Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-22
ALGER IS IN EARNEST.
SPECIAL MESSENGER TO LAPLAND.
One Route Reported to bo Clear-Niill-
tnry Affairs WIN Take the
Initiative.

| Washington, Dec. 22.-Captain Brai-
nard, Of the subsistence department
OF the army, arrived in Washington
this morning, and although Secretary
Alger is confined to his horne by u
severe eold,he sent Immediately for the
officer and had conference with him
respecting the execution of his plans
for the relief OF the miners In the
Yukon country. Responses are com
Ing in to the secretary's inquiry as to
the amount of condensed food prepara-
lions that can be had at short notice.
Generally they indicate that an ample
supply can be had at reasonable rates
If contracts be made at once.
General Merriam. commanding the
department of the Columbia. who has
been charged by Secretary Alger with
the selection of the military guard to
be sent out with the relief expedition,
has selected Major l.. IL. Rucker,
Fourth cavalry, to proceed to Alaska
and make reconnaissance of the
passes leading from the head of the
Lynn canal. He reports that the Of
iicer who has already started from
Fort Walla Walla Wash, by his eX-
perience as a oartermaster and cav
alrynan. is well fitted for this duty
and is also physically able to endure
the hardshps ahead OF him.
Senator Lodge OF Massachusetts has
brought to the attention OF the war
department officials the claims of the
Boston Transportation company. Their
representative, Pierre Humbert, as
serts that the company is in Il position
to feed large number of miners, in
asmuch as 1t has just received news
of the delivery by its agents at Fort
Selkirk on the Yukon river of 200 600
pounds of food This point is above
Dawson and the supplies,it Is said, can
be gotten down easily with the first
breaking up Of the ice next spring,
even if II be not found necessary t.
attempt their delivery overland.
Nothing has been heard from Mr..
k1ellman, the reindeer herder, now in
l-apland, in answer to the direction of
Secretary Alger respecting the selec-
ton of GOO reindeer for transportation
&c Alaska, so Mr.. Jackson has been
made a special agent of the war de-
partment and viii be ordered to pro-
coed with all diligence to Lapland to
buy the animals and arrange for their
shipment to the United States.
The announcement that the war de-
Lartment is by no means committed
the miners in the Klondlke country
has caused persons interested in var
ious routes to advance the claims of
their respective sections.
The Spokane chamber OF commerce
has sent frederick Il. Marvin, an ener-
getic newspaper man of that town, as
It's representative, to urge the superior
facilities of the overland route north
ward from Spokane. This is the old
telegraph route laid down by the
agents of the Western Union Tele-
graph company years ago, when they
sought to run u telegraph line to Ber-
ing strait.
Mr.. Marvin has stated to the war
department that the route is stlll clear;
that through the dense northe I'm forests
there is trail $50 feet broad affording
easy passage for draft animals and
that the feasibility OF the route in win
tel Is shown by the fact that for many
years it has been traversed by numer-
Gus trappers and prospectors while the
absence of heavy grades ensures the
capacity Of animals to carry large
loads. Secretary Alger is asked TO
delegate some of the army officers now
at Spokane to report upon the advant-
ages of the route.