The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-12-18
Where Candles and Coal
Oil Are Scarce
SUFFICIENT FOOD AT DAWSON
IF SUPPLIES ARE HUSBANDED
WITH CARE
Western Railroads Making Prepara-
tons for the Spring Rush Of
Miners to the Arctic
Press special Wire.

SEATTLE, Dec. ia letter to the
Associated Press from Skaguay, Alaska,
dated Dec. 18th, gives the following ad-
ditional news brought from Dawson by
Joe Kastner and George Mclaughlin Of
Helena, Mont, who left Dawson Nov.
Sd. When they left Dawson they were
accompanied by Pat Holland OF Butte,
Mont. and William King of Los Angeles.
Each man had a sled and an outfit of
about 14O pounds, which included pro-
visions and blankets. After travelling
14O miles up the river Kastner and Nc
Laughlin abandoned their sleds, and
with 100 pounds each on their backs con-
tinued their journey, leaving Holland
and King behind. They had determined
to stick to their sleds. George Puth of
Flathead, Mont, was overtaken at Fort
Pelly, with his feet badly frozen, but
he was being cared for.
Major Walsh will have to remain in his
present quarters until the river is frozen
sufficiently to permit him to continue his
journey. Although the river was open
all the way up. Kastner believes that 1t
was soon frozen solid as the river was
full Of anchor ice.
Between Fort Pelly and Dawson Kast-
ner saw six boats, containing five men
each, floating down the river with the
Ice. Their position was dangerous in
the extreme. and 1t was impossible to
render them any assistance.
Provisions at Dawson were to be had
only from the recent arrivals who hi 1
some to spare. The prevailing price was
81 per pound for everything purchasable,
from sack of flour to pick or frying
pan,
n 'W<ill' there be starvation in Dawson
this winter?' Mr.. Kastner was asked.
THAT is q hard question" he said.
III the people are put upon rations there
Will, In my opinion, be enough food to
tide over the winter, or until supplies
can arrive. and there will be no actual
suffering from want of food"
Mr.. Kastner went into the Klondike
country to examine the old diggings
with view to reworking them. He
found that the drifts were filled with
water and were soon transformed into
solid blocks Of Ice, making reworking at
present impracticable, but he states that
fully ,one-third Of the gold is lost by
the methods employed in mining in the
Klondike district. He estimates that
the amount Of gold that will be taken out
Of the district this winter will be be-
tween 100000 and 100000. Ten
million dollars could be easily taken out
but for the scarcity of light. Candles
and coal oil are extremely scarce, and
some miners are trying to work their
claims in complete darkness.
RELIEF MEASURES
PORTLAND, Or, Dec 17.-Brig. Cen.
H. c. Merriam, commanding the depart
ment OF the Columbia, was in consulta-
ton this afternoon with committee of
the Portland chamber of commerce, re-
garding the transportation of relief to
the Yukon miners. Gen. Merriam, in
accordance with instructions from Sec
rotary Alger, will detail two officers.
who will probably leave here for Dyea
on the steamer Elder, which sails De-
cember %. Gen. Merriam has not yet
designated the officers who are to pro-
coed to Dyea but will probably issue the
order tomorrow. The Klondike relief
committee has engaged eighty five men
whose services will be offered to the war
department in transporting supplies to
the north.
THE SPRING TRADE
CHICAGO, Dec. ia meeting of the
lines of the Western Passenger associa-
ton will be held in the near future to
consider rates and arrangements for
the large amount'of business that is ex-
pected to set in toward Alaska within
few weeks. Some of the roads say
that the total number of passengers to
be handled for this traffic will amount
to 100000, and while some of them do not
place the estimate as high as this, they
agree that the traffic will be very heavy
To handle this business without any Sc
rious decentralization of rates will be
the effort of the western lines, and just
now they have strong idea that they
are going to be successful in the under
taking. At the present time the situa.
ton regarding rates to North Pacifi.
coast points is more satisfactory than Il
has been for many months. There are
no cut rates in effect and no cheap tick.
cts to be found on the market, and it IL
hoped by the western roads that with the
assistance Of the transcontinentall lines
tuSy Will VIC &UAc " IHdlutdlA Luib COllUl-
ton.
CANADIAN PLANS
OTTAWA, Ont. Dec. 17.-Clifford Sit.
tons Yukon mining regulations are un.
dcrgoing revision at the hands Of a sub.
committee Of the Council, composed Of
the Minister Of the Interior, Sir Loui.
Davies and David Mills. s
1t is announced that the sub-commit.
tee propose to amend the regulation.
applicable ITO the royalty by exemptint
the sum necessary for developing 9
claim for q year." and that 1T is alst
suggested that instead Of reserving al
ternate claims for the government II
trust for the people Of Canada theil
claims should be grouped in blocks O
ten so as to facilitate the working Of
claims staked out by individuals"
The feeling here e that the cabinc'