The record-union., 1897-11-05
To Assist in Relieving Unfortunate Miners
on the Yukon.
Merchants of the Oregon Metrop-
oils Will Donate Provisions
and Necessary Supplies if the
War Department Will Furnish
Transportation to the Alaskan
Coast.

PORTLAND (Or), Nov. 4.-Presideut
Mason of the Portland Chamber of
Commerce to-day sent the following y
telegram to Secretary of War Alger at
" ashington:
Starvation and death confront the
unfortunate miners on the Yukon,
through failure of the trading compa-
nies to get supplies into the interior De
fore the close of navigation on the YU-
kon. The Chamber of Commerce of
Portland has undertaken to relieve the
distress which must appear before the
icy fetters of the Yukon release the
supply steamers, and for the purpose it
Will donate provisions and necessary
supplies.
THE Chamber of Commerce asks the
cooperation of the War Department in
transporting this relief from the city
of Portland to the most accessible point
on the Alaskan coast, whence the re-
lief expedition may carry it to the i'm
prisoned gold miners. Our duty TO SUI
fering humanity demands that the sac
rifice may be necessary to accomplish
this end. VIII you cooperate with us
in this undertaking
WILL NOT ABOLISH ROYALTY.
VANCOUVER (B. c., Nov Min
lister of the Interior Sifton stated to-
day that while at Skaguay he had
found that the police transportation
system had practically broken down.
This he had set right again. and had
made arrangements for police posts
every fifty miles from Dawson 10
Skaguay.
Next year every possible avenue into
the Yukon country from the coast
would be guarded by policeand customs
officers. He had also made arrange
ments for monthly mail service to
and from Dawson during the winter.
He says no telegraph line would be
laid there this winter The line will
naturally go alongside a permanent
route, and it must wai1 tlll that is de-
cided upon. The Cabinet would select
the best out of the three routes, Chill
coot, White Pass and Stickeen River.
Personally he was inclined to favor
the latter, as it was an all-Canadian
route. He felt disposed to allow the is
sue of miners licenses at Vancouver
He said the Government had decided
to provide escorts to miners, and in
all districts to build treasure houses
Arrangements would be made where
by miners can exchange gold dust for
drafts payable by any Canadian bank
The Government would seriously con-
slider the question of the establishment
of a Canadian mint.
Possibly the royalty regulations will
be changed so that the collection will
be on the net and not on the gross out
put. He stated positively, however
that there would be no abolition of the
royalty altogether. He had found that
it would be impossible to reserve alter
nate claims, SO that the Government
claims could be held in groups.
The Government will stand strongly
for the policy that a considerable por-
ton of the wealth of the Yukon coun-
try should be reserved for public uses.
The Department of the Interior would
shortly issue a pamphlet giving the
best up-todate information regarding
the Klondike, as prepared by Mr.. Ogil-
vie. Dominion Surveyor.
This evening the Liberals banquetted
Sifton.
J. e. Duchesnay, the Canadian Pa
cific Railway engineer sent up to ex-
anime the Stickeen River, en- route to
the Yukon, leaves tomorrow for Mon
treal to lay his report before the Cana
dian Pacific Railway officials.