Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-23
Alaska Official Says There Will be
Great Suffering There.
PROSPECPORS NEEDLESS OF WEATHER
Burton F. Bennett Says Gold is
There in Plenty.
CODE OF LAWS NEEDED

SEATTLE, Wash, September %3.-One Of
the most distinguished passengers to ar
rive in this city on the steamer Queen
from Alaska was Burton F. Bennett, who
was appointed by Cleveland to fill the Of
flee of United States district attorney for
Alaska.
From what 1 can learn said Mr.. Ben
nett, there is not, and will not be enough
food at Dawson City this winter. With
favorable weather the trading companies
may get more up the river than was an
ticipated. but 1t is not likely. 1t will be
impossible under the most favorable cir
cumstances to supply all those who are
there. 1 feel sure of that after careful in
quiry and from letters have received from
Dawson City.
But If Dawson City suffers think of the
Gien oil White pass. The world may Tot
realize It, but there are men UP north who
are walking right into death. The snow
is probably falling on White pass. Many
propose to winter at Skaguay, but from
what l can learn hundreds do not propose
to stop there. nor will they return to civil
1zation. They have the gold fever as no
ether body of men ever had it. Every time
they hear of a strike in the Yukon country
they get crazer than ever. They will not
stop for saow;they will not stop for storms.
They will keep pushing over White pass
all winter.
Will Brave Winter Dangers.
Il am satisfi that while the snow is
coming down in all its fury on the pass
and the wind is blowing awful gales this
winter, you will see men on White pass.
1t is frightful thing to think of, but it is
true, and those men should be stopped.
would not be surprised to learn of many
deaths up there this winter. These men
do not Know anything about the horrors
OF White pass in the winter, yet they keep
on, and just about the time that the winter
is at its worst some of them will be caught
on the pass. They will never escape.
Il am satisfied that those who remain
at Skaguay this winter will be all right
Spring will soon be with them and they
can start for The north. Once there they
will all come back rich, if they are willing
TO stay and work for a few years. There
is gold in every body of water, big or little,
in our country. Why, the people of the
states, with all the newspaper talk do
not know what the rush will be in the COM
ing spring.
Rush Next Spring.
From the letters 1 have received from
the states, there will be 10000 people in
Alaska six weeks after the spring rush has
commenced. l think that the reports about
SO much crime in the vicinity of Skaguay
have been exaggerated. We are doing
what we can to see that order is preserved
and we have been fairly successful. Of
course, there are some criminals there but
crime Is very small We have officers at
Skaguay. They will winter there, and
look for no trouble.
''One thing is certain, and that is that
the United States government will have 10
take steps a once to give Alaska new gov
crnment. At present it is enc judicial dis
trict. l favor three-one for southeast
Alaska, one for western Alaska and one
for the Yukon. In that way the country
would be much better governed. Ii d
murder should be committed in the Yukon
country in the winter the murderer could
not be brought TO the south coast until
spring. This is not the way to conduct
Alaska.
Code of Laws Wanted,
II have given the matter serious consid-
Grafton, and think that there should be
commission appointed by our government
TO map out code of laws for the country
At present we depend upon the Revised
Statutes of the United States, and when we
cannot find what we want in them We turn
to the laws which governed Oregon UP to
1884.
And the land laws should be extended
At present one cannot get title to land in
Alaska. the point is very important in
advancing the claim for new legislation
for the country"