Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-25
AFFAIRS ALONG THE YUKON
Captain Rays Report to the War Depart
ment.

oaptaln nay report 10 tne war DepaLt-
Condition Of Thing. in the Territory
~f Snow nnA Ice-Low River
stops Presress.
Is
The War TepAspent has just received
of the army Of ttH condition of affairs in
the gold region as He has found them from
st. Michael 70 F'ost Yukon supplemented
by the accounts OF the most reliable per-
sons he could communicate with as to the
state Of affairs in the Klondike and neigh
borhood The officer. who was sent espe-
cially for the purpose of making recon-
mendations for the betterment of affairs
there, has some radical suggestions to
| make. Among them he urges the division
Of Alaska into districts, the southern dis
tr1ct TO remain under the present jursdic-
ton, while the northern district. including
the gold region, is to be placed under a
form OF military government until Congress
Gan make other provision. The place Sc
lected by the captain for a military post is
near Rapid City, about go miles below
Dawson.
Capt Rays report is dated Fort Yukon,
september I 10, where his boat failed 10
cross the Tar. He says: Having failed in
every attempt. her cargo has been dis
charged here. and she leaves for St.
Mlchaeis IN few hours. 1t has been
showing steadily for the past four days,
and if cold weather continues the river
Will soon close. This leaves the situation
al Dawson City and above unchanged and
there exists no possible hope of getting sup
plies into the Klondike country by the
river route this fall.
Il find Mr.. Eli Gage here, he having just
come down from Dawson by small boat.
not been advised of the condition of af-
fairs here, when he left. August IS. Word
mad been sent from here by Indians four
Gays before my arrival, which renders it
unnecessary for me to go forward at once,
as l intended Mr.. Gage also reports that
the supplies in the stores at Dawson when
ne lett We're very low, and nothing had
been delivered there by either company
LIQUOR and boots.
Ihe Alaska Commercial Company has
stores at Andreasfky, Nulato, Nukeukayet
Siananah). Rampant City Manook) and
Sifcie city. The white settlements are
circle City and Rampant City, the first
i.!E3 and the second 977 miles from St.
Michael Circle City is practically aban-
coned Miners arriving here since I land
cd report only thirty people there, and they
We're waiting for boat to get away
me principal mining camps are Forty
Mile. Birch Creek and Manock Creek Ram
part CITY had population of about $50
on the 'th instant which includes those in
the mining camp twelve miles away I
counted seventy tents, one store and ten
nuts The people We're getting out logs
wh1psawing timber and new cabins were
gong up rapidly. The city CD of Weare
found represented by four spruce logs
crossed as foundation for a cabin: pop
ulation, o. 1t is located three-quarters of
mile below the A. c. Company's store at
Nukeukayet.
Il find but three mining camps within
our territory, already mentioned The frts
two Forty Mile and Birch creek, were
abandoned wnen the discovery was made
IN the klondike. Since then miners have
been slowly drifting, back. ] have reliable
Information that unless people from the
serted. .,
The great lack Of sufficient food suppIv
has checked RearlYall development for this
winter L did not have time to visit the
mines at Mauock, and cannot speak as 60
their value. / saw over three hundred dol
Ars in nuggets and dust alleged to have
been taken out of a ten-foot hole on one
claim which, claim was sold for 5000 to
some parties on this boat. Many miners
coming down from the Klondike are stou-
ping there, and many coming into the ter
ritory by this, route will stop rather than
winter here, owhere there is no chance to
work.
Owing to the dense growth of forest and
moss, the country is one Of the most diff
cult in the world to prospect, and the work
OF development will be slow. l have talked
with many experienced miners, who all
agree in having discovered many valuable
lodes of low grade ore. but the present high
price of provisions bars the working of
any 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 this point 1 estimate that from
the boundary to the sea there were abou:
200 people not including those stranded
AT ST. Michaeps. The only lines of COM
munication are by the waters of the Yu-
kon and its tributaries. which are open
from the last days of May until from the
LIST to the 18th of October.
There is no regular communication be-
tween the mining camps during the winter
and no mail facilities between Circle CITY
and ST. Michaers during the same period
In my previous report l have noted the
transportation facilities now in existence
on the Yukon, and what preparations are
being made to meet next years business
The steamers on the river seem ill-suited
for the uD-riVer work.
Il am reliably informed by Mr.. Provost.
the Episcopal minister at the mouth of the
Tananah, and Others that there is n prac-
ticable route from the Tananah across the
divide to the head of COOKS Inlet via the
head of Copper river; that Indians pass to
and fro trading during the winter If this
information proves correct. I believe mack
animals or wheeled transportation could he
placed on this route in the summer and a
better ana a shorter route opened to the
mines, in our own territory.
From all l can ascertain, I am now of
the opinion that, as soon as the develop
ment Of the territory will justify, this will
be the shortest and most practicable route
for railroad communication with the open
sea. With rail communication from the
head Of Cooks Inlet to the Tananah, the
commerce CT the whole Yukon valley could
be controlled by routes lying wholly in our
OWE territory.
SHOULD l be able to obtain a sufficient
number of serviceable dogs I will attempt
the exploration of this country during the
coming winter. or make 1t my first work
should I remain in the territory.
Il shall go to on to Circle City as soon
as I can obtain sufficient TRANSPORTATION
for my supplies us there is practically
nothing there, ana shall communicate at
once by mail.
SHOULD 1 not receive any order to the
contrary, will proceed to St. Michaers by
whaleboat as soon as the ice breaks I'd in
the spring and await further orders there
We have ample supplies, are both in good
health and condition, and will devote the
winter to the work Of exploration
INTERNATIONAL SEAL CONFEREEs.