The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-19
RELIEF BILL SIGNED.
Secretary A1ger Will Soon Send Pro-
visions to the KIOndike.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The President
this afternoon signed the joint resolution
passed by Congress to-day for the relief
of the miners in the Yukon river country
and changing the appropriation for the gov
eminent building and display at the Omaha
exposition.
1t is probable that Captain David L..
Brainard, of the subsistence department of
the army will be placed in charge Of the
relief party that Secretary Alger will send
to the Klondike region with provisions. He
is now on duty at the army building in New
York city and has been ordered to report
to General Merriam, the commander Ct the
Department of Columbia at Portland, Ore.
On the way he will stop at Washington for
consultation with Secretary Alger. He will
have particular charge of the commissariat
department of the expedition Captain
Brainard accompanied General Greedy on
his arctic explorations and it was largely
owing to his heroism that the small rem
nant of the party was enabled to prolong
life until succor arrived. Brainard also held
the honor until Nansen's feat, of having
made the farthest north ever reached. He
will go to Dyea or Skaguay or Chilcat river
with two officers, to be selected by General
Merriam, to arrange for the relief 'axpedi-
ton, and If the others, as is expected, nnd
Captain Brainard will remain on the ground
to carry out the arrangements.
Secretary Alger is giving much study to
the best means Of getting in supplies to the
miners, and has decided to ask bids for
the delivery of stores. directly at Dyea;
Skaguay or Chilcat. Already great deal
of rivalry has sprung up among the towns
on our Pacific coast for the honor of being
the shipping port of the stores and the
business that will follow, and by requiring
bidders to deliver their goods directly in
Alaska, the War Department will be saved
the necessity of making choice among
them. Secretary Ayers estimate is
that no less than 100000 pounds of food
stores will be required for the expedition.
This makes the transportation problem a
very serious one. 1t is estimated that a
reindeer cannot be loaded safely with more
than three hundred pounds, so that no less
than a thousand head of these animals
would be required as a pack train If they
were the sole reliance. One question that
has engaged the secretary's attention is
that OF securing the consent of the Can
adam government fo.- the passage Of the re-
lief expeditions over that part of Canadian
territory which must necessarily be trav-
ersed in reaching the miners. 1t will be
necessary 10 obtain permit for military
expedition TO pass and also TO secure a re-
mission OF duties on the supplies that are
to be carried in. 1t is probable that to at
tain his object in the shortest possible
period OF time Secretary Alger will go him.
self to Ottawa in a few days and deal di-
rectly with the Canadian authorities. in
stead of relying on the slow-moving pro-
cesseS of diplomacy.
The following telegram was received from
Seattle, Wash, to-day by the secretary. and
by him referred TO General Merriam, at
Portland The Post-Intelligencer and its
Alaskan news syndicate have made all
preparations to send an expedition TO Daw-
son City, lea%ing Seattle next Tuesday on
the steamer Corona for Skaguay. Ii is well
equipped with oxen and dogs and will reach
Dawson by Feb. Is. 1t is the pioneer mid
winter expedition and its services are
offered to you for rcconnoiters and such
other purposes as you may be able TO sug-
gest." The dispatch was signed by Edgar
b. Piper.
This afternoon Secretary Alger sent q
telegram to General Merriam, commanding
the Department Of the Columbia. Instruct