The Dominion government steamer Quadra is back from her trip to Fort
Wrangel, which port she arrived at with Engineer Jennings and his survey party on Friday, Sept. 3rd. F. M. Yorke's party were then repairing a long, flat-bottomed bateau, on which they intended to take their machinery and supplies up. The Alaskan was reported ashore about eighty miles up the river, and they had given her up, but soon after the Quadra had landed her party she made her appearance. Upon the arrival of the Alaskan the repairs to the bateau were abandoned, and everything was taken on the river steamer, being carefully weighed before being taken on board, for the Alaska's freight is charged not by measurement but by weight.
The Alaskan left the next day with the Yorke party aml! a large number of passengers who intend going into the mining lands. She was very deeply laden, and Captain Tackaberry, her master, said he would have to make at least three portages before reaching his destination. This will be her last trip this season, for on her return she will be
hauled out for the winter. The government party could not secure canoes or Indians save at a very exorbitant rate, as the Indians at Wrangel seem very independent, so they finished the repairs on the bateau and went up on that, the launch of the Quadra towing them up for about 12 miles.
At Wrangel some miners were found who had come out by way of the Hotalinqua and Teslin Lake and they were loud in their praises of this route. It was, they said, an open country, with no heayy grades and lots of herbage. The Hotalinqua was a fine
river and more navigable than the Stickeen. "If people, instead of going to Skagway a month ago." said one, "had gone in by this route, they would have been there now." The miners are awaiting a steamer to bring them down to Victoria.
While on his way down Captain Walbran was telling Indian Agent Todd of the independence of the Indians at Wrangel, and he says that if those going up the Stickeen would call at Metlakahtla they could get all the canoes and Indians they want, and at a reasonable rate.
While off Round Island, Fort Rupert, Captain Walbran discovered a very dangerous rock with 5½ feet of water on it at low tide. It is on a line drawn from the north end of Found Island to Charlie Island and about two cables from the north end of
the island. It was covered with kelp.
