The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-13
TUTTLE's GLOOMY PICTURE.
The Miners at ST Michael Have No
Chance of Getting - the
River This ~easoB-

WASHINGTON, oct. IZ.-~Tnformatlon
received az the treasury department from
capt Tutfle. Of the revenue cutter Bear.
now cruising tn Alaskan waters. does not
paint ROSY description % the scenes and
prospects OF the Kiondike region. Writing
from ST. Michael September Is Capt. Tut
tie says:
There are in port seven sea-going yes
sells and six river steamers, with one
steamer and one barge IN process OF con
sfruetion Oh the beach. About 90 people
are eneanped on the beach awaiting the
completion OF these vessels. AT ieast
seven vessels are expected 70 arrive, many
OF them with passengers.
There Is no possible chance o. these
people reaching the upper Yukon THIS
season, aud they must winter here or at
some point inside the mouth OF TIE huhon-
While there will be an abundance o. pro-
visions. as the trading companies have
their main depots here, trouble Is hheiy
70 arise from those who have no provisions
and no means TO purchase them. TINS.
however is a small matter when Is taken
into consideration the conditions above
Fort Yukon on the Yukon river.
"On September Is the river steamer
Hamilton returned from lts up-river trip,
having been unable 20 reach Circle CITY.
emit. nm reported the river so low as 10
prevent his reaching bis destination HIS
cargo was landed on the river bank Inc
steamers ]. ]. Healy. p. b. weare. Alice.
Bella and Marguerite are now up tue
river, but the prospects are that they VIII
not be able to reach Circle city or Jaw
son.
.sThe law In regard TO transportation
on steam vessels are entirely dlsregarded,
as no inspectors OF hulls or boilers nave
visited this place Al least sixteen such
vessels are now running in this part ct
Alaska II should seize them starva-
ton would eusue 70 these VINO are depend
ing upon these vessels 10 bring them pro-
visions. At the same time hundreds or
people are travelling on THESE vessels
which are without the safeguards 70 IKE
that the law provides they snail nave.
"A deputy collector Of customs Is sta
toned at ST. Michael. who is required to
attend 20 ali customs business. Frequent
Is there are several vessels in port dis
charging bonded goods at the same time.
1t Is Impossible for one man 20 attend TO
all this business. After leaving st. Mich
sel there Is no customs officer IN charge
OF these goods. Vessels frequently get
aground. and Il IL necessary 10 discharge
their cargOes before they can be aoated.
Great opportunities are afforded 10 de-
fraud the customs. There should be a
customs officer on every vessel carrying
bonded goods. and provision should be
made 20 have the vessels inspected. as
the law requires"
WASHINGTON. Oct. 12-Sheldon Jack
son. United States general agent OF edu-
cation for Alaska. writing from st. Mich
ael under date OF September 70 20 the in
terror department regarding the gold
boom, rays:
81 am still detained at this place. Since
reaching here. Auguse a several mining
expeditions have arrived from Puget
sound. Seattle and San Francisco. They
bring lumber and mechanics, expecting az
this point 20 build small river steamers
and baFges. In which TO proceed up the
Yukon 70 the mines. Eight or ten Of these
vessels are now IN the harbor, and thir-
teen more are expected from the south.
The season Is now closed for getting up
the river this year. The most that The
miners now can do VIII be 20 get perhaps
ie0 miles up the river and so into winter
quarters. Thosc that come up later VIII
o. compelled 10 winter az this place"