The herald., 1897-11-05
SUPPLIES
DONATED
To Save the Miners From
Starvation
|ALGER is ASKED TO ASSIST
BY PROVIDING SOME MEANS OF
TRANSPORT
Experts Sent to Investigate Agricul-
tural Possibilities of Alaska
Make Dreary Report

Der of commerce today sent the follow
ing telegram to Secretary of War Alger
at Washington: Starvation and death
confront the unfortunate miners on the
Yukon through failure Of the trading
companies to get supplies into the in
terror before the close Of navigation on
the Yukon. The chamber of commerce
of Portland has undertaken to relieve
the distress which must appear before
the icy fetters of the Yukon releases
the supply steamers, and for the purpose
it will donate provisions and necessary
supplies.
THE chamber Of commerce asks the
cooperation OF the war department IN
Portland to the most accessible point
on the Alaskan coast, whence the relief
expedition may carry it to the impris-
oned gold miners.
"Our duty to suffering humanity de-
mands the sacrifice that may be neces-
sary to accomplish this end. Will you
cooperate with us in this undertake
ing?"
CROP PROSPECTS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.-CBy Associ-
ated Press Leased Wire to Herald.) DR..
w. H. Evans and Benton KILN, COM
missioners appointed to investigate the
agricultural possibilities of Alaska,
have submitted their report to Sec
retary of Agriculture Wilson. The re-
port agrees that while comparatively
little agriculture exists there, it is pos
sible that enough Of certain crops and
animals may be grown to sustain con-
siderable population, provided proper
methods are pursued. While Director
True Of the division of experiment sta
tions does not regard as feasible the
establishment Of agricultural stations
he believes that experiments may be
carried on in a number of lines with
great success. The two commissioners
spent three months investigating on
the southern coast region of Alaska.
The reports say cultivated areas in
Alaska are confined to small kitchen
gardens in which are grown many Of
our earlier and harder vegetables.
Stock raising is carried on to very
limited extent. The possible extension
of the pasturage and gardening areas Is
quite considerable. Estimates are made
of an expense of 5000 per acre in prepar-
ing the soil for cultivation.
At the present rate, Mr.. Killen says,
the salmon will soon be destroyed. They
are being fished for in spawning waters
to such an extent that they have no op-
portunity to propagate. Halibut, cod
and herring will last forever. Timber
will not go into the market until the YET
low fir or Douglas pine Of the Pacific
coast is exhausted, as it is superior to
the Alaskan hemlock. Alaskans will
not feel the want of agriculture, as
freight from the coast agricultural dis
tricts is by sail vessels and very cheap.
1t now costs but 80 cents a day to pro-
vide food for miners at Turn Again Arm,
the most remote part of Cook S inlet.
Grasses grow to great perfection. Lit
tie was seen of the cultivation of cereals
and small fruits. Berries abound.
though practically no attention is paid
to their cultivation.
AS to the country from the southern
boundary to Kodiak and Long Island,
and from the Pacific to the Alaskan
mountains. the climate is extremely
wet, but not cold; winters are very long
and the feeding period will be at least
seven months. The cereals will not
ripen and the vegetables will not ma
ture.
THEIR TALE OF WOE
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 4.-(By AS
sociated Press Leased Wire to Herald.)
The twenty members of the North Fork
Alaskan expedition who returned to
this city on the steamer President from
St. Michaels last night claim that they
were brought here against their will.
Finding that the old river steamer Mare
island was unable to carry them from
st. Michaels to the mouth of the Yukon
owing to the adverse currents, they
decided to go overland to the gold fields,
and when the President was preparing
to leave. twenty of them made arrange
ments with Captain Nelson to take
them from that port to Unalaklik, on
the main land. whence they would be-
gin their journey toward Dawson.
On arriving at Unalaklik, the master
of the steamer refused to land passen-
gers, claiming that it was impossible
to force a boat to the shore on account
of the ice which was forming along the
beach and that also by sending them
ashore to commence journey as they
proposed would be aiding them to their
deaths. Therefore they were kept on
board and brought to this city. The
schooner Bessie X. arrived at st. Mi
chaels the day before the President
sailed with fourteen gold hunters headed
by w. M. Coffee. The schooner will
winter there and the party will pro-
ceed up the river in the spring on the
steamer Eel Sueno.
CANADIAN ACTIVITY 4
VANCOUVER, B. c., Nov. 4.-(By
Associated Press Leased Wire to Her
ald) Minister Of the interior Sifton
stated today that while at Skaguay he
had found that the police transportation
system had practically broken down.
This he had set right again and had