The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-01
FOOD FOR KLONDIKERS
EFFORTS TO KEEP STARVATION
AWAY FROM GOLD SEEKERS.
President May Ask Congress to Pro-
vide for Transporting Donated
Provisions to Dawson.

HeI II the government would undertake It's
transportation. The information was not
definite as to the actual conditions, but
were on the same line that has been tele-
graphed from the Northwest. The Cabinet
considered every phase of the situation and
discussed ways and means of affording re-
lief.
1t was decided that nothing could be done
until Congress. met, when an appropriation
will be asked for the purpose of transport
ing food supplies. Although many plans
have been discussed, none has been decided
upon. 1t is probable however, that what
ever action is taken will be under the di
rection of the War Department, and by the
time Congress acts Secretary Alger will
have formulated plans. No attempt will be
Iuade to go up the Yukon, as the ice has
closed progress in that direction. The relief
supplies will have to be sent over the
passes. Just how they shall be transported
is question requiring earnest considera-
ton and one that will require the study of
many plans in order that entirely feast
BILE one may be evolved. Secretary Alger
will gather all possible information, and
will communicate with persons who know
the route to the Klondke and are familiar
with transportation methods in the Arctic
and other frozen regions. Reindeer and
dogs, possibly, may be used; and there is
also a suggestion that a steam snow engine,
which has been successfully used in the
deep snow of the logging camps, may be
utilized. Secretary Alger has confidence in
it as means of transportation.
The task of getting supplies to the Klon-
dixie in midwinter is not underestimate,
ard doubts are entertained as to its being
possibility. Dyea can be reached by steam
er. Thence the journey is one OF seven
hundred miles over the mountains through
deep drl1tS of sort, loose snow. Inc sun
SHINES for only ABOUT tVe hours In each
IN enty-1our, and the thermometer olten Is
down TO % and bO degrees beAoW zero IL Is
LeIieVed that expedition cannot reach
the klondIke before February at the EARL
est, ana the hope is expressed that there IS
a sufficient supply of food TO last until that
time. 1t is estimated that there are tve
thousand people in the gold country.
PROBABLY SUPPLIED WITH MEAT.
A dispatch recently stated that ten thou
sand head of horses and cattle went to the
Klondike from Dyea a short time ago, but
Commissioner Smith, at Dyea, has wired
the government that such is not the fact
He says one thousand sheep started over
the Dyea trail, and that it is believed they
reached the mines. Some time ago three
hundred sheep were sent down the Yukon
of which two hundred may have reached
the klondike.
Secretary Alger believes that Captain Ray
has gone to Dawson, and that he will make
his way back and report upon conditions
there. Nothing has been heard from MN
since he LETT Tor the ukOn, but the Secre-
Lary expects adViceS from MN almost any
day. Ii is probable that the president viii
send a special message to Congress asking
an Appropriation Tor the reliet OF the people
Il |
prompt action will be taken and the money
made Immediately available.
The following letter from the Portland
Chamber of Commerce, addressed to the
President, was land before the Cabinet:
Overwhelming evidence testItyng TO the
grave danger which conIrontS the Alnerl-
can miners on the Yukon and its trlbu-
taries, with the dreaded horrors OF StarVa-
ton when the present small STOCK OF pro-
visions shall be exhausted, demands oil US,
as humane people blessed WIN abundance
that everything in our power Shal be done
to relieve the distress which is almost a
certainty unless supplies OF food can pc
transported to the IN priSOned miners. With
this object in view the portland Champef
OF Commerce has communicated with
kindred organizations on the Paclflc coast
and has obtained in almost every instance
assurances Of hearty cooperation IN tur-
nshing the necessary supplies so soon as
the government snail promise to transport
the same to their destination and supervise
their distribution. Private resources are
wholly inadequate for the task involved.
pie of the Northwest tributary to Portland
are capable of furnishing food supplies in
quantities sufficient to provide against the
impending distress, but they lack the
means necessary to transport the same;
and to provide for this we appeal to the
Nation, through it's chief executive and its
representatives in Congress, to the end that
an expedition under the management OF
officers of the army or navy be provided
for and instructed to make all possible
haste in the accomplishment of the mission
intrusted to them. Assurances thus tar re-
ceiVed warrant us in guaranteeing to the
government that the people of the United
States, and especially that portion tr1bu-
tary to Portland, will supply all the food
products which the government will under
take to transport to the beieaguered min
ers, and we earnestly pray that your Elk
cellency viii heed our petition and lend to
it your valuable support"
Commissioner Smiths Geographic report
showed that no horses had gone beyond the
American jurisdiction at the lakes. The
thousand head of sheep that started over
the Dyea trail in July he wired, undoubted-
ly got through. There were 500 sheep
shipped from the lakes down the Yukon on
RATS In September Two hundred beef cat
tie, all told, started TO the lakes over the
Dyea and Skaguay trails. OF these Com
missioner Smith reports 10 per cent. lost or
consumed, the last seventy of which are
now butchered and frozen at the lakes
awaiting transportation to Dawson. The
telegram cautions the department against
placing too much faith in the reports from
Dyea.
Other advices received to-day and placed
before the Presidents official family re-
ported that herd of reindeer with sup
plies had been started from a point on the
lower Yukon, about six hundred miles from
above St. MichaePs. the herd rca .ling the
place by cutting across land from a point
opposite on the coast. These reindeer are
carrying supplies up and a number of the
people anxious to get down from the Klon-
dixie country will be brought back by this
means. This herd will be used through the
winter as far as possible
William A. Kjellman, of the government
reindeer herds in Alaska has been here
several days comforting with the authorities
and left tonight en- route to Lapand. He
goes under instructions to engage a corps
of Iaplanders for service with the rein
deer in Alaska Mr.. Kjellman is an expert in
the handling of reindeer and his record in
taking care Of the government herd in our
country since he came here for that pur-
pose from Lapland makes him an authority
on this phase of the Alaskan problem. 1t is
ordinarily difficult for a stranger to secure
Laplanders to leave for foreign cline for
such a purpose, but in view of his infiu-
ence among his people Secretary Bliss ex-
poets Mr.. Kjelman's mission will be sue
cessful.
Secretary Alger has written to the citi-
zens Klondike committee of Tacoma,
Wash, regarding the order for a military
reservation in Alaska. This committee
wanted to know how persons seeking bus
mess locations on the reservation should
proceed and expressed doubts as 20 the
feasibility of the reservation. Secretary
Alger refers the committee to the regula-
lions issued Nov. IL, and adds: One of the
purposes of the government in declaring the
ppgo xrcfi DO m YnnnnnOlV instead