The San Francisco call., 1897-11-18
One Method of Solving
the KlOndike Food
Question.
Those Who Do Not Work Will
Be Made to Leave for
Yukon City.
BY Decreasing the Population the
Danger of Famine Is to Be
LsSSened.
Special Dispatch 10 The CALL

TACOMA, Nov. 17-John Knutson, who
returned from the X ondike recently, says
the miners and trading companies at
Dawson Will undoubtedly join hands to
prevent starvation there this winter. In
his opinion they Will accomplish the de-
sired object by requiring all amblers and
other nou-producers to 90 down the river
to Fort Yukon, where grub is plenty.
When Knutson left the mines il was ex-
pected that several steamer loads more OF
food would arrive, though the Old timers,
OF which he WAS one. remembered the
food shortage of past winters and began
figuring out what could be done if low
water prevented the arrival OF steamers.
Some of the miners had talked the situa-
tlOn over quietly WITH agents OF the trad
ing companies, and while no plan had
been form uiated, II was understood that
the nine-owners and companies would
work in harmony 10 make the food supply
produce as much gold as possible during
the winter.
Knutson says it is obviously to the ad-
vantage Of both miners and companies to
make the gold output as great as possible,
with food shortage staring them in
the face; therefore, the natural thing to
do will be to compel the gamblers, some
of the saloon attaches and other Front
street idlers to move down stream to the
base OF supplies.
knutson is certain a movement in this
direction has already been started and
considers it the proper thing to do. The
miners are beginning to realize, he says,
that the gamblers DO not benefit the COM
munity and that the producers will have
more gold to bring out next summer
If the presence of the green-cloth knights
Is dispensed with. Knusson thinks this
programme VIII result in sending several
hundred men TO Fort Yukon, thereby
saving enough provisions to winter the
balance OF the camp on a limited-ration
basis.
Several hundred men who have neither
provisions nor money, he says, Will be pro-
vided for by the companies al Fort Yukon.
Having no provisions, these men cannot
get work at the mines. Theirs will not be
an envla bic life, tor their winter allowance
Will CONSIST OF about two sacks OF -four,
some beans and a few pounds OF bacon
and dried apples each. They will be ex-
pected to pay for this by chopping wood
lhls winter or in the spring.
kputsOn went to FortV- mile District in
experienced the realities Of food short
age and lived for three weeks on -four, a
little lard anu water and all this time he
was working ten hour, day. " hen his
partner procured a ham and some dried
apples they enjoyed Y ukon banquet
With his first years savings Knutson
bought a half-interest in claim 20, above,
on Glacier Creek, Forty-mIe District II
rays 500 20 the box length. He and Chris
Olsen, his partner, ] ined the rush to
kOndike and now own a half interest in
claims Sc and 81, Ei Dorado Creek, which
had produced $50.0 600 to Septem Der 1, or
$4,000 box length. They also own claim
IL on Bear Creek.
Thirty months ago Knutson used all
his funds buying Yukon outfit. Now he
IS worth $500,U00. After spending the
winter with his wife and Two children he
Will return TO Dawson in February By
the next mail he expects letters from his
partners on Ell Dorado Creek. If they are
short of provisions, as he expects, he will
endeavor to take food to them over the ice
very early in the spring.