The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-30
TROOPS FOR ALASKA.
AN ARMY POST TO BE EsTAB.
LISHED IN THAT TERRITORY.

The Request for Troops Made by Business
Mon of that Country The President
and Secretary Anger, After COnsultation
Decide to Send the T~roops-The Post to
be Established OverTwO Thousand Miles
Up the Yukon River!
Washington, July 2s.-The secretary OF
war is considering a proposition that has
been made to establish a military post
in Alaska. At present the government
has no troops in that vast territory, and.
in view of the heavy immigration now
going on and the possible danger to life
and property from lawless characters, he
has been urged to create an Alaskan
military post. The commercial interests
OF the territory are at the bottom of the
movement and have requested that a cam
pany of infantry and a gatling gun brig
ade be located at a post to be christened
Fort Alger,' near the boundary line,
about $50 miles west Of the Klondyke and
1900 miles above the mouth of the Yukon
river. This body of troops is asked for to
support the civil authorities in the ad-
ministration Of law and for the protection
of vested rights.
1t was suggested that the troops be
marched over the Dyea overland route to
the post, which will be erected for the
governments use if desired, but this will
be impossible in view of the fact that
the British law, like our own, would
not permit the passage of foreign troops
over British territory without special per-
mission. Therefore,, the troops will be
carried up tile Yukon in a steamer, if the
government consents to establish the
post.
There is some doubt of the power of the
without congressional authorization, and
that aspect of the question has been
brought to the attention of the attorney
general for an opinion. An early decision
must be reached if troops are to be sent
to the new post this season.
Meanwhile volunteers for service in
Alaska are already coming forward. This
morning Secretary Alger received a tele-
of the Second infantry. dated at Fort
Harrison, Montana, rendering his servi-
ces with sixty picked men of his regiment
for duty in Alaska and expressing a de-
sire to report personally to Secretary
Alger.
The president and Secretary Alger have
decided to detail an army officer and a
company of soldiers from the regular
army for service in Alaska. The matter
is not yet in very definite shape, but de-
tails will be arranged as soon as possible
in order that the soldiers may get into the
vicinity of the gold country before naviga-
ton closes on the Yukon river. They will
be sent to their destination via the Yukon
river route, and the offer of one of the
shipping companies On the Pacific to
transport the men and their aggag and
stores probably will be accepted. The ex-
act location of the camp or post has not
yet been determined on, but it is expected
to be at Circle City. An army officer now
in the field, and who has had experience
in such matters has been invited to take
charge of the company, and an answer is
expected from him very soon. The detail
from one of the posts in the west, but
just which one is not yet finally settled
ON. The officials are anxious to locate the
soldiers in the gold country as soon as
possible, and if it can be arranged they
will be sent on the steame sailing early
in August.