The sun., 1896-02-10
CANADA AND THE YUKON.
MINISTER OF THE INTERIORS; RE
PORT ON THE STTUATION.

Police to tho HukOn Dtstrtet-hho So
yey OF Tho boundary Lino IL PROCEEDING
OTTAWA. Fob. p.-The Minister Of the Into
rior. In his forthcoming report to Parliament. re-
views a: considerable length the hetory OF the
settlement and development OF the Yukon coun-
try.
In 1887 the Minister OF the Interior sent an
exploring party to that region of the Canadian
northwest which is drained by the Yukon River.
Tho work was intrustcd to DR.. q. M. Daw'
son and to Mr.. William Ogilvie, the we'll known
explorer and surveyor. DIR. Dawson deVotea the
whole Of that season and Mr.. oRilvie pc'iou
covering nearly two years to obtaining Reoloei'
cal, typographical, nnd general informatioh'
chiefly respecting the tract OF country lying
nd jaccnt to the 141st meridian OF longituae'
which. by the treaty OF st. Petersburg is acs-
ignated as the boundary line, from Mount ST.
Elias to the Arctic Ocean. between Alaska and
the adjoining possessions Of the British crown
which now form part of the Northwest Terri
tories OF Canada.
The explorers found that in proximity to the
boundary line there existed extensive and val
liable placer gold mines, in which even then
as many as 800 miners were Mt work. Mr'
Ogilvie determined, by n series OF lunar ooser-
vatlons, the point at which the Yukon River
Is intcrsccted by the 14lst meridian. and
marked the same on the ground. He also do
termined and marked tho point at which tho
western afuent of the Yukon River. known
as Forty Mile Creek. Is crossed by the Same
meridian line. that point being situated Mt a
distance of about twenty-three miles from tho
mouth OF the creek. This survey proved that
Fort Cuaahy, situated at the confluence OF
Forty Mile Creek and the Yukon, the place
which had been selected as the most conven-
lent, owing to tho phys conformation OF tho
region. from which to distribute the sup
plies imported for the various mining camps,
and from which to conduct the other business
incident to the mining operations, is well
within Canadian territory. The greater pro-
portion of the mines then being worked Mr..
Ogilvie found to be on the Canadian side OF the
international boundary line, but he reported
the existence Of some mining fields to the
south, the exact position of which with re-
spect to the boundary he had not the opportu-
nifty to fix.
The number OF persons engaged in mining In
the locality mentioned, the Minister OF the In
terror says. has steadily increased year by year
since the date of Mr.. Ogilvie's survey. and 1t
Is estimated that at the commencement OF the
past season not less than / 200 men were 30 en-
ployed there. Incident to this mineral devel-
opment there must follow corresponding
growth in the volume of business of all descriD.
tions. particularly in the importation OF du-
table goods. and the occupation OF tracts Of
the public lands for mining purposes. which,
according to the mining regulations. are sub.
ject to the payment Of certain prescribed dues
and charges. The Alaska Commercial Com.
pany, for many years subsequent TO the retire
ment of the Hudson's Bay Company. had
practical monopoly Of the trade Of the Yukon,
carrying into the country and delivering at the
various points along the river, without regard
to the international boundary line or the GUS
toms laws and regulations OF Canada, such
articles of commerce as were required for the
prosecution of the fur trade. and latterly Of
placer mining. this being the only two existing
industries.
With the discovery Of gold, however, came
the organization of competing company,
known as the North American Transportation
and Trading Company, having its headquar-
ters at Chicago and its chief trading and distrib-
uting post at Fort Cudahy. This company
has been engaged in this trade for over three
years. During the past season it despatched
two ocean steamers from San Francisco 20 st.
Michaels, at the mouth of the Yukon, with
merchandise, which was transshipped at st.
Michaels into river steamers and carried to
points inland, but chiefly to the company's
distributing centre within Canadian territory.
Importations of considerable value. consist
Ing of miners food supplies and tools. also
reach the Canadian portion of the Yukon dis
trict from Juneau in the United States by way
OF the Taya Inlet. tho mountain passes. and
the chain Of waterways leading to Cudahy.
Upon none of those importatons, the Minister
of the Interior snys. was any duty collected,
except a sum Of S3,24s, paid to Inspector Con
TRANSPORTATION and Trading Company and
others. 1t Is safe to conclude. he says. espe-
cially when it is remembered that the country
produces none of the articles consumed within
it except fresh meat, that large revenue was
being lost to the exchequer under the then
Continuing. the Minister of the Interior says.
the Bishop of the Anglican diocese OF Selkirk.
the nce m fe
who has devoted many years to the work of
civilizins and ChristirniZing the native In
istcnce. on largo scale, Of an Illicit traffic In
Intoxicating liquors. and the unsatisfactory
gether of so many men of different nationali-
ties Mt q spot whore the means OF enforcing law
W We're SO So insuf,icient. These rcprescntations
have received the strongest confirmation from
other trns;iworthy sources; ,h among wch may
American Transportation and Trading Com
pany.
authoritatlvcly the condition Of affairs us above
related, the Government in 1894 despatched
TO Fort Cudnhy and the mining camps in its
vicinity. The report made by him on his re-
turn established the substantial accuracy of the
total output Of gold for the season of 1904 he
stimatCd at $500, 900, very large sum CON
sidcring the relatively short period 10 which
mining operations are, by natural conditions
confined in that region.
The, facts rccited, the Minister says. clearly
establish. first. that the time had arrived when
1t became the duty OF the Government Of Can
ad, t. make more, efficient provision for the
maintenance of order the enforcement of the
laws, ana the administration Of justice in the
Yukon country. especially IN that section in
wh,. i mining for gold Is being prosecuted,
near 10 the boundary separating the Northwest
Territories from the possessions of the United
States ia Alaska: second, that while such
measures ms were necessary to that end were
called for in the interests of humanity. and
particularly for the security and safety Of tho
lives and property of the Canadian subjects
resident in that country, II was evident that
the revenue justly due the Government under
customs and excise laws. and which would go
n long way to pay the expenses of Government,
was Icing lost for the want Of adequate ma
chinery for its collection.
Accordingly, in June last, n detachment Of
twenty members of the mounted police WAS
detailed for service in that portion. Of the
Northwest Territories. The officer in com
mand. in addition to the magsteral and other
duties he is required to perform by nature of