction 
 Lake, three d.ivs 
 I, two days, 
 across, the Litti 
 
 0. There is ver 
 
 1. ALicleod r,;ik 
 akc, between tli 
 )n Lake. 
 
 had by an old tr;;i 
 i l)eing throui^h , 
 indlay and I'eno 
 ke (a distance o 
 
 level route when 
 railway, but ns \h 
 ranges, it will, \> 
 1'. R. had to CO) 
 
 point to keep 11 
 lould keep in am 
 delineated on th 
 Peace the routi 
 .ake, but it is dh 
 ter. From \/Akv 
 ic following fri'iii 
 J. In the sen. tc 
 aid: " Then is 
 le quantities, luii 
 rhe miners ni ;ki. 
 ears the nanu oi 
 
 !!opper Mine River. It is found there in great quantities. 1 have seen little 
 crosses made out of it by the savages themselves when they were not able to 
 liave other material. The sulphur abounds in several places. 
 
 ' W. T. Fit/gerald, of Seattle, who prospected in the Ominica and Upper 
 I'eace River regions last season, says : 
 
 At a 
 
 I " We took up 2,5(M> acres of placer jj:rouii(I along the Peace Rivci. ^la 
 
 fepth of IH feet we .striick bod rock and found the jiround to )iiospect .^iSot) to the 
 able yard, aixl in sonic instances as hlgli a« !?('>(iu were obtained. The largest 
 esults were obtained on the river bars. The gold is coaise and is what is termed 
 larley gold with occasional nuggets wortli from §l(i to .^is." 
 
 From "Vancouver World," Sept. 3rd, 1897, the personal experience of 
 fames Orr, ex-M.P.P., one of the Cariboo pioneers, is well worth hearing. 
 
 " Landing at Williams Creek m 1S82. when that famous creek was in its 
 lory as a producer. Mr. Chr became one of the owners of the Caledonia and was 
 ookkeeper for that company. In fifteen months they took out one-half a 
 inillion dollars— tiiey took out s().5(.)(i from 5 (iivc pans of gravel. The j)rize jian 
 Seing §l.6«it. This was in 18H3. Out of the Caledonia, whicli was ti7 feet to l)ed 
 took, the best paying dirt was about two feet on bed rock and the vein was often 
 
 150 feet wide. The " Never 6wear, '" was adjoining and washed tip every day 
 rom HO to 200 ozs. " Peauregard " as high as 8OO ozs. a day. "New York" 
 rom 150 to -JoO ozs. " Moffats" over !?80o,ooo taken out of lOO ft. srpiare which 
 §vas the size of the Cariboo claims. The Mcl^can claim was next but not so rich, 
 yiie " Tinker '■ with 3 to feet of grouinl paid in <lividends over 87oo,UOo. 'I'he 
 *' Watty " a small claim next ])aid 8!-!o.(tiio. Tlic "• Cameron " claims iK.'Xt cleaned 
 Jlp over a$1.0i)0,ooo. The "• Rabby " !i<0.)o,(!0 t. " Dead Prolve," .S7(t.(t(ii'. Pelow are 
 
 tome short but rich claims. "" 'I'he Priiu'i' of Wales." paid light inteiests, half 
 million. Al)ove the "Caledonia" the " Lilloet." and " ('aril)oo." were very 
 jfich. The " .Vurora." with its 14 interests paid in dividends after all expenses 
 ■^ere paid about ."^BU.itoo pei- interest. On the " Dillon " two men working on the 
 ^'indlass and two underground took out in ten hours P20 pounds of gold. In all 
 Oyer S'joo iJOO was paid in dividends to the- three inteiests in this claim. Above 
 #ie " Black Jack." wliicli was rich the "Windup" was a rich faction. Fiona 
 "Canyon" to ■"Prince of Wales" on up to the '"Saw Mill" the " Erickson 
 Nigger " and others paid from S25,ooo to .^oo.ooo to the interest. I'ozens of other 
 claims along old Williams Creek paid enormously, and the Creek never received, 
 gavs Mr. Orr. credit for nearly all of its enormous output, it being gtiieially saiil 
 ^at the sum of !?25. 000,000 was taken out of one and a half miles. Mr. Orr says 
 it was twice that amount. In any case it was such a creek as was never before 
 itruck and so far the Klondyke is not in the race for second output. Other creeks 
 ill the neighltorhood, ^Ir. Orr says, will yet prove as rich perhaps as Williams 
 Creek was. Lightning Creek, Swift River, Slough Creek, Willow River and 
 dozens of other creeks which have never been liottomed will yet give up their 
 l^oard of gold. Of Omenii'a, Mr. Orr. who spent two years there, says: " It was 
 ll&rely scratched and the whole of the Cassiar country is yet comparatively virgin 
 round." The enormous cost of ju'ovisions, ditficultiis of acce.*s and cost of labor 
 ll combined to make the gold hunter drop work that would not (|uickly and 
 ormously repay. To-day there is no better gold country to ]irospect than from 
 lariboo through to Klondyke. From .Ashci'oft through it is only a little over a 
 00 miles of which the first 220 miles is by a tii'st-class wagon road, the next 
 iO by trail and the balance by a splendid water course down Teslin Lake and 
 le Hootalinqua River. But within one year the excitement will be very likely 
 ^entered in th(> Cassiar rang(> of mountains fiom which watersheds the sources 
 of the Yukon largely spring. For the jirospectors who wish to go in cheap we 
 ay : Start from .Vshcroft in April, L^ave (^uesnelle in May and you cnn spinnl the 
 eason most protitably in prospecting through Telegraph Creek. If you wish you 
 
 \ 
 
ill 
 
 x6 
 
 Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 I \ 
 
 ri 
 
 could then sell your pack animals, for which there is always a demand at tlial 
 point, and build a boat, and in a week from the time you leave Lake Teslin > i?* 
 can reach that now most talked-of spot on earth — Klondyke,". 
 
 The Mackenzie Porcupine Route. 
 
 .nil 
 nj 
 
 Hill 
 ite 
 aei 
 3hJ 
 
 the 
 
 Next to the St. Michael's this is unquestionably the most convenitnby 
 route, and also the next longest. A party taking this route would travel I)-t1 
 rail to Edmonton, a distance of 1,032 miles from Winnipeg, thence 1'^* 
 stage 90 miles to Ath.ibas:a Landing, From this place is practically untk 
 broken navigation, by lakes and rivers, for some 1,800 miles to Fort McBi" 
 Pherson on the Peel River, a few miles above the Mackenzie River delta, i^iiu'^f 
 the traveller may elect either to procure a boat and take it to Ft. McPherson, oi^^i, 
 take passage on one of the Hudson's Bay Co s. steamers plying on this rivt.lul 
 route. From Ft. McPherson to La Pierre's House on the Porcupine or rathe- P^ 
 on the Hell River, a short distance above its junction with the Porcupine is 
 portage of some 70 or 80 miles. But this portage is very easy and accord in.^^'^ 
 to the president of the Edmonton Board of Trade, Mr. Isaac Cowie, the Indim ^^o 
 will in winter take freight by dog trains over this portage for $1.50 per loc^iba 
 pounds, though in summer they demand 14 cents a pound. From La Pierre ilf'' 
 House navigation on the Bell and Porcupine Rivers is unbroken to the Yukon, ^ 
 a distance of 400 miles. The Yukon, of course, is navigable all the way up ;, 
 the distance from the mouth of the Porcupine to Dawson city being about 37; j<o 
 miles. On this route 400 miles are within United States territory, two hundra to 
 miles on each of the rivers, the Yukon and the Porcupine. ^^r 
 
 As the portage between Ft. McPherson and La Pierre's House is fearei ^^ 
 by some who otherwise believe this route quite feasable, it is worth while ti .^j, 
 publish the description given of it in 1888 by Mr. Wm. Ogilvie. He canu ovi 
 across the country, practically in a direct line, in the spring, leaving th |o^ 
 Yukon on March 17th and reaching La Pierre's House June 6th, having been „^*| 
 detained some six weeks on the Upper Porcupine, awaiting the break up ofth, ^i 
 ice. -ev 
 
 The following are extracts from his published description : 
 
 a < 
 of 
 
 Bell River is named after Mr. J. Bell, of the Hudson's Bay Company, wlio -o^^ 
 crossed to it and descended it to the Porcupine in 1882. He also followed the V^ 
 Porcupine below the junction for three days. 
 
 The route always travelled from this nost to Fort McPherson crosses the th 
 mountains in a pretty direct line. There are two routes, one for winter tra^ll m 
 and one for suiniuer. The distance between the two points is called about eighty ^ii 
 miles, and it y;enerally takes three days to make the trip 
 
 All the trading outfits for La Pierre's and Rampart Houses have to be brouf.' ht 
 this way in the winter months on dog sleighs, and the furs and meat received 'h- 
 it have to be taken to Fort McPherson in the same way. From there the fi is 
 are sent ouc by the Mackenzie. This is so costly and slow that in 1872 ]\!i, 
 James McDougall, (now Chief Factor), then a clerk in the Hudson's Bay servi c. 
 thought of trying some more convenient and expeditious way. Accordingly ]w 
 
 B 
 ■ti 
 is 
 b 
 
Eight Routks to the Ki.ondvke. 
 
 17 
 
 Lite. 
 
 miles to Fort McBivei- to ko th'-ough tlie pass to 
 
 zie River delta npf«if^iiy fi"<l^lo"K sinuosities of tlie river and detenti 
 Mr-PK ' ' #liicli delayed us lialf a day, it was three days bef 
 
 eave Lake Teslin \ , '^'^'^ '^" exploration and survey of a pass through the mountains to the north of 
 ,". '' 'iliis route, witli a view to building a wagon road througli it, and using oxen to 
 
 apkiusport the goods from one waterway to the other. I went through the patison 
 ^' way to Fort McPherson, and will describe it in its proper place. 
 
 ^ Mr. McUougall. also, in Julj', 1S73. when the water was unusixally low, 
 3|ade soundings in Bell and Porcupine Rivers to determine the practicability of 
 jleamboat uivigation. carefully examining both rivers in places suspected of 
 oiing shallow. Between La-Pierre's House and Yukon River he found live 
 Aoal places, where the depth was less than four feet. 
 
 -If- 
 
 S On the morning of the 8th of June I started from LaPierre's House to go to 
 tfte Bell River to the pass above mentioned as having I een explored and surveyed 
 he most convenitni^ ^^''' ^IcDougall. having as a guide the Indian 1 had brought from Eagle 
 5Ute would travel l)^^'^'^' ^'^^^ had been through the ])ass once or twice and was sup]iosed to know 
 inniueff th ' 1*^ about it. I carried on the survey, as on the lower part of the river, by taking 
 y'^bi tnence ' ijjpmpa.ss bearings of ])iominent points on the river and estimating the distances to 
 -e IS practically un^om. In this way I made the distance 10 the point at which we leave Bell 
 
 be aljout twenty-one miles; yet, owing to the 
 detentions from ice jams, one of 
 3 Ft M Ph WJHcn tieiayeci us lutit a ua\, n wiisi i.mee nays before we arrived there. The 
 
 • ici nerson, oj^^j^.^-gj^^ i^ nowhere strong, but there are some .shoal places where the heavy ice, 
 plying on this rivi.lnlly live feet thick, grounds and piles up until the accumulated water behind 
 ^orciipine or rathe pushes it over. 
 
 » the Porcupine is ' On the morning of the 12th my guide told me that most likely we would 
 
 easy and accordiii ^'^'"^^^ ^^'^ '^^"*'' *^^ *''® creek, which Hows from the pass, about dinner time. 
 
 Cnwi tU T A- '4"'lRe my surprise, therefore, when a few minutes after starting he pointed to the 
 
 «^owie, tne Indi;iiij|^(,^tlj of a stream almost hidden by willows and alders, and asked if I thought 
 
 for $1,50 per loc-^at was tlie creek in i|i."stiou, and" when I said "No," he answered me it was. 
 
 From La Pierre > J could not believe him until 1 went ashore and found the preparations that had 
 
 3ken to the Yukon ^'^^ made by Mr. McDougall to build a storehouse in which to deposit the goods 
 
 )le all th 'firoug't through the pass. 
 
 ■. 1 . . y '^'P Tlio canoes wei'e put into the creek, which is only thirty or forty feet witle. 
 
 y oemg about 37: jp^j. ^j^g j[y^^ ^^vo or three hundred yards the water was deep, and smooth enough 
 
 ritory, two hundrcc -to paddle along with ease, but then came the end of our pleasure. The creek 
 
 lor about a mile and a half was one continuous rapid, not dangerous, because 
 
 j's Hou'^e is fear' "^ero was not enough water to hurt anyone ; l)ut so shallow that it would hardly 
 
 it is ' th U} '"'' ■float the canoes when all the men were out of them; so we had to wade in ice 
 
 I IS worth while t( -^ater, while snow was falling, and drag our canoes, with our outfit in them, 
 
 Jgilvie. He canu over bars and stones in the creek, until at last even that comfort was denied us, 
 
 spring, leaving tlv ^Ov we reached a part of the stream where the ice was still solid, and at least ten 
 
 6th havine he ^i ^*^* thick, so that everything had to be packed for nearly a mile, to where the 
 
 hp 1 ' I- f u -Ofeek was again clear of ice, when we re-embarked and floated up about three 
 
 ne ureak up of th> jg|iles in a straight line, but certainly twice that distance by stream. Here 
 
 .03^erytlung had to be carried about four miles across the watershed of the pass to 
 
 in : $. creek which flows into Trout River, a tributary of Pell River. On the summit 
 
 pt the pass are several lakes, which, had they been open, would have reduced 
 
 •aj' Company, who ^^i' Pricking to less than half a mile ; but the ice was still solid Avith only a few 
 
 > also followed the :i'Ools of open water around the edges. 
 
 On the morning of the ir)th everything was got across to waters flowing to 
 •^e Arctic Ocean, but the creek was so full of snow and ice that it did not help us 
 lauch, and, although it was only three and a half miles to Trout River, the whole 
 ^y was consumed in getting there. 
 
 I I may say here that I compared notes of survey with Mr. McDougall, who 
 
 pleasured his distance with an error probablj' not gieater than one in a thousand. 
 
 is survey followed the valley of the pass from bend to bend and cut off many 
 
 'herson crosses the 
 
 for winter tra\>] 
 
 called about eigli 
 
 Ji:v 
 
 tiavetobe brouf.Wii 
 meat received loi- 
 
 •cm there the furs 
 that in 1872 Vr. 
 
 son's Bay servi e, 
 
 ■ Accordingly ho 
 
 •|urns in the river, while mine followed the coui'se of the river more closely, and 
 Js conseiiuently somewhat longer, the actual difference on the whole distance 
 ?|)eing about five miles ; hut when I take off my plot a length corresponding as 
 learly as possible with a line of Mr. McDougall's survey, I find the difference 
 
l8 
 
 Eic.HT Routes to the Ki.ondykk. 
 
 i| 
 
 ; 
 
 I ; 
 
 :i 
 
 very slight. Many of his pickets were still standing, with a j)iece of sod on tfg^e 
 of them, as fresh looking as though they luul been planted but one year, insti/ei- i; 
 of sixteen. d P< 
 
 From where we enter Trout River this route to the head of slack watfiil**' 
 about twenty-four miles liy the river. In this distance the fall fs one thou stini"^' 
 and ninety feet, hut to determine what the grade of a road built on this, by I por 
 the steeper side of the pass, would be, we have to assume a nearly straight Jiill6r« 
 instead of following the bottom of the river valley. This would reduce the.l'^'- 
 tance to about twenty miles, thus giving an average grade of fifty -five feet to t*»B'' 
 mile on this side of tiie pass. This is not too great for any kind of roadw^m' 
 which may be built here. oxt 
 
 Ten and a half miles down the river we reach the canyon. Here we are ( 
 of the mountains, and the character of the rock along the river changes oomph t 
 ly, being here sedimentary. The walls of the canyon are of a stratified sandstciitanit 
 the top strata appearing to be harder than those lower down. 
 
 Atone place, while I vwis running past a cliff in a ra[)id, I saw Avhat seent £^ 
 to be a coal seam in the face of the cliff. It was three feet or more thick and <"Sj.gf, 
 tended the whole length of the cliff — about a quarter of a mile. 1 told Mr. -M^^^ 
 Dougall of this, and he informed me that he had Ifound the same seam, and lijij^^'g 
 taken some of the coal to Fort Simpson to be tried in the blacksmith's forge thtii"- ^ 
 and it was pronounced a fair (juality of coal. The last rock exposure seen in 'W«^s 
 cendint; the river is just at the foot of the swift water. On the north bank tln:£^^ 
 is a low cliff of soft red sandstone, much weathered, as well as worn by tl^ , 
 water of the river, which shows its softness. _.,,y 
 
 The walls of the canyon, in which the river takes a sharp turn, are al 'i;.egce 
 eighty feet high. On the outside of the curve the walls are perpendicular, but idfles 
 the inside they are not so steep nor so high. The current is always swift anallov 
 rough, but there is no danger in navigaiing it in canoes, exceptinfr a liability ttiK)" 
 rub the bottom once in a while. The fall is uniform to the canyon, but below -mA f' 
 there is a succession of rapids with short intervening stretches of easy wiitfi^Wid 
 The fall between the canyon and the head of easy water is seven hundred .mhiri 
 thirty feet, which in a distance of fourteen miles, gives T'.'y-two feet descent ttaty 
 the mile. This would not be at all dangei'ous over a uniform slope and a smodtfOftd. 
 bottom, but divide it into two or three rapids, and throw a lot of large rocks intJaati 
 them, and it makes running through them in a small boat exciting to sav tlifchou 
 least. " flftv( 
 
 From the foot of the rapids to Peel River the current is very slow and almu^*^^ 
 
 four miles down the river branches, the Southern branch spreading out iiit^^P^ 
 
 numerous lakes,'in which we Avere a day paddling around trying to find our ^^arj^, 
 
 out. In most of them the ice was still floating. Had the Indian taken the nort£*I* 
 
 channel we would have saved neai'ly a whele day in time, but he thought 'li'~J^^ 
 
 south channel was the right one until we were lost in it, and then recollected tliaS?^^ 
 
 we should have taken the other one. These channels join again below the lakt- 
 
 and contini;e on to Peel River. j ^ 
 
 fort, 
 
 The surface here is flat and swampy with much good timber. Althotiultihe 
 
 this was the most northerly point reached (about 67 degrees 15 min. ) the trees ^lAyh 
 
 this fiat were as large on the average as those seen anywhere else on the survi _\ 
 
 The Indian told n\e they called this part of the river Poplar River, from the f;ic: 
 
 that much of the wood grows along its banks near the mouth. That poplar grow-^^j^j 
 
 on it is no very distinguishing River, so I propose to name it Trout River, fr< * 
 
 the abundance of trout that we caught in it up in the mountains. P®*^ 
 
 the 
 
 ir'eel River was reached on the 19th June, and on the morning of the 2i';h.p 
 
 at 11 o'clock, we arrived at Fort McPherson, built on the east bank of the iK l"®' 
 River. 
 
 Before closing the further explanation might be made that though the P"it jji 
 age between Peel River and the Porcupine is generally stated as 70 to 80 mih < ii ^ 
 can very easily be reduced to some 35 miles. About 12 miles above the junctior. r"^ 
 
 \ 
 
Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 19 
 
 a |>ieceof sodoii t||ie Peel and McKenzie, Rat; River enters Peel river from the west. Tins 
 )iit one ^'ear, inst./gi- is navigable for Hat-bouts some H(J-3.") miles and leading directly to the Bell 
 a Porcupine Rivers. But leaving:; this navigable stretcli out and allowing 7D 
 ead of slack wat< ii^s for the portage, it will be seen thut out of the '2,710 miles by this route from 
 ''all fs one thous.i wonton to Dawson City there are only il75 miles to go up stream and some 1H() 
 
 built on this, by ! portages over sonu; of which easj' wagon roads aie already made and over the 
 nearly straight J I i:ll6rs a road can Ije made without much expenditure. On this route thereare 
 ould reduce the .1^116 2,2UU miles of down stream navigation, making it a comijaratively easy 
 
 fifty-five feet to t^l't route. Like the St. Michael's route the ^lackenzie cannot i)e depended on 
 y kind of road w;* navigation before .July 1st nor after iSept. 30, becau.se of the high latitude of 
 ort Mcpherson and the Porcu{)ine. 
 
 n. Here we are 1 
 
 r changes complit ' Rev. Father Husson, who spent 23 years in these regions, gives in " Le 
 ^stratified sandstcntAnitoba " the following concise account of the Mackenzie route : 
 
 I saw what seen '^^^ reach the famous Klondyke geld mines, Yukon, from Winnipeg, you go 
 
 more thick and "' Edmonton by the C. P. Railway line. From Edmonton to Athabasca Landing. 
 
 lile. J told Air vUiety-six miles, you cross l)y wagon. At Athabasca Landing you take to the 
 
 same seam and 1 .-^'^t'^'^ca River, which you descend without ilitiiculty to the grand riii>id, a dis- 
 
 ■ '■ - ' "uace of about two hundred miles. You have to take tlie portage at the grand 
 
 »pid, about two miles, which is the easiest thing in the world, thanks to the 
 
 xposure seen in d^z.^ > li * nn • t • i i • i 
 
 le north bank tl W^'^on s Bay tramway, 'llien comes a succession 01 rapids, whicli you can 
 
 ell as worn bv ti'**"^^ ^°^ a distance of ninety miles, and you arrive at Fort McMurray, This is the 
 
 nly road used by the Hudson's Bay Conifiany iind the Catholic missions for the 
 
 mnsportation of their goods. From Fort ]SlcMurray you proceed, coutinuing to 
 
 ^'1* *^iV'"' ^^'^ alioiiiicend the Athabasca River down to the lake of that name., about two hundred 
 
 !rpendicuiar. but o:mes. You cross the end of Lake Athabasca, about 12 miles, and continue to 
 
 IS always swift aiiallow the course of Athabasca River, which then takes the name of Slave River. 
 
 eptinfr a liability tUtout thirty miles down the waters of the Peace River join those of Slave River, 
 
 '^".^'on, but below jid form a beautiful stream, which you descend without any difficulty to Smiih 
 
 ches of easj- wjitci^ttiding, some 120 miles from Athabasca Lake. At Smith Landing tlie course of 
 
 seven hundred ,iiihi river is obstructed by a succession of rapids, which make the portage neces- 
 
 two feet descent tiaty all the way. This ]iortage is sixteen miles long; there is a good wagon 
 
 slope and a smotitioad. Afterwards j'ou take the Slave river again at the foot of the rapids and 
 
 ^ of large rocks iiitJ«Bltinue your journey without hindrance to Great Slave Lake, a distance of 
 
 exciting to saj' th^ut a hundred and fifty miles. You arrive at Fort Resolution. You cross the 
 
 fl^ve Lake in a northwesterly direction and you arrive at the entrance into the 
 
 I'y slow and abmi'^^ckenzie River. A little lower down is situated the fine Catholic rrission of 
 
 spreading out jnfi^fovidence. The whole coiu.se of the Mackenzie River is navigable to its mouth ; 
 
 iig to find our \\,i-*^^ "°* obstructed by any rapid which necc^ssitates a portage. In descending 
 
 an taken the noi t^'*' Mackenzie lliver you pass in succession, Fort Simpson, at the mouth of the 
 
 )ut he thought th?^'''^ River, Fort Wrigley, Fort Norman, Fort Good Hope, and you airive at the 
 
 len recollected tlui'w'i^ffi of the Peel River. You then leave the Mackenzie River to ascend the Peel 
 
 lin below the lake^^^^' *^ ^^^^ ^'^^'^ °^ ^'^^^ name, also called Fort Macpherson. From there there is 
 
 ' ifjortage used by the Hudson's Bay Company for their transactions from fort to 
 
 ,. , f<Wt. as far as one of the branches of the Yukon. I'y d( scending this branch of 
 
 nnber. AlthoiiLjlflie Yukon, otherwise called the Porcupine River, you arrive at the famous Klon- 
 
 min. ) the trees i^dgrlce gold mines. By this route vou do not leave Canadian soil. 
 
 ?ise on the surv. ,v 
 
 Th- V V ^''^ ^' '' From these explanations it is seen that from Athabasca Landing to the 
 Trout River^fTlP'^^ mines the whole journey is performed l)y water, with the exception of two 
 3. ' pipirtages ; the first, the Fort Smith rapids, presents no great difficulty, thanks to 
 
 •ruing of the 2(i| '^ wagon road ; the second, that is to say, the one from Fort Macpherson to 
 bank of the I'LciPorcupine River, is very feasible in winter, especially by means of dog trains. 
 
 . , Certainly then this route is much shorter and much less expensive than 
 
 IS 70 "(fso m'/ '' ^ ^'^^ ^*^^'' ^^"^^^ indicated. The distance from Edmonton to Fort Mac- 
 bove the iunci ion {person is only a little over eighteen hundred miles, while it is two thousand 
 
 \ 
 
ftO 
 
 Eight Routes to the Klonpyke. 
 
 five hundred miles from Seattle to the mouth of the Yukon, and eighteen 
 dred miles additional to Klondyke, which makes four thousand three hun 
 miles. 
 
 The Liard Route. 
 
 1 j; 
 i:1 
 
 It is not our intention to advocate any special route as the best, but 
 next to impossible not to recognize in this Liard-Pelly the route to the j. 
 fields for cattle and pack horses, while with comparatively little expenditur 
 might be made a pleasant and convenient one for travellers. Of the eir 
 distance between Winnipeg and Dawson City, by this route, some 2,400 mi 
 1,032 would be travelled by rail and abDut 400, at least, by boat, on the P 
 and Yukon, while 120 miles east of the mountains, down steream on the ^ 
 son to its junction with the Liard, might also with ease be traversed by bo; 
 
 The following extracts are from a description of this route published in 
 Edmonton Bulletin, edited by Frank Oliver, member of the Dominion Ho 
 of Commons, a gentleman who may be accepted as an authority : 
 
 The total distance is 1,400 miles, as against 1,600 by tlie Chilkoot Pass a 
 4,400 by Behring Sea and the Yukon River. Four hundred miles of this distai 
 would be good and uninterrupted steamboat navigation on the Pelly and Yul 
 rivers ; the whole distance except the last 200 miles would be through a k's 
 growing region of good summer and moderate winter climate. The season 
 travel on it would be much longer than on any other route, as there are no lii 
 elevations to l)e crossed and the greater part feels the infiuence of the Chine 
 winds. It has been travelled throughout its whole length by scientific men 
 the highest repute in the employ of the Canadian Government, and their ma 
 and reports are available to everyone for information regarding it. At sevti 
 imiiortant points it touches the navigable water sj^stem of the Mackenzie and 
 other points passes within reaching distance of the Omenica and Cassiar diggiiu 
 besides crossing the gold-bearing Peace, following up the gold-bearing Liard a; 
 down the gold-bearing and very little jjrospected Pelly. Wagon roads, pa 
 trails and boat routes form the through connection at present. It is because 
 the inconvenience of these changes in the mode of conveyance that it has not) 
 been used. It is desired in this article to place before the public as shortly ai 
 as plainly as possible the facts as to its probable practicability as an all la: 
 route, and the certainty that at a moderate expenditure it could be made auf' 
 cellent cattle, pack trail and sleigh road throughout the entire length and a vag 
 on road for a great part if not all of the distance. 
 
KE. 
 
 ikon, and eighteen 
 housand three hun 
 
 1 
 
 ^ as the best, but 
 the route to thet 
 ly little expenditiir 
 ellers. Of the cir 
 ite, some 2,400 1111 
 by boat, on the P- 
 1 steream on the ^ 
 )e traversed by ho; 
 route published in- 
 the Dominion Ho 
 thority : 
 
 the Chilkoot Pass a 
 
 miles of this distai 
 I thePelly and Yiili 
 
 be through a gra 
 mate. The season 
 », as there are no lii: 
 leiice of the Chiiu 
 
 by scientific men 
 leut, and their ma 
 rding it. At sevti 
 the Mackenzie and 
 ind Cassiar diggiiii: 
 Id-bearing Liard au 
 
 Wagon roads, pa" 
 nt. It is because; 
 ce that it has not tJ 
 public as shortly ill 
 )ility as an alflai _^ 
 could be made aneiaB 
 re length and a \nf^^ 
 

 MOBERLY'S MAP 
 
 \ SHEWING THE 
 
 GREAT M/NERAL REGION 
 
 or 
 
 WESTERN CANADA 
 
 AND EIGHT ROUTES 
 
 V< PROPOSED RAILWAY. 
 
 PR^CTICABtt/r^OUTES JSHEWN XfdlS 
 
 TABLE or ^STANC^S 
 'EOMbHTOM TOkuOHOYKEj l'>^ PROPQSED RV 
 
 EdMonYDW-^ i. ! • MACKtNZIE Rlf 
 
 *' AjSHCROf T 
 IFIC 
 
 »,. . , •• |CN«IBOC .. 
 
 : OMST • STflKiNtr^.Tj 
 / . LBeMNETTJ 
 
 t fU>OTES ^ARTIAULV I 
 
 CARIBOU 'X|C£IIMEN9( IN 124O 
 
 i L.U\nAR«C 
 
 'PPCNE.D. 
 
 tlsuriL.. u^is.F< 4|o 
 
t 
 
 Tl 
 
 Ec 
 Cr 
 Fc 
 Nt 
 De 
 Pt 
 Jn 
 
 \ 
 
 nibi 
 
 .at i 
 
 ace 
 
 he 
 
 ipp< 
 
 port 
 
 \e r 
 
 imc 
 
 eir i 
 
 xve 
 
 le o 
 
 ey a 
 
 ave 
 
 :th' 
 
 insf 
 
 Pe; 
 rou 
 
 bar 
 ;st 1 
 ivei 
 ;tte 
 
 ;h: 
 
 lide 
 
 ird 
 
 OS! 
 
 ive 
 :tw 
 ak 
 Tk 
 ati 
 le ' 
 
^■^ 
 
 Eight Routes to the Klondykk. 
 
 31 
 
 Taulk of Distances. 
 
 The route to be foUoweil and tlie distances from point to point are : 
 
 Miles 
 
 Edmonton to Peace River crossing 2t)0 
 
 Crossing to Forks of Nelson 240 
 
 Forks to Jimction of Nelson and Lia,r<l 120 
 
 Nelson to Dease. ui) Liard KiO 
 
 Dease to Peliy ....... 17o 
 
 Felly to junction with Lewes 220 
 
 Junction to Ivlondyke 200 
 
 Total 1,370 
 
 EDMONTON TO PEACE RIVER. 
 
 From i'Mnioiiton to Peace River and on to the forks if the Nelson a 
 mber of ro.itcs may be taken, and the distance given above may be hOme 
 .at short^Mied. However, not to confuse, the best known will be taken, and 
 ace River crossing will be consiikred an objective |)f)int. 'I'he Peace has 
 be crosseil in any case. This part of the country has been travelled and 
 ipped by Prof. Dawson, director of the Dominion geological survey, and his 
 ports and maps are procurable front the geological department, Ottawa, 
 le route at present generally taken by the Peace River traders, who outfit at 
 imonton, is by wagon road to .\thabasca f.anding, 90 miles. .\t the Landing 
 sir freight is transferred to boats which are taken up the Athabasca, f.esser 
 ive River and F.esser Slave Lake. Their horses are driven on the south 
 ie of the Athabasca to the mouth of Lesser Slave River, 40 miles. Then 
 ey are swum across the .Vthabasca, and taken alonr the north sitle of Lesser 
 .ive River, 40 miles, and along the north side of F.esser S'.ave Lake, 85 miles. 
 ; the Hudson's l>ay Fort at the west end of Lesser Slave \/,ikc the traders 
 msfer their goods to carts, which are taken by road, 60 miles, to the crossing 
 Peace River at the junction of the Smoky. If horses are to be packed 
 rough this route can be shortened by taking the wagon road through St. 
 bert to the site of Fort .\ssiniboine, on the Athabasca, 85 miles, then north- 
 ist to the head of Lesser Slave Lake, 115 miles, and by cart road to Peace 
 iver crossing. This route has not been travelled for some years and possibly 
 ;tter time would be made at present by taking the r,anding trail. 
 
 There is a settlement near the crossing of Peace River, and a boat could 
 ; had there to cross in, while horses would have to swim. Information and 
 lides for a further stret(~h of the iournev could be secured there. 
 
 W PEACE RIVER TO NELSON RIVER. 
 
 From Peace Ri\er crossing the country is mixed prairie and timber, west- 
 ird along the north side of the Peace to Pine River, 100 miles west of the 
 'osiing. There is a good trail the whole of this distance. On reaching Pine 
 iver the direct course would be to turn northwestward along its east bank, 
 Jtwcen its waters and those of the east branch of the Nelson. This would 
 ake the distance from the point at which Peace River was reached to the 
 >T)ffl of the Nelson 140 miles, or from I'cace River crossing 240 miles. Infor- 
 atlon could be had at Peace River crossing, Dunvegan, or Ft. St. John as to 
 
 practicability of this direct route, of which there is very little doubt. 
 
22 
 
 Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 If, however, this route was found to be unadvisable to be followed 
 trail still uood could be followed across Pine River to Ft. St. John and d^* 
 Halfway River, 40 miles. The Indians have a good horse trail up Ha'^* 
 River to boat navigation on the west branch of the Nelson, about four o 
 days' travel with pack horses, which would not be more than 100 miles'^ 
 may, therefore, be taken as estal)lished beyond all (juestion that an open i 
 trail exists from Edmonton to bout navigation on the west branch 01 
 Nelson, by way of St. John and Flalfway River, the total distance beiiii; 
 miles. 
 
 If it were found necessary to go to Ft. St. John in order to reaii 
 Nelson River, it would be considerably shorter to take a direct pack trail v 
 goes by way of Lake S. Ann, Sturgeon Lake, Smoky River and Clrand I'l, ' 
 crossing the Peace at Ft. St. John, instead of at the mouth of the Smok * 
 before suggested. The route was followed by Henry McLeod, ('. E.. v j; 
 employed by the (Canadian government to ex|)lore the South Pine River . 
 for the C. P. R. in coming from the i)ass to Edmonton, and is shown oi 
 geological survey maps accom[)anying Prof. Dawson's report. = 
 
 In this coimection it may be mentioned that any part of the Peaci' \\ 
 region is suitable for iiorses to winter out. ('onsiderablegold has been w;,' f 
 
 W! 
 
 th 
 It 
 
 id 
 
 stv 
 att 
 
 from the bars near I't St. John. At tlie forks of the Peace, easily acco: 
 from Ft. St. John and about 100 miles further north, a very rich ba 
 worked a number of years ago by W. Cust and E. F. (!arey. between 50^' 
 75 miles west of this point on the Ominica branch of the Findlay, which i', 
 north fork of the Peace, good diggings are now being worked. ' , 
 
 NELSON RIVER. 
 
 That there is a go 
 
 n 
 
 ct 
 
 ood boat navigation down the west branch of the Nt 
 admits of no doubt. Ogilvie started up the Nelson about September loil 
 although he suffered many unnecessary delays he left the upper part of tli;. 
 branch within 100 miles of l'"t. St. John on October 7th, the land dist.m 
 being about i 20 miles and no portages having been m ide. As tiiis \v;:eif 
 season of low water, this proves the suitability of the river for down st- 
 navigation. In fact the Indians use the Nelson and the Halfway riv(.r4 
 canoe route, there being a portage of 25 miles betwien them and a ci- 
 point. A party of miners took this route on the Peace River to the !'l^ 
 about 1873. I'bey went uj) Halfway River in the fall, cross*^ : the poit;F| 
 the winter and went down the Nelson in the spring. '1 
 
 As to the suitability of tiie country from tlie Peace to th( west brai: 
 the Nelson for packing through, Mr. Ogilvie in his report, and Mr. '^ 
 Henton of Edmonton, who accompanied him, speaks of the timber as pj 
 scrubby and the land generally firm, as it naturally must be being well drPJ 
 and on the rise of the foothills of the Rockie.s. 
 
 On reaching either east or west branches of the Nelson with pack hor? 
 packs could be lightened on to boats or rafts, and the journey to the mo 
 the Nelson made very easy on the horses by this means. Certainly tins 
 be done with advantage from the l''orks down, about 120 miles by lam 
 probably from 40 to 50 miles above the Forks, on either branch. Ogihic 
 confined to the river in his travels, gives no idea as to the possibility o! 
 
 • "*5!H5I!55*^ 
 
Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 23 
 
 , c^ T L 1 'vet along the Nelson. Certainly there is no such prairie as on the Peace 
 
 , ■ ■•' .. J, ,yer, and the timber becomes larger with the distance north. Hut the Nelson 
 
 , ' ^^ ' ws along the easterly base of the foothills of the Rockies, for its whole 
 
 ', ' I igth. (ieo. Sutherland, of Stony Plain, who lived at Forts Liard and Nelson 
 
 V ■ some years, has been in these foothills, and he describes the slope towards 
 
 '1 1 ;; Nelson as dry ground with scrubby timber. Domestic cattle were kept at 
 
 le west branch ot.. - . , , <t , j ■ ^u a ^ ..u ^ u ^u * 11 
 
 ' ,. , ■ th Liard and Nelson, and m the gardens at those posts all the vegetables 
 
 tal distance oeiii" % . 
 
 "it can be grown at Edmonton were grown with the greatest perfection. 
 
 , i^rscs were not in general use by the Indians of the district but some were 
 
 .1 , .', id, and the Hudson's Hay Company purchased several for use at the posts. 
 
 ^ !''^ 1 r 1 1' ^^li^'" times the Indians had more horses, but owing to lack of care in hard 
 
 ^'^^ l' (•.! ' c ijteirs many had died off. Murdock McLeod, of l^)elmont, also lived several 
 
 ^\f -I 1 (' F ^^^^^ Fort f-iard and visited I'ort Nelson on the Nelson and Fort Hackett 
 
 ^ ^ 1 ■• '■• t|j^ r.iard. He describes the country as seen to the west and south from 
 
 ^th rivers as consisting of rounded timbered hills. No rugged mountains 
 
 ng in sight, until Fort Halkett, which was at the entrance to (Irand Canon was 
 
 iched. He killed a wood buffalo near the junction of the Nelson and Liard. 
 
 ; South Pine River 
 
 1, an 
 
 3port 
 
 1, and is shown 
 
 f ^^ \\ K. • 1 "^ ' pftrties agree as to the possibility of a wagon road being made at very 
 
 Peace, ^'^^sd^cccv^^^^^j ^^^^ ^^^^ |. .^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^ 
 
 • . ^ T'*^^ ^^ ^' atlle and pack trail and sleigh road could be cut 
 ','^'^'^?.' 1.* 1 • ? 2Stion being as to whether the country is alrea 
 
 legold has been Nv;b^^^^^^ ^^.^^^_^^^^^ ^^^^^^ Edmonton to the South of the Nelson, and then 
 
 of the Rockies, ('ertainly 
 
 out very cheaply, the only 
 
 , -,. .. ... ,«.«.. ./v. .15 .10 ..v^ ....^..w^. ....V. vv^....u., ..:, ...iv_ady passable or not. Mr. 
 
 :he iMiidlay, winch ''.j^g^|^^,^j mentions that Chilkat Indians' from the Pacific Coast sometimes 
 ne to I'ort Liard to trade. Their route was down the Liard River, but he 
 . not know how long the trip took. However, it is further proof as to the 
 
 cticability of this route through the mountains. 
 ;st branch of the N\ 
 
 )0ut September loil LIARD RIVER. 
 
 he upper part of tlu On reaching the junction of the Nelson, with the Liard, — C)20 miles from 
 
 7th the land dist. monton by direct route,— the route would turn nearly due west alorig the 
 
 nv.de. As this w.^er stream until the Rocky Mountains were [)assed. R. (1. McConnell, of 
 ic river for down -f geological survey, explored the Liard between the mouth of the Nelson 
 
 tlie Halfway rivir-i the mouth of the Dease, 160 miles, in the summer of '87, coming down 
 vcen them and a 'x-^*^ i'l '^ ''"''^t. His reports and maps are published by the Dominion 
 eace River to the i'logical survey. The Liard was used as a boat route from the Mackenzie, 
 11 cross*^ • the poitiEort Simpson, to the Pelly branch of the Yukon, by the Hudson's Hay Co., 
 
 many years. 
 ce to th( west brai Going carefully over the information obtainable as to this part of the route, 
 s report and Mr. ich includes the crossing of the Rocky Mountains, the only |)ossible obstacle 
 cs of the timber as pack and cattle travel at present would be the timber, which might rc(|uire 
 ust be bein>' veil I !ri">e cut through in places. On the other hand unless the conditions are 
 y different from what they are elsewhere in the Northwest the timber would 
 elson with pack hory ft''*^^ ''^•'•y very serious objection. Feed for animals most certainly exists 
 > iournev to the nio^^ODg, which is the main consideration, and the climate certainly cannot be 
 uis. Certainly this ere._ ,^^cc.ao 
 
 . ,20 miles by Ian, CASSIAR. 
 
 ler branch. OgiUic Dease River enters the Liard from the south lOo miles above the mouth of 
 
 to the possibility 01 Nflson. From the Liard to Thibert and McDame Oet.'ks, which are the 
 
 M 
 
 '4' 
 
24 
 
 Ei<;ht Routes to the Ki.ondyke. 
 
 !• n 
 
 h 
 
 principal mines in the Cassiar district of liritish (lolumbic, is less than loo 
 miles, and practicable either by pack trail or canoe. 
 
 FRANCIS LAKE AND PORTAGE. 
 
 From the mouth of the Dease to Pelly River was explored by Prof. 
 Dawson, director of the geological survey of Canada in 1887. The distance to 
 the beginning of the portage from Francis Fake to the Pelly is about 120 
 miles. This was made by canoe and the navigation is not (juite as difficult 
 as in the part of the Liard from Dense River down. The distance 
 from Francis Fake to Pelly River is about 50 miles. The greater pnrt of this 
 can be made in canoes up Finlayson Creek to the lake of the same name and 
 down Campbell Creek. The divide crossed in this distance is somewhat 
 mountainous, i)ut "no very high summits were seen, the elevations being as a 
 rule rounded and regular in outline, and forming broad, plateaulike areas." 
 The climate becomes less moist as P'rancis r,ake is left, and dry, gravelly 
 terraced flats are not uncommon. 
 
 ''Crassy swamps are found in a number of places, and a good growth of 
 grass is also met with where areas have been denuded r*" forrests by successive 
 fires, so that should it ever become desirable to use horscjon this portage they 
 might be maintained without diriftculty." 
 
 P. C'. Paml.Tjn, of Battleford, was Hudson's Hay officer in charge of 
 Francis r>ake and Pelly I'anks |)osts a number of years ago. He says the 
 chief difficulty in the way of a pack trail would be the heavy timber along the 
 Nelson and lower part of the T,iaid. The country is rugged but the ground is 
 soI''d, with very few muskegs. There is jilenty of grass along the route, but 
 ■ iing different from that of the |)rairic, horses used to the prairie grass will 
 ot d,> as well on it. Horses native to that country would winter out on the 
 iviard, but horses taken througii from the plains would have to be fed hay. 
 Horses taken from the plains could winter well on the Peace River prairies. 
 Plenty of hnv can be cut at the site of I'ort Halkelt and at Francis Fake. 
 Domestic cattle were kept at the former post by the Hudsan's Bay Company. 
 The snow is never very deep at I'ort Halkett as the chinook reaches there in 
 the winte' time. .A.t Francis Fake winter lasts from November 15th to May 
 fst Wild fowl come about May i5tli. It is no colder in winter at Halkett 
 or Fraiicis Fake than at l^dmf^nton, lut across the divide on the Pelly it is much 
 colder. 
 
 Prof. Dawson mentions that in the viiinity of 1 rancis Fake wild roses in 
 bloom were abundant in June. The forest growth resembles that of interior 
 British Columbia. Although the weather was showery when he was there he 
 cons'dered that neither the snow nor rainfall was very great. The elevation 
 of Francis Fake abov le sea is 2,577 feet. i'he height of the watershed 
 between the waters ■ .le Fiard and l'cll\' is 3,150 feet. 
 
 PELLY RIVER. 
 
 Prof. Dawson reached Pelly River on July 2ytli, 1897. The elevation 
 
 above the sea at this point was found to be 2.965 feet. The river is 327 feet 
 
 <\de with a middle depth at that date of 7 feet. 'I'he profc-:sor believes it to 
 
 1 .J navi|jable for steamboats at that point and for a considerable distance 
 
Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 25 
 
 further up the lakes in which it heads. In going down he found it suitable 
 for steamboat navigation and uninterrupted except by two rapids. The first 
 was at the mouth of the Hoole River, about 20 miles below the portage. This 
 rapid might be run safely, but can be avoided by a short easy portage. An- 
 other rapid occurs about ten miles further down in Hoole canyon. 'Ihis 
 rapid must be avoided by a portage half a mile in length. From this point 
 there is uninterrupted steamboat navigation to the sea. 
 
 The land-distance, by the Pelly, from the Francis Lake portage to the 
 junction with the Lewis is about 200 miles, and the water distance 320 miles. 
 The country is not rugged, the timber is not large and many open grassy slopes 
 are mentioned along the banks. The climate is evidently more moderate 
 than in the Klondyke region, and apparently there is no reason why pack- 
 horses or loose cattle should not be driven through this region without diffi 
 culty. Cattle and horses have already been driven to the mines from the 
 Chilkat pass down the I^ewis, where the country is much more rugged than 
 on the Pelly. In any case with a large navigable stream flowing direct to the 
 mines, once men were at the Pelly River the difficu'ties of reaching the Klon- 
 dyke diggings, with either cattle or freight, would be over, provided the time 
 of the year were suitable. If the season were toc^ late for navir an, Francis 
 Lake is evidently a better wintering place than anywhere on the \ukon waters, 
 and the surrounding country offers as good a field for the prospector as any 
 other part of the gold region. 
 
 Spruce up to two feet through is found at intervals all along the Pelly, but 
 is not as abundant on the upper as on the lower part of the river. 
 
 From the junction of the Pelly with '^he Lewis about 200 miles from 
 Francis Lake portage, to the Klondyke digging, the Pelly River and Chilkoot 
 pass routes, whether by land or water, would be the same and the distance 
 would be about 200 miles, the mouth of the gold-bearing Stewart River being 
 passe' on the way. 
 
 It will not be out of place to finish this interesting description l)y a ([nota- 
 tion from statements made by the late Roderick Campbell for many years an 
 officer of the Hudson's IJay Co., who several limes traversed all the northern 
 mountain districts : 
 
 In this connection it ma\ i)e said that there arc already pack trails for a 
 good i)art of the distance along this route, which have been used for years by 
 the Hudson's Piay Company, miners, traders and hunters, the ascent of the 
 mountain ranges is comparatively easy, and there is a good deal of open 
 <^ountry between the suir.mit and Pelly. .\s has already been intimated the 
 whole journey from .Athabasca f.anding to the Pelly, a tlistance of about 900 
 miles, might be made with pack horses, and a wagon road might be made at a 
 reasonable expenditure. On reaching the Pelly the gold-seeker by this route 
 would be less than 200 miles above the present gold fields, with a gently 
 ilowing current interrupted by 01 .y one rapid to bear his craft to the Mecca. 
 All the river beds southeast of the Yukon are auriferous, and much gold will 
 ')e found south and east of where the present finds are bci:\g made. Probably 
 uany of those who go this wa\ will not go to the Yukon as they will make 
 strikes along this route on the numerj:ius gold-bearing streams. The interior 
 'if the .Athabasca and Yukon districts have scarcely yet been prospected, and 
 
Advertisements. 
 
 Safe Advice 
 
 "Carry only Th)oroughly Reliable 
 Goods to th<?5 Klondyke." 
 
 [TRADE 
 
 WABK ■ 
 
 **f ^r****^f#^4f *r** 
 
 rTRAOE" 
 
 MARK • 
 
 ■EOMILK&C 
 
 OT 
 
 m-~ 
 
 i.TRUHUNSj 
 
 Hii 
 
 11 
 
 *#*##********* 
 
 l°MlL!i2iSi»l 
 
 'riic ■■ K'l'iiiiiccr ' HiMiiil ("iiii(lcii.-('(i Milk iiiiihI lie pi'oiKiiiiiccd of I'x llciit (|iialitv 
 and ill cx-i'iv ri'S]:r('l Siitisla<'tnr\-. 
 
 nii. AiMiii u Hii.i, hasski.i., 
 
 Aiiiily. Siiiiit. Inst.. LiiiKidii. E:ifr. 
 
 I .nil satistii'il tliiit tlir (niiriii.il iiiill< fmiri wliicli tlw " K'tdiidic.' " Brmid is iPi'i'piired 
 is III' iiinisiial rii'lini'SS. In |ioinl nl' ri;i\ ht. imIhi- mid cniisisicncy it Iciucs iii;llilni;' tn l.i' 
 dcsiri'd. 
 
 Dii. Orio III: II Mill, 
 II. 111. Srr'v <it' Sdc'v of I'lili. Analysis. I> ukidii. Kiifi-. 
 
 IMii>ri:ssn|{ .Iami..-^ W. K'niii:!,' i siix . Iioininioii I)aii',v ('oiuinissiuiu'r. savs : 
 
 Till' Ti'iii II ( Viiiili'iisi'd Milk," Wciiidi'iT " Bin ml . lias liccii aiial.\ /.od liy uiii' Clicmisi, 
 and ii.'iiiid siiiiiTinr tn the fjiiiinns Swiss |iriidiicts. 
 
 ALL THE LEADING GROCERS AND OUTFITTERS IN THE DOMINION OF 
 CANADA SELL THE RELIABLE " REINDEER " BRAND CONDENSED 
 MILK AND EVAPORATED CRFAM- the miners ' fa vorite "tin cow s.' 
 
 The Truro Condensed Milk 
 
 & Canning Co., Ltd. Truro, Nova Scotia. 
 
 ^t.ive. ,, 
 iin'-.ui I'ak 
 Ki\ iiiff I 'I 
 n'atcr Kf 
 '■raiiitc r| 
 •■-ITW-aiif 
 lvni\i's ill 
 
 ^I'ODIIS. 
 <'ll|lS 
 
 I'l.'ih's, (til 
 •■"III I'aii^ 
 I'ii'k andf 
 
 .Sli-ij-h... 
 
 W'lictstmi 
 
 'I'l'ilt luxil 
 Canvas fil 
 Tun Oil |l 
 ■> yd.s .Mosl 
 •1 suits IU\ 
 ~ M(iavv 
 ' doz. |iail 
 
 * do/. |i;,i| 
 
 -' pall- lief 
 
EioHT Routes to the Klondvkk. 
 
 ■7 
 
 it is safe to say that there will soon be greater discoveries than those of 
 Klondyke and neighboring diggings. When the writer was making a tour along 
 the north coast of British Columbia in 1891 he saw much gold dust and nug- 
 gets at the trading posts at the mouth of the Skecna River and at Port Simp- 
 son, near the mouth of the Nass River. The nuggets were brought to Port 
 Simpson by Indians from the interior and were washed from surface sands 
 in small streams. The dust brought down the Skeena River was also washed 
 out by the Indians, who do not penetrate the interior very far. 'I'he Indians 
 guard the whereabouts of the depf)sits religiously, but they will without doubt 
 be brought to light sooner or later by the sturdy and intre[)id prospector. 
 
 WHAT TO TAKE. 
 
 It is impossible to say exactly what to include in the supplies a miner 
 bound for the Klondyke should take with him, as the taste of no two men are 
 alike, 'i'he appended list may, however, be taken as mainly correct, as to the 
 needs of one man for one year (and once more it is well to state, and to 
 emphasize the point, that no one should take a whit less than one years supjjly 
 of provisions, at least until an all-year route for passengers and freight is opened 
 to the mining camp). The list is gathered from the estimates of various outfitters 
 on the Pacific Coast, who have had years of experience in sujiplying mining 
 camps in various parts of the mountains : 
 
 (iKot'EinEs, 
 
 Flour Ills III) 
 
 Curmueiil, two Kis ilis -.'(i 
 
 Uollcd Oats, two J'>s 1I)S 4(1 
 
 Kicc Ills ■>:, 
 
 Bi'nus Ilia Vn> 
 
 Siifiiir : His 7.") 
 
 Oi'led Fruits, uiiiiih's, iii'iiclics, iiiiricots.illis T/J 
 
 VcMst Cakes pkffs tl 
 
 Miikiiifi' I'owdiT His in 
 
 DrvSalt I'oi-k His .'>o 
 
 Kacmi II18 l.">ii 
 
 Diicd Beef His ;('i 
 
 I'",\tract of Heel', i I omiccsi d<i/. .'. 
 
 KvaiKiratcd I'otattn'S 11. 8 l'.'i 
 
 Diii'd Onions His '> 
 
 Butter 
 
 ( 'midciistMl Milk do/. l' 
 
 (■onVf ll.s 
 
 Tea His 
 
 Ct)ui|)n'S8(.'<l Soiip (lo/. 
 
 ('ominTssc'd Sonp N'ofrctalih's His 
 
 Soda Ilis 
 
 Salt |I)S 
 
 I'eiipcr His 
 
 Mustard His 
 
 (iiiit;t'i' His 
 
 .Jamaica Gin^icr, i4 o/. i Iiottlcs 
 
 Kvaporati d Viiicuai- .(|t 
 
 Laiindiy Soa|i bavs 
 
 Toilel Soap cakes 
 
 Candles 
 
 Matclies lio.xes 
 
 Toliacco 
 
 m 
 :! 
 
 lo 
 li 
 
 l'o 
 1 
 
 1 
 1(1 
 
 ."» 
 4(1 
 
 ll.\KU\V.\UF 
 
 stove 1 
 
 Bread I'aii 1 
 
 Ki\ iiifr I'aii 1 
 
 Water Kettle 1 
 
 I icaiiile Il'oii Bdckets l' 
 
 • nlT'ee and Tea I'ots <(ai'li 1 
 
 Knives and Forks : each 1 
 
 Spoons tea and tuHlc. each .') 
 
 Cll|iS -' 
 
 l'lates,(tiM) ;i 
 
 (iold I'au 
 
 I'iek and haiulle 
 
 Sleinh 
 
 Whetstone 
 
 Hatchet 
 
 \Vhi|i and Hand Saws each 
 
 Shovel 
 
 .Axe and H and le 
 
 Files, (assorted i do/. 
 
 Xails His 
 
 Dcawki He 
 
 I'lanes, Braces, and Bitts each 
 
 Cliistds. (a.isorted) 
 
 Butcher Knife 
 
 Coni|iass 
 
 Kevolversand Kitlt^s each 
 
 Pitch and Oakum 
 
 Roll! 
 
 CI.OTHING, Etc. 
 
 Tent lii.vlJ for four. 
 
 Canvas for wrappiufj. 
 
 Two Oil Blankets to each boat. 
 
 .'i yds .Mosipiito Neltinfj: to each man. 
 
 :i suits Heavy ruderwear to each uniu. 
 
 2 Heavy Overshirts. " " 
 
 '. do/., pair Heavy Wool Socks. 
 
 i do/,, pair Heavy Wool Mit8, 
 
 2 pair Heavy Mackinaw I'auts, ' 
 
 inchi feet HH) 
 
 1 Heavy Mackinaw Coat, for each man. 
 3 pair I'leavy Blankets, for two men. 
 
 •J Hulilier Blankets, for one man. 
 :.' pair Overalls, • •' 
 
 :.' pair Shoes, " " 
 
 2 jiair Heavy Sna^- proof Unlilier Boots for each 
 
 n\an. 
 1 suit Oil-clothinn' 
 1 Towels. 
 
Advertisements. 
 
 
 :♦#♦: 
 
 
 HAVE YOU OURCATALOCUE 
 
 SEND FOR ONE AND OUR PRICES 
 
 -ON- 
 
 TRANSITS, 
 THEODOLITES, 
 DUMPY, WYE 
 ANDABNEY 
 LEVELS, LEVEL- 
 ING RODS. 
 RANGING POLES 
 AND CHAINS, 
 
 Linen and Steel Chains, Measuring Tapes. 
 
 OptU-sil, >liitli«>iiiiiti('al aiHl Nnr\ cyiii^ JiiHtriiiiioiits 
 
 <'aiiiei'aH uiul 8ii|>|)li<>s. 
 
 I'iiotnm;rti|>hi(' 
 
 HEARIN & HARRISON 
 
 MONTREAL, 
 
 KJ40 ami KJ42 \OTIlK l)AMK S'lllKKi' 
 
 Estaldislioti l«"i?. 
 
 CANADA. 
 
 :♦*♦: 
 
 -M.'> 
 
Etoht Routes to the Ki.ondyke. 
 
 29 
 
 Besides the enumerated articles it is well to have one I'ocket Rule, at 
 least, one Trout Line, and at least one pair of good Snow-glasses, for the pre- 
 vention of snow blindness. A well assorted Medicine Chest is also a necessity. 
 Any reliable druggist will be able to give the necessary aid in selecting drugs 
 and in packing them safely for the journey. There are two things in the line 
 of drugs that no one should forget to be well supplietl with, and that is : Arnica 
 and Carbolic or other reliable healing salves. 
 
 COST OF THE TRIP. 
 
 It is plain that in giving the cost of a trip to the Klondyke it is absolutely 
 inqjossible to give the exact figures. There arc many charges intimately con- 
 nected with transportation, hotel charges, etc., that no man can begin to count 
 and hoping to make a correct guess. Supposing, however, that the prospective 
 Klondyke miner is bent on business alone and anxious to make the dollar go 
 as far as [)ossible, without being niggardly, it is possible to come somewhere 
 near the mark. 
 
 It must be borne in mind, however, that prices of even staples may vary. 
 Should the supply of a given article run .short at a given place, u[) goes the 
 price. F.ven the transportation charges proper, railway and steamshi]) fare, are 
 liable to change at any time. Keeping this in mind it should be needless to 
 state that any and all figures given here and based on prevailing prices at the 
 time of writing, are given merely as api)ro\imate, and not as showing the actual 
 cost, j'or many changes may be wrought in a single montii, and much more 
 then in six months or a year. 
 
 It is stated elsewhere in this little volume that the steanishij) fare by way 
 of the St. Michael's route from Victoria to Dawson City is $150.00. As an 
 evidence that transportation charges arc liable to change, it may now be stated, 
 on the authority of one of the officers of the \orth American fransportation 
 and 'I'rading Co., that the fare has been raised to $200.00. A person taking 
 this route and for the sake of economy buying a second class ticket i'rom Win- 
 nipeg to the Coast, can by no means ex])ect to get to Dawson City from W'inni- 
 [)eg for less than $250.00, and this will include baggage of 150 lbs. The 
 company, and the same thing a])plies to the one other cor[ioration taking 
 passengers by this route, being a commercial concern and carrjing on store? 
 at various points in the north will not take freight for any n^'in, but instead 
 oflers to furnish them with arything needed out of its warehouses at Dawson 
 ( 'ity, at the then ruling price in the camp. 
 
 Klondyke travellers choosing the Dyea route cannot expect to get along 
 with less than $70.00 to $75.00 between Winnijieg and Dyea, for railway and 
 steamship fare, meals and lodging, etc., and freight charges on su|)plies from 
 \ictoria to Dyea. .\s previously stated, and according to all having wintered 
 in the Yukon, no one should take with him less than 1,000 lbs of s ipplies. 
 Taking that as the average and allowing 100 lbs. as the load of each traveller 
 over to Dake f-inderman, he has still not less than goo lbs. to freight over, and 
 according to the present price for packing, he would have to pay $225.00 for 
 getting the 900 lbs. over to lake f.inderman. This brings the cost so far up 
 to $300.00. At r.inderman a boat may be bought for $75.00 or $100.00 and 
 incidental expenses at Juneau and Dyea, added to the price of the boat, will 
 
3« 
 
 Ei(;ht Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 easily bring the total cost up to $400.00. In this connection it may l)e stated 
 as the universal advice of those having been there, that no one should leave 
 Winnipeg for Dawson Ciity over the Dyea route, with less than $500.00 in his 
 pocket. This sum then may be considered as the actual cost of the trip, by 
 the time the " diggins " are reached ; certainly not less than $400.00. And 
 while on this subject it might not be out of place to remark, that according to 
 the latest f)btainable information, the freight charges from Dawson City to the 
 '' diggins " are now up to 25 cents a pound. We do not state this as an 
 undisputable fact, but considering the charges for packing goods over C'hilkoot 
 pass, it does not seem as unreasonable as at first view it a|)pears. C!onsidering 
 that at the present time every claim is taken up within at least 150 miles of 
 Dawson City, and the further fact, that this is a practically trackless mountain 
 district, in many [)laces almost impassable, 25 cents a pound becomes in reality 
 not such an exorbitant charge. 
 
 liv Way 01 l^DMONTON. — Choosing the f.ionel-Pelly route the railway fare 
 and incidental expenses from Winnipeg to Edmonton would be about $45.00. 
 Once in Edmonton the first thing to do would be to procure packhorses, pack- 
 saddles, etc. 'l"he price of packhorses at the present time runs from $25.00 
 to ."P40.00. and an average packhorse will pack from 225 lbs. to 250 IL^s. on a 
 faiiiy good trail. Allowing 225 lbs. as the average load for a horse, 5 of them 
 would i)ack 1 125 lbs. of supplies. Taking two extra horses, seven horses in all 
 would l)e purchased at an average price of say $35.00 each, or in all $245.00. 
 Packsaddles, ropes, etc., at present prices in Edmonton, would cost $8.00 for 
 each horse, or a total of $56.00 for seven horses. Parties taking this route in the 
 immediate future, before a road has been clearly marked out across the 
 undulating prairie section, would in all probability require an Indian guide to 
 take them as far as the Telly Hanks. A (';ood guide can be hired at $1.50 jier 
 day and willing to take at least a portion of the pay in trade. One guide will 
 icrve twenty men as well as one, but supposing the average party to be com 
 |)Osed of twelve men and supposing further that they t'-avel only 16 miles a day 
 on the average, a low enough estimate between Edmonton and Pel'.y blanks, 
 they would cover the distance (950 miles) in 60 days. The pay of the guide 
 then would I)e $90.00, or $7.50 to each member of the party. This I rings 
 the cost up to $353.50 or say $360.00, for the entire trip from Winnipt;^ 10 the 
 gold bearing valleys of the Yukon. In this connection it shouki Ik- oi.;se. /ed 
 that the seven horses brought from Edmonton would find a ready sale in ! )'.\vson 
 City or surrounding camps at $200.00 each, or more, horses in that district 
 being worth from $250.00 to $300.00 at the present time and no .sign that the 
 supply will equal the demand in the near future. 
 
 i>y way of the Mackenzie-Porcupine route the cost of the trip on the same 
 basis would be, roughly speaking, about $160.00. .'\s no correct figure is 
 obtainable this is mere guesswork and is arrived at in this way. The charge 
 for freighting goods from Edmonton to Athabasca Landing is $1.50 per 100 lbs. 
 The fare for each member between these points should not exceed $5.00. At 
 the Landing a boat will have to be bought or built and they range in price from 
 $100.00 to $300.00, according to size and whether a sailboat or merely a row- 
 boat. A guide to I'ort McMurry will cost at least $25 00 and portaging I oat 
 and goods over Smith portage will run from $10.00 to $15.00, while $15.00 to 
 
 
EidHT Routes to the Ki.ondyke. 
 
 31 
 
 
 $25.00 will he rciiuircd for transporting the outfit from I'ecl River to La IMerre's 
 house. These several amounts added to the initial cost, from Winnipeg to 
 Edmonton, bring the total up to at least $160.00. What it would cost to tow 
 the boat or transport the men and goods from l"t. S'ukon 375 or 40c miles to 
 Dawson City, it is. of course, impossible to even guess at, at the present time. 
 
 WHERE TO OUTFIT. 
 
 .Vs i)reviously pointed out those taking any of the I'aiufic Coast routes 
 should procure every article recpiired in the towns or cities on the Canadian 
 side of the boundary line, provided, of course, as at present, the point of des- 
 tination is within the Dominion. X'ancouver and \ictoria are the principal 
 trade centres in British Columbia and goods there will be found in e([ually great 
 variety and eriually cheap as in towns and cities on I'uget Sound. The differ 
 ence there is this, that goods bought in Canad? and shipped to Canadian points 
 go through without delay and without payment of duty, whereas the man 
 allowing himself to be cajoled into purchasing his outfit in I'uget Sound cities 
 will have to pay heavy duty on goods costing as much originally as the same 
 class in X'ancouver or X'ictoria. 
 
 It may seem farfetched to bring articles of commerce from Winnipeg to 
 the Coast and then reship north, but it is unc^uestionably a profitable invest- 
 ment to purchase in Winnipeg many of the smaller articles that weigh but 
 little, but make up a goodly item of expense. The same thing applies to 
 clothing, etc. Woolen goods of all kinds can be bought considerably lower in 
 Winnipeg than anywhere on the Coast. This is an undoubted fact and pros- 
 pective Yukon miners should look into it. 
 
 Yukon travellers taking the laard route or proceeding i)y any other known 
 road to the Northern Mecca from the east side of the mountains, should 
 certainly procure as much of their supplies as possible in Winnipeg. Every 
 article of clothing, etc., will be found a great deal cheaper in Winnipeg than in 
 Edmonton, and the same may be said of all the numberless small articles 
 required. Not only would this be the means of saving considerable money, but 
 might also be the means whereby all delay would be avoided. Edmonton 
 merchants can not be expected to carry as heavy stocks as those in Winnipeg, 
 the wholesale centre for the entire western country. A sudden rush, therefore, 
 mght easily e.xhaust the supply ot certain goods in Edmonton, thus causing 
 unavoidable and annoying delay, while no rush would be too great for Winnipeg 
 merchants to cope with. Horses, flour, etc., and all goods of heavy weight, 
 and kinds that every storekeeper at all times has on hand in greater or less 
 quantity, had probably better be bought in Edmonton. Still it would be 
 advisable to get quotations from Winnipeg merchants before deciding. As 
 regards equipment for horses, pack saddles, etc., the price is somewhat lower 
 in Winnipeg, and the supply in Edmonton would soon be exhausted if a sudden 
 demand arose. It might therefore be advisable to procure pack saddles, etc., 
 in the Winnipeg saddlery houses. 
 
 i 
 
 \ 
 
32 
 
 Eight Routes to the. Klondyke. 
 
 Comparative Distances. 
 
 } 
 
 St. Michael's Route. 
 
 Miles. 
 
 AVinnipeg to Victoria i,6oo 
 
 Victoria to 1 )utch Harbor 2,000 
 
 Dutch Harbor to St. Michael 75° 
 
 St. Michael to Yukon Mouth 80 
 
 Yukon Mouth to Dawson City i>78o 
 
 6,210 
 
 DvEA Route. 
 
 Winnipeg to Victoria i ,600 
 
 Victoria to Dyea i ,000 
 
 Dyea to T.ake Linderman 30 
 
 Lake Linderman to Dawson City 545 
 
 3>i75 
 
 White Pass Route. 
 
 From Winnipeg to Dawson City, about 3)25o 
 
 Stikeen Rivlr Route. 
 
 Winnipeg to Victoria 1,600 
 
 Victoria to Wrangell 15° 
 
 W'rangell to Telegraph Creek 150 
 
 Telegraph Creek to Teslin l-ake i 50 
 
 Teslin Lake and River 325 
 
 Teslin River to Dawson City 33° 
 
 3>305 
 
 r,iARD-?ELLV Route 
 
 Winnipeg to Edmonton 1 ,032 
 
 F.dmonton to Peace River Crossing 
 
 i'eace Crossing to Forks of Nelson 
 
 Forks of Nelson to Liard Junction 
 
 [,iard junction to 1 )ease River 
 
 1 )ease River to Felly ikinks 
 
 I'elly IJanks to Lewis River 
 
 Yukon to 1 )awson City 
 
 260 
 240 
 1 20 
 1 60 
 I 70 
 220 
 200 
 
 .Macken/ieT'orcim'Ine Route. 
 
 Winnipeg to I^dmonton 
 
 Fdmonton to .Mhabasca Landing, 
 
 2,402 
 
 1,032 
 90 
 
 M 
 
saELiitXsam 
 
 J 
 
 Eight Routes to the Klondykk. 
 
 .^3 
 
 
 Landing to Grand Rapids 167 
 
 Rapids to Ft. McMurray 87 
 
 Smith Portage (tramway) 16 
 
 Ft. Smith to Peel Ri\er 1,28/ 
 
 Peel River to La Pierre's House 70 
 
 l^a Pierre's House to Wikon River 400 
 
 Yukon to Dawson C'ity 400 
 
 3>549 
 
 The Yukon Basin. 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCH OP THE YUKON DISTRICT. 
 
 As a great many people seem to be under the impression that the famous 
 Rlondyke is a district entirely distinct and separate irom the Yukon district, 
 it is but just to state tha<: the Klondyke is but a small portion of the Yukon 
 district itself — size compared, a mere speck— and situated somewhere near the 
 centre of the Yukon district, measuring from north to south only about one 
 hundred miles from its western boundaiy, taking its name (Klondyke or 
 Ivlondak) from a small river named Thron-Diuch, llowmg from the southeast 
 and joining the Yukon a short distant e above Dawson C'ity, the present com- 
 mercial metropolis of Yukon placer fields. Dawson City, it might further be 
 said, is situated at about 139 W Long, a.ul 63.j;o N Lat.. or about 2,000 miles 
 in a direct line northwest of Winnipeg. 
 
 'I'he following historical sketch of this far northwestern district is gathered 
 from reports to the Domi'^i'^n Government by that distinguished explorer and 
 surveyor William Ogilvie, D.L.S., who has spent several seasons, since 1886. 
 in exploring, surveying and making lunar observations in that immense territory 
 bounded on the east by the McKen/.ie, on the north by the Porcupine and 
 Rat Rivers, on the west by the International boundary, no small portion of 
 which he himself has determined, and o) the south by the Coast Range of 
 mountains. 
 
 "The Yukon distrii t comprises, speaking generally that part of the North- 
 west Territories l}'mg west of the watershed of the McKen/ie Rivtr ; most of 
 it is drained by the Yukon River and its tributaries. It covers a distance of 
 about 650 miles along the river iVom the Coast Range of mountains. 
 
 " The first people from civilization toenlerthe country were the traders for 
 the Hudson's Hay Company. In the y^ar i<S4o Mr. Roderick Campbell was 
 commissioned by Sir George Simiv^in to explore the Upi)er Liard and to cross 
 the height v)f land in search of any river llowinjr to the westward, .\fter as- 
 cending the river to its head waters he struck across to the head of the l*ell\ 
 Kiver, thence down t^e I'elly to the confluence of the r,ewis, at which point 
 hi turned back, his men ha\ing been discouraged b\ the stories of the \Vood 
 Iiidians encamped there, who represented that tlic lower ptirtion of tlie river 
 was inhabited by a large tribe of cannibals. I'hus it was not inilil 1850 that 
 he could ef'ablish what he says he all along believed, that the I'elly and the 
 Yukon wer* identical. This he did by ascending the river to where the Por- 
 
r=a 
 
 34 
 
 Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 cupine joins it, and wliere, in 1847, Fort Yukon wa? established by Mr. A. H. 
 Murray for the Hudson's Hay Company. 
 
 " In 1848 (,'anipl)ell established Fort Selkirk at the conflueiice of the Pelly 
 and Lewis Rivers ; it was plundered and destroyed in 1852 by the Coast In- 
 dians, and only the ruins now exist of what was at one time the most impoit^^'nt 
 post of the Hudson's Bay Company to the west of the Rocky Mountain's in 
 the far north. In 1869 the Hudson's Bay Company's officer was expelled from 
 Fort \'ukon by the United States Ciovernment, they ha\ing ascertained by 
 astronomical oljservations that the post was not located in British territory. 
 The officer thereujjon a.scended the Porcupine to a point which was supposed 
 to be within ISritish jurisdiction, where he established Rami)art House ; but in 
 1890 Mr. j. H. Turner of the United States Coast Survey found it to be 20 
 miles within the lines of the United States. Consequently, in 1891, tlie post 
 was moved 20 miles further up the river to be within British territory. 
 
 '' The next peo{)le to enter the country for trading purposes were Messrs. 
 Harper and Mc(^uestion. They have been trading in the country since 1873 
 and have occupied numerous posts all along the river, the greater number 
 of which have been abandoned. Mr. Harper is now located as a trader at 
 I'ort Selkirk, and Mr. McC^uestion is in the employ cf the Alaska (Commercial 
 Com[)any at Circle City, which is tlie distributing point for the vast regions 
 surrounding Birch Creek, Alaska. In 1882, a number of miners entered the 
 Yukon country by the Taiya Pass ; it is still the only route used to any extent 
 J)y the miners, and is shorter than the other passes though not the lowest. In 
 1883, Lieutenant Schwatka crossed this same [)rr,> and descended the I.ewis 
 and N'ukon Rivers to the ocean. 
 
 '•The history of the Yukon Districc within recent )ears will be best des- 
 cril)ed by the following extract from the annual report of die Deputy of tlie 
 Minister of the Interior for the year 180; : 
 
 " In the year 1887 the Hon. Thos. White, then Minister of the Interior, 
 authorized tiie organization of an expedition having for its object the 
 exploration of that region of the Northwest Territories of Canada which 
 is drained by the Yukon River. The work was entrusted to Dr. Ceo. 
 M, Dawson, now the Director of the Ceological Survey, and Mr. Wm. Ogilvie, 
 the well known explorer antl surveyor. Dr. Dawson devoted the whole of that 
 season, and Mr. ()j..ivie a i)eri()d covering nearly two years, to obtaining geo- 
 logical, topograi)hical, and general information, chief!}' respecting the tract of 
 country lying adjacent to the 141 st meridian of longtitude, which by the Treaty 
 of St. Petersl)urg is designated as the boundary line from the neighborhood of 
 Mount St. L^lias to the Arctic Ocean between Alaska and the adjoining posses- 
 sions of the British Oown, which now form |)art of the Northwest 'I'erritories of 
 Canada. 
 
 " I'he explorers found th:it in proximity to the boundary line there existed 
 extensive and valuable placer gold mines, in which even then as many as three 
 hundred miners were at work. Mr. Ogilvie determined, by a series of lunar 
 observations, the point at which the Yukon is intersected by the 141st meridian, 
 and marked the same on the ground. He also determined and marked the 
 point at which the western affluent of the Yukon, known as Forty Mile Creek, 
 is crossed by the same meridian line, that point being situated at a 
 
; 
 
 Eight Routes to the Ki.ondyke. 
 
 35 
 
 y 
 
 • ' 
 
 distance of about twenty-three miles from the mouth of the creek. This 
 survey proved that the place which had been selected as the most convenient 
 owing to the physical conformation of the region, from which to distribute the 
 supplies imported for the various mining camps, and from which to conduct 
 the other business incident to the mining operations — a place situate at the 
 confluence of the Forty Mile Oeek and the Yukon, and to which the name 
 Fort Cudahy has been given, is well within Canadian territory. The greater 
 proportion of the mines then being worked Mr. Ogilvie found to be on the 
 Canadian side of the international boundry line, but he reported the existence 
 of some mining fields to the south, the exact position cf which with respect to 
 the boundry he did not have opportunity to fix. 
 
 " The number of persons engaged in mining in the locality mentioned has 
 steadily increased year by year since the date of Mr. Ogilvie's survey, and it is 
 estimated that at the commencement of the past season not less than one 
 thousand men were so employed. Incident to this mineral development there 
 must follow a corresponding growth in the volume of business of all descrip- 
 tions, particularly the im]inrtation of dutiable goods, and the occupation of 
 tra!-ts ' ■ ' ^he public lands for mining purposes which according to the mining 
 re^r.i >i>>:r, :re subject to the payment of certain prescribed dues and charges. 
 The Alaska Commercial Company, for many years subsetiuent to the retire- 
 ment of the Hudson's Hay Company, had a practical monopoly of the trade of 
 the Yukon, carrying into the country and delivering at various jjoints along the 
 river, without regard to the international boundry line or the customs hiws and 
 regulations of Canida, such articles of conunerce as were rciiuired frr the 
 prosecution of the fur trade and latterly of placer mining, these beirg the 
 only two existing industries. With the discovery of gold, however, came the 
 organization of a competing company known as the North American Transpor- 
 tation and Trading Company, having its head<iuarters in Chicago and its chief 
 trading and distributing post at Cudahy. This company hns been engnged in 
 this trade for over three years, and during the past season dispatched two 
 ocean steamers frow- San Francisco to St. Michael, at the mouth of the \'ukon, 
 the merchandise fr»*;,; which w?ls, at the last uientioned point, transhipped into 
 river streams a.;' c.r.Ned to points inlantl, but chiefly to the coiupan)'s 
 distributing cei. r. i''|-:n Canadian territory. Importations of considerable 
 \alue, consisting u. v. i.nmediately reciuisite supplies of the miners, and their 
 tools, also reached I Canadian portion of th» \ukon Fistrict from 
 Juneau, in the Cnited Stntes, by \^'ay of the Taiy Ii ':t, the mo uitain passes, 
 and the chain of waterways leading therefrom toCud.u.y. Upon none of these 
 im[)ortatiotis had any duty been collected, cxi'cpt a sum ■>f $3748.80 paid to 
 Inspector Constantine in 1894, by the North American Transportation ami 
 Trading Company and others, and it is safe to conclude, especiall\- when it is 
 remembered that the country prodrces none of the articles consimied within 
 it except fresh ,.-'?d. that a large revenue was being lost to the public exchecjuer 
 under the the^ • 1 nng conditions. 
 
 " For the 1- • -seof iscertaining officially and authoritatively the c:ondition 
 of affairs to whicli the corresp'.ndence referred to in the next preceeding 
 paragraph relates, the Honourable the President of tnc I'rivy Council, during 
 Uic spring of i8t,4, despatched Inspector Charles Constantine, of the North- 
 
 -I 
 
1 
 
 36 
 
 Eight Routes to thk Ki.ondyke. 
 
 west Mounted Police Force, accompanied l)y Sergeant Brown, to Fort ('udahy 
 and mining camps in its vicinity. 'Phc report made by Mr. (!onstantine on his 
 return established the substantial accuracy of the representations already 
 referred to. The value of the total output of gold for the season of 1894 
 he estimated at $300,000, a very large sum considering the relatively short 
 period to which mining operations are, l)y the nature of the chmate, confined. 
 
 "The facts recited clearly establish — first, that the time had arrived when 
 it became the duty of the government of Canada to make more efficient pro- 
 vision for the maintenance of order, the enforcement of the laws, and the 
 administration of justice in tiie Yukon country, especially in that section of it in 
 which placer mining for gold is being prosecuted upon such an extensive scale, 
 situated nc.ir to the boundary separating the Northwest Territories from the 
 possessioiis of the United .States in Alaska ; and, second, that while such 
 measures as were necessary to that end were called for in the interests of 
 humanity, and particularly for the security and safety of the lives and property 
 of the Canadian subjects of Her Majesty residei. *'iat country who are 
 
 engaged in legitimate business pursuits, it was evide. >t the revenue justly 
 
 due to the government of Canada, under its customs, xcise and land laws, 
 and which would go a long way to pay the e.\[)enses of government, was being 
 lost for the want of ade(piate machinery for its collection. 
 
 ".Accordingly in June last a detachment* of twenty members of the 
 Mounted Police I'orce including officers w;ts detailed for service in that portion 
 of thi' Northwest, 'territories. The officer in command, in addition to the 
 ma^isti'rial and other duties lie is required to perform l)y \irtue of his office 
 and under instructions trom the Department of Mounted Police, was duly 
 authorized to re|)resent where necessary, and until other nrrangements can be 
 made, all the dei)artments of the government having interests in that region. 
 Particular!)- he is authorized to perforni tl"'e duties of Dominion lands agent, 
 c(Wlet')r oi customs, and collctor of inland revenue. y\t the same time 
 instructions were given Mr. William Ogilvie, the surveyor referrec U) as having, 
 with Dr. Dawson, been entrusted with the conduct f)f the first government 
 e^[)edition to the N'ukon, to {)ro:-eed a;.iain to that district for the purpose of 
 contiiming and extending the work of determining the 141st meridian, of 
 laying out building lots and mining claims, and generally of peri'orming such 
 duties as may be entrustetl to him from time to time. Mr. Ogilvie's (lualifica- 
 tions as a surveyor, and his previous e\))erience as explorer of this section ol" 
 the Northwest, pei:uliarly fit him for tlie task. 
 
 '' .\s it appears quite certain, from the reports made by Mr. Ogilvie on 
 his return to Ottawa in 1889, and from the report of Mr. Constantine, that the 
 operations of the miners are being conducted upon streams which have their 
 sour(-es in the United States Territory of Alaska, and llow iiilo Canada on 
 their way to joui th^; \'ukon. ami as doub ess some of the placer diggings 
 under development are siluatetl on the United States side of the l)oundry, it is 
 highly desirable, both for the purpo.se of settling dcfmitely to which country ly 
 land oceuiiied for mining or other purposes actually belongs, ami in order that 
 
 * 'i'lie (let u'luiK'iit was nuulo upas t'ollmv.- : hispectoi' UoustiUitine, Officer 
 CoiniUiUKliuH; Yukon Dotaclnnent N. \Y. M. i\)li('o ; Insju'etor 1). A. H. Stricklaiul; 
 Assistant Sin-f^eon, A. K. Willis; 2 .Stall' Si'i'>i;eautis ; 2 Corpoi'als ; IH Constables 
 
 
Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 37 
 
 ;\- 
 
 is 
 
 ,at 
 
 llT 
 
 ■ 
 
 the jurisdiction of the courts and otificers of the United States and Canada, for 
 both civil and crimnal purposes may be established, that the determination of 
 the 141st meridian west of Greenwich from the point of us intersection with 
 the Yukon, as marked by Mr. Ogilvie in 1887-88, for a considerable distance 
 south of the river, and possibly also for some distance to the north, should be 
 proceeded with at once. Mr. Ogilvie's instructions require him to go on with 
 the survey with all convenient speed, but in ord:r that this work may be 
 effective for the accomplishment of the object in view the co-opciation of the 
 Government of the United Slates is necessary. Correspondence is in progress 
 through the proper authorities with a view to obtaining this co-operation. It 
 may be mentioned that a United States surveyor has also determined the 
 points at which the Yukon River and Forty Mile Creek are intersected by the 
 r4ist meridian." 
 
 Since the date of the above report, Mr. I). \\'. Davis has been appointed 
 collector of customs for the Yukon district. 
 
 " The business of the Department of the Interior having grown to such 
 proportions that Inspector Constantine was no longer able to deal with it and 
 discharge the numerous other duties assigned to him, Mr. Thos. Fawcett, 
 Dominion Topographical Surveyor, has been appointed gold commissioner, 
 surveyor and general agent of Minister of the Interior for the district. 
 Accompanying him and acting under his instructions are two Dominion land 
 surveyors, Jas. Gibbons and E. D. Bolton, with their parties." 
 
 In a report sent in by Mr. Ogilvie in January, 1896, it is stated that the 
 police are making a most favoral)le 'nTj^ression and that the general policy of 
 the government in connection with the aistrict is commended. 
 
 RESOURCES OF THE DISTRICT. 
 
 The following account and description of the Yukon bo n is compiled 
 fiom several reports sent in by Mr. Ogilvie and may without licsitation be ac- 
 cepted as absolutely impartial and as correct as any description of a partially 
 surveyed district may be made : 
 
 AGRICULTURAL CAPAHILITIES OF PHE YUKON I'.ASIN, 
 
 The agricultural capabilities of the couniry along the river are not great, 
 nor is the land which can be seen from the river of good (juality. 
 
 When we consider further the unsuitable climatic conditions which pre- 
 vail in the region it may be said that as an agricultural district this portion of 
 the country will never be of value. 
 
 My meterological records show over eight degrees of frost on the ist of 
 August, over ten on the 3rd, and four times during the month the minimum 
 temperature was below freezing. On the 13th the minimum temperature was 
 16°, and all the minimum readings for the renKiinder of the month were iielow 
 freezing. 
 
 Along the eas: side of Lake Bennet, opposite the Chilkoot or western 
 arm, there are some Hats of dry gravelly soil, which would make a few farms of 
 limited extent. On the west side, around the mouth of W'heaton River, there 
 is an extensive flat of sand and gravel, covered witli small i)ine and s[)ruce of 
 stunted growth. The vegetation is poor and sparse, not at all what one would 
 
Eight Routes to the Klohdyke. 
 
 lesire to see on a place upon which he was thinking of settling. At the lower 
 end of the lake there is another extensive flat of sandy 3oil, thinly clad with 
 small poplars and pines. The same remarks apply to this flat as to that at 
 Wheaton River, 
 
 Along the westerly shore of Tagish Lake there is a large extent of low, 
 swampy flats, a part of which might be used for the production of such roots 
 cereals as the climate would permit. 
 
 Along the east side th"^ surface appeared higher and terraced, and is pro- 
 bably less suited to the requirements of the agriculturalist. Along the head of 
 the river, for some miles below Marsh Lake, there are flats on both sides, 
 which would, as far as surface conformation goes, serve for farms. The soil is 
 of much better quality than any heretofore seen, as is proved by the larger and 
 thicker growth of timber and underbrush which it supports. The soil bears 
 less th£ character of detritus, and more that of alluvium, than that seen above- 
 As we approach the canyon the banks become higher and the bottom 
 lands narrower, with some escarpments along the river. At the canyon the 
 bank on the west side rises two hundred feet and upwards above the river, and 
 the soil is light and sandy. On the east side the bank is not so high, but the 
 soil is of the same character, and the timber small and poor, being nearly all 
 stunted pine. 
 
 Between the canyon and Lake Labarge, as far as seen from the river,there 
 is not much land of value. The banks are generally high, and the soil light 
 and sandy. At the head of the lake there is. an extensive flat, partly 
 covered with timber, much larger and better than any seen above this point. 
 Poplar eight and ten inches in diameter were not uncommon, add some spruce 
 of fifteen and sixteen inches, and many of upwards of a foot in diameter, were 
 also noticed. The soil, however, is light, and the vegetation, especially the 
 grass, thin and poor. 
 
 Some miles down the lake an extensive valley joins that of the lake on the 
 west side. This "alley contains a small stream. Around this place there is 
 some land that .1 .^nt be useful, as the grass and vegetation is much better than 
 any seen so far. 
 
 On the lower end of the lake, on the west side, there is a considerable 
 plain which might be utilized ; the soil in parts of it is good. I saw one part 
 where the timber had been burned some time ago ; here, both the soil and 
 vegetation were good, and two or three of the plants seen arc common in this 
 par*: of Ontario, but they had not the vigorous appearance which the same 
 plants have here. 
 
 Northward from the end of the lake there is a deei), wide valley, which 
 Dr. Dawson has named "Ogilvie Valley.' In this the mixed timber, poplar 
 and spruce, is of a size which betokens a fair soil ; the herbage too, is more 
 than usually rich for this region. This valley is extensive, and if ever required 
 as an aid in the sustenance of our people, will figure largely in the districts 
 agricultural assets. 
 
 Below the lake the valley of the river is not as a rule wide, and the 1 anks 
 are often steep and high. There are, hewever, many flats of moderate extent 
 along the river, and at its confluence with other streams. The soil of many of 
 these is fair, 
 
tie 
 
 :h 
 lar 
 Ire 
 
 xl 
 Its 
 
 Iks 
 
 lilt 
 
 of 
 
 Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 39 
 
 About forty miles above the mouth of the Felly River there is an exten- 
 sive flat on both sides of the Lewes. The soil here is poor and sandy, with 
 small open timber. At Felly River, there is a flat of considerable extent on 
 which the ruins of Fort Selkirk stand. It is covered with a small growth of 
 poplar and a few spruce. The soil is a gravelly loam of about eight inches in 
 depth, the subsoil being gravel, evidently detritus. This flat extends up the 
 river for some miles, but is all covered thickly with timber, except a small 
 piece around the site of the fort. 
 
 On the east side of the river there is also a large plateau, but it is two or 
 three hundred feet above the riyer, and the soil appears to be poor, judging 
 from the thinness and smallness of the trees. This plateau seems to extend 
 up the Felly for some distance and down the Yukon for ten or twelve miles. 
 As seen from the river it reminds one of the slopes and hills around Kamloops 
 in British Columbia, and like them, though not well suited to agriculture, might 
 yield fair pasturage should such ever be required. 
 
 A serious objection to it, however, for that purpose, if it ia not watered on 
 the surfr.ce by ponds, is that the river is difificult of access, as the plateau on 
 the side towards the river is bounded by a perpendicular basalt cliff, which, 
 without artificial arrangement, would completely bar approach to the water. 
 This cliff" is more than two hundred feet high at the confluence, and becomes 
 lower as we decend the river until, at the lower end, it is not more than sixty 
 to eighty feet high. 
 
 Between Felly and White Rivers there are no flats of any extent. At 
 White River there is a flat of several thousand acres, but it is all timbered, 
 and the surface of the soil is covered with a thick growth of moss, which pre- 
 vents the frost ever leaving the ground. This has so preserved fallen timber 
 and the foliage of the trees that much of it is lying on the surface nearly as 
 sound as when it fell. On this account the vegetable mould on the gravel is 
 thin and poor. The standing timber also bears witness to the coldness of the 
 soil by its slow and generally small growth. A few trees near the bank, where 
 the sun can heat th-^* soil, are of fair size, but further back they are generally 
 small. 
 
 At Stewart River there is another large flat to which the same general 
 remarks are applicable. Thence to the site at Fort Reliance, there are no 
 flats of any importance. High above the river in some places there are ex- 
 tensive wooded slopes, which, when cleared, would be well suited for such 
 agricultural purposes as the climate would permit. 
 
 At Fort Reliance there is a flat of probably 1,500 acres in extent : but 
 although Messrs. Harper & McQuestion lived there for some years, it appers 
 they never made any agricultural experiments, believing that they would be 
 futile. 
 
 At the P'orty Mile River there is a flat of al)out four of five hundred acres 
 in area, on which the soil is of better quality than on many of the other 
 places mentioned. On this Messrs. Harper tS: McQuestion erected their 
 dwelling and store-houses. They gave it as their opinion that only very hardy 
 roots would live through the many cold nights of the summer months, and that 
 the season is so short that even if they survived the cold they would not attain 
 a size fit for use. 
 
40 
 
 Eight Boutes to the Klondyke. 
 
 The river is not generally clear of ice until between the 25th of May and 
 the first of June, and heavy frosts occur early in September, and sometimes 
 earlier. 
 
 At the boundary there are two flats of several hundred acres each, one 
 on the west side, the other three miles above it on the east side. Both of 
 these are covered with poplar, spruce and white birch, also some willow and 
 small pine. 
 
 In making preparations for the foundations of our house at our winter 
 quarters near the boundary we had to excavate in the bank of the river, and in 
 an exposed place where the sun's rays could reach the surface without 
 hindrance from trees or other shade we found the depth to the perpetually 
 frozen ground to be not more than two feet. In the woods where the ground 
 was covered with over a foot of moss the frozen ground is immediately below 
 the moss. On this the timber is generally small, and of very slow growth, as 
 evident from the number of annual rings of growth. I have seen trees of only 
 three or four inches in diameter which were upwards of one hundred and fifty 
 years old. 
 
 It is difficult to form an estmiate of the total area of agricultural land 
 seen, but it certainly bears a very small proportion to the remainder of the 
 country. I think ten townships, or 360 square miles, would be a very liberal 
 estimate for all the places mentioned. This gives us 230,000 acres, or, say 
 1,000 farms. The available land on the affluents of the river would probably 
 double this, or give 2,000 farms in that part of our territory, but on the most 
 of these the returns would be meagre. 
 
 Without the discovery and development of large mineral wealth it is not likely 
 that the slender agricultural resources of the region will ever attract attention, 
 at least until the better parts of our territories are crowded. 
 
 In the event of such discovery some of the land might be used for the 
 production of vegetable food for the miners; but, even in that case, with the 
 transport facilities which the district commands, it is very doubtful if it could 
 compete profitably with the south and east. 
 
 TIMBER FOR USE IN BUILDING AND MANUFACTURING. 
 
 The amount of this class of timber in the district along the river is not at 
 all important There is a large extent of forest which would yield firewood and 
 timber for use in mines, but for the manufacture of lumber there is very" little. 
 
 To give an idea of its scarceness, I may state that two of my party made a 
 thorough search of all the timl)ered land around the head of Lake Bennet and 
 down the Lake for over ten miles, and in all this search only one tree was 
 found suitable for making such plank as we required for the construction of 
 our large boat. This tree made four planks 15 inches wide at the butt, 7 at 
 the top, and 31 feet long. 
 
 Such other plank as we wanted had to be cut out of short logs, of which 
 some, 10 to 14 inches in diameter, and 10 to 16 feet long could be found at 
 long intervals. 'I'he boat recjuired only 450 feet of plank for its construction, 
 yet some of the logs had to be carried nearly 200 yards, and two saw pits had 
 to be made before that q- antity was procured, and this on ground that was all 
 thickly wooded with spru ?, pine, and some balsam, the latter being generally 
 the largest and cleanest trunked. 
 
 
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Eight Routes to the Ki^ondyke. 
 
 41 
 
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 I'as 
 
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 ■ 
 
 These remarks apply to the timber until we reach the lower end of 
 Marsh Lake. On the head of the river, near the lake, some trees of fair 
 size, 12 to 14 inches in diameter, and carrying their thickness very well, could 
 be got, but their number was small, and they were much scattered. 
 
 At the canyon the timber is small and scrubby ; below it there were a few 
 trees that would yield planks from 7 to 10 inches wide, but they have been 
 nearly all cut by the miners, many of whom made rafts at the head of I-ake 
 Bennet, floated down to White Horse Rapids, and there abandoned them for 
 boats which they then built. 
 
 The great bulk of the timljcr in the district suitable for manufacture into 
 lumber is to be found on the islands in the river. On them the soil is warmer 
 and richer, the sun's rays striking the surface for a much longer time, and more 
 directly than on the banks. 
 
 At the confluence with the I'elly, on the east side of the river, there is a 
 grove of spruce, from which some very nice lumber could be made, and on 
 the islands below this, much of the same class of timber exists. Near White 
 and Stewart Rivers there is a good deal of nice clean timber, but it is small. 
 It is said there is more good timber on Stewart River in proportion to the 
 ground wooded than on the main river. 
 
 Between Stewart Rivet and the boundary there is not so much surface 
 covered with large trees as on many of the flats above it, the valley being 
 generally narrow, and the sides steeper than higher up the river. This, of 
 course, precludes the growth of timber. 
 
 To estimate the quantity of timber in the vicinity of the river in our 
 territory would be an impossible task, having only such data as 1 was able to 
 collect on my way down. I would, however, say that one-fourth of the area I 
 have given as agricultural land would be a fair conjecture. This would give 
 us two and a half townships, or ninety scjuare miles, of fairly well timbered 
 ground ; but it must be borne in mind that there is not more than a square 
 mile or so of that in any one place, and most of the timljer would be small 
 and poor compared with the timber of Manitoba and the easterly port of 
 the North-west Territories. 
 
 At the Boundary Line 1 required, as has already been explained, a tree 22 
 inches in diameter at the ground on which to erect my transit. An exhaustive 
 search of over three S(|uare miles of the woods there, though showing many 
 trees of convenient size for house logs, and many for small clean planks, 
 showed only one 18 inches in dia'neter at a distance of five feet above the 
 ground. 
 
 It may be said that the country might furnish much timber, which, 
 though not fit to be classed as merchantable, would meet many of the require- 
 ments of the only industry the country is ever likely to have, viz., mining. 
 
 The timber fit for buildings and lumbering is f.ist disappearing along the 
 river, and in a few years there will be none left near here. 'Ihere is a portable 
 saw- mill at Fort Ogilvie — 100 miles above this — and one here, which yearly 
 cut a good deal of lumber, \^'ere all this utilized in Canada nothing might be 
 said of it, but some of it goes down the river into .\merican territory, in 
 addition to which a good deal of wood and logs are cut on our side and floated 
 into Alaska where it is sold. Some men make a business of this, and on this 
 
42 
 
 Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 at least the department might collect dues. There is very little good timber 
 on the American side of the line, hence the demand for our timber. 
 
 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 fl'ROM OGILVIE's REPOUTS.) 
 
 The gold heretofore found and worked in this district has been all placer 
 gola. Search was made for it occasionally by us along the lakes and river as 
 we descended, but with the exception of the colors mentioned at the quartz 
 ledge on Lake Bennet, none was found until after we had passed Lake Labarge, 
 about six miles below which, at a sharp, short bend in the river we found in a 
 bar many colors to the pan. It may be said generally that colors are found 
 anywhere on the river between that point and the boundary, and also on the 
 tributaries which have been prospected. 
 
 It is probable that we have not less than 1,400 miles of stream in our part 
 of the district, upon all of which gold can be found. 
 
 About eighteen miles below the Teslintoo I saw the first place that had 
 been woiked for gold. Here a hut had been erected, and there were indica- 
 tions that a party had wintered there. Between it and Big Salmon River, six 
 other locations were met with. One of them named Cassiar Bar was worked in 
 the season of 1896, by a party of four, who took out $6,000 in thirty days. 
 They were working there when I passed in 1887, but stated that all they could 
 get that season was about $10 per day, and that it was then (3rd August) about 
 worked out. At the time of my visit they were trying the bank, but found the 
 ground frozen at a depth of about three feet, though there was no timber or 
 moss on it. They had recourse to fire to thaw out the ground, but found this 
 slow work. 
 
 Two of this party subsequently went down to Forty Mile River, where I 
 met one of them. He was a Swede, and had been gold mining for upwards of 
 twenty-five years in California and British Columbia. He gave me his opinion 
 on the district in these words : " I never saw a country where there was so 
 much gold, and so evenly distributed ; no place is very rich, but no place is 
 very poor , every man can make a ' grub stake ' (that is enough to feed and 
 clothe him for a year), which is more than I can say of the other places I have 
 been in." 
 
 In conversation with Mr. T. Bos well, who, as already stated, had prospected 
 the Teslintoo, or Newberry River, in the summer of 1887, I learned that the 
 whole length of the river yielded fine gold, generally at the rate of $8 to $10 
 per day : but as the miners' great desideratum is coarse gold, they do not 
 remain long in a country in which only fine gold is found — generally no longer 
 than is necessary to make a "grub stake," unless gold is in unusually large 
 c^uantities. Mr. Boswell therefore went to the lower part of the river, having 
 hearc' the reports of rich finds. 
 
 tewart River was the first in the district on which mining to any extent 
 was aone. In 1886 there was quite a number of miners on it engaged in 
 washing gold and they all appear to have done fairly well. Their exact number 
 I could not ascertain. 
 
 I have heard the amount of gold taken from off Stewart River in 1885 
 and 1886 estimated at various amounts. One estimate was $300,000, but this 
 
Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 43 
 
 Int 
 
 in 
 
 ler 
 
 ^5 
 lis 
 
 must be excessive. The higliest amount I heard as representing one man's 
 earnings was about $6,000. This may be true, as many agree that $30 per day, 
 per man, was common on many of the bars of the river, and instances of as 
 high as 3 1 00 per day having been earned were spoken of. 
 
 The only mining done on Stewart River was on the bars in the river ; the 
 bench and bank bars were all timbered and fro/en, so that to work them would 
 entail a resort ^o hydraulic mining, for which there was no machinery in the 
 country. 
 
 During the fall of 1886, three or four miners combined and got the owners 
 of the " New Racket " steamboat to allow the use of her engines to work pumps 
 for sluicing with. The boat was hauled up on a bar, her engines detached 
 from the wheels, and made to drive a set of pumps manufactured on the ground, 
 which supplied water for a set of sluicing boxes. With this crude machinery, 
 in less than a month, the miners cleared $1,000 each, and paid an equal 
 amount to the owners of the boat ns their share. 
 
 Forty Mile River is the only river in the district on which, up to the fall 
 of 1888, coarse gold had been found, ard it may be said that much of it can 
 hardly claim that distinctive title. I'he largest nugget found was worth about 
 $39. It was lost on the body of a miner who was drowned at the canyon. 
 Several other nuggets of much less value have been found, but the number of 
 pieces which one could call " nugget," are few. 
 
 The miners term Forty Mile a " bed rock " creek— that is, one in the bed 
 of which there is little or do drift, or detrital matter, the bottom of the river 
 being bed-rock. In many places this rock has been scraped with knives by 
 the miners, in order to gather the small amount af detritus and its accompany 
 ing gold. 
 
 Very little of the gold on this creek was found in Canadian territory, the 
 coarsest gold being found well up the river. The river had been prospected 
 in 1887 for upwards of one hundred miles, and gold found all the way up. 
 The great point with the miner is to find where the gold comes from. To do 
 this he has to reach a point on the river where there is none ; then he knows 
 he has passed the source, and will search in side valleys and gulches. The 
 theory seems to be that the gold is stored up somewhere and dribbled out 
 along the river. 
 
 Pieces of gold-bearing quartz had frequently been picked up along the 
 river in the shallow drift, but none had been found in place, nor did it appear 
 to me that much search had been made for it. Near the mouth of the rive: 
 there is an extensive flat of detrital matter through which a couple of small 
 creeks flow. This is all said to be gold-bearing, and, it was thought, would 
 pay well for sluicing. Accordingly, a couple of claimnnts had staked off" claims 
 at the mouth of the creeks, and intended to try sluicing in the season of 1888. 
 I have not heard how the venture succeeded. 
 
 Stewart River was pretty well worked for two seasons, 18S5-86, by about 
 forty men, some of whom made at least $5,000. Assuming that they averaged 
 half that amount, we have $100,000 as their earnings. Forty-Mile River, the 
 only other stream from which any large quantity has been taken was worked in 
 the summer of 1887 by about three hundred men, many of whom spent only a 
 few weeks on the river, some only a few days. The statement made by those 
 
44 
 
 En. HI Routes to thk Klondykk. 
 
 of whom I inquired was that all who worked on the river for any length of 
 time made a " grub stake." Putting this at the lowest value I ])laced on it, 
 $450, and assuming that two hundred and fifty men made each this sum, we 
 have $112,500 as the amount taken out on this stream. I have heard the 
 sum placed at $130,000. 
 
 All the gold taken from the other streams by prospectors would not amount 
 to more than a few thousand dollars, so that it is probal)le the total amount 
 taken out of the whole district is in the vicinity of a quarter of a million dollars, 
 of which about half was taken out in our territory. 
 
 Very rich placer diggings are now being worked on the creeks flowing into 
 Sixty Mile, p.irt of which are supposed to be in Canada. I shall be able to say 
 definitely when I produce the line so far where they are and how much we 
 have of them. 
 
 Except in thj vicinity of Forty Mile there appears to be nothing doing in 
 the way of quartz prospecting. 
 
 Last season good placer mines were found on the Hootalinqua — Teslin of 
 Dawson— with coarse gold in them, and there will probably be a lot of claims 
 worked there next season. Several miners were wintering there to commence 
 operations early in the spring. A great deal of improvement has been intro- 
 duced in the working of placer diggings, which has much increased the output. 
 The miner instead of putting in the winter months in the town and saloons 
 remains on his claim all winter, cutting wood in the earlier months, with which 
 he builds fires and thaws the frozen gravel, piling it up to be washed as soon as 
 the flow of water in the spring will permit. In this way the work is more than 
 doubled, but as the supply of wood is very limited, except on the main river 
 this cannot be done. Had the season been more favorable I would 
 have visited Glacier and Miller Creeks which were generally supposed to be in 
 Alaska, but are found to run in ('anada for some distance. They arc the two 
 richest creeks yet found on the Yukon and are both tributaries of Sixty Mile 
 River. Both creeks are fully located and worked, each claim being 500 feet 
 along the creek and the width of the valley or creek bed. There are nearly 
 100 claims, all of which pay well. One on Miller Creek 1 understand will 
 yield 75 to 80 thousand dollars this season, and the owner will net, it is said, 
 between 40 and 50 thousand dollars. He took out, it is reported, nearly half 
 that sjm last year off the same claim, and expects to do equally well next year. 
 This is much the richest claim yet found, but all on these creeks do well. 
 There are many other creeks in this vicinity yet to be prospected and some will 
 I have no doubt, pay well, (jold is found all along the valley of Sixty Mile 
 River, and under more favorable conditions, both mercantile and climatic, it 
 would yield good results to large enterprises. The mercantile conditions will 
 improve ; the climate is a serious difficulty but will be surmounted in time I 
 believe, .\long the last 10 or 12 miles of this line I ran, the mountams con- 
 sist [)rincipally of {[uartz and schists, which, no doubt, originally held the gold 
 found in the valleys and doubtless ho'd son^e yet. Several men have taken to 
 quartz prosi)ecting and found indications which I will dwell on later. 1 believe 
 we are on the eve of some magnificent discoveries. 
 
iMf.HT Routes ro the Kionhyke. 
 
 45 
 
 General Information. 
 
 Who Should Cio? — In his report to the government Mr.A.l'.. Wills, assistant 
 surgeon to the Mounted Police in the Yukon district, gives many valuable hints 
 not to he found elsewhere. Among these is one on who should he selected for 
 Police duty. What applies to policemen in that region applies eiiually to everyone 
 else. This hint should he duly considered by everyone intending to try their 
 luck in the Klondyke. It is as follows : 
 
 " Men should be sober, strong and healthy. They should be practical 
 men, able to adapt themselves ([uickly to their surroundings. Special care 
 should be taken to see that their lungs are sound, that they are free from 
 rheumatism and rheumatic tendency, and that their joints, especially knee 
 joints, are strong and have never l)een weakened by injury, synovitis or other 
 disease. It is also very imjiortant to consider their temper; uents. Men 
 should be of cheerful, ho|)eful dispositions and willing workers. Those of sul- 
 len, morose natures, although they may be good workers, are very apt, as soon 
 as th velty of the country wears off, to be( ome dissatisfied, pessimistic and- 
 mek !y.'' 
 
 le I 
 ;on- 
 rold 
 1 to 
 leve 
 
 Miners' Cabins. — The same authoritv thus describes the miners" cal)ins : 
 "The regulation miners' cabin is 12 feet t)y 14 feet, with walls six feet and 
 gables 8 feet in height. The roof is heavily earthed and the cat)in is generally 
 very warm. Two, and sometimes three or four men will sometimes occupy a 
 house of this size. The ventilation is usually bad. Those miners who do not 
 work their claims during the winter confine themselves to these small huts luost 
 of the time. 
 
 Very often they become indolent and careless, only eating those things 
 which are most easily cooked or prepared. During the busy time in sunuiT^r 
 when they are '' shovelling in," they work hard and for long hours, sparing 
 little time for eating and much less for cooking. This manner of living is 
 quite common among beginners, and soon leads to debility and sometimes to 
 scurvy. Old miners have learned from experience to value health more thrai 
 gold, and they therefore spare no expense in procuring the 1)est and most 
 varied outfit of food that can l)e obtained. 
 
 In a cold climate such as this, where it is impossible to get fresh vegetables 
 and fruits, it is most important that the best substitutes for these should be 
 provided. Nature helps to sui)pl\- these wants by growing cranberries and 
 other wild fruits in abundance, but men in summer are usually too busy to 
 avail themselves of these." 
 
46 
 
 Kl.i.HI R(»LrES Tl» THK Kl.ONDVKK. 
 
 It might here he stated that since the ahove fv^port was sent in, it has he- 
 come the rul'^ for practically everyl)oily to work their claims in winter as well 
 as in sumnicr. Vet it should be borne in mind that, owing to the high latitude, 
 the winter day is very si^ort, so that, at the best, more than half the time must 
 be spent in the cabins. According to iMr. Ogilvie, the method adopted by 
 miners for working in winter is as follows : '' 'I'hey make fires on the surface, 
 thus thawing the ground until the led rock is reached, (l:ed-ro< k simply means 
 that drift or dfitritd matter goes no further down) then drift and tunnel ; the 
 product is l)rought to the surface and heaped in a pile until . pring when water 
 can be obtained." 
 
 Notes on tiie Climate. — As is well knuwn die climate is extreme in the 
 Yukon basin. The thermometer in winter often registers ;is low as 70 below- 
 zero, while in summer it runs up to iio above. .\s a rule winter sets in about 
 the middle of Se[)tember and continues until the beginning of ]un(i. and is de 
 cidedly cold."— Ogilvie. However, the average cold in winter is not nearly so 
 great as here indicated. The following shows the mean minima in the 
 months stated, as recorded by Mr. Ogihie in 1887-8, at a point just east of 
 the 141st meridian on N'ukon river : For October ("87) the mean minimum 
 vas 18 : for Nov.. 5 ; for Dec. ^^3 ; for Ian. ('88), 25 ,; for Feb. 16 . The 
 thickness of ice on the river was at stated times, that season, as follows: lie 
 set Nov. 15th, thickness of ice Dec. ist 141,^ inches ; Jan. 3rd 401/, inches : 
 Feb. 3rd 48 inches : March 3rd 483/2 inches. .As Ogilvie on the 3rd of March 
 made ; eparations to start for the McKen/.ie, his oliservations for that season 
 go IK r."ther. In this i omiection it is interesting tn give the remarks of 
 Assistant Surgeon A. 1*".. Wills cm the ("hmate. as follows: 
 
 ••The climate is wet. The rainfall last summer was heavy. .Although there 
 almost a continuous sun in the summt r time evaporation is very slow owing to 
 the thick moss which will not conduct the heat, in (onsequence the ground is 
 always swamp>. It is only after several years of draining that ground will 
 become sutificiently dry to allow the frost to go out and then only for a few- 
 feet. I )uring the wintt r uionths the cold is intense with usually considerable 
 wind. 
 
 .-V heavy mist rising from open places in the river settles down m the 
 valley in call extreme weather. This dampness makes the cold to be felt 
 much more an^i is conducive to rheumatic pains, colds, etc." 
 
 Retail Prices at Dawson City.- Considering the distance supplies of 
 all descriptions have to be brought to Hawson City, that wonder town of tin 
 the fro/.en north, which by this time has about 4,000 of a |)opulation. prii;es of 
 all kinds of necessaries ma\ be said to rule surprisingly low, beef ana trtsb 
 meat of all kinds excepted, whi<h up to this time is scarcely less than $1,00 per 
 pound, when at all procurable. Many are inclined to believe that starvation 
 is in store for the district this coming winter, because so many are rushing 
 there w'thout the required means. If it be so, it will not 1)0 through the pro- 
 hibitive price of supidies, but solely because there will be none to sell. Mer 
 chants have hut a short r.eason each year in which to bring in their goods and 
 
 
RiC.HT ROUTKS lO I HK Kl.ONDVKK. 47 
 
 tr;\iis[)ortati()n facilities being sadly lackini;. it is (luitc impossible tor ihciu t<> 
 provide the siipi)lics required b\ the ever increasiim army of g<,id-luinters, so 
 many ot" whom, as previously stated, carry little or no su[)p!ies, but are wholly 
 dependent on the traders in the camp. It is on tlli^^ .vcount that the advice is 
 never too f>ften repeated: do not start for the \ ukoii unless you can take with 
 you one year's supplies tor yourself.and bear this m mind alsct, that what would 
 be ample at home will by no means suttice you as daily rations in the frozen 
 north. The publishers can not guarantee that the appended price list of .'-tore 
 gof)ds at Dawson ("ity is strictly correct, but these were tlie ruling prices 
 early in jul\-, 1897 ; 
 
 Tea per lb $1 ; coffee per lb 50 cents: sugar per 'b 50 -ents: eggs .tii.50 
 per do/., fairly good eggs $2 [)er iloz.: butter $1.50 per roll ; rice per lb 25 
 cents; beans per lb 10 cts; llour per 100 lbs $12: bacon per lb 40 cents : 
 moose meat per lb 65 cents: salmon, each $1.50; potatoes per lb 25 cents; 
 turnips per lb 15 cents; dried fruit per lb ^55 cents; canned fruit per can 50 
 cents ; canned meat 75 cents; lemons per do/. f2.4o; oranges per do/ .'ffi : 
 tobacco per lb $1.50 : coal (n\ per gallon $1.50 : underwe;ir. per suit $5 to 
 $7.50; overalls $1.50; shoes $5.00: rubber boots $10 to $15 : sho\els $2.50 ; 
 picks $5 ; rough luntber [ter 1000 feet $150. 
 
 m 
 
 Hints on Pack Travel. It is a very important matter to have the su|) 
 l)lies [>roi)erly i)acked to guard against damage by water and rough handling. 
 The packs are made up to weigh about seveiUy-five pounds, first they are put 
 in canvas bags, and then are wrapped securely in oil cloth. Should they be 
 exposed to rair., dropped in the wet snow, or even immersed for ;i short time 
 in the river, practi' dly no damage will result. 
 
 I'or a r(K-ky country tiie mule is |)referable to the horse, for he will live 
 where a horse will starve, he will carry a much he.ivier load, and is more sure 
 footed. In a swam])y countr\ the horse is i)referable as his hirger hoof pre- 
 vents him from sinking in the mud, and if he gets mired he will struggle out of 
 the difificulty, which the nude will not do. 
 
 The best pack horses to use are the small mountain bred ponies that will 
 carr\ from 225 to 250 'bs. The ;iverage mule will larry from j;oo to 350 lbs. 
 The ajiaraleo is far preferable to the [)ack saddle and if properl) looked after. 
 will [irevent the backs of the animals from getting sore. .\ day s journey for 
 loaded pack animals, should be not more than 12 or 15 miles. The iourne> 
 .should be made earh in the morning before tiie llies get ba . and the animals 
 turned out to rest and teed by jo a.m. Smudges should :)e made to enable 
 the animals to rest in tl.'e smoke but they must be watcheu or the animals will, 
 when the (lies are l)ad, get i;)to the fin and burn themselves badly. 
 
48 
 
 Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 Latest Information on the Routes. 
 
 THE ST. MICHAEL'S ROUTE. 
 
 (OCJILVlE'fS LATEST HEl'OUT.) 
 
 Tt is a common occurrence to he delayed hours, and even days, on bars 
 and on what is known as the Yukon flats, just l)elow Circle City. Not once 
 is there difficulty of this kind found in our part of the river, but in the Alaska 
 portion it is an every day occurrence for a steamer to stick. I know of one 
 steamer that stuck for three weeks, another that was on a sand bank for four 
 or five days till another steamer came along and bunted her off, and then 
 stuck on the same bar herself — and I don't know how long she stayed there. 
 
 The navigation of the \'iikon river in the upper part is open from May 
 till the middle of October ; while at the mouth it is not open before the ist 
 fuly, and navigation does not last longer than the ist of Octol)er— that is only 
 from two and a iialf to three months- -and it lakes river steamers fourteen, 
 fifteen and sixteen days to get up the river to Dawson. St. Michael's the 
 head(iuarters of the rjver boats, is 80 miles from the mouth of the river, and 
 only in calm weather can the steamers cross that bit of open sea. 
 
 The vessels that are engaged at present navigating the Yukon. 'I'he 
 Alaska Commercial Company have two large steamers, the Alice and the Bella, 
 besides smaller ones named Margaret and the Victoria, last being named after 
 (j)ueen N'ictoria, as it was built in the Diamond JubiUe year and launched 
 about the time of the jubilee. There were also two other small steamers be- 
 longing to the company running at the mouth of the river. The North Ameri- 
 can Transportation and Trading Company have three steamers and conteni- 
 [)late putting on two more next summer. 
 
 "THE DALTON TRAtL." 
 
 J. |. McArthur, who has bee; ; engaged ex[)loring the trails leading from 
 the Chilcat inlet west, known as the Dalton trail, was out in the interests of the 
 government of Canada and belie\es these trails are practicable, but will re(iuire 
 a great deal of improvement before a large party can go over, as the trails 
 would be liable to get cut uj) badly when any great amount of stuff was freight- 
 ed over. 
 
 In speaking of th(? Dalton trail recently, Mr. Ogilvie said : — 
 
 Of the Dalton trail I know nothing by [lersonal observation — only by re- 
 port. I had an interview with Mr. Dalton, from whom the trail is named, in 
 1896, and I have also talked with Mr. McArthur, our surveyor, who has spent 
 
 F 
 
Eight Routes to the Klondyke. 
 
 49 
 
 > 
 
 
 some time in that district recently. Of course the substance of his report can- 
 not be divulged at present. 
 
 The summit of this trail is about forty-five miles from the coast and 3,000 
 feet above the sea, the watershed is about 75 miles from the coast and Dalton's 
 trading post 100 miles from the coast. Thence to the Pi\lly is 300 miles 
 further. This route [ja-^ses over a nice undulating plain, well timbered in the 
 valleys and with grass on the slopes, but not enough to feed any number of 
 animals. The first 34 miles of the Inilton trail is in disputed territory, the rest 
 of it in Canada, just as is the case with the Dyea and Skagway trails. 
 
 Mr. W. Ogilvie's latest report on the Taku route is as follows : — 
 
 In 1894 and ^895 I was employeil to go in that portion of the country. 
 Taku Inlet is something about eighteen miles long, and leads up to a glacier o^ 
 much greater size and affording considerable more danger to boats than the 
 much talked of Muir glacier in Alaska. The ice is cast off in great avalanches 
 and is continually breaking off. I have visited the Muir glacier and have 
 never seen a breaking take place : whereas in Taku, where 1 remained for 
 three weeks, I saw large bodies of ice break away every day, which in every 
 case create a surge in the water that is dangerous to boats even to so great a 
 distance as three miles away from the glacier. This Taku river extends for 
 sixty miles. There are enormous gravel bars which render it impossible for 
 steamboats to navigate it, although it is said they might during the months of 
 June or July — or during the warm weather. From the forks we go u[) by the 
 le!"t-hand branch about nine miles over to Tagish lake. Along this route we 
 meet with no very great difficulties, and keep ui) about nine miles, going past 
 the Silver Salmon creek. In regard to this route I may say, however, that 1 
 have not examined any considerable portion of it, but civil engineers are now- 
 exploring it and their reports will of course be made publ 
 
 From the summit there will be no difficulty in construi.ting a road to the 
 head of Teslin lake. We have here then, two roads- one of tlun (Stikine) 
 offering almost j)erfect advantages with the additional greater one that it an be 
 called an all C'anadian route if we (hoose to so name it. 
 
 Mr. Ogilvie, on November 5th, in X'ictoria, gave the following u|)-to-date 
 sketch of the Stikine-Teslin lake route : — 
 
 l/javing X'ictoria by any one of the steamers which run from here, we 
 make our way through the well known Seymour narrows, taking care to time 
 that passage to reach there at a suitable stage of the water, for it is well known 
 that no ship can go through except at either high or low tide. In a fe,v days, 
 according to the capacity of the steamer, we reach Fort Simpson, the ntost 
 northerly sea[)ort in Hritish (lolumbia or Canada on the Tacific ocean. If we 
 wish to make our way in IJritish bottoms we can here take the river steamers 
 and proceed from I'ort Simpson to W'rangel, it being about 170 miles from the 
 former point to the mouth of the Stikine river : proceeding up that river about 
 150 miles, or perhaps a little less distance, as will be proved when the surveys 
 
r:^ 
 
 50 
 
 ElCHT ROLI KS r<» IHK Kl.ONlJVKK, 
 
 arc made for the proposed rail\va\ facilities. That distance <)ccu[)ies sixty 
 hours or ;i little more. From the head of the .Stikine, the road would follow 
 ihrouL^h an undulating country which presents no o!)stai4es to railway construc- 
 tion, and for the greater part of the distance of 150 miles is pretty well covered 
 With timber. 1 would mention, however, that the natural food supply available 
 for horses will not be sufficient for any great iiumber. it might be sai<l that 
 enough would be found, for say, two hundred head, but any great number 
 would soon eat off what there is. and it will be necessary that such r.rrangements 
 shall be m ide as will render it possible for the nntural sup|)ly to be incTeased 
 liy importing sufticiciu for an\ number over and above that. 
 
 .\rri\ed at the head of TcnIii' lake, we produce our whipsaws and c )m- 
 mence to get out lumber for our boats. Now, whipsawing has been saiil to be 
 one of the inventions of .Satan, and when two are doing that work it is neces- 
 sary for success that one shall i)usii and the other shall pull : but when, as is 
 too often the case with the tenderfoot, both either pull or [)ush. there is likely 
 to be some eiKiuir)' froiii the man who is above what the other fellow is doing, 
 andtherem.iy be .some uncomplimentary langi age indulged in, antl the mnnbelow 
 ask his p.irtner to come down and ha\e it out. And if the same man below 
 gets a grain of sawdust in his eve during the |)rogress of the ([uarrel there will 
 be (juite a sulphurous atmosphere for some lime. Alter a while though in s[)ite 
 of these difficulties the boat will be fmally got read}', and then commences the 
 trip down the Teslin lake, which is 80 miles long and bounded on both sides 
 by high mountains. This tlistance is of course only as 1 have been told. We 
 arrive at the head of the HootaruKjua after traversing the lake. This river is 
 marketl on the map as being the I'eslin, which is the bulian name for a fish 
 which is caught in the lake. I'he Hootalincpia river isai)out 125 miles long — 
 or a total distance from N'ictori.i to Dawson City by way of the .Stikine, 'I'eslin 
 and HoolaliiKiua route, of i,0oo miles. .\t two points, one near the head of 
 the river and one (juite a distance below, there are obstacles in' the way of 
 steamboat navigation at certain times of the year, during ( ertain stages of the 
 river. .\ few miles below, the river broadens out into innumerable channels 
 until at. last, at the lower end, it widens to two and a half miles. If one of 
 these channels were deepened out. a sufficient depth of water could be obtained 
 to allow a free passage for a steamer drawing three or four feet without diffi- 
 culty. 
 
 The l'"(^rt W rangell, (llenora antl f.ake Teslin Transportation Company 
 "will have a line of steamers plying l)etween I'ugel Sound i)orts to iieatl of 
 navigation on Stikine river, a distance of about 1,^0 miles from I'ort W rangell, 
 and then pack trains across the portage from the river to Teslin lake. One 
 thousand horses will be utili/etl in the service, and on i'eslin lake and water 
 course to Dawson City a series of boats will be put on, which are now in course 
 of ((instruction. The t^ompany is in a position to book [)assengers from any 
 p.irt of the world direct to Dawson City, and the cost from Kngland. first-class, 
 wiil be .$ 1,000, and second-class Jfiyoo. whi<-h will also include the transportation 
 of supplies, etc., for a year.'' 
 
 .Xrrangements have been made by which horses can be taken through the 
 -Maskan I'erritory along the Stikine in bond. 
 
Rir.HT RouiEs ro the Kionovkk. 
 
 51 
 
 5S, 
 
 ie 
 
 ' 
 
 K. J. Duchesiuiy, C. K., who was stiit up to examine the Stikinc Route 
 by the C. P. Ry. Co., left Vancouver on September 14th, and returned in 7 
 weeks, having been delayed a week waiting tor a nteamer at W'rangel. He 
 went up the Stikine by canoe and then walked to Tcslm Lake. The weather 
 was good and no difficulties were encountered so that it would seem that rail- 
 road building will be easy. On his wa\ in Mr. I )uchesnay overtook Mr. 
 Jennings, the surveyor sent out by the Dominion government to ascertain the 
 most feasible route to Yukon. He returned in company with Duchesnay 
 after sending two parties, one in charge f)f a son of William Ogilvie, the well 
 known surveyor, to explore the Hootalmcpia River. On his trip Mr. 
 Duchesnay met a number 01 miners en route to Klondyke and he expressed 
 the opinion that all of them will get to Dawson ( ity this season. • 
 
 Frank \'ork, of N'ictoria, who is building a steamer to ph 011 I'eslm Lake, 
 says the journe} from there to Dawson Citv ca.n be made bv steamer in three 
 days, so if a railway is l)uilt by the (M'.R. between Stikme River .uid I'eslin 
 r.ake. tile iourne\- can be accomplished with ease. 
 
 R. H. Hall, of the Hudson's l>a\' C'ompany, authorizes the statement ih.tt 
 a new boat will be l)uilt by his company at once for service on the Stikine 
 River, and will be ready in time for the spring rush. In addition to the new 
 boat, the Cabnlonia. extensive alteratio.-.s of which have been decided u|)nii, will 
 also be used in the company's traffic and the company are also holdmg them- 
 sehes in readiness to compete for the general transportation trade, which will 
 offer in the new vear Mr. Hall, who had years of experieni;e in the northern 
 regions, is an enthusiastic advocate of an all (Canadian route via Stikinc and 
 Teslin :,ake. He says that if the railway projected be not completcxl in time, 
 it would be a com[)aratively easy matter to accommodate the rush by buildmg 
 a wagon road from (ilenora to the lake, and no doubt something will be done 
 in this direction. Wharfage facilities at Wranuel will also be increased, anil 
 the compLUiy are generally making arrangements to [)rovide for the demands 
 of tra\ el by this route. 
 
 Stikine navigation ()[)ens al)out 15111 May and can be kipt upen seven 
 months in the vear. Mr. Robert Kerr, traffic manager of the (M'.R. west, 
 says: "We are putting on a tleet of steamers ol' our own fnun \'am'ouver, run- 
 ning to l)\ea and Wran'j:le. to accommodate those going o\er the passes or 
 going over the lower route to the Stikine River. We are purchasing the boats 
 in the old countrv where they are now being constrm . d. 'I'he boats will 
 have a tonnage of about .^odo tons each and will be in keeping with our local 
 service on the Pacific, being well fitted to carry freight :\n(\ passengers. No 
 expense will be spared to meet the requirements of travellers. \\"e will also 
 have a railw.iy licic, narrow guage. from Olenora. the head of navigatinii on the 
 Stikine River to Teslin Like, about 120 miles, from which point it is easy 
 sailing or rafting into Dawson. It is slf)w but sun' from Teslin Lake down to 
 the Klondyke melro[)i)lis. I exi)ect the rush will start earl_\ in March by which 
 time we will be well i)repared for it.'" 
 
 k is believed when the Railw.iv is built that Dawson louUl be reached in 
 
 V 
 
r^ 
 
 52 
 
 Eight Routes to ihe Klondyke. 
 
 10 days from \Tctoria. The only steamer plying at present on the Stikine 
 River is the "Alaska,' C'aptain, J. 1). Tackerberry. 
 
 Mr. N. W'allingford, of Seattle, and a number of IJritish Columbians intend 
 to run a line of steamers to Wrangel, — from there operating river steamers to 
 Telegraph Creek — whence pack trains will carry goods to Teslin Lake and 
 there connect with steamers which the company will put on the lakes. 
 
 In November Mr. J. S. IJowker, of Glenora, on the Stikine River, made 
 the trip from Clenora to 'I'eslin F.ake and return in twenty days, including, 
 four days spent at the lake, not bad time. And when in addition it is learned 
 that the trail runs through a country affording feed for thousands of head of 
 stock, and in which hundreds of ranchers could make excellent livings, it will 
 be seen that Mr. John S. Bowker has good reason to speak in terms of warm 
 commendation in regard to the Stikine route. He says, too, that game of 
 all kinds is abundant, and on his return trip he killed a caribou which provided 
 more fresh meat than could be used by tlie party. As a railwaj' route, Mr. 
 Bowker considers the Stikine most feasible, and now that a "cut off," saving 
 about twenty miles, has been discovered, he believes it to be the best sleighing, 
 route known. 
 
 The York party are now engaged in widening this portion of the trail to 
 make it more suitable for sleighing, and the only obstacle, the Teletan river, is 
 so eas)- of navigation as to be hardly deserving of being called an obstacle at 
 all. He says that he will establish a pack train from some point near the head 
 of navigation on the Stikine to Teslin, which will be sufficient to convey the 
 goods of a great number of those who will go iii that wa\- ne.\t spring. 
 
 Mr. A. 1". Cotton, V. L. S., acompanied Mr. Bowker in exploring the Sti- 
 kine, River route as a winter way into the upper river country, and incidentally 
 they found very rich mining ground on the upper Hootalin(iua. During the 
 absence of the party of which he was a member, Mr. Cotton says they have 
 located a route hitherto untravelled, and taking in several streams that are not 
 delineated on any existing maps. By these streams and a crossing of Teletan 
 River, he states that it is possible to reach Dawson with only six miles of land 
 travel from Teslin Lake ; and so convinced is he of the practicability o'" the 
 new trail that he is willing to take two tons of provis'ons into Dawson this 
 winter, counting upon making delivery of them within thirty days after leaving 
 X'ictoria. 
 
 John Hyland, of Telegrai)h Oeek, says: — (X'ictoria Colonist) — From 
 'l'elegra[)h Creek to i^ake Teslin is roughly 153 miles, and the chief difficulty 
 to be encountered in the building of a first-class trail is the marsh land 
 scattered at infrequent intervals and necessitating corduroymg. This swamp 
 land is not continuous by any nieans, in fact the longest strip would not extend 
 for more than three miles or thereabouts, Init while it is there to wear out the 
 pack animals satisfactory results cannot be obtained. In the work of corduroy- 
 ing the trail, builders will have the advantage of an abundant supply of timber, 
 but as some of it will have tv) be transi)orted to the marsh land that is not 
 
 , 
 
 
EidHT Routes to the Ki.ondvkk. 
 
 53 
 
 I 
 
 , 
 
 timbered the fact emphasises the urgency of immediate action as anyone can 
 see the propriety of getting the timber out during the winter when it can be 
 cheaply and conveniently transported by sleighs to where it will be required by 
 the road builders. Two bridges will also be required, the first at Tali)al, 21 
 miles from Telegraph Cr jek. The current here is very swift but the stream is 
 shallow and construction would be greatly facilitated by the solid gravel banks 
 and the fact that by going a short distance down an island is found in mid- 
 stream which could be well utilised. To bridge at the regular crossing of the 
 trail would not however involve any difficulty, and the total cost of the necessary 
 structure at this point would not exceed $1,000 or $1,500. The same argu- 
 ment as to the advantage of getting out the timber for the bridge during the 
 winter months applies with tciual force, while by so doing it would be possible 
 to complete the work in the spring before the demand came. 
 
 The second bridge referred to is re(|uired at the Nialine River, a some- 
 what wider stream than the Talbal, but like that creek presenting no formidable 
 obstacles. It too is swift l)ut shallow and the banks are firm and reliable. 
 Much of the marsh can l)e avoided by a slight divergence of the trail which 
 at the same time would not necessitate any material sacrifice of distance. 
 There are two stretches which could be consideral)ly reduced without making 
 the road any harder for men or animals. 
 
 The country traversed by this trail could scarcely be better than it is, 
 open as a rule wiuhout any formidable hills and producing plenty of grazing 
 all the way along. Packing can be continued from the 20th 3f May until the 
 15th October, the animals foraging for themselves, althougl. it is better to 
 supi)lement the grasses on the first and last trips of the season with a few 
 pounds daily of carried feed. No mining to amount to anything is as yet 
 l)eing done along the trail, but colors can be found anywhere and the various 
 tributaries of the Talbal branch give really promising indications. 
 
 When I left Telegraph Creek it was a populous and busy little place and 
 from it camps strung out for miles along the trail. The majority of the 
 pilgrims will winter where they are, or else sled it over to Teslin lake during the 
 snow season and put in their time prospecting until the lake ind rivers clear of 
 their ice. 
 
 Of course it is desirable to keep to the river as long as possible and shorten 
 proportionately the packing over the trail. At present the chief obstacle in 
 the river is the rifHe above (Uenora, where, at extreme low water, only the very 
 lightest draught boats can now ascend, and then only by lining up. 'i'here does 
 not appear to be much required and probably $1,000 exfjcnded in dynamite 
 and intelligently applied would clear the course. This Deing done there would 
 be free natigation to 'I'elegraph ( "reek at all stages of water. 
 
 ASHCROFT ROUTE. 
 
 In the early sixties there was a project on foot to run a telegraph line 
 
r^ 
 
 54 
 
 Kli.m Roi'IKS T(» I HI. Kl,OM>NKl'.. 
 
 from the western states through British Columbia to Alaska and so to Sil)eria. 
 known as the overland or Collin's line. While the necessar\ surveys were being 
 jiiade and trails opened up Cyrus N\'. Field's cable was successfullx laid and 
 the scheme was abandoned. 
 
 A trail for this purpose was cleared from through Ashcroft on the main line 
 of the C.P.R. — W — Teslin Lake — and this is claimed to be a perfectly practic- 
 able route by which to reach the Klondike. The line was built uj) the Fraser 
 River to (^uesnelle Canal, then to Hazelton, Skeena River, Telegrajjh Creek 
 and to Stikine River. It was 120 feel witle through limber clear to Telegraph 
 <"reek, beyond Ha/elton to I'ort Stager : this was as far as completed. The 
 distance to where the (".I'.R. is constructing a road to join Teslin Lake is 440 
 miles. Hundreds of miners went to ("assiar !))■ this route twenty years ago and 
 packed animals over this trail with ease and comfort. Herds of cattle were 
 <lriven in and splendid \(tK^^\ can be obtained from May to late in the fall 
 along this route. 
 
 Mr. S. T. Kichell)erger. who has been out in the interests of Marcus 
 Dale), James Hamilton, and j. !•'. Karby, of .Vnacoiula, Montana, looking out 
 a practical route for a large |)arty of prospectors which the above named 
 gentlemen intend sending into the I'eace River country early ne.xt season, came 
 down the Cariboo road to .Vshcroft, having left liis outfit, horses, etc.. ;il (J»ues- 
 nelle. 'I'o the Ashcroft Mining Journal .Mr. I'.iclielberger said: '• I shall 
 strongly advocate the .\.shcrott-(^uesnelle route for any parties wishing to reach 
 Peace River or thi' Klondxke overland. It is through a country easy to travel, 
 good trails, good water and the best feed I ever saw, so far as 1 went, and 
 fro, 11 conversation 1 have had while in that countrv with those who have been 
 clear through to Telegraph Creek 1 am satisfied that the route can be covered 
 easily with pack animals from Ashcroft clear through to Teslin Lake in 40 or 
 50 days. I was at (^uesnelle when .Mr. Dcvereau and comi)anion left on their 
 trip overland in the interests of the Mining journal, to secure a ma[) and fur- 
 nish all information of the i)resent condition of the trail through to 'Teslin 
 Lake. He stated to me that he would be al)le to make 'Telegraph Creek in 
 25 days from the time of leaving (^uesnelle. He went with a. light outfit, in- 
 tending to renew his SLip|)lies at Ha/elton and at I'elegraph Creek. His rejxirt 
 will be of y,reat interest to ail contem])lating the trip in the early spring. 
 
 There is a telegraph line o[)erated as far as (^uesnelle, which .Mr. C. .S. 
 Hosmer, general manager of the (Canadian I'acitic telegraph sy.stem sa\s is 
 •easily maintained and that should the line be continued from (^)uesnelle to 
 Dawson it will be put in operation b\ tiiis time next \ear. 'Telegra[)h stations 
 could be established every 40 miles and used in connection with the Mounted 
 Police and their departments. 
 
 John .Shields, of Ashcroft. who owns the stage line that runs between 
 Ashcroft and r>arkerville, a i)oint 300 miles north, and carries Her Majesty's 
 mails to the Cariboo and Cassiar districts, says : " \\'e do not e.xpect that our 
 business will increase to a burdensome extent, owing to the Klondyke "boom." 
 The greater portion of the people who go in by this route, which I think is the 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
A i>\ i:i; I is];.\ii;Nr<. 
 
 K 
 
 LONDYKE TENTS 
 
 I'd lliii^i- .iImiiiI I CI si, '111 lor tin- IkiIiI Kii'lds. 
 x\ 1 linvi .1 vMiril i>f iidvici': Takf ts(h>d 
 'PEN rs w iili Villi. W'l' arc f. ni'innst in ilii? 
 liin- iiid tin- rollowini.' t \|ii'ilitiiiim wc liavr 
 liltrd cm; will .;ivi- siilficifiii ".'iiiuaiili'i; tliai 
 \\ c kiiiiw III w III inaki tin <(> Sjici iai T>nN. 
 
 Sleeping Bags, Rubber Sheets, Oiled Clothing, Dunnage Bags, etc., etc. 
 
 \^ o liiixc siippluMi tlH- tollouin;; : 
 
 Tlic .MiiiiI|-im1 \ l.iiiidnn ( .ulij ami Sih cr Pcm'I Tin ■ Canadian Nnltcn < n. Mi . (■ iniiii . 
 
 .i|.liic>ii; Cc. Mr Mcinai- Lionel II . sliiil.s and narl v. 
 'I'lli' Ol'cal N'orlliuc'Sl Minin;; \ I li\ ilo|innn; - . 
 
 Trading:- Co. fiiicai^o. Iln^ sctou(.'1c. |iarl> , 
 
 Tlic' l>ciiirl<i' MinliiL!- Co. CliicaL;:ii. i .lolin \ (iro.sc-. Moiu i lal . 
 
 IMPORTERS or BUNTING. CANVAS and SPORTING GOODS. 
 
 MnnutHCturer8 of FUiK'N # Wholt:<Hle unci Retnil 
 
 YACHT SAILS and BOAT FITTINGS A SPECIALTY. 
 
 WRITE US FOR 
 CATALOGUE AND PRICES 
 
 ,.l1ii'''S(l\AE\\\viiiii»rfiir|iiiiiliiiro. 
 
 The Tia.de Suipplled. 
 
 VICTORIA SQUARE. M ONTREAL.QUE . 
 
r^ 
 
 Advkkti.skmknts. 
 
 THE 
 
 A 
 
 8 ROUTES » " 
 KLONDYKE 
 
 ARE VIA- 
 
 Canadian Pacific Railway 
 
 I. — 
 ir. — 
 III. — 
 
 IV. — 
 V. — 
 
 VI. 
 
 VII.— 
 
 \rii.- 
 
 Via Edmonton and Mackenzie River. 
 Via Edmonton^ Mackenzie and l.iard Rivers. 
 Via Edmonton and Peace River. 
 Via Vancouver and St. Micheal's. 
 Via Vancouver, Dvea, and Chilcott Pass. 
 Via Vancouver, Skagaway and White Pass. 
 Via Vancouver, Stikeen River and Teslin Lake. 
 -Via Juneau, Alaslca and Taku Inlet. 
 
 For detailed infonT)ation 
 
 _Apply to uQdersigned 
 
 T. M.. WINNIPEG. MAN 
 
Eight Routes to the Ki.ondyke. 
 
 55 
 
 best entrance way to Klondykc, will go in with pack trains. Horses can be 
 purchased at Ashcroft for $15 apiece and the trail is good all the way to Teslin 
 Lake. A traveller takes the famous Cariboo route to Quesnelle, 220 miles : 
 then crosses the Fraser River by ferry and follows the telegraph trail 450 
 miles further north to Telegraph ('reek." 
 
 DOG TRAIN ROUTE. 
 
 ^or the information of those desirous of making a winter start for the 
 Yukon by dog train it may be mentioned that a dog sleigh route exists from 
 Athabasca Landing to the Wabiscaw lakes, and thence to Fort N'ermillion on 
 the Lower Peace river. Thence to Fort I.iard on the Liard river, histance 
 to Wabiscaw lakes from the Landing, 100 miles. Wabiscaw lakes to Trout 
 lakes, 50 miles. Trout lakes to X'ermillion, 1 75 miles. Fort \'ermillion to 
 Hay river, 90 miles. Hay river to I'ort Laird, 135 miles. Total 525 miles. 
 This should be made in 20 days good travelling at 30 miles a day. - Edmonton 
 Bulletin. 
 
 HON. CLIFFORD SIFTON'S ANNOLNCEMENTS 
 
 Vu:tokia, Nov. 3. — At a meeting of the board ot trade today Hon. ("lif- 
 ford Sifton, minister of. the interior, intimated that the government would open 
 up an all Canadian route to \'ukon and that everything possible would i)e done 
 to turn trade into Canadian channels, but he declined entirely to advocate a 
 law to prevent aliens 'from holding claims. Several members suggested that 
 this should be done, but the minister entireh' ignored the question. 
 
 After January ist miners will not be allowed exemption from duty on 100 
 pounds of their baggage. Customs offices are to l)e established on all routes. 
 Arrangements will be made for a good mail service and the estaijlishment of 
 banks and the trans[)ortation of gold. 
 
 The (juestion of compelling miners to take out licenses before going into 
 the countrv, and the establishment of a mint will receive further consiileration. 
 
 The regulations reserving alternate clauns will be abrogated and claims 
 will be reserved en bloc, but he said it would be the policy of the government 
 to collect a royalty on the output. 
 
 There is already a [)ost at Tagish aiul another is being established at Ben- 
 nett. Others will he near the junction of the Hobtelaniuqua river and Lake 
 Teslin, and at Chilkoot. The latter will be well eciuipped and manned. 
 
 The minister says while tra\elling through the country he was more th:..n 
 ever impressed with the absolute necessity of police and customs administration 
 as well as administration mining laws being thoroughly pro\ided for before 
 .spring opens uj). Thousands of those that are camped along the lakes and 
 
Kit. HI Roc I l,S lO Nil, Kl.(iM)\KI.. 
 
 rivers will be on their way hy Icbruary ist, and every official in the country 
 will have his hands full from the very early period of the year. 'I"he present 
 police force would have to be supplemented when spring opens. He did not, 
 however, anticipate any trouble, because from observations he thought the 
 people were going in delighted, aliove all things, that the Canadian goveriunent 
 intended administering the law fairly and keeping order. Mr. Sifton went on 
 to say that from careful study of reliable information he was convinced there 
 was an immense amount of gold bearing territory in the countrv, not all as rich 
 as the |{onan/a and Eldorado Creeks, but which would pay well for the work- 
 ing if the cost of living were cheapened and means of transportation improved. 
 
 The government would try as soon as possible to open up the Canadian 
 route. Parties were now carefully examining the pack and cattle trail by way 
 of Kdmonton, and also from Cariboo northward to Stickeen. It was of the 
 utmost importance to merchants and companies anxious to secure a portion of 
 the trade of the territory that they should eciuip themselves properly for com- 
 petition. Mining regulations might have been changed somewhat, but nothing 
 he had heard of had shaken his opinion as to the advisability of collecting a 
 royalty and reserving for the public benefit a portion of the mineral wealth of 
 the country. Mr. Sifton would say nothing of the dangers of the passes he had 
 crossed beyond that the trips were rough and unplea.sant. 
 
 i 
 
I