The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-12
ALL TELL SAME STORY.
Not Enough Provisions for Miners in
the KIondiIxe Diggings.

NEW YORK, Sept. n.-John d. Nc
Gillivray, in a copyright dispatch to the
Herald dated ION board the Charles H.
Hamilton, Yukon flats, Alaska, Aug. TO- via
Seattle Wash, Sept. 49, says: Food al
ready is scarce at Dawson, and men are
waiting for each river steamers arrival to
buy up the stores that are brought in. We
have just met the steamer Healey with
forty returning miners coming down. That
there will not be enough provisions to sus-
tain the lives of all during the long WIN
ter. they say, is beyond doubt. They also
say that IL all could be fed well all the men
who can possibly come In could easily find
employment at from 81 to $1.50 an hour in
the Bonanza and FL Dorado creeks alone.
But men cannot work on short rationS in
that cold climate, and a year will be lost
in the working OF many rich mine. TO
add TO the difficulty the Weare has been on
( sandbar thirty miles below Circle City
since July -, and probably Will not make
another trip this season.
Frank Dunsmore, one of the heaviest
operators in the Klondike, says: There are
many more men in the country this year
than last, and but few more tons of food.
People should not now come in over the
pass, for they can only add to the difficulties
of those there. and do themselves no good"
Another says there has been no eXaggera-
ton as TO the value of the mines. Il be-
lieve that seventy tons of gold could be
taken out during the coming season from
the klondilxe alone" he said IF labor
could be found in plenty but with little
food men cannot work But you should let
the outside world know that newcomers
cannot expect to obtain rich mines by To-
cation; they must work for wages or pros
pect. Hundreds of men are waiting in
Dawson for something TO turn up. If sew
eral thousand more come there will be
nothing for them to do but prospect or
work for others. To be sure, men with cap
ital can make good turns, but ii takes con-
siderable money to buy even small in
In. q Of
the Klondike."
Henry Bratnober, an expert who pur-
chased the Tomberi in Colorado for the
Exploration Company of London, which is
controlled by the RothSchildS, came into
the Yukon lately over the Chilcat pass to
look over the country for his people in Lon
don. An offer he made of 800 600 for one of
the KlondiKe mines was refused. The day
before the Healey left Dawson a. nugget
valued at 1888, the largest found In Yukon
country, was brought in from the Klondike.
There is very little bullion on the Healey,
probably not over $150,000 although esti-
mates run from 100000 to 100000. Those
who are most enthusiastic over the mines
do not believe that more than s., 100000 will
be the total for the season when the last
steamer shall have left Dawson. This in
cludes what went down by the Excelsior
to San Francisco and the Portland to Seat
tie in July.
These passengers on the Healey bring no
news of new discoveries, or of stampedes.
Until cold weather comes it will be impos-
sible to do much prospecting on creeks on
which locations have been made and which
are believed to be rich. Captain Constan-
tine, of the Canadian mounted police, is ar
ranging to send out three mails this year
for the Dominion government
Sheldon Jackson superintendent of edu-
cation for Alaska, is on his way to ST.
Michaels, whence he will sail on the rev.
enue cutter Bear for Siberia to inspect the
new station being established for purchase
of reindeer for Alaska. He says that there
are now at the four breeding stations in
Alaska 1900 reindeer. 1t is hoped to pur-
chase 1000 more this winter 1t was pro-
posed to send in some of the animals to the
mines for this winters freighting, but the
I,aplanders refused to go until next year
He says that enough will be put 20 work,
however, to demonstrate their value.