Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-18
MILES ON KLONDIKE.


New York, Dec. 17.-Gen. Miles be-
lieves expeditions should be sent over
several OF the routes to the Klondike
region at once In order to have double
chances of one getting through quickly
in case the other is delayed, says a
correspondent OF the Tribune at Wash
ington. Gen. Miles has made q special
study of Alaskan affairs. having been
responsible for the military protection
of the territory when he commanded
the department of the Columbia from
1883 to 1885. During that time he
sent three expeditions through Alaska.
The first was under Lieut.. Frederick
Schwatka, in 1883, the second was I'M
der Lieut.. Abercrombie in 1856, and the
third was under Lieut.. Y. Allen in the
same year. Lieut.. Abercrombie con-
Quoted an expedition up the Copper
River valley and Lieut.. Allen went up
the Copper river, thence across the di-
vide and down the Tanana to the
Yukon, thence to Bering sea.
Gen. Miles says. II believe that the
expeditions should be sent-one over the
Dalton trail from Italia to Dawson City,
Belle Isle or Circle City; the other from
the mouth of the Copper river to Belle
Isle. The Dalton trail extends only
short distance through our territory,
being principally along the upper
Yukon river in British Columbia.
Hence, to send an expedition by that
route will require the approval of the
Canadian government and probably
the two governments will cooperate
in this humane enterprise
I'VE would at least clear the trail and
make the route practicable as far as it
extends within our territory, and IL
permission is given by Canada,
could ascend by that route. The
route from the mouth of Cop
per river extends entirely through
our own territory and in my
opinion is practicable for sending sup
plies TO the places already mentioned.
or to point near the boundary where
a depot Of supplies. an asylum and Il
hospital could be established. have
therefore recommended that Congress-
give authority for the sending of two
| expeditions with food and hospital sup
plies with Us little delay us possible
"Of course the sending of a military
escort by water from Puget Sound to
the mouth of Copper river and to Chill
coot pass viii involve considerable ex-
pense. The cost of delivering food into
that remote country, particularly at this
season of the year. will necessarily he
very great. but II need not be wholly
gratultuous expenditure Many of the
men that are IN n suffering condition
have sufficient gold TO ray for sup
plies and gratuitous issue of supplies
should be made only to those who are
in destitute condition.
AN important feature OF sending OK
petitions through the interior especial
~ by the Copper river route, would
he TO concillatc the natives who are
liable to become hostile, They would
be exceedingly useful as guides and in
terpreters and can be SO employed in
blazing the trail placing landinallJs
transporting stores and IN many other
ways facilitating the purpose OF this en-
terprisc. II they arc not conciliated
and disturbances should occur which
would mako them hostile. an Indian
war might engup in that territory.
which would be the most expensive of
any Indian war which the government
| Inns eNer had TO encnuninr,,