The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-23
TO SUCCOR KLONDIKERS
ORDERS GIVEN BY SECRETARY AL
GER TO BUY Condensed FOOD.
Hr. sheldon Jackson and Lieut.. De-
900 Reindeer for the Relief Party.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Captain Brain
ard, of the subsistence department of the
army arrived in Washington this morn
ing, and, although Secretary Alger is con-
fined to his home by severe cold, he sent
Immediately for the officer and had a con-
ference with him respecting the execution
of his plans for relief of the miners in the
Yukon country. Responses are coming in
to the secretarys inquiry as to the amount
of condensed food preparations that can be
had at short notice. Generally they indi-
cate that an ample supply can be had at
reasonable rates, if contracts are made at
once. General Merriam, commanding the
Department of Columbia, who has been
charged by Secretary Alger with the selec-
ton of the military guard to be sent out
with the relief expeditions, has telegraphed
tine secretary that he has selected Major
l.. H. Rucker. Fourth Cavalry, to proceed
to Alaska and make reconnaissance of
the passes leading from the head of the
Lynn canal He reports that ofncer, VINO
has already started from Fort Walla wal
la, Wash, by his experience as q guar: quarter r
master and a cavalryman. is We'll fitted for
the duty, and also IS physically ape 10
endure the hard service ahead OF him.
senstor Lodge of Massa en-. S1a,. mas
partment officials the claims of the Boston
Transportation Company. Their represent
awe. E1eTTc dSScIbS tidL tAiC
company is in position to feed a large num-
Der of the miners, inasmuch as 1t has just
received news of the delivery by It's agents
at Fort Selkrk, on the Yukon river. OF
two hundred thousand pounds OF food. rms
point is above Dawson, and the supplies,
1t is said, can be got down easily with tne
first breaking up of the ice next spring,
even if it be found not necessary to at
tempt their delivery overland.
Nothing has been heard from Mr.. kJell-
mann, the reindeer herder, now in Lapland,
in answer to the direction of Secretary Al
ger respecting the selection or SIX hundred
reindeer for transportation TO Alaska, SO
Dr. jackson has been made special agent
of the War Department and ordered 10
proceed with all diligence to Lapland to buy
the animals and arrange for their snip
ment to the United States.
The announcement that the War Depart
ment 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 respective sections. Inc
Spokane Chamber of Commerce has sent
here Frederick r. Marvin, an energetic
newspaper man of that town. as its repre-
sentative, to urge the superior facilities OF
the overland route northward from Spo=
kane. This is the old telegraph route laid
down by the agents of the Western Union
Telegraph Company. years ago. when they
sought to run telegraph line to Boring
strait. Mr.. Marvin has stated TO the war
Department that the route Is still clear,
that through the dense northern forests
there is a trail $50 feet broad, atfording
easy passage for draft animals, and that
shown by the fact that for many years
ii has been traversed by numerous trap
pers and prospectors, while the absence
of heavy grades insures the capacity of an
finals to carry large loads. Secretary AL
ger Is asked to delegate some of the army
officers near Spokane to report on the adj
vantages of the route.
Capfain Brainard left washington this
evening for Chicago by direction of the de-
partment to confer with the manufacturers
there of condensed food preparations. with
view to getting supply for the expedi-
tons He will proceed thence to meet Cen
eral Merriam at Vancouver Barracks, The
captain has been placed in full charge of all
supplies and their purchase and packing
He will go with the first expedition to Alas
ka and thence through to Dawson, where he
is under orders to meet and confer with
Captain Ray. who has not been heard from
since September when he was at Circle
City pursuing the inquiry into the condi-
ton of things in the mining country, with
which he had been charged by Secretary
Alger.
Lieut.. B, B. Devore. the military secretary
to the secretary of war, has been ordered
to accompany DIR. Jackson to Lapland as
disbursing officer of the party, and they
win sail on the Lucania next Saturday for
Liverpool proceeding thence 10 Christina.
Norway, and to Alien, where IL is supposed
the reindeer herd has been gathered. Lieu