Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1893 — Steam on the Yukon. [ARTICLE]

Steam on the Yukon.

It is announced that the Yukon River of Alaska is soon to be made a highway of commerce by the establishment on it of a regular service of side-wheel steamers. The first boat of the proposed line, now building, will run from St. Michael’s Island, fifty-five miles from the mouth of the Yukon, at which point it will connect with Norton Sound steamers, over 2,200 miles up the river. The fact that Alaska has the third—• possibly the second—largest river in North America is not often remembered. The new steamer, the P. B. Weare, will establish trading posts along the river, will trade in all kinds of merchandise, and the returns will be in gold dust and furs. It will carry a complete assaying outfit, and everything that a miner requires in taking out and testing valuable mineral. It will also take along a saw-mill to cut timber for trading stations. The frame of the Weare was laid and fitted at Seattle, and she will be put together at St. Michael’s Island. She will be 17 feet long, 28 feet beam and 4 feet deep. The Yukon is only navigable during July,vAugust and September, find it is thought that for the present probably blit three or four trips a year may be made.—Panama Star and Herald.