The record-union., 1897-12-23
Major Rucker on His Way to Make a Recon-
noisance on the Passes.
Lieutenant Devore and Dr.. Jack
SON to Start for Lap1and on
Saturday to Procure a Herd of
Six Hundred Reindeer for Use
in Transporting Supplies to
the Yukon.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Captain
Brainard of the Subsistence Depart
ment of the Army arrived in Washing
ton this morning, and although Secre-
tary Alger is confined to his home by
a severe cold, he went to his office and
had a conference with him regarding
the relief of the miners in the Yukon.
Responses are coming in to the Sec
retary's inquiry as to the amount OF
condensed food preparations that can
be had at short notice. Generally they
indicate that an ample supply can be
had at reasonable rates, if contracts be
made at once.
General 3. Merriam, who has been
charged by Secretary Alger with the
selection of the military guard to be
sent out with the relief expedition,
has telegraphed the Secretary that he
has selected Major T. II. Rucker,
Fourth Cavalry, to proceed to Alaska
and make a reconnaissance of the passes
leading from the head of the Lynn Ca
nal. The reports state that the Off
Ger, who has already started from Fort
Wala Walla, Wash, by his experience
as a Quartermaster and cavalryman,
is we'll fitted for this duty, and is also
physically able to endure the hardship
ahead of him.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts has
brought to the attention of the War
Department officials the claims of the
Berlin Transportation Company. Their
representative, Pierre Humbert, as
serts that the company is in a position
to feed large numbers of miners, mas
much as it has just received news Of
the delivery by its agents at Fort Sell
kirk, on the Yukon River, of 100000
pounds of food. This point is above
Dawson, and the supplies, it is said,
can be gotten down easily with the
first breaking up of the ice next spring,
even If it be not found necessary to
attempt their delivery overland.
Nothing has been heard from Mr..
Kjellman the reindeer herder, now in
Lapland, in answer to the directions
of Secretary Alger respecting the Sc
lection of 600 reindeer for transporta-
tion to Alaska, so DR.. Jackson has been
made a special agent of the War De-
partment, and will be ordered to pro-
ceed with all diligence to Lapland to
buy the animals and arrange for their
shipment to the United States
The announcement that the War De-
partment is by no means committed
to any one route in the effort to reach
the miners in the Klondike country has
caused persons interested in various
routes. to advance the claims of their
respective sections. The Spokane Cham
ber of Commerce has sent Frederick
r. Marvin, an energetic newspaperman
of that town, as it's representative to
: +lr 60
land route northward from Spokane.
This is the old telegraph route laid
down by the agents Of the Western
Union years ago, when they sought to
lay telegraph line to Behring Straits.
Mr.. Marvin has stated to the War
Department that the route is still clear:
that throughout the dense northern
forests there is a trail $50 feet broad.
affording easy passage for draft ami
mails, and that the feasibility of the
route in winter is shown by the fact
that for many years it has been trav-
ersed by numerous prospectors. while
the absence of heavy grades insures
the capacity Of animals to carry large
loads.
Secretary Alger is asked to delegate
some of the army officers now at Sno-
kane to report upon the advantages of
the route.
Captain Brainard left Washington
this evening for Chicago by direction
of the department, to confer with the
manufacturers there of condensed food
preparations, with a view to getting
a supply for the expedition. He will
proceed thence TO General Merriam ar
Vancouver Barracks
The Captain has been placed in ful1
charge of all supplies and their pur-
chase and packing He will go with
the first expedition TO Alaska. and
thence through TO Dawson, where he is
under orders TO meet and confer with
Captain Ray, who has not been heard
from since September, when he was at
Circle City pursuing the inquiry into
the condition of things in the mining
country, with which he has been
charged by Secretary Alger.
Lieutenant d. B. Devore. the Military
Secretary of the Secretary of War has
been ordered to accompany DR.. Jack
son to Lapland as disbursing officer
of the party, and they will sail on the
Lucania next Saturday for Liverpool.
proceeding thence to Christiania. Nor
way, and to Alten, where it is supposed
the reindeer herd has been ratharad
Lieutenant Devore is authorized to
charter vessel for the TRANSPORTATION
of the herd of 600 to the United States
if found necessary to do so.