Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-22
SUPPLIES FOR THEKLoNDIKE
Secretary Alger Considering the Use Of
Reindeer.
Contradictory reports Regarding the
Upper Waters Of the Yukon.

Secretary Alger now has under considera-
ton another project for the relief of. dis
tressed miners in the Klondike country.
The last reports from Capt Ray, the army
inspecting officer who was sent into that
country by the department, indicate that
much suffering is likely to be experienced
there owing to lack of food, and this will
be added to by the failure of the boats to
get up the river. The latest plan which
has been brosched is to suse reindeer for
the transportation of Supplies from the
coast inland Secretary iAlger's idea is to
establish regular line IL communication
by means of these anipafs under military
mana cement, which will insure the trains
against being plundered and also their
regularity. The animals, it is believed,
may be procured from. the stock now in
northwestern Alaska. brought there sew
eral years ago from Siberia. The few
score originally brought in have increased
to many hundred animals, which the ma
tives have trained for draft purposes, SO
that they would seem to be well adapted
for the transportation Of supplies into the
klondike regiont The details of the plan
have not yet beeh worked out.
Food Along the Yukon.
Meanwhile advices have reached the War
Department from private sources to the
effect that there is mere food along the
although there may be some suffering, no
eman need go hungry If he cares to go for
the food. The steamers of the Transports
ton Company were unable to. get through
owtqg. to low water. but It - reported to
Secretary Alger, they left their stores. of
points. Some of these are at old Fort
Yukon. and ene boat; got q load through
to Rampant City, about 2tf0 miles below
Dawson. Altogether there are about l 200
tons of provisions within 800 miles of Daw
son along the Yukon. There are also 500
Jog houses near the Tanana river, and
with accommodations for frsm 300 to 400
persons at Fort Yukon. the department is
advised that there will probably be shelter
sufficient Tor all the people now In the
country.
Capt. Hooper AppreA.-d.'sunerin
On the other hand. Capt. Hooper. COM
mar der of the Berirg lsea patrol fleet. WHO
has arrived in Washington to attend the
seal conference, said today that the reports
concerning the scarcity of food in the Klon-
dixie region are not. in his judgment. exas-
gerated. In the neighborhood Of Dawson
there are, he said. about 1000 miners,
whose supply. cf provisions for the coming
winter is no greater than barely sufficient
for half that number last winter Great
suffering would be the iAepi table result of
this scarcity of food. although some of
attempt to get away on the Ice Of the
Yukon, the chapces We're that consider
able number H these would perish from
hunger a16k exposure All Of the passes
were practically closed some weeks ago,
and paany hundreds of miners are now
camped along the different trails, with lit
tie or no shelter. and with insufficient food
supply.
Late reports. Captain Hooper said. in
dictate that rich discoveries have been
made on the Mincok creek, a tributary of
the Yukon. which empties into it about 100
or 800 miles from its mouth. If these new
fields proved as rich in gold as is antici-
pated he Thought the congestion in the
Klondike region would be relieved as soon
as spring opened. Afinook creek is within
comparatively easy reach of ST. Mich
aers, as steamers have little difficulty in
ascending the river to that point when
navigation above 1t is impossible on ac-
count of low water. 1t was near Minook
creek that the last Klondike steamer was
compelled to unload her cargo of provf-
sions. SO that the miners in that section
are in little danger of the food famine that
threatens other camps
Captain Hooper expects a great rush CT
people into the gold region as soon as
spring opens and he has no doubt that
the tales told of the immense gold deposits
will be fully verified