Connecticut western news., 1897-09-09
WARNSGOLDSEEKERS
A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WRITES OF
 THE PERllS OF PRosPEcToRs.
Party of ssuit Ste. Marie Cltisens Hs- turn From Miohipiootten, and Every Man Says He Has Made a Strike and Is Fabulously Rich.

Washington, Sept. s.-The treasury department has made public the follow ing letter. dated Dyea. Aug. 22, received from a government official now In Alas ka on the way to the goldnelda, stating at the same time that the writer, whose name is withheld, had been l2 years in the service and was thoroughly relia- ble:
 The skasguay trail Is the most largely used overland route. though by no means the best, to the Klondike. MT. Ivey, collector of customs for Alas ka, Informs me that there are now be- tween tide water and the lake some thing like 1000 persons and 2,o0o horaer.
 The commander of one of the ves- sells now at Skaggusy states that is vessels are chartered to land cargoex at that place between now and Sept. 1b and that the number of passengers will average 200 to each weasel, making S2oo more people who will attempt to go In this fall.
 T have talked with some of the most experienced traders and miners in this vicinity, and they are unanimous in the prediction that not over 70 per cent of this vast number will get through 10 Dawson before winter sets in. The oth- CT so per cent will be caught on the trall, and those who survive and get back to tide water will have to winter at Skasguay or return south.
 If the rush continues two weeks longer, hundreds will inevitably perish on the trail, which Is extremely dam | gerous after Oct. 1.
 The postmaster and Indian trader at this place. Mir Heron, states that more than 1000 men have gone up the Chil- kat pass during the past 90 days and that 700 of them are stlll this side of the lake. 24 miles from here.
 Vessels are arriving every day or | two. and at the present rate of influx about 1000 more will enter the trail by Sept. 10. Mir Heron is of the opinion that not more than 20 out of 100 will get through. and he says this trail is far more dangerous than the SkaRguay after the snows set in. He says if the rush continues another week the re- suit and loss of life will be appalling. "I attach the greatest weight to what he says, for the reason that it is to his peeuniary interest to have as many as possible come this way. yet he advises an immediate stoppage of the stam- pede.
 'It is difficult to suggest n way to stop this thrush of people, but Mir. 1vey | intimates that if the inspection rules of the treasury department were prop erly enforced it would materially de- crease the number of passengers on the incoming vessels. Nearly every vessel that arrives here brings twice as many passengers as the law allows it to car | ry. and many of them are condemned craft which have been fitted up for this trade.
 They unanimously agree that while there is a rich goldheld there the facts do not justify the present stsmpeda. and they say there is bound to be much suffering and actual starvation.
 Provisions are already scarce and the prices of many articles absolutely prohibitory in the case of a man of or. dinary means.
 "The mall facilities are very bad hers, as the postoffice department has not made any allowance for the rapid growth of postal business. The postal authorities here are powerless to cope with the mass of mall matter, and [ have doubts as to whether this letter | will reach its destination. am forced close this letter 10 catch boat. which is about to leave, and l am leaving uu- said some things. which l shall havs 10 include in my next letter"