The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-30
Canadian Envoy Doubts the
Real Necessity for a Klondike
Relief Expedition.
MINISTER
IV SEFTON
SKEPTICAL.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-Assistant
Secretary Meiklejohn today presented
Clifford Seton, thee Canadian minister
of the interior, to the, president. Mr..
Mckinley greeted Mr.. Seton with cor
diality, but did not discuss with him
in any manner the objects of his visit
Later Mr. Seton took lunch at the
British embassy. After the luncheon
Mr. Seton, accompanied by Mr.. Meikle-
john called upon Attorney General Nc
Kenna and Secretary of the Treasury
Gage The visits were simply Of courte-
sy, but in the course Of Mr.. Sefton's
visit to both these cabinet officers, the
question Of getting supplies into the
Klondike was discussed. Mr.. Seton, in
a general way, expressed the opinion
that the Canadian government would
be glad to render any aid in it's power
to this government. in getting relief
expedition into the Klondike, but eX-
pressed the opinion to both Attorney
General McKenna and Secretary Gage
that there was not likely to be great
suffering among the miners in the vi
cinity Of Dawson City for lack of food.
This opinion he expressed upon the in
formation in possession Of the Cana
dian government He did think, how
ever, that there might be severe suffer-
ing on account Of the excessive cold, as
a large proportion of those who rushed
into the mining region last summer
were unacclimated. Moreover, Mr.. Sef-
ton is not sanguine that relief expe-
dition, such as this government contem-
plates, could get through.
The Canadian government, with all
the facilities in its possession, has not
yet been able to get IN twenty-five tons
Of provisions dispatched some time ago.
He pictured in a gloomy way the i'm
mense difficulties in driving reindeer
through the narrow def1les and passes
over the snow and fee. Mr.. Seton, in
his talk to Secretary Gage, also re-
ferred briefly to the question OF duties
on miners supplies, but nothing sig
nificant was said on either side, so far
as could be learned.
Mr.. Seton expected to have confer
ence with Secretary of War Alger this
afternoon, but was unable to do so on
account of the latter's physical condi-
tons 1t is barely possible, though not
probable, that Gen. Alger will be able
to have the conference tomorrow fore
noon. Otherwise Mr. Seton and As
|
will have conference on the situation
tomorrow afternoon. This, however.
has not been finally settled.
If Secretary Bliss returns in time to-
morrow, there also will be conference
between him and th, Canadian minis
ter. The latter is also expected to dis
cuss the question further with Secre-
tary Gage. Mr.. Seton contemplates
leaving here for ottawa tomorrow, but
tcnight stated he expected to remain
until Friday afternoon. He has been
through the passes in the Alaskan
country, though not in the winter sea-
son, and he says he does not think the
snowfalls would level up the passes for
the transportation purposes that have
been suggested. Mounted police of the
Canadian government have been taking
in relief supplies via Skaguay, it has
been stated, in the course of confer
ences on the subject, and they are
building caches for preservation of the
goods about seventyfive or 100 miles
apart
E. S. RosenfieId, general manager of
the company, controlling the newly de-
vised snow and ice engines today sub
mitted a proposition to the secretary Of