The San Francisco call., 1897-10-14

tHHrTTppSpbRH HHHKHHH&SNHNt
UNALASKA. Sept. 80 (via United
States Revenue Gutter Corwin to San
Francisco1 The extent If the proposed
operations of The North American Trans
portation and Trading Company in
Alaska and the Klondike country is not
fully realized even on the Pacific Coast,
which forms the Western base of supplies.
The men at the head of this big corpora
ton are principally from Chicago. and in
clude such maGnates as Ely z. Weare,
Portus B. Wesre, Michael Cudahy, John
Cudahy and Ernest a. Hamill. Others
prominent in the affairs OF the Govern
ment have also financial interests in the
company.
AS merchants and carriers this com.
pany has already secured vast possessions
and acquired wids influence FROM the
mouth to the source OF the Yukon River.
But it is its purpose to branch out upon
a more gigantic scale, with the expecta.
tion to soon secure such permanent hold
upon Middle Alaska as 10 control its fu-
ture destiny, both commercial and polit-
icai.
Although at present the exodus of gold
hunters trends toward Canadian soil it is
UcllcNtu lnat hCAL cCaooii tho he COuleTS
can be diverted to the bars and water
courses on the American side. This large
area of county along the Yukon and It's
tributaries is com paratively unexplored.
But ospectors are expected to demon
strate its great mineral wealth next year,
and with the discovery of rich nuggets of
gold the siampedes will be such as to Sc
cure large permanent settlements in vari-
ous localities.
In letter recently received from P. B.
Weare that gentleman expressed the opin-
ion that "next year will witness the great
est stamp pede 10 the Yukon goldfields that
the world has ever known, and most of
them will turn their efforts to the streams
on the American side of the international
line"
It is generally admitted that at present
there is deplorable deficiency in the ex-
ercise of judicial authority in the placer.
mining section of Alaska. The only law
applicable to that country ID contained in
the Oregon code as administered by the
United States Com m issioners. There arc
a few of these officials located throughout
the immense extent of territory known as
The Yukon Basin. But various acts of
depreciation and lawlessness com mitted at
St. Michael and in the neir b borhood of
Dyes and Skaguay demonstrate their ina
biIity to cope with existing conditions.
On the American side even such police
protection as is afforded by the mounted
police established by the Dominion Gov
ernment in the Northwest Territory
would be of incalculable value. 1t will be
especially needed during The winter
months, when 5000 desperate men are
practically stranded in their efforts to
cross the passes which form the gateway
to the frozen gold fields OF the far north.
An even greater necessity will exist next
summer, when possibly 10000 men will
have swarmed into the treasure land.
1t is with the idea of securing ADEQUATE
protection to the lives and property of
thems selves and these expected adyen-
turers that the present residents have
memorialized Congress. They wish to be
surrounded with all the safeguards OF
American government known to terri
torial rule.
For obvious reasons, known best TO
them selves, the stock holders of the North
American Transporiation and Trading
Company are anxious TO have a division
made of Alaska as at present constituted,
They have gone so far as to suggest the
name of Lincoln for the new Territory.
Captain Charles H. Barber Ct Chicago.
who is now en- route to st. Michael. re-
Gently returned from New York, where be
was in consultation with officials of the
company. He is authority for tho state
ment that an effort will be m ade to secure