The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-08-28
The Establishment of a SUPPORT at
Dyea a Grave Mistake.
American Merchants Have Already Lost
Half a Million Dollars.
Views of E. z. CasseI, President of
the Juneau Chamber OF Com
merce-Says the Sub-Port Order
Should be Rescinded and the
Canadians Made to Pay Duty.

Should be ReSc1nded anu the
Canadians Made to Pay Duty.
SEATTLE, Aug. pc. F. Cassel,
President of the Juneau Chamber Of
Commerce, is in the city. He says that
the Canadian Government has scored
over Uncle Sam by the establishment
of a SUPPORT of entry at Dyea.
The order making Dyea a SUPPORT,
said Mr.. Cassel, means a loss to amer
lean merchants already of half mill
ion dollars. and before the summer s
rush to Alaska is over. the losses will
foot up to fully a million. The American
pTospectors discovered the gold and the
great fields would have remained undis-
covered by the Canadians, yet they have
put a vicious tax on the miners, and our
Government established a SUPPORT Of
entry to favor their merchants and
miners. Thousands of Canadians to-
day land at Dyea, and with their pro-
visions and outfits, which came from a
foreign country, go through the United
States without one word of interference
from Americans, I know of one case
where an American with $475 worth of
cigars was called upon by Canadian Off
GERS to pay 5000 tax.
1.-The SUPPORT order should be re-
scinded, and the Canadians should be
compelled to pay duty If the SUPPORT
is to be continued, let Canada agree with
the Americans that our subjects shall
enjoy the same rights and privileges in
the gold fields that are enjoyed by the
subjects of Canada
Mr. Cassel gives news regarding the
relative merits Of the Chilkat and
Skaguay Passes. He says: An
enormous number of those at Dyea have
gone over but those who have attempt
ed to reach the fields by the White Pass
have not had much luck. I think it safe
TO say that only five per cent has been
successful. 1t would be physical inn
possibility to do much on the pass be-
fore winter. They tried to close the
pass in order TO fix it. but failed. On
the Chilkat Pass they are pressing
steadily forward. I believe that those
who go to Dyea at once will get over
before winter sets in. Indians have
used this pass for hundred years.
A company is being formed to be
known as the Dyea- Klondike Transpor
tation Company, to transport travellers
and supplies from salt water to Lake
Linderman. The equipment will be so
extensive that those who go in the
spring win be sure of going through
without delay. The Chilkat Pass will
be used exclusively. From % to 100
men will be transported daily, together
with their supplies and the company
promises that the charges will be less
than one-third the present rates. 1t is
10 be ready for work February LIST.
Before left Juneau" said Mr.. Cas-
sci, Il had talk with Archie Shelp, who
told me positively that on the dock at
Dawson City was piled UP gold dust,
and that the pile measured quarter of
a cord. 1t took him two hours TO get
his sack from the heap on the dock. ]
saw a letter from William Kerr which
said that the last steamer which had
just left there had taken away three
and half tons of gold.
"A wharf to obviate the necessity Of
landing goods on the tide flats and push
ing horses overheard to swim ashore is
to be built at Skaguay by a Juneau
company. The wharf win be over a
thousand feet long, and is to be rushed
10 completion at once"
DISCOURAGING OUTLOOK.
PORT TOWNSEND, Aug. 27.-An-
drew WATSON. banker and ex-Collector
of Customs. who left with a party of
seven for the Klondike, has written to
his wife from Skaguay as follows:
There are about 5000 men and l.
500 horses here, making up the most
forlOrn lot you ever saw. About half
of them have given up, and the other
half either curse or cry, Taking it all
together, I never saw such a condi-
ton of affairs. At Dyea there are
nearly as many as here. and I am told
they are in the same condition God
only knows what will become of those
headed this way, for none but those
with horses get through.
I do not believe that one in hun
dred VIII get through. Many have
started out. but just as many have re-
turned footsore and disheartened. Out
fits can be bought here for a song.
The authorities should stop the tide
way It is suicidal to a prospector to
come at this time for the blockade
here viii be followed by one on the
trail. 1 am firmly convinced that even
after the trail is opened to traffic. the
crush of horses will be even greater
on the mountain than the crush of men
here. 1t is discouraging TO see the
pitiful condition of thousands here. One
here without horses is as helpless as a
child. never saw so many men
weaken"
MINERS RIOT.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 2T.-The
Anchor Point gold mine at Cooks Inlet.
Alaska, was the scene of a miners riot
in July, according to news which has
Just been received in this city. About
fHty men are at work there, employed
by Boston corporation, which owns
the mines and in July the funds for
the payment of the men ran short. The
men quit work, and the company with
held their food and supplies to force
them into submission. On the third
day OF this treatment the men de-
mandec their usual rations, and when
the food was not given they shot at
the foreman and his assistant, serious
ly but not fatally wounding both of
them.
LIKELIHOOD OF A RAILROAD.
SEATTLE, Aug. 27.-Duncan Nc
Kinnon, leading merchant of Fort
Wrangle. Alaska, is in the city and
says that there is a strong likelihood