The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-27
POLICEMEN FOR DAWSON CITY
CANADA PREPARING TO SEND A
FORCE TO PRESERVE ORDER.
Alien Labor Law Not to Be Enforced
Talks with People Who Have Been
In the Land of Riches.

WASHINGTON, july 26.-The secretary
of war is considering a proposition that
has been made to him to establish a mill
tary post in Alaska. AT present the gov
eminent has no troops in that vast terri
tory and in view of the heavy immigration
now going and the possible danger to
life and property by lawless characters, he
has been urged to create an Alaskan mill
tary post The commercial interests of the
territory are at the bottom of the movement
and have requested that a company of in
fantry and Calling gun brigade be located
at post to be christened Fort Alger' near
the boundary line about go miles west of
Klondike and 1900 miles above the mouth of
the Yukon river. The body of troops is
asked for to support the civil authorities
in the administration of law and for the
protection of vested rights. 1t was sug
gested that the troops be marched over
the Dyea route to the post which will be
erected by contract for the governments
use if desired, but this will be impossible
in view of the fact that, like our own the
British law would not permit the passage
of foreign troops over territory without
special legislation. Therefore the troops
will be carried up the Yukon in a steamer
If the government consents to establish the
post. There is some doubt, however. of
the President being able to establish a post,
as proposed, without congressional author
ization and that phase of the question has
been brought to the attention of the attor-
ney general for an opinion An early de-
cision must be reached if the troops are to
be sent to the new post this season. Mean
while volunteers for service in Alaska are
already coming forward This morning Sec
rotary Alger received a telegram from A. b.
Abercombrie. of the Second Infantry, dated
at Fort Harrison. Mont, rendering his
service with sixty picked men of his regi-
ment for duty in Alaska and expressing a
desire to report personally TO Secretary
Alger
1t was given out tonight that the Presi-
dent and Secretary Alger have decided to
detail an army officer and company of
soldiers from the regular army for service
in Alaska. The matter is yet in very in
definite shape. but details will be arranged
as soon as possible in order that the sol
diers may get into the vicinity of the gold
country before navigation closes on the
Yukon river. They Will be sent to their
destination via the Yukon river route and
the offer of one of the shipping companies
on the Pacific coast to transport the men
and their baggage and stores porbably will
be accepted. The exact location of the camp
or post has not yet been determined on,
but it is expected to be at Circle City. An
army officer now in the field and who has
had experience in such matters has been
invited to take charge of the company and
an answer Is expected from him very soon.
The detail of men who will go will be
made from one Of the posts In the West
but just which one is not yet finally settled
on The officials are anxious to locate the
soldiers in the gold country as soon as pos
sible and ii il can be arranged they will
be sent on the steamer sailing early in
August.