Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 93, Number 190, 1 September 1897 — MAIL FOR THE KLONDIKE. [ARTICLE]

MAIL FOR THE KLONDIKE.

NEW SERVICE WILL GO INTO

EFFECT ON THE 11TH.

From That Date Letters Will be Sent Through Regularly Once a Month.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 81.—The first letter mail to be dispatched from this country to the Klondike region under the new reciprocal arrangement with Canada, effected by establishing an international mail service between Dyea and Dawson City, will be forwarded from Seattle by a steamer leaving there September 11th. From that time forward letters will go over the new service regularly once a month. The last opportunity to send newspapers and reading matter generally into the gold region until next spring will be afforded by the "paper mail," the last of the season, which will be forv. aided by steamer leaving San Francteeo on September sth.

Unofficial advices have reached the Postoffiee Department that the British Government is contemplating the establishment of another postal route into the Klondike region from the coast, to be almost wholly within their territory. The entrance of the coast is to be effected, according to the new plan, by means of the Stickeen River, which has its mouth on the United States side of the new line, but passage through which is free to all. The scheme, as it is being projected, is for the British mail-carrying vessels to go in near the Prince of Wales Islands, up the Stickeen River, thence from near its head above Fort Wrangel across overland about 150 miles to Teslin (or Aklene) Lake, up the Hoolainque and I.< wis Rivers to the boom district. Acting Postmaster-General Shallenberger and his assistants were busily engaged to-day going over the details of the new mail route from Dyea to I -awson City, made by agreement between this country and Canada, and perfecting the arrangements for the Reports have been received here that persons acquainted with the Alaskan gold situation generally believe that the Copper River Valley will be the scene of £-»eat activity very soon. This news comes in a personal way from postal authorities, who have had no opportunity to inquire into the matter. It Is based not only on the reported productiveness of the valley, but largely on the prescriptive measures the Canadian Government is reported to be about to establish, taking every alternate claim, and demanding 20 per cent, of the other profits. It is felt, according to these reports, that the establishment of this policy would drive the prospectors across the line into our territory, and «*o develop the fields within the domain of the United States.

SEATTLE. Aug. SSL— The old bark Shirley, built at Medford, Mass.. in 1850, and known in every port of the United States, will be towed to Skaguay and converted into a hotel and storehouse, with accommodations for 44*1 lodcers. An anchorage will be taken up .'iOO feet from the shore, and a steam launch will be provided for the transportation of lodgers to and from the shore. The Shirley will leave here Saturday with 400 tons of coal, 200,000 feet of lumber and 100 head of cattle.