The herald., 1897-12-23
NO NOTICE
REQUIRED
By Dealers Handling Food
For Miners
TRANSPORTATION QUESTION
GIVES THE SECRETARY A DEAL
OF TROUBLE
Another War Department Agent Sent
to Lapland to Round Up the
Reindeer Herd
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Captain
Brainard of the subsistence department
of the army arrived in Washington this
morning and although Secretary Alger
is confined to his home by severe cold,
he went to his office and had a confer
ence with him regarding the relief of the
miners in the Yukon. Responses are
coming in to the secretary's inquiry as to
the amount of condensed food prepara-
tions 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 B. Merriam, who has been
charged by Secretary Alger with the Sc
out with the relief expedition, has tele-
graphed the secretary that he has Sc
lected Major L. H. Rucker, Fourth cav
airy, to proceed to Alaska and make a
reconnaissance Of the passes leading
from the head of the Lynn canal. He
reports that the officer, who has already
started from Fort Walla Walla, WASH,
by his experience as a quartermaster
and cavalryman, is well fitted for this
duty, and is also physically able to en-
dure the hardships ahead of him.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts has
brought to the attention of the war de-
partment officials the claims of the Ber-
lin Transportation company. Its repre-
sentative, Pierre Humbert. asserts that
the company is in position to feed a
large number of miners, inasmuch as 1t
has just received news of the delivery by
it's agents at Fort Selkirk, 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, if it be not found necessary to
attempt their delivery overland.
Nothing has been heard from Mr..
Kjelman, the reindeer herder. now ii,
Lapland. in answer to the directions OF
Secretary Alger respecting the selection
of 600 reindeer for transportation to
Alaska, so DR.. Jackson has been made a
special agent of the war department and
will be ordered to proceed with all dill
gence 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 re-
spective sections.
The Spokane chamber of commerce
has sent Frederick r. Marvin, an ener-
getic newspaper man of that town. as
it's representative to urge the superior
facilities of the overland 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 a telegraph line to Bering straits.
Mr.. Marvin has stated to the war depart
ment that the route is still clear; that
through the dense northern forests there
is a trail some $50 feet broad, affordina
easy passage for draft animals, and that
the feasibility of the route in winter Is
shown by the fact that for many years 1t
has been traversed by numerous pros
pectors, while the absence of heavy
grades insures the capacity of animals
asked to delegate some of the army Of
ficers now at Spokane to report upon the
advantage of the route.
Capt. Brainard left Washington this
evening for Chicago by direction of the
department to confer with the manu-
facturers there of condensed food prep
arations, with view to getting supply
for the expedition. He will proceed
thence to meet Gen. Merriam at Van
couver barracks. The captain has beer
in full charge of all supplies and their
purchase 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 Capt
Raw. who has not been heard from since
September, when hes was at Circle City
pursuing the inquiry into the condi-
ton of things in the mining country
with which he has been charged by
Secretary Alger. Lieut.. d. B. Devore
military secretary of the secretary OF
war, has been ordered to accompany
DR.. Jackson to Lapland as disbursing
officer of the party, and they will sail Oh
the Lucania next Saturday for Liver
pool Proceeding thence to Christiana
Norway, and to Alien, where it is sup
posed the reindeer herd has been gath.
cred. Lieut. Devore is authorized tt
charter vessel for the transportation o1
the herd of 600 to the United States II
found necessary to do so.
THE ALASKAN FLEET
NEW YORK, Dec. 22.-C. P. Hunting.
ton has sold the $500 ton iron steamer
Morgan City, now here, and it will sal
with freight and passengers in thu
course of two or three weeks for Seat
tie and South Alaskan ports. The pur
chaser is Joseph Ladue, and the price
lis about $25O.O0O. Mr.. Ladue has giver
an order for several other steamers fol
the transportation business. The Nor
gan City will be added to the fleet ant
will run between Staetle and Dyea ant
Skaguay until June 1st, when she will
start with freight and passengers fol
| st. Michaels, connecting at that plac'