The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-12-16
ON The kL0ND|Kt FAMINE.
SECRETARY ALGER SUBMITS IN
FORMATION IN HIS POSSES
SION TO SENATE.
RECOMMENDS A REINDEER ROUTE.
To Carry Supplies to the SufYe ring
Miners-IlI-PrOvised Stampede
From Dawson Reported.
Many Will Perish.

Washington, Dec 13.-In answer to a |
senate resolution calling for such in
formation as the war department pos
sesses relative to the lack of food sup
plies on the Yukon river, Secretary AL
ger today submitted letter reciting his
action in sending Capt Ray, Eighth in
fantry, to that country to investigate, and
enclosing copies of the officers reports,
the features of which have already been
published. Secretary Alger says:
"From these reports it will be seen
that as early as the list of September,
and while en- route up the Yukon, Capt.
Ray was in receipt of information to the
effect that unless some relief expedition
was sent to the mining districts strava-
ton, or, at least, great privation, would
be inevitable.
From other sources, including dis
patches from the chamber Of commerce
of Portland and Tacoma. which, while
unofficial, the department believes to be
thoroughly reliable, it is ascertained that
since the 18th of August but 1865 tons OF
provisions have reached Dawson City by
! river, and that the boats of the two
! Transportation companies, with 2OOO tons
. of supplies for that place, were obliged to
! discharge their freight at Fort Yukon, 4O0
| miles north of Dawson City, owing to
the lowness of the river between these
! points. 1t is also learned from three Ill.
dependent sources that the population OF
Dawson and vicinity in October OF TINS
wear was estimated to be not less than
1000, and probably was much in excess
of that number, and that of the popula-
tion of Dawson City and in the country
tributary thereto, Il large number or the
American citizens are reported to nave
insufficient food to last them through the
winter, and that many are absolutely
destitute.
"When it was ascertained Mt Dawson
by special messengers sent from forl
Yukon. about September IL, that no more
supplies could reach the mining districts
! before next summer via the Yukon, IOu
! or 800 people are reported to have gone
400 miles down the river in boats to
/ Fort Yukon, a journey requiring from
twenty-three to twenty-eight days, where
il is estimated there are about 700 tons
! of provisions cached, and that at Minook
creek, about 600 miles below that place
down the river. the two trading compa'
MES upon whom the miners wholly de-
! 49,
. pelled. owing to the lowness of the river
! TO unload respectively 10 and 200 tons
of provisions from their six boats bound
! from st. Michaels for Dawson. The last
| information from the mining district
! bears date of October II, when IT was re
! ported there was not on sale in the stores
! of Dawson or those accessible to the min
! ing region, single pound OF bacon
! beans or -four, and that those miners who
! had been in the territory contiguous tt
/ Dawson, depending on the stores there
for their usual winter supplies, found il
: impossible to purchase any supplies what
ever. except in rare instances from
) friends or individuals who though they
had surplus, and the cost of food fol-
the bare necessities of life, even under
these circumstances, was exorbitant and
almost prohibitory, fifty-ponnd sacks OF
flour selling at 500 to $165.
! Although there are many tons OF sup
niles at Fort Michaels, about ITO miles
from Dawson City down the Yukon. il
will be impossible to get any food from
that point before next summer. Tho
only possible route by which supplies can
he transported into the mining district ri
the present season would be either by
the Chilkoot or White pass, through
Lakes Linderman and Bennett, and down
the Lewis and Yukon rivers, over the
ice. or through the Chi,koot pass and
over Dawson's trail. approximately 700
and 500 miles respectively from Juneau,
n most hazardous and perhaps impossible
trip, although it is believed it can be ac-
complished. From the best information
that can be obtained It is believed that
the use of reindeer will be the means by
which supplies con be gotten through, il
Mt all. 1t is, therefore, recommended
that reindeer be purchased in Lapland
to the number of 500. and permission be
granted to bring reindeer drivers from
that country; this upon the information
that it required much skill Ito manage
these animals. 1t is believed that sup
plies taken into that country need not
to any great extent be furnished ms a
gratuity. but that many of thc miners
viii he able to pay the cost of such sup.
plies"