The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-31
CITY OFFICIAL PAPER.
SEATTLE. TUESDAY, AUGUST n.


II is certainly time 20 cali q halt in the
rush to the Klendike When the first
news Of the rich strikes in that mining
region came out 10 the world, conditions
rs 70 transportation and food supplies
were not thoroughly understood, and
whllo words OF warning were freely Ut
tered, there was a general tendency 10
discount them. and to underestimate the
dangers Of the situation
The warnings whies have reached the
world by the Portland. on her present
trip. are TOO direct. positive and emphatic
10 be disregarded or overlooked. There Is
only too much fear that the warnings
have come too late. Briefly summarized.
the situation presented ~ that there are
fully 5000 people al Dawson city now, who
are dependent for their supplies for the
next year upon the trading posts now I'm
the country. With the present transport
tation facilities. supplies enough 10 feed
the present population cannot by any pes
sibiiity be taken up the river before the
winter sets In and navigation ceases This
shortage of provisions means 10 those on
the ground possible starvation and GER
tain suffering and distress. The river win
cease TO be paaaable IN the first week OF
October. From that time on until the
middle of June. or for fully eight months
at the least. there win he no possible way
to get provisions into the country.
Yet the population Will be largely aug.
mented within the present month, ard
there Is too much reason 70 fear that
many OF those going In will be insufIi-
GENTLY supplied. II is known that many
who left Seattle well supplied with pro-
visions sufficient to last them for fully a
year have been unable to get their outfits
across the passes. and with feYerlsh haste
10 get early ON the ground have taken
the desperate course OF abandoning tho
greater portion OF their supplies and push
ing on with barely sufficient to take then,
into the country.
The warnings which have come out
from the Yukon are not sent out BY the
miners alone bat BY every intelligent
man who has taken pains to inform him
self as TO tho situation. They are sun
ported by the actual figures as 10 the
amount OF supplies which have gone un.
or which may go up the river before Il
closes. The comparison OF the amour,
OF supplies with the number OF those who
VIII be compelled 10 suhslst upon them
tells the story. and there is no escape
from the conclusion. The predictions as
20 the results which will necessarily fol.
low are appalling.
IL does not make particle Of difference
whether person going TN now by paying
the exorhitant packing charges Il en-
ahled TO set sufficient supplies for his
own use into the country The dangers
which he win have to meet are suhs,an-
tally as great as though nc went IN there
unprovided. II there arc only sufficient
provisions in the country Tor one-half u
the present population. Il makes very At-
tie difference who are the owners Of those
provisions. Starving men viii care very
little for questions ~ property rlghtz The
best that can be expected l. that whea
the pinch comes. as come Il Viii. al viii
share alike. The more likely issue will
be that the stronger. moro hardened and
mere desperate win sec that their own
wants are supplied. 10 matter at what
cost TO the weaker ones.
II Is NOT the iu,entlon to paint the sltua-
tion darker than il IS. nor 10 needlessls
play The part q IA aisrmiss. bst the sltua-
ten must be hooked sauarely IN tbs face.
That situation SIMPLY la thai there win ba
far frosn enough provisions In the klon.
dixie country 20 support The Ilvcs of thass
new IN that country during the present
winter, that within a very few weeks the
caunsry viii Re sealed in BY lco ana snow.
and 50 remain FOR period q eight months.
ana thai dur3ag those egght months only
the very strongest and hardest az rarn.
wiki good dos teams on which their sup-
plies can BE- transported. can hy any pos
slhilty make tae.r way cat: ara that als
others mast 90 necessity remain unul re-
llef reaches them next summer. Il may "a
fearful story y hich VIII come out 81 The
hicndlke when Jhe first boats descend ths
river next June.
Ii must ee rrfnsgs, t..resf thai no necessity
whsSever exists far amy attempt 90 80 into
the yukon eoaa,ry az this t,ae. All wAo
have returned. " thcus excebglen say that
the sPring. ard the sprinS alone. is the
PREFER season ia which 70 attempt 10 resch
the country, Over the Snow in me 1nouat-
ain passes provisions can Al that season
he transported oa sheds w1,s eoaara rasive
ease. TIE mining regions cas- Ne rsachsd
IN tIsae e 10 al TIE prospectus u wAica
The short season. WIZ aanit ard MA as
fair prospects e sUocsss as shoasa taa
entire winter haa bsea spent in Shs eaun-
try. The esnsera ~ Starvation aa5 SUFFER
Ing aside. ehere b hssle or noshlpx whica
can be aeeonpI.sbea earing tss ae2s seven
or eight meaths.
These worss CT Warning &ss Ssvea. not