Notwithstanding that "retrenchment" is the watchword of the Yukon government, it is ever ready and willing to aid in the development of the natural resources of the country, and in doing so it is expending considerable money where those resources are most apparent - in Southern Yukon.

    Two new roads leading to mines in this locality are now nearing completion, the one leading straight to the railroad from the Arctic Chief and Grafter, and one leading from the Government road near McIntyre creek to the War Eagle mine. The former is being constructed by a gang of men under the foremanship of Al. Larose, while the latter is the work of a gang of which Sam McGee is the foreman. Both of these roads will be completed in a few days, possibly this week.

    Other roads on which work will begin at once are, one leading from the Arctic Chief and Grafter road to the Best Chance, the property of the Arctic Chief Copper company, and another leading from the Valerie to the railroad, also from the Government road southwest of town to the Valerie, which property is owned and is being extensively developed by A. B. Palmer.

    While the Yukon government is ever ready to construct roads, the credit for the improvements now going on here are directly due to the untiring efforts of our member of the council, Robert Lowe.

    Supt. V. I. Hahn, of the W. P. railroad, is here and on yesterday, accompanied hy P. F. Wright, a railroad surveyor from Seattle, went over the route of the proposed spur from the main line of the road, branching off about six miles south of town and extending to the most northerly mines of the locality by way of the Valerie, Arctic Chief, Grafter, Best Chance, Spring Creek, Pueblo, Copper King and others in the northern part of the copper belt.

    As the proposed route is through a practically worthless country aside from its mineral values, and that will be greatly enhanced by the building of the road, the trouble sometimes met with by railroads in securing a right of way will not be confronted in this case, as without the road the territory penetrated is of no real value to anyone for any purpose. But with a railroad, however, it may some day possess some value.

    A railroad to the mines of this locality will be the means of thousands of tons of ore being shipped from this place daily where at present there are less than half a hundred, and yet the impetus even these small shipments have given to local business is apparent on every hand.

    Local interests in all branches of business will be advanced by the construction of a railroad as no other single improvement will advance them.

    The Yukon World of September 24th contained the following which is of interest in Whitehorse:

    The adjourned informal meeting of the Yukon council yesterday afternoon not only took up the matter of the indorsement of the White Pass company's proposition for the building of a spur at Whitehorse to tap certain copper mines there, but also considered two or three other questions of public importance. All the members were present with the exception of Robert Lowe, Dr. Lachapelle (who is dealing with the diphtheria epidemic at Selkirk) and George Black.

    A committee has been appointed to prepare a resolution upon the two letters from the manager of the White Pass company and the one from Mr. Lowe on the subject of the White Pass extension. It was found advisable to treat the two separately, and in regard to the letters of Mr. Berdoe, the committee, which was composed of Messrs. Dugas, Grant and Black, reported the following resolution:

    "Whereas, vast deposits of copper ore exist in the vicinity of the town of Whitehorse, in this territory, in the exploitation of which large sums of money have already been expended; and

    "Whereas, such work has demonstrated that these properties contain values at which they can be profitably worked, provided the cost of transportation can be reduced to a reasonable figure; and

    "Whereas, the White Pass & Yukon route has signified its intention to apply at the next session of the parliament of Canada for an extension of its charter to enable it to construct a spur or branch line from its existing railroad around the said copper belt adjacent to the town of Whitehorse; therefore, be it

    "Resolved, That the members of the Yukon council assembled at this informal meeting are of opinion that the granting of the application of the said White Pass & Yukon route would be of great advantage to the mining and other interests of this territory, and especially the southern portion thereof."

    On the motion of Mr. Justice Dugas, seconded by Mr. Grant, this was adopted.

    The discussion then turned on Mr. Lowe's suggestion that the company intended to apply for leave to build to Selkirk, but as nothing to this effect was mentioned in Mr. Berdoe's two letters it was thought wise to treat the suggestion as coming from Mr. Lowe himself. Mr. Justice Dugas and Dr. Grant both showed the immense benefit such an extension of the line would be, pointing out the coking coal to be had for a smelter and the copper ores lately | discovered at Williams creek and other points south of Selkirk.

    The actual work of constructing the spur of the White Pass railroad from a point near the head of the canyon to the chain of copper mines lying southwest, west and northwest of this place began Mcnday morning of this week, and now one gang is clearing the right of way and another is following up with the work of grading.

    In the latter work a steam stump-puller is employed, also a steam shovel and a number of teams.

    Supt. Hahn, in conversation with a Star representative, said as many men will be engaged as can be profitably handled and that he expects continue work until the first of December and as much longer as the weather will permit. Rock work will probably be carried on all winter, and general construction is to be resumed just as soon as winter breaks in the spring.

    The thunderous vibrations and deep intonations felt and heard these days are not of volcanic origin, but they come from the line of the proposed spur of the White Pass & Yukon railroad to the many copper mines near town to the westward on which rock work is now being carried on with very satisfactory results.

    Near the Arctic Chief mine Byron Olsen has a crew of fifteen men at work and a mile and a half further on Curley McIntosh has twenty-eight men engaged in the same class of work, blasting out rocks oo the right of way. Olsen's force is being almost daily augmented and in a few days there will probably be fully sixty men employed at the work.

    It is proposed to do the greater part of the heavy work on the right of way this winter in order that track laying may be begun the first thing in the spring.

    Several big dumps of ore will be ready for ehipment as soon as the road is completed.