Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1897-09-01
KLoNDyKE's DARK SIDE.
Wholesale Starvation Threatens Unless An Organized Effort Is Made
 to send Tn Supplies.

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 to send In Supplies.
 A special to the Los Angeles Times from St. Michael's says: I here is work for the philanthropic people of the United States and Canada in the Yukon gold fields. The people here are fully persuaded that unless strong, vigorous and prompt efforts are made to forward supplies into the mining regions about Klondyke this winter a fam inc will prevail and hundreds, per haps thousands will die of staTya- ton.
 Grave danger of starvation stares in the face every one who goes up the river. Yet, few are willing to turn back, though some will un occasionally do so. The conclusion is irresistible that the KIondyke craze has seized too firm hold up on men for the threat of death to hold them in check.
 There are nearly three hundred men and women now here awaiting transportation to the upper waters. A few days more and the number will have increased to nearly five hundred. Reports from the upper country vary as to the number al- ready in. All the way from 5000 to 10000 are said to be there. If this is true, the danger of famine is great.
 It has been suggested that an organization of San Francisco mer- chants should be formed for the purpose of getting goods over tha pass to the upper Yukon and thence to Dawson. The undertaking is not entirely commercial one but humanitarian project as we'll. The suffering on the Klondyke should appeal strongly to Ameri cans. The enterprise will be more than self supporting. It would be profitable. Relay stations could be established along the trail from Dyea, and with a strong organiza- tion with plenty of capital to start with. comparatively easy means of communication might be opened with Klondyke.
 A correspondent of the Associated Press also writes: According to all reports from the upper country, it will be impossible to land sufficient food at Dawson to support the pop ulation already dependent on that base of supplies. During the voyage of the steamship Excelsior to this port, an association for mutual bene- fit and advantage was formed by the passengers. Upon the arrival at St, Michael's, reports were so dis couraging concerning the food sup ply, that special meeting of the association was held, and a com. mittee appointed to wait upon the Alaska Commercial Company and demand that each passenger be allowed to purchase a years supply of food at this place, and transport stion be furnished for the same.
 The managers are at present at Dawson, and are expected back be- fore the latter part of this month. k. T. Lyng, local agent of the com pany, declares that there will be a scarcity of provisions at Dawson. to his official advices there are from 2,00O to 5000 idle men at Dawson, and new parties arriving every day by way of Chil- root Pass. He says that the total amount of freight landed in Dawson his year will not exceed 4.OOO tons of which only $500 tons will be provisions.
 "Miners returning from the upper ,ountry who left the KIondyke in he middle of July say that proven fer was already rur ming very low. md that it went out of the ware. houses just about as fast as it was put Tn off the steamers. They say hat the old timers realize the situa- ion. and that the down river boats will be crowded with men eager to get to some safe place to winter. Distress and death are predicted bv 1 hem as result of the Klondyke | ever."