The herald., 1897-12-19
MEASURES
OF RELIEF
Are to Be Executed by the
Military
SOLDIERS NEED EXERCISE
AND THE TRAIL TO KLONDIKE
PROVIDES IT
IF Alger Waits for Reindeer From
Lapland There Will Be No
Miners to Relieve
AND THE TRAIL TO KLONDIKE
PROVIDES IT
Associated Press Special wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The Klon-
dixie relief bill, as passed, embodies
provision giving the war department au-
thority to use the military arm of the
government in the execution of relief
measures. While there is little doubt as
to the right to detail officers and men for
this purpose, yet the department officials
wanted specific authority in order to
obviate any question as to using the
military arm for civilian purposes. 1t
is not anticipated that large military
force will be required. The authorities
look with much favor on this expedition,
as it will draw officers and men from the
inactivity of garrison life, and give them
mission in which courage and daring
analogous to that of active military SER
vice will be required.
It Is probable that Captain David l..
Brainerd, of the subsistence department
Of the army, will be placed in charge Of
the relief party that Secretary Alger
will send to the Klondike region with
provisions. He is now on duty In the
army building in New York, and has
been ordered to report to General Mer-
riam, the commander Of the department
of the Columbia, at Portland, Oregon.
On the way he will stop in Washington
for consultation with Secretary Alger.
He will have particular charge Of the
commissariat department of the expedi-
ton.
Captain Brainerd was with Greedy on
his Arctic expeditions, and 1t was largely
through him that the party was enabled
to prolong life until succor came. Brain
erd also held the honor. until Nansens
feat, Of having made the farthest point
north ever reached. He will 60 to Dyea
or Skaguay, or Chilkat river with two
officers, to. be. selected by General Mer-
RAM, to arrange for the relief expedition.
and II the Others as 1t Is expected. find It
necessary to return to Seattle to report,
Captain Brainerd will remain on the
ground and carry out the arrangements.
Secretary Alger is giving much study
to the best means Of getting in supplies
to the miners in the Yukon country, and
has decided to ask bids for the delivery
of stores directly to Dyea, Skaguay or
Chilcat. Already great deal of rivalry
has sprung up among the towns on the
L uSAAC SOAoI AOA Vic AlOlUI VI OSA1l6 luc
shipping point Of the stores and the bust
ness that will follow, and by requiring
bidders to deliver their goods directly in
Alaska the war department will be
saved the necessity of making a choice
among them.
Secretary Alger's estimate now is that
no less than 100000 pounds of food
stores will be required for the expedi-
ton. This makes the transportation
problem a very serious one. 1t is esti-
mated that q reindeer cannot be loaded
safely with more than 300 pounds, so
that not less thap thousand head Of
these animals would be required as a
pack train If they were the sole re-
lance.
One question that has engaged the
secretary's attention Is that Of securing
the consent Of the Canadian govern
ment for the passage of the relief ex-
pedition over that part Of Canadian ter
ritory which must necessarily be ira
versed in reaching the miners. 1t will
be necessary to obtain a permit for a
military expedition to pass and also to
secure a remission of duties. 1t is prob
able that to attain his object in the
shortest possible period of time Secre-
tary Alger will go himself to Ottawa in
a few days and deal directly with the
Canadian authorities. instead Of rely
ing on the slow moving process of d.
plomacy.
The following kilograms were received
today by the secretary and by him re-
ferred to General Merriam at Portland:
Seattle, Wash, Dec. 17.-Secretary AL
ger: The Post Intelligences and its
Alaska News syndicate have made
preparations to send an expedition tc
Dawson City, leaving Seattle next Tues
day on the steamer Corona for Skag-
uay. 1t is well equipped with oxen and
dogs and will reach Dawson by Feb.
Is. The Pioneer midwinter expedition
and it's services are offered to you for
reconnoisances and such other purposes
as you may be able to suggest.
(Signed) EDGAR B. PIPER.
This afternoon Secretary Alger sent
a telegram to Gen. Merriam instructing
him to pick out two officers and fifty of
his best men to act as guards for the
relief expedition. Captain Brainerd is
to devote himself first to superintend-
ing the selection Of stores, their delivery
and proper packing at Dyea for the trip
across the passes. Afterward he may
go across with one of the expeditions.
The present deal is that there will be
twenty of these parties and they will
be loaded with 100 tons Of food. for
which Secretary Alger will advertise i'm
mediately under condition of delivery
at Dyea.
The United States military attache of
the legation at Stockholm has been ca
bled to purchase the reindeer needed as
draft animals and to ship them to Dyea
Mr.. Kjelman, the chief herder of the
Alaskan reindeer herd, IL now in Lap
land, where he has been getting an
option on the animals needed.
INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN
VANCOUVER BARRACKS, WASH.
Dec. 18.-Gen. Merriam, commanding
the department Of the Columbia, has