The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-20
NE THINKS It 4 MISTAKE.
Jack Dalton Says a Reindeer
Expedition Would Fail.
SITUATION At DAWSON SERIOUS.
Scarcity Of Food Might he Reifeved
anA Food sent In to the Sanerfng
MIners, Provided Proper Methods
Are Adopted-Reindeer Cannot
Live ON Alaska scenery-Feed-
lng Stations Must BE Established.

Jack Dalton. "the Pathfinder of Alas
IA" believes that the government at
Washington VIII make a serious mistake
iaks food to Dawson.
When Mr.. Dalton returned from Alaska
on the steamer City Of Seattle he was In
terviewed with regard 10 a proposed re-
lief expedition Ia behalf Of the gruoless
Kiondikers For business reasons. and
partly because he IL a man OF deeds. nos
words. Mr.. Dalton confined his statements
then 10 the suggestion that food might
be got into the klondike provided the ex-
petition was properly handled. Since then
a bill has been passed by both houses OF
congress, approprating s2o0,oe TO pay for
food and cost Of transporting 1t to Daw-
son and the mines OF that famous local
isy. The war department has set about
making preparations for the organization
of q relief expedition and number OF
questions concerning the best route and
most feasible methods OF transporting
large body of men and food necessary for
such an undertaking have arisen
Mr. Dalton was asked yesterday what
he thought Of the proposed expedition and
of the methods to be adopted by the war
department. by which 1t Is hoped 10 pre-
vent actual and heartrending suffering on
The part Of those shut mp in the hlondike.
lie said:
There Is no doubt In my mind but that
a relief expedition for Dawson Is the right
and proper thing at this time. Ii is USE
less for people TO say that there Is plenty
OF food In Dawson. 1 ana not an aiarmist,
but am free TO admit that the situation
there is most serious. 1t is within the
power of the government TO relieve the
condition OF thousands OF miners in the
kiondike camp, and nothing can prevent
such an effort meeting with success. pro-
x.ued the department and those In imme-
siate charge Of the expedition will exer-
else judgment and care.
Inc proposal TO use reindeer teams and
to so abroad for men with which TO oper-
etc them, does not strike me as being the
right iaiRg. 1 have seen a statement to
the effect that IL was intended 10 put 800
pounds on the backs OF the reindeer and
make them pack II across the snow and
ice fields that compose the winter route 10
the Yukon. Such scheme seems to me
b. used To- much better advantage. In
stead of reindeer. the department ought
To get together "A large number of hardy
Isfrses from Washington. Montana or ore
gon. Sufficient food should be taken along
TO feed them. They can do much better
work than reindeer. / would use sleds for
carrying the food for the men and proven
der for the horses.
ut II idle to- think that reindeer can do
work and not eat. They cannot live on
Alaska scenery. To handle a reindeer ex-
petition successfully. Il would be- neces-
sary TO have relay stations established, a
days Journey apart. with feed for the ami
mails al thsse stations. OF course. the gov
eminent could do this. but ii would take
time. and. as / understand 1t. the depart
meus proposes 10 act speedily and at
once. ANY one who would undertake to
make . winter Journey 10 the iukon' mines
with reindeer on the theory that the ami
nsais could live on the country. would not
get very far
What route do YOU believe To be the
best by which 10 take the relief expcdi-
ton to Dawsone'
= would start from Seattle. go over the
ChiIkoes pass by the tramways and then
down the lakes and the upper Yukon river
nver the ice. This is the shortest and best
Route at this time Of the year"
Mr.. Dalton said In concluding that he
believed relief expedition property
handled could reach Dawson In ample sea
son 20 avert actual suffering.
Mr. paltons long experience on the
ALASKA trails and his familiarity with the
country and general knowledge Of cundi-
lions. make him an authority on whose
opinion great reliance can he placed. II Ia
understood tnat requests for information
uH3 proposals for his corporation have
reached him from official sources Mr.
Dalton was noi inclined 20 discuss tie
probability of his undertaking TO Head n
relief expedition 20 the kieudike. He said
that FOR thu immediate PRESENT his time
would he taken W hy his own business ar
fairs bat that a little later he might be In
"A position tn consider the matter