The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-31
SKACUAY IS
DECLARED THE
[ BEST ROUTE
Captain Robinson Re
ports on Merits
Of Trails.
An Army Officer Could
Easily Take Relief
to Dawson.
Montana Horses recommended
as the Proper Animals
for the Journey.
CANADA WILL ASSIST.
Duties VIII Not Be Collected on Food
for Miners That Is 10 Be Sold
at Cost.
Montana Horses Recommended
as the Proper Animals
for the Journey.
CANADA WILL ASSIST.
Duties VIII Not Be Collected on Food
for Miners That Is 10 Be Sold
at Cost.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,

Washington, Dec. SO.
Secretary AIger has received two re-
ports from Captain Robinson, the con-
tract ouartermaster at Seattle, touch
ing the respective merits of the differ
ent trails leading from the seaboard
into the Klondike country. He made
a thorough inquiry. at the direction
of the Secretary, and in substance his
conclusion. reached after conference
with lack Dalton and other experts, is
that the Dalton trail is not well adapt
ed TO the uses Of the Government ex-
petition during the winter, but that
the Shaguay route is probably the
best. The captain says rs has had
an interview with one man who claims
to have 10000 pounds of beef stored
at Lake Bennett, which he is willing
to sell at 81 per pound. The same man
saws he has 10000 pounds of corn and
twenty or thirty horses at the same
place. with which he proposes to or
ganize a sled train into Dawson. Cap
tain Robinson says himself that his
opinion IS that the difficulty of reach
ing Dawson has been very much eX-
aggerated, and that a good army Of
fcer could make his way on with an
II.
used.
Mr.. Sifton. Canadian Minister of the
Interior, ca led at the War Depart
ment by appointment to-day and had
a long conference with Assistant Sec
rotary Neik3ejOhn, who is giving his
attention to the Klondike relief eX-
petitions during the illness of Secre-
tary Alger. Having secured the con-
sent of the British Government to the
passage of United States troops to be
used as guards over Canadian terri
tory, what remains to be done Is to
arrange IOl tie ADMISSION CT the sup
plies to be taken to the miners with
out the payment of duties, provided
they are not sold for more than their
actual cost.
Mr.. Sifton says that the only prac-
ticabIe route to Dawson City is what
is known as the White pass, or COM
monty called the lake route, cOmmenc-
ing at Skaguay, on Lynn canal. He
states that they have eighty-fVe men
in the territory and expect to have fifty
more at Skaguay on or before January
5. They have twenty tons of supplies
now stored at Skaguay for transporta-
ton over the pass, to which VIII be
added ten tons more within the next
ten days for transportation over the
pass The Canadian authorities have
a post at Lake Bennett and another at
Tagish, al which latter place twenty
men are stationed, another post at
White Horse rapids and two posts in
tervening between the latter point and
Fort Selkirk.
It is the intention of the Canadian
Government to have a detachment of
$50 men in the territory within the next
thirty days Their detachment will be
ready TO leave Skaguay on the 18th
prox., but the Minister has kindly con-
scented to hold the expedition that they
may accompany the expedition of the
War Department. which will leave on
or before February l. The Government
has kindly consented to grant escorts
to our expedition, provided the coop
GRAFTON cannot be cOnsummated.
The Government duties upon all sup
plies sent IN under military control VIII
be waived by the Canadian Govern
ment. The Minister was over the pass
in October last. He stated that the
Government would be very glad to
grant our expedition the use of their
posts on the route and grant all other
facilities to the movement Of our ex-
petition over their territory.