Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-20
Secretary Alger Conferring With
Trading Company officials.
SENDING SUPPLIES TO DAWSON CITY
Discussing the Proposed Locomo-
tive Sled.
A w ATTN A. EPOR Z


morning in conference with President P. B.
Weare and Michael Cudahy of the Alaska
Transportation and Trading Company at
his office in the War Department. The
gentlemen came from Chicago at the Sec
retarys suggestion, to give MIN the benefit
of their special knowledge of the Klondike
country and its approaches, in order to
assist the administration in carrying Gut
the relief measures which it has ,ieter-
mined to adopt.
In reply to Secretary Aigers inquiries, it
was learned that there are now at St
Mfchaers supplies for 600O men, The COM
pany intends to make every effort to gee
as much of these up the Yukon as possible
and it is expected that three steamers can
be run up before the river closes entirely
to navigation.
So far no steps have been taken to insure
the carriage of supplies after that event
via the mountain passes, such as Chilkoot
but it is likely that this matter will now
enlist the attention of the company's Off
GERS.
The possibility of the need of government
aid of the miners during the coming win
ter was broached by Secretary Alger in a
cabinet meeting last week. the Secretary
feeling that the interests of humanity die
tated that some feasible plan whereby aid
could be extended should be determined
upon in the event IL was found necessary.
Today's conference was merely a prelimi-
nary one, in which, however, the whole
question was gone over in a thorough man
ner.
Mr.. Weare, who has spent some time i'm
Alaska, was able to give the Secretary
much information bearing on the topog-
raphy, climate, distances from place to
place and other conditions which would
have to be confronted if aid were under
taken.
=, Secretary Alger said today that nothing
would be done until n reDort had been
received from Capt. Ray. The latter is
supposed to be now at Dawson City. and
his report is expected here about the mid
die of October. An important matter upon
which Secretary Alger especially desired
the opinion of Messrs. Weare and Cudahy
was the feasibility of a locomotive sled
designed to draw legs and other material
over the ice. This has been in successful
operation in the logging camps in WiscoD-
sin. and its adaptability to this work in
fiuences the Secretary to believe it might
be put into practical operation in Alaska
should relief measures be necessary.
The representatives of the trading, COM
pany had examined a drawing OF The sled
and had its workings briefly explained 10
them, and they expressed the opinion that
it might be feasible for the purpose con-
templated.
Secretary Ayers idea is that the sleds
might be taken to st. Micnaers by ship.
but even if this were not possible he be-
lieves they could be taken piecemeal over
the Chilkoot pass and thence to the Yukon
Messrs. Weare and Cuhady say there are
ample provisions for 60O0 men for cne
year at st. Michaels. and they believe that
IL found necessary the slcjs could be used
to transport these supplies to Dawson City
during the coming winter.
Secretary Alger has received IL letter
from the superintendent of construction for
the patentee of the s!cds in which The
writer says he understands that the Yukon
river freezes solid enough to be used as a
road; also that between White pass and
Sol rlr .1fcf.a- of
land is practically level. and a good wagon
road can be easily made. That. he SAYS
is within go miles of Dawson City and
the river would furnish the road the rest
of the way.
Mr.. Weafe reported that the steamer
humboldt will be ready to sail from Seattle
Tor st. Michaei's next Thursday so Secre-
tary Aiger called consultation of the bll-
reau officers of the War Department to
hasten the preparations for the couipment
OF the troops who are to go forward TO
Alaska on that vessel Mr.. Wearc said
.hat the transportation company had ready
ior the accommodation of this force suita-
Die quarters, which would serve as a tenn
porary post, and the large supply of food
stores at st. MichaePs would provision
them. 1t was arranged with aim that the
compalys agent at ST. M!chaeI's would
accept the vouchers of Lieutenant Colonel
Randall, the officer who will command tho
troops, so that the soldiers NAV be laid
regularly. The men are already on their
way to Seattle from Fort d. 4 Russell
wyoming. and elsewhere
secretary Alger, Mr.. Wcarc and Mr. Cud
ahy had talk with the President Iater
about the Alaska situation.