The herald., 1897-12-25
REINDEER
HERDERS
To Leave for Lapland This
Morning
MINERS RELIEF SUPPLIES
WILL BE RUSHED FORWARD ON
CAYUSE PONIES
The Steamer Elder Arrives From
Dyea With the Latest News
From the Yukon

sos--
Associated Press Specal Wire
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-The prelim-
mary plans of the Klondike relief expe
dition are being rapidly arranged by
the war department.
Lieut. Devore and Dr. Jackson We're
busy this morning making final prepara-
tions for their trip to Lapland, and will
start for New York tonight in order to
sail on the Lucania tomorrow morning.
Secretary Alger has cabled to Mr.. Kjell
man at Alien, Norway, to contract for
500 head Of reindeer in advance of the
arrival there of DR.. Jackson and Lieut..
Devore. This was done to save time, so
that all will be ready for the final pur-
chase and the shipment Of the animals
when DR.. Jackson arrives at Alten.
Lieuts. Preston and Ryan Of the Ninth
cavalry have been ordered to take charge
of the pack trains, which are to be gath
cred up from points in Wyoming, and
convey them to Vancouver barracks.
Secretary Alger believes that these
trains will be Of great use in getting
supplies through to the interior Of Alas
lxa. They will be pushed forward as rap
idly as possible and without waiting for
the arrival of the reindeer at Skaguay
or Dyea. 1t is hoped that, by proper
use of the trains, large amount Of food
supplies can be gotten safely through
White pass and placed in camp to be
established there, which will afterward
be used as the starting place for the rein-
deer trains.
If this calculation proves to be we'll
founded, the reindeer will find COM
Portable corral ready for them when they
arrive in Alaska, and so can be used to
great advantage.
The subcommittee of the senate and
house committees on public lands, ap
pointed to consider bills dealing with
public land questions in Alaska, held a
brief session today, devoting themselves
exclusively to the question of rights of
way for transportation companies in that
territory.
No conclusion was reached on any
point, except that general bill should
be formulated covering this phase of the
public land question in Alaska. instead
of taking action upon each of the rights
of way bills before them. The intention
in pursuing this course is to avoid grant
ing monopolistic rights.
READY TO START
PORTLAND, Ore, Dec 24.-The cham
ber of commerce today sent the follow
ing telegram to Secretary of War AL
ger: "It is feared by the people of the
northwest that the government relief
expedition cannot reach the Yukon in
time to prevent suffering. The city Of
Portland is prepared, with your assist
ance, to equip and forward an advance
expedition, with enough food to relieve
immediate wants. We are prepared to
start an expedition with experienced
volunteers, and to reach Dawson in six
ty days, If the department will apportion
$40, 900 Of the relief fund for this pur-
pose.
do not be deceived by reports emanat-
ing from interested spectators, who car
ried supplies to sell at high prices, that
there is food sufficient to prevent actual
starvation"
The largest seizure of contraband
liquor ever made in Alaska was brought
to this city by the steamship George w.
Elder, which arrived at o'clock this
evening from Dyea and Skaguay. The
seizure consisted of twenty tons of
liquors, and was made by Collector Of
Cuctoms j. w. Ivey, of Alaska, at Ju-
neau, Skaguay and Dyea. The liquor
was packed in various kinds of pack
ages for the purpose Of deceiving the
customs officers. Many of the packages
were shipped as baking powder"
kerosene" "turpentine,' and other de-
vices were employed to get the liquors
past the customs officials.
The liquor, which represents more
than $4,000 in value, will be turned oyer
to Collector Back of Portland by Col
lector Ivey, who was passenger by the
steamer Elder.
George Ruth of Flathead, Mont,
reached Portland on the Elder this
evening, having come direct from Daw-
son City, which point he left on Novem
ber 5th. Warned of the suffering that
was imminent before the winter passed,
owing to the shortage of provisions in
Dawson and vicinity, Mr.. Ruth disposed
of all his supplies except 10 pounds,
which he used on his way to Dyea. He
states that there were from 5000 to 1000
people congregated at Dawson and vi
cinity and he estimates the provisions
there are sufficient to winter only about
1000.
OF the situation there, he said "All
has never been told of the rich
ness of the claim. They are pam
ming out in wonderful quantities, but
the glitter of gold there does not supply
the place Of bread. Men are short in
some instances, and there Is poor pros
pect of supplying themselves unless
they are reached from the outside.
"The mounted police are getting as
many to leave as possible. AS came
out / found that the police had about
100 tons of provisions stored at Lake
Bennett. which they expected to take
in as soon as possible. They now have
200 dogs there waiting to take the ex-
pedition in"
A GOOD ROUTE
SPOKANE, WASH, Dec. 24.-John M.
xura1I T. l,soxxo1z - -