The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-09-02
KEEP away FROM KLOND|KE
MANY OF THOSE GOING NOW WILL
NEVER SURVIVE THE COMING
WINTER.
1 PARTY OF LUCKY ONES RETURN
The Steamer Portland Brings Back
Thirteen Men Who Have Among
Them S55O,OOO-Many Get Dis
couraged and Turn Back.

Seattle, Wash, Aug. ell. " Stan
ley, who went to st. Michaels for the
Associa ted Press, returned to this city
on the Portland. He says:
II have been seven weeks at the
mouth of the Yukon and st. Michaels,
where | saw all the miners coming out
and interviewed them. AS result, |
feel 1t my duty to advise everybody to
stay out until next spring. Wild, and,
in many cases, exaggerated reports have
been circulat ted since the first discoveries
were made. The strike, however, is one
of the greatest In the worlds history.
"Probably $2,O0O,O0O was cleaned up
this spring, and next spring look for
from S50OO,0OO to $7,0O0,000. The fields
have hardly been opened up AS yet, but
those going in now must bear in mind
that everything in that region was
staked long before any reports reached
the outer world, ard that those going
in now must prospect for themselves,
buy claims from the present owners, or
work for the owners.
mo new strikes had been reported up
to the time of my leaving, and another
may not be made for five years, although
Alaska Is an enormous country and will
yet ! believe, produce more gold than
we dream of. But II Is also in many
ways bleak, barren desolate country,
country incapable of supporting any
great amount of animal life and Il
country of such rigorous climate, both
winer and spring, that none but the
most hardy can possible live In it. Even
they must have abundance of food and
warm clothing.
81 am aware there Is popular inn
preston that supplies can be bought In
the vincinity of the mines. They may
at present buy at six times stated
prices, but they are taken at even those
figures faster than they can be got in.
and before the winter is half over, If
the present population stays, there Will
be actual starvation.
1.-THE average man requires about one
ton of carefully selected food and cloth
ing for a years supplies. In the sum
mer of 1896, about $500 tons of sup
plies went up the river and the new
population of from 1900 to 1000 suf
fered from want. OF this $500 tons
probably 1900 tons were rum, tools, fur
niture and supplies other than provi-
siOns. This season, allowing the most
favorable circumstances, not more than
400 tons of supplies can be got mp the
river, fully half of which is rum and
tools rs well rs supplies other than
food. There are more than three times
as many people there as last winter.
Figure 1t out yourself.
bTuD WIS cOInpletely cledneu out tnlS
spring, and last winter there was such
scarcity that moose hams sold for
$50 each, -four $40 per hundred; bacon
81 pound. What will happen this
coming winter? Why. will not people
actually starve to death?
"As to shelter. People out Of Dawson
City were living in tents in July; labor
is scarce and houses can not be built.
How are 1000 people to withstand the
darkness In tents when the mercury
goes 20 degrees below zero?
las to labor. 1t Is true that last win
ter, the winter succeeding the great
strike, men were scarce and wages were
SD day, but If no strike is made what
is to keep wages up this winter? There
are about $40 claims on Bonanza. Edo
RADIO and Hunkers creeks that will prob
ably be worked this winter. An aver
age of eight men to each is, | think.
liberal. But If 1000 men are employed
and there are 5000 or more seeking
work. what must be the result? Wages
must go down. | am told that much
grub has gone over the divide. but from
what / know, would wager my last
dollar that not to exceed 800 tons of
supplies over and above what the carr-
ers take, will reach the diggings. No
man going in can arrive with more than
a four months supply.
81 am also told that there is plenty
at st. Michaels. SO there may be. but
after September Is 1t might as well be
in New York City. There is not, nor
will there ever he, dog train that can
take enough in to feed itself over 1900
miles.
"Relief Is. therefore. impossible.
ITO draw provisions for the trip from
Dyea to Dawson any time before the
spring breaks up. Is an impossibility.
Relief for those caught in the Klon-
dixie after winter sets in is equally i'm
possible, and In the name of humanity |
ask that a stop be put to this whole
sale transportation of people without
supplies. Let no man be allowed to en-
ter that region unless he carries with
him enough food and clothing to last
him a year.
''There are women and little children