way of Edmonton and the Peace River, which it is asserted offer the advantage of a continuous stretch of country available for horses, and may, therefore, be utilized by pack trains right through to the gold fields. It goes north by way of the Peace River to the Liard, and thence by way of the Dease to the Pelly, which joins the Yukon at Fort Selkirk. Mr. Ogilvie speaks of another route between Telegraph Creek and Teslin Lake which will soon be opened. Telegraph Creek is the head of steamer navigation on the Stikine River and is about one hundred and fifty miles from Teslin Lake. The Yukon is navigable for steamers from its mouth to Teslin Lake, a distance of 2300 miles. R. H. Horton, coal mine inspector for the State of Washington, says that he went up the Stikine nine years ago. At that time the Klondike was unheard of, but he was within 100 miles of that river and could easily have reached it. This route shortens the distance, so it is said, and there are no passes to climb. The grass is good all the way and in many places hay could be cut for stock feed during the winter months. This trip could be comfortably made in thirty days. The construction of a railroad to the interior is only a question of time, and perhaps of a very short time. The suggestion is by no means new. In 1886, in reply to an inquiry on the part of the United States Senate, the Director of the United States Geological Survey, Mr. J. W. Powell, presented a report on the feasibility of constructing a railroad between the United States, Asiatic Russia, and Japan. Mr. Powell said that from all available information, the proposed line appeared to present no greater obstacles than those already overcome in transcontinental railroad building. It was suggested that the line start from some point on the Northern Pacific Railroad in Montana, and run, via the head waters of the Yukon; and thence to some point on the shore of Bering Sea, the total distance covered being about 2765 miles. A branch line of 375 miles from the head waters of the Peace River might run to the mouth of the Stikine River, so as to facilitate communication with Sitka. "I am thoroughly convinced," said Ogilvie in his report of June 10, 1896, "that a road from the. coast to some point on the head waters of the river, preferably by the Taku, if at all practicable, would convert all our part of the river into a hive of industry. It may be said there is no competition, and anyway in the present condition of trade things cannot be sold much cheaper at a fair profit. Once let a railroad get from some point on the coast to some point on the river so that we can have quick, cheap and certain entrance and exit, and the whole Yukon basin will be worked. At present the long haul makes the expense of mining machinery practically prohibitive, for the cost of transportation is often more than the first cost of the machine." An English syndicate within a short time after the announcement of the Klondike finds had begun to survey the White Pass for a railroad running from Skaguay to Taku arm Tagish Lake, a distance of sixty-eight miles, and eventually to the Hootalinqua River, a distance of 110 miles. It is not expected that the road could be completed in less than two years on account of the shortness of the summer season. The syndicate has asked the Canadian government to guarantee 3 per cent interest on its debentures to the extent of $7,500,000, the estimated cost of the construction of the road. This is not the only project by any means, for several companies have been |