The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-08-30
GOLD IN THE FROZEN NORTH
KLONDIKE DISTRICT BIDS FAIR TO
 BEA VAST GRAVEYARD.

Trail Inadequately Supplied With Pro-
 the Fl Dorado it Will be n Hard Winter
 and Starvation to Many Seems Certain.
 Seattle, Wash, Aug. 29.-S. M. Stan- ley, who went to St. Micheals for the Associated Press returned to this city on the steamer Portland. He says:
 T have been seven weeks at the mouth of the Yukon at St. Michaels, where I saw all the miners coming out and interviewed them. As result I feel it my duty to advise everybody to stay out until next spring. Wild and in many cases exaggerated reports have been circulated since the first dis coveries were made. Tne strike, how ever, was and Is one of the greatest, if not the greatest in the worlds history. Probably S2, ,000, 900 was cleaned up this spring, and next spring I look for from $5, 900 to s7,OOo,OOO. The diggings have hardly been opened as yet, but those going in now must bear in mind that everything was staked long before any reports reached the outer world and that those going In HOW must pros pect for themselves.
 "No new strike had been reported up to the time of my leaving, and another may not be made for five years, al -I, try and will yet, believe, produce more gold than we have dreamed of. But 1t is also in many ways bleak, barren, desoate country, incapable of sup porting any great amount of animal life, and country or such rigorous climate, both winter and spring, that none but the most hardy can possibly live in it. Even they must have abun- dance of food and warm clothing. "I am aware there is popular inn pression that supplies can be bought in the vicinity of the mines. They may at present but at six times Seattle prices, but they are taken at even those figures faster than they can be got in, and before winter is half over, if the present population stays in there VIII De actual starvation.
 "The average man requires about one ton of carefully selected food and clothing for a years supplies. In the summer of 1896 about $500 tons of sup plies went up the river and the new population of 1,500 suffered from want This season, allowing the most favor able circumstances, not more than 4,- 200 tons of supplies can be got up the river, fully half of which is rum and tools as well as supplies other than food. There are more than three times as. many people there than last win ter. Figure 1t out fc' yourself.
 Grub was completely cleaned out this spring, and last winter there was such a. scarcity that moose hams sold for $50 each; flour $120 per hundred, bacon $1 per pound. Why will not peo- pie actually starve to death?
 "As to shelter, 90 per cent. of Dawson was living in tents in July labor is scarce and houses cannot be built. How are 1000 people to withstand the rigors of nine months winter of semi darkness when the mercury goes 70 degrees below zero?
 "As to labor it is true that last win ter-the winter succeeding the strike when men were scarce-wages were $15 day but If no new strike is made what Is to keep wages up this winter? There are about $40 claims on Bonan- ga, Eldorado and Hunker creeks that will probably be worked this winter. The average of eight men to each is liberal. If but 2700 men are employed and there are 5000 or more seeking work what must be the result? Wa ges must go down. I am told that much grub has gone over the divide, yet from what I know I would wager my last dollar that not over 300 tons Of supplies, over and above what the car riers ate, will reach the diggings. No man is going in with more than four months supply.
 "Over the divide in the winter would be quite difficult. To draw provisions for the trip from Dyea to Dawson City be an impossibility. So that in the name of humanity, ask that stop be put to this wholesale transportation of people without supplies. Let no man be allowed to enter that region unless he carries with him enough food and clothing to last him year.
 There are women and little children there to-day who should be sent out as far as St. Michaels before naviga- ton closes I hear much of the boats that are building to go up the river, but aside from one steamer ready on August 21 no new boat can be added to the carrying this fall
 Let 1t not be made the land of gaunt hunger, wretchedness and death. Let no one be allowed to wrest from the foolish people a few thousand dollars saved, borrowed or begged to go. This is not a Cripple Creek or Deadwood proposition. If caught they cannot walk out"
 Seattle, Wash, Aug. 29.-The steam CT Portland arrived here at o'clock this morning, fourteen hours after she had been sighted off Cape Falttery. She carried thirteen miners, each of whom brought only small part of his stake The total amount of dust on the vessel Is perhaps $575,OOO, The Portland was delayed by the failure of the P B. Weare to arrive at St. Michaels and by storm on the North Pacific ocean. The miners on board. with the amount of their total mining oP brnt1Ob