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AgH
Win

(

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

':■>''■ J

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

/ /

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

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

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.

ITS

nd
nd
at

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-

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 :^

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

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.

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,

Eight Routes to the Klondyke.

,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.

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.

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.

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

Eight Routes to the Klondyke.

I \

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.

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

Eic.HT Routes to the Ki.ondykk.

;

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.

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

^ 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

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

Ec
Cr
Fc
Nt
De
Pt
Jn

nibi

.at i

ace

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.

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.

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

th
It

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

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.

, 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

'4'

Ei<;ht Routes to the Ki.ondyke.

!• n

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.

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

m-~

i.TRUHUNSj

Hii

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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.

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.

$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.

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

saELiitXsam

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

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.

• '

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

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.

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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,

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Eight Routes to the Klondyke.

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.

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.

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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

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.

Int

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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

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.

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."

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.

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.

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

Eight Routes to the Klondyke.

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:^

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.

5S,

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

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.

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

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

A i>\ i:i; I is];.\ii;Nr<.

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 .

Advkkti.skmknts.

THE

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.

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.