The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-14
ABSOLUTELY DESTITUTE.

1T IS learned from three different
sources that the population of Dawson
and vicinity on October l of this year
was estimated to be not less than 5000,
and probably much in excess of that
number, and that the population of
Dawson City and the country tributary
thereto, a large number of American
citizens are reported to have insufficient
food to last them during the winter,
and that many are absolutely desti-
tute.
GO TO FORT YUKON.
when it was ascertained at Dawson,
by special messenger sent from Fort
Yukon about Sept. IS, that no more sup
plies could reach the miners before
summer via the Yukon, 700 or 800 peo-
pie are reported to have gone 400 miles
down the river in boats to Fort Yukon,
journey requiring from % to % days
travel, where, it is estimated, there are
200 tons of provisions cached, and that
at Minook creek, about 600 miles from
Dawson City, and Fort Hamlin, 525
miles from that place down the river,
the trading companies upon whom the
miners depend wholly for their winters
supply, were compelled, owing to the
loWness of the river, to unload re-
spectively 100 and 200 tons of provisions
from their steamboats,, bound from st.
Michaels Cor Dawson.
LAST INFORMATION.
The last information from the min
ing district bears date of Oct. II, when
1t was reported there were no stores at
Dawson or those accessible to the min
ing region with single pound of
bacon, beans or -four, and that those
miners who had been in the territory
contiguous to Dawson, depending on
the cf0rpc fEara foT, THAR 11cY,ol +a,,
supplies, find it impossible to purchase
any supplies whatever, except in rare
instances from friends or individuals
who thought they had surplus, and
the cost of food for the bare necessities
Of life, even under these circumstances.
was exorbitant and almost prohibitory.
5O-pound sacks of flour selling at 500
to SIPS.
ONLY ROUTE.
Although there are many tons of
supplies at Fort ST. Michaels, about
1.770 miles from Dawson City down the
Yukon, it will be impossible to get any
food from there before next summer.
The only possible route by which the
supplies can be transported into the
mining district at the present season
would be either by the Chilkoot or
White passes, through Lakes Under
man and Bennett and down the Lewis
and Yukon rivers, over the ice or
through the Chflkoot pass and over
Dalton trail, approximately 700 miles
and $50 miles respectively from Juneau,
requiring from 80 to So days travel
from Juneau-a most hazardous and
perhaps impossible trip, although it is
believed 1t can be accomplished.
USE OF REINDEER.
From the best information obtainable
it is believed that the use of reindeer
will be the means by which these sup
plies can be gotten through, if at all. 1t
is therefore recommended that rein
deer be purchased in Lapland to the
number of 500 and permission granted
to bring reindeer drivers from that
country this upon the information that
it requires much skill to manage these
animals.
1t is believed supplies taken into that
country need not to any great extent
be furnished as a gratuity, but that
many of the miners will be able to pay
the cost Of such supplies.