The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-29
TO BE POLICED BY CANADA.
Arrangements of Dominion AuthCri-
ties for Protecting the kIondiNe.

Arrangements of Dominion AuthCri-
ties for Protecting the kIOndike.
OTTAWA, Ont, July 28.-At a meeting
of the ministers last evening Minister Pat
terson was authorized to send two more
customs officers to the Alaskan boundary
by the steamer Islander, which sails for
the north tomorrow. The officers will be
taken from the Victoria custom house and
will be accompanied by a couple of provin-
cial police They will open stations at out
ports Of Victoria, beyond the head of Lynn
canal, which is in disputed territory and at
present in the United States possession,
and at Lake Tagish. There is a collector
at Fort Cudahy, only fifteen miles from
Dawson City, and these arrangements,
backed up by a strong force of police, are
considered ample for the protection of the
revenue just now. The greatest question
ported that pack trail exists for
twenty of the eighty miles which
will separate the coast from the
first post to be established at sixty de-
drees of latitude in undisputed British ter
ritory. If so a narrow gauge railway can be
built where there is a pack trail. The cost
Will not be great, and if cars could be
hauled twice day over the mountains fac
ing the coast a tremendous obstacle would
be overcome, because in winter is is i'm
possible to cross the mountains except at
the risk of life. and to be caught in storm
would be fatal
The mounted police force will be in
creased from twenty to 100. Thomas Faw-
cett will be continued as gold commissioner
and the regulations already adopted
post will be established just north of the
British Columbia boundary beyond the
head of the Lynn canal at sixty degrees of
latitude. Estimates will also be obtained
of the cost of building a wagon road and
Of narrow gauge railway to this post in
the mountain, a distance of seventy or
GfUhfW a fnrtNr Of viii DC WON
mountains. This post which will be where
the Chilcat and White passes converge and
command the southern entrances to the
whole territory. Mounted police posts will
be established here at distances of fifty
miles apart up to Fort Selkirk. These will
be used to open up a winter road, over
which monthly mails will be sent by dog
trains. If possible. a telegraph line will be
constructed over the mountais from the
head of the Lynn canal to the first post.
The consent of the authorities of the United
States will be asked in diplomatic corre-
spondence to mOdus v1vendi, under which
Canada will have the right of way over the
disputed territory from Lynn canal to the
first mounted police post. No difficulty is
anticipated in securing the right of way
tory the road and telegraph line will have
to cross to reach the head of Lynn canal
although the territory is now in the United
Fred White controller of mounted police
issued orders to-day for the dispatch of
eighty additional police to the Yukon coun-
try. Twenty-Five will start almost at once
and the balance in detachments soon
they can be properly equipped. Care is be-
ing taken to select the best possible men,
not merely men of the soundest health and
high physical vigor, but handy men, who
are familiar with boats, portaging, camp
ing, etc. Regarding the collection of roy
alties on the gold output, the advice of the
government officers in the district is being
asked. Minister of the Interior Sifton adj
mits that general and equitable collection
will be difficult but says he hopes to arrive
at a satisfactory system.
No Troops for Alaska at Present.
WASHINGTON, July 2S.-The secretary of
war has suspended the execution of the or
der starting a party of United States troops
for Alaska on the boat sailing from Seat
tie, Aug. 5. There will be one more oppor
tunity to move the command on a vessel
sailing Aug. 20 and the matter is still open,
but the indications are that nothing will
be done before spring.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 2S.-Coi. Ran
dali, Of the Eighth Infantry, received tel
egram from Washington to-day stating
that the expedition to Alaska has been
temporarily abandoned. 1t has been dis
covered that many supplies necessary for
such an undertaking as the one proposed
are not at hand and much time and eX-
penSe would be necessary to send the SOL
diers to q country where the preservation
of life depends on perfect equipment The
part of Alaska mapped out to be visited
is said to be rapidly freezing up, and after
serious consideration of all these facts the
trip has been pronounced injudicious at this
time and postponed probably till spring.