The times., 1897-07-31

1t was soon found that no satisfaction
could lie obtained by eny other means than
sending some one direct TO the heart OF the
gold region This duty deyolved upon the
Bureau OF Labor, and Commissioner Wright
at once selected Mr.. Durham for the mis-
sion This was over week ego, Dut the
matter was kept as quiet as possible in
order tc protect AIR. Dunbam from the an
noyaDce OF 'klondike cranks"
Despite this precaution, however, hun
dreds of letters have been pouring in adj
dressed to the Commissioner, in which are
contained all sorts OF propositions. The ma
lority or the writer's request that they be
allowed to accompany Mr.. Dunham. There
are in addition few communications the
writers OF which have ''schemes'' which
they would like the bureau to adopt These
letters are not confined to Washington, but
have poured in from all sections of the
country. No one, however, viii be al
lowed to accompany Mr.. DuEbam, as it is
the Gesire OF tie commissioner that he go
On his mission alone.
At first the date of departure was fixed
for the I'd of August. 1t was deemed adj
yisahle, however, to change the date to
the 81 st of uly, in order that more time
might be afforded for preparation when
San Francisco is reached. In that city an
outfit, including everything necessary for
the trip. is being prepared
Mr.. Dunham viii journey direct to San
Francisco, and on the 9th OF August will
take passage on tie Umatilla, on which
steamer a berth has been reserved for his
use He will transfer TO the Topeka Al Seat
tie on the 18th and proceed to Juneau.
Here dogs and sled will be bought and
several suits of reindeer garments secured.
Il do not expect to experience any dis
comfort while on my way TO the n.ines,"
said Mr.. Dunham last night.
1T viii almost be October before the
real winter sets in, and before that tine
1 hope to he firmly established at Daw.
SON City. Parties who try to reach the
mines after the cold weather has begun,
had best be wary Of Chilkat Pass. This is
one of the most dangerous portions OF
The route TO the gold fields. This pass,
which extends for II considerable distance,
is formed by two precipitous slopes, In
clining at a liberal angle. The heights
are topped with snow, and when violent
storms rage vast areas of snow are liable
to become dislodged, and sliding down the
lObOSSdu-tlhe SLOPES, I'LL tfe pass. III
travellers should be so unfortunate as to
be passing through they would perish as
surely as the natives of the Alps when over
whelmed ty landslides.
AT present it is no colder in Alaska than
the weather is in Washington during a
normal winter. In the cold season the
temperature falls very low, but at no time
Is the cold apt to prove more severe than
that which the people CT Denver have ex-
perienced.
The Treasury Department and Post
office officials are lending all the aid
within their power to assist me in my
undertaking. ! would like to send regular
reports as to my progress to the Bureau
of Labor, but l fear that the poor mail
facilities of the country would not per.
NIT OF such an arrangement
great deal depends upon the reports
which Mr.. Dunham sends home If his
letters corroborate the reputed assertions
of returned miners, there will be rush
for the North, unprecedented in latter day
history. Capital is a little scary at
present, but should the Government dc.
clare that the Klondike region is the El
dorado men say it is, millions of dollars
will be invested in ALASKAN territory and
the future of the land assured If, Oh,
the other hand, Mr.. Dunham's investica-
tions show that these fabulous riches are
largely imaginative; much misery and
loss of nicney will be prevented.