The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-01
RELIEF FOR THE KLoNDIKE.
GOVERNMENT ASKED TO SEND Sue
COR TO THE MINERS.


range ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Matter
to BE Referred to Congress as
soon as 1t Meets-A Reindeer Ser
vice Among the Probabilities.
Washington, Nov. SO.-The cabinet to-
day considered the question of sending re-
lief to the people in the KIondike.
Presidnt Mckinley received a telegram
from the Portland, Ore, Chamber of Com
merce stating that there was danger of
starvation and restitution in the Klondke
and Offering to supply the necessary food
for their relief if the government would
supply transportation.
The cabinet considered every phase of
the situation and discussed ways and
means of affording relief. 1t was decided
that nothing could be done until congress
met when an appropriation viii be asked
for the purpose of transporting food sup
plies.
Although many plans have been dis
cussed, none has been decided upon. 1t is
probable. however, that whatever action
is taken will be under the direction of the
war department, and by the time congress
acts Secretary Alger will have formulated
plans.
No attempt will be made to go up the
Yukon as the ice has closed progress in
that direction. The relief supplies will
have to be sent out over the passes. Just
how they shall be transported is a ques-
ton requiring earnest consideration, and
one that will require the study of many
plans in order that an entirely feasible one
may be evolved.
The members of the cabinet were all
intensely interested in the matter of Sc
curing relief. Whether the men who are
supposed to be suffering went there or not
against the repeated warnings of all of
this is beyond the question: the simple
fact being that they are there and need
relief, making it imperative upon the gov
eminent to extend aid If possible. No es-
innate has been made as to the cost and
none can be prepared now. Congress will
be asked to appropriate a sufficient amount
and the war department will expend it in
the most economic manner, as in the
case of the Mississippi flood sufferers,
when 100000 was appropriated, and only
So 600 expended.
1t is probable that the President will
send a special message to congress asking
for an appropriation for the relief for the
people of the Klondike, and it is believed
that prompt action will be taken and
the money made Immediately available
The following correspondence was laid
before the cabinet:
Portland. Ore, Nov 20, 1887. To the
Hon William Mckinley, President of the
United States, Washington, ID. c. over
whelming evidence testifying to the grave
danger which confronts the American
miners on the Yukon and its tributaries,
with the dreaded horrors of starvation,
when the small stock of provisions shall
be exhausted, demands of us, as human
PEOPLE, blessed with abundance, that eve
rvthing in our power shall be done to re-
he which iS almost a
tainty unless supplies of food can be trans
ported to the imprisoned miners. With
this object in view the Portland chamber
of commerce has communicated with kin
bred organizations on the Pacific coast
and has obtained in almost every instance
assurances of hearty cooperation in fur
nishing the necessary supplies so Soon as
the government shall promise to transport
the same to their destination and super
wise their distribution. Assurances thus
far received warrant us in guarant eelng
to the government that the people of the
United States, and especially that portion
tributary TO Portland, will supply all the
food products which the government Will
undertake to transport to the beleagured
miners, and we earnestly pray that your
eXcellency will heed our petition and lend
to it your valuable support.
The Portland Chamber of Commerce.
by w. S. Mason, President E. d. Oil
plant, Secretary"
w ar department, w dSNl0RIOn, NOV. u.
Hon. w. S. Mason, President Chamber
of Commerce, Portland, Ore: The Pres
ident instructs me to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your telegram of the 18th instant
concerning the starving miners on the
Yukon, and to say that he hopes that
such means as shall be necessary to at
ford the relief contemplated will be fur
nshed at the earliest possible date.
''R. a. AIger, Secretary of War"
Commissioner Smiths Geographic re-
port shows that no horses have gone be-
yond the American jurisdiction at the
lakes. The 1000 head of sheep that start
ed over the Dyea trail in July he wired,
undoubtedly got through. There was 300
sheep shipped from the lakes down the
Yukon on RATS in September. Two hun
bred beef cattle, all told, started to the
lakes over the Dyea trail and Skagua
trails. OF these, Commissioner Smith re-
ports 10 per cent. lost or consumed, the
last 70 of which are now butchered and
frozen at the lakes awaiting transporta-
ton to Dawson. The telegram cautions
the department against placing too much
faith in the reports from Dyea.
Other advices received to-day and placed
before the Presidents official family re-
ported that a herd of reindeer with sup
plies had been started from a point on the
Lower Yukon, about 900 miles above st.
Michael. the herd reaching that place
by cutting across the land to point OPP
posite on the coast. The reindeer are car
ryng supplies up and a number of people
anxious to get down from the Klondike
will be brought back by this means
William A. Kellman, superin tendent of
the government reindeer herds in Alaska,
has been here several days comforting
with the authorities, and left Tonight en-
route to Lapland. He is under Instructions
TO engage a corps of Laps for service
with the reindeer in Alaska.
Secretary Alger has written to the citi-
zens Klondike committee of Washington
rogarding the order for a military reserva-
ton in Alaska. This committee wanted to
know how persons seeking business Ioca-
tons on the reservation should proceed.
and expressed doubts as to the feasibility
Of the reservation. Secretary Alger
referred the committee to the regulation
Issued Nov. II and adds; zone of the
4 purposes of the government in declaring
4 The reservation is to prevent monopoly
4 ln stead of fostering it; that the reguIa-
Tons apply to persons and corpora lions
'ready on the ground as well as those
Who fuc tbara. baf ie