The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-26
CAPT. RAYS REPORT
Onihs Situation in tho Alaskan Cold
Fields Military Posts.

WASHINGTON, D, C., Oct 25,-Cap-
tain Ray makes some interesting state
ments in his report to illustrate the
condition OF affairs among the gold
seekers IN the Rlondlke, and because his
reports are strictly official they are en-
titled to weight. He favors the enlist
ment OF twenty Indian scouts, who, ne
says. would be valuable as guides
boatmen and hunters and would secure
the friendship Of the natives,
Circle City, the other point consider
ed, is as a post practically abandoned
now, he says, and its re-occupatlon ex-
tremely doubtful. He says there is no
reason why horses cannot DO success
fully employed for transportation, but
also suggests that one hundred reindeer
be sent for winter use. OF the settle
ments within the territory but few can
be called permanent and new interests
will necessltate many changes, Several
settlements have already passed away
when new mines were discovered. RAM
part City had a population OF about
three hundred and fifty on the seventh
OF September. The city OF Weare was
represented by four spruce logs crossed
for u foundation for cabin. The cap
tain says II is a central location and
practically the head OF navigation for
river boats drawing more than flve feet
OF water. Forty mile and Birch creeks
were abandoned when gold was discoY-
cred on the Kiondlke. Speaking OF
mining operations, he says the dense
growth of forest and moss makes pros
pectlng and development slow. Miners
agree to having discovered valuable
lodes OF low grade ore, but the present
high price OF provisions bars the work.
ings OF placer or lodges that do not pay
more than an ounce per man per day.
Up to the time the boats fail to pass the
bar at Fort Yukon, he estimates that
from the boundary to the sea there
we're about 1900 people not including
those stranded at st. Michaels.
The Captain discusses several new
routes and says he Is reliably Informed
that from Cook Inlet via the head OF
Copper river, Will be the shortest and
most practicable for railroad communi-
cation with the open sea. Up TO the
present time the laws In the country
have not been enforced nOr does there
exist any means for enforcing them; all
disputes are settled by miners meet
ings. Part OF his scheme Is for mill
tary government OF the northern ter
ritory
Eli Gage, who had Just arrived from
Dawson, reported that the supplies and
stores at that place were very low and
nothing had been delivered there by
either company since August IS, ex-
cept one barge load OF liquor and boots.
In a supplemental report, Captain Ray
notes the arrival OF the transportation
company's steamer. Weare, with car
40 of two hundred tons OF provisions.
The captain says she Is the last boat
for this season. The other company
expect more boats. When navigation
closes, he says there will be six hun
dred tons OF provisions at Fort Yukon
and he will do what he can TO assist in
forwarding supplies and to protect the
caches from raids. There were one
hundred, and thirty people at Fort Yu-
kon and mitch dissatisfaction among
them over the failure of the transpor-
tatlon company TO forward them to
tHelr uestlldAOhs. "iiAihH Nh e"N 'VN''
instant, Captain Ray says:
"There have been many threats and
some show OF arms to-day, but / be-
lleve It will be settled without violence
as Ell weare has Just arrived and made
favorable concessions.
There are several people without
food and money. understood the
steamers will carry the most OF them
down to st. Michaels, bnt this element
will become serious factor after navi-
cation closes and they continue to come
dOwn the river"