The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-26
TO Be Established Between
Skaguay and Dawson.
Stations Will Be Fifty Miles
Apart and PrOvisiOned.
WORK HAS COMMENCED
Journey to the KIOndike Will
Be Safe and Easy.
Supplies Can Be Purchased All
Along the Route.

Skaguay, Oct. q, via Seattle, Oct.26.-
Clifford SiftOn, minister of the interior
returned yesterday from a trip over the
ChilkOOt and Skaguay trails, going as
far as Lake Tagish. Mr.. Sifton says
from information he received while in
the interior there will be no shortage of
food at Dawson City this winter, and
that the reports of ravages by the
typhoid fever have been greatly exag-
gerated. He also says that the richness
of the new discoveries on Dominion,
Sulphur, Quartz and Moose Skin creeks
in the Klondike district has been fully
established. Mr.. Sifton further said
the disposition of the Canadian govern
ment was to facilitate any reasonable
plan for getting into the Yukon. The
government he said, understands that
if the rich gold fields of the Yukon dis
trlct are to be developed easy means of
communication must be had. Posts
will be established at other points
along the routes leading from Skaguay
to and down the lakes and rivers at
/ Dawson City. These posts will be gar
risOned with police to aid in the sup
preston of lawlessneSs and furnish any
needed assistance to travellers. They
Will also contain stores of food and
clothing which can be forwarded as re-
quired at any time to the Yukon cOun-
try. The work of building the posts
has already been commenced at Sheep
=
Horse Rapids and others will be built
at distance of so miles all the way
down the Yukon to Dawson City.
Mr.. SiftOn viii leave for the south to-
morrow or the next day. They will as
cend the Sticleen river as far as prac-
ticable, the object being to examine the
shoals and quicksands that beset the
rapid Stickeen.
There is a corner in flour at Dawson
and none can be had at any price. This
is the statement made by Cliff c.
Moore, one of a party of four who
reached here last night, having come
direct from Dawson City.
Moore was accompanied by his son,
Norris R. Moore, N. Q. Woodring and
George F. Compton, all residents of Sc
attle, Wn.
The party left Dawson on September
y At that time, not a pound of flour
could be obtained. There was plenty in
town, however, the available supply
being held for higher prices. Enter
priSing spectators with money cor
nered the -four and while their ware
houses were filed to OVerfiOWing there
was not an ounce to sell. Mr. Moore
thought the people would finally raid
the warehouses and help themselves
Canned meats sold at 75c a can; milk
at soc; beans at 25c; sugar at SOC a
pound.
Six steamers were daily expected to
arrive from st. Michael and their ar
rival would end the flour corner and
insure ample provisions for this winter
On their way up the river, Mr. Moore
and party met from five to twenty
boats daily going down to Dawson
City. They only heard of one wreck on
the route, no lives being reported lost.
Dominion, Sulphur, Quartz and Mon
tana creeks and branches of Indian riV-
er a tributary of the Klondike and
Moose Skin, a tributary of the Yukon
a few miles below Dawson which were
described last summer. are all exceed
ingly rich, but do not rival EldOrado
and Bonanza creeks in the Klondike.