New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-15
NAVAL FORCE FOR YUKON.
LIEUTENANT sTONEY'S PLAN FOR PRE-
VENTING LAWLESSNESS
HE PROPOSES a NAVAL EXPEDITION. AND ASKS
FOR COMMAND OF 1.-THE suBJEcr
TO BE URGED on CONGRESS
YY SECRETARY LON
lny TELEGRAPH TO THE TRipUNE.l


lpy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRlBUNEl
Washington Nov 14.--Army and Navy off,
cers are agreed that lawlessness in Alaska next
snr,nc ,s not 10 be prevented by the military
post recently established at st. Michaels, but
the, en- efficient force patrolins the Upper
Yukon Is the only feasible plan to prevent ram
pant outlawry when gold begins to come out
with the opening OF navigation Secretary Long
will press upon Congress for prompt action the
plan as approved by Commodore Crownnshied.
Chie- Of Navigation. which is set forth by Lieu
tenant George NJ Stoney, recently with Admiral
Beardslee on the Pacific Station, and an officer
who has had many years experience in the
Arctic in Behring Sea patrol duty and on
Alaskan eurveys.
Lieutenant Stoney's proposition is explained
In a memorandum filed with Secretary Long. in
which he emphasizes his confidence in the prac-
ticabllty Of his suggestions by volunteering his
services for the arduOus duty. The essential
parts of tie letter are as follows:
1.-THE stories OF the gold that is to be found In
Alaska on the Yukon River. sound more like
fiction than fact: but nevertheless they have
caused an unprecedented rush to that country
a most serious condition Of affairs IS threatened
The miners have most excellent unwritten law
based on natl raj justice. that they recognize
among themselves, but rot 30 PER cent of the
people now In that country, or who VIII he there
In the early spring. are miners. Many classes
are represented. The desperate characters from
cities and country. especially from the Pac'Hc
Coast who recognize no law not backed UP by
force form considerable portion of the army
OF goldseekers. Many others. now intelligent
law-abiding citizens have reached or are en-
route 20 this new country with brrhtes- hopes
ard most sanguine expectations. but they go
without experience and consequently without
food or outfit
4 GOVERNING FORCE NEEDED.
"The severity Of the climate and the hardships
to be encountered are unknown TO them. The
uttle with which they have provided themselves
their sense of humanity not yet entirely stunted
will cause then, to share with their destitute COM
parions Hope will supply the vitality necessary
to withstand the rigors Of the idle season but III
the spring when the dreams of the large majority
remain unrealized and prospects appear dark
the thought of ultimate failure will take pos
session of them, and they will become the most
desperate OF the desperate class. The success
ful minority will be preyed upon by the unsuc-
cessful majority
"The present rush Is 10 the Klondike. but all
tba, region has already been taken up. The
KlondIke Is In British territory. but sold mas
been reported all along the Yukon. Men who
had good results on the claims on the Yukon
nreyious TO the tales about the richness of the
Klondlke country, have abandoned their claims
20 ioin the rusn into the new land. But disap-
po,ntnent In the Klond!ke will cause large
number Of them 10 return. and then VIII begin
the trouble and disputes over the extent ana
possession Of their claims.
THE need Of a governing force Is apparent
The English have mounted policemen as they
arc called. on that portion OF the river in their
territory These policemen are men from the
regular force Of Canada. and are well versed n
their work and especially adapted for IT, They
have boats or the river. and move about up
and down and preserve order. But any des-
perate characters can jump across the line into
American territory, and have no force to
arrest them The Canadian force cannot cross
the line after them; so we will have thousands
Of lawless characters turned loose on our ter
ritory. and, with this condition existing, the
nrotection which can be afforded the boats OF
the numerous trading companies ana their COM
merce as well the rights or indIVlduals' VIII
be sadly inadequate.
AN IMAGINABLE CASE.
IAN Instance Of outrageous plunderng Is easily
imagined, and could be almost as easily perpe-
trated Suppose gang of desperate men should
hold up any one Of the river steamers returning
with IT'S load OF hard earned gold. They could
claims. and there represent the gold as the re-
suit Of their own labors. BY the time the un-
fortunate victims have made their way to the
United States and made complaint. Il is too late
to get up the river until The following spring. by
which time the plunderers have made their way
out Of the country with their ill-gotten wealth.
This would be possible. because Alaska Is un-
like other territories.
"In other mining localities there Is a considera-
Bile population Of law-abding citizens who will
uphold the law and assist iIr carrying out the
mandates OF Justice, but in the new gold coun-
try the percentage Of these people is very small,
and those who in other localities would render
assistance. here remain passive and excuse
their inaction by the first law Ot nature.
"Tc enable the United States Government to
successfully cope with this threatening evil and
TO furnish adequate projection TO all interests.
the following plan is suggested: Establish three
stations on the river, on American territory. so
that Will be at either limit OF the disorder
and the third midway between the limits Then
the country on the river 10 he patrolled by a
steamer which would cover all avenues OF COM
munication The steamer would have to be
specially constructed with view TO the service
she is 10 perform and should he a regularly
commissioned naval vessel. II should ne OF
sufficient tonnage. and with as little draught as
possible. The cost Of such steamer would be
about $50 900 and IT could be built In ninety
days The hull should he Of steel and the upper
works Of wood The former could be toWed TO
Alaska. while the latter could be taken up In
sections on the deck OF the vessel towing.
When the nearest point TO the mouth or the
Yukon River Is reached the steamer can be put
together. The stations on the river TO be gar
risoned by marines while the steamer IS
manned by blueJackets.
MAKEUP OF THE EXPEDITION
1.-THE expedition would require the following
oficers and men. viz. One commanding officer.
three commissioned line officers. three warrant
officers two doctors. one paymaster. two en-
gneers. three quartermasters two machinists.
four fremen. ten deckhands. two masters-at-
arms. one yeoman. one writer, one ships cook,
two mess COOKS, one officers cook one office
rard oil hlacl,snaifh and