The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-26

fully employed for transportation, but also
suggests that one hundred reindeer be sent
for winter use. OF the settlements within
the territory but few can be called perma-
nent, and new interests will necessitate
many. changes. Several settlements have
already passed away, as new mines were
ton of about $50 on the 7th of September.
The city Of Weare was represented by four
spruce logs crossed for a foundation for
location and practically the head of naviga-
ton for river boats drawing more than five
feet of water. Forty-mile and Birch creeks
were abandoned when gold was discovered
on the Klondike.
Speaking of mining operations, he says
the dense growth of forest and moss makes
prospecting and development slow. Miners
agree to having discovered valuable lodes
of low grade ore, but the present high price
of provisions bars the working of placers
or lodges that do not pay more than an
ounce per man per day. Up to the time the
boats failed to pass the bar at Fort Yukon
he estimates that from the boundary to
the seat there were about ]. 30 people, not
including those stranded at st. MichaeFs.
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
route for railroad communication 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
meetings. AS part of his scheme for mill
tary government of the Northern Territory
he suggests that a court be established at
the capital the appointment of commits
sioner of mines to settle disputes as to title
and the passage by Congress of code OF
laws for the Territory just as for the Dis
trict of Columbia. He recommends that
the government construct a strong river
steamer of $50 tons to use for the relief OF
people in distress. 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 Aug. is except one
barge load of liquor and boots.
In a supplemental report Captain Ray
notes the arrival of the transportation COM
panys steamer Weare with a cargo of two
hundred tons of provisions. The captain
says she is the last boat for this season.
The other company expects more boats.
When navigation closes, he says, there will
be six hundred tons of provisions at Fort
Yukon, and he will do what he can to as
sist in forwarding supplies and to protect
the caches from raids. There were 100 peo-
pie at Fort Yukon and much dSSatlSfac-
ton among them over the failure of the
transportation company to forward them to
their destinations. Writing on the 18th,
Captain Ray says: There have been many
threats and some show of arms to-day, but
/ believe it will be settled without violence,
as Eli Weare has just arrived and made
favorable concessions There are several
people here without food and money. / I'M
derstood the steamers will carry the most
of them down to ST. MichaeIs, but this ele>
ment will become serious factor after nav
igation closes and they continue to come
down the river.