New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-14
PRICE THREE CENTS.
FAMINE AND LAWLESSNES ESS
LIVES AND PROPERTY IMPERILLED IN
ALASKA
AN ALARMING CONDITION OF AFFAIRS REPORT
ED BY CAPTAIN RAY-HE ASKS THAT
THE TERRITORY BE DIVIDED AND
SEMI MILITARY GOVERN
MFNT ESTABLISHED.

THE TERRITORY BE DIVIDED AND
SEMI MILITARY GOVERN
MENT ESTABLISHED.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington, Dec. 13.-The reports from Cap
tain p. H. Ray. Sth United States Infantry, now
winterng in the nearest American territory 70
the Klondike. which were transmitted 10 Con-
gross to-day by Secretary Alger in reply to the
Senate resolution asking for details OF the
famine conditions in Alaska. are full Of nforma-
ton tending to show that lawessness and gen.
eral decentralization in that territory next spring.
when the snow melts and the ice breaks up on
the rivers are matters Of deeper concern for the
Government than taking care Of the motley ele-
ment which has been attracted across the l4lst
meridian into the Canadian possessions. When
Captain Ray reported from Fort Yukon on Sep
tember Is, It had been showing steadily for foor
davs. and the progress OF stores up the river
was stopped FOR the next six or eight months
Here he made the astounding discovery nos
only that supplies at Dawson were very low An
the middle Of August, but that neither OK tns
transportation companies had delivered any
thing there in the last month. except one load
of liquor and boots" At the time OF his last re-
port Captain Ray estimated that there wers
twelve hundred pioneers scattered along tne
Yukon between the boundary and the mouth
not including the great number STRANDED al oI
| Michaels. All these had the Klondike for their
eventual destination. and were gong in'o
bivouac for the winter. to resume their journey
in the SPRING Many Of them were without food
and money. and their number was being daily
augmented by disappointed miners escaping
from Dawson down the river In search or shei-
ter and food, which they had found IL impossi-
| BILE to secure In Canadian territory. Food whicn
| the transportation companies failed to deliver
| at Dawson was stored at various points aohs
| the river one steamer reaching Fort YUKON on
| September 10 with two hundred tons OF pro-
| visions.
| A CARNIVAL OF CRIME EXPECTED.
| These supplies. consisting to considerable ex-
| tent of staples but including enormous quanti-
ties of LIQUOR are expected to lead to the widest
| lawessness this winter. there being no force 10
| restrain the miners from making tree use Oh
! ANYTHING they want. The infantry company
which was sent to Fort st. Michaels is effectu-
ally penned up on that island, ana TWO tnou-
sand miles OF river are wholly unprotected by any
forca 70 maintain order or protect property. The
Canadians have a force OF seventy men around
| Dawson which Is further effective in driving
| ,awless characters as we'll as the destitute over
TO American jurisdiction.
To remedy this condition Captain Rays rec
concentrations are In the main as foHoWs: Up
- tho nresent time the laws in this country
hoye NOT heen enforced nor does there exist any
means OF enforcing them. All questions In dis
nute criminal or civil, including rights or prop
! erty have been and are now settled by miners
maet,nes which practice has proven satisfactory
| under the old conditions OF simple disputes De-
tween honest men, but is III suited to present
| conditions and those which will arise and must
he met within the next twelve months do not
| believe II would he possible 10 obtain civil on-
GERS who will remain in one place long enough
| 70 be of any service, and the performance Oh
| their duties will be secondary 10 their interests
| in mines; and where discoveries are being mace
| on both sides OF the border the clvn govern.
| ment Is liable to migrate 10 foreign SOIL AZ
| any time a new discovery is made there
| learned from Mr.. Gage that the Commisslone.
| recently appointed for Circle City has stopped
~ Dawson and in all probability will never
| qualify: that Mr. Ross. the collector at the same
| place has spent large portion OF MS time III
| the Klondike.
THE REMEDY SUGGESTED.
I'm view Of such facts. and the anxious In
ouiry rs the Government going to give us any
form of law or protection OF life and propertyT'
| made by people who have large interests at
stake respectfully suggest that the Territory
| bs serarated and the northern portion receive
n provisional form OF government OF semi
| military character; that the Governor and Sec
| retary be officers OF the Army, appointed by the
| President: with enlisted police force twenty
| strong sufficiently well paid 10 secure trust
| worthy men; that officers Of the Army be de-
| tailed as inspectors and sub-inspectors. with
| powers OF a magistrate: that at least two dis
| trict Judges be appointed. and superior Court
| be established al the capital or the Territory;
! and non commissioned officers and privates of
| the regular force be made eligible for detail on
| the police force f. cases OF emergency, and,
| when SO serving, receive additional pay, that
| the Office (civiD OF Commissioner or Mines ne
| esta blished with power 10 settle all disputes
| arising to property and rights or miners IN
| placer dggings and that his duties ana )urfs-
| dction be defined by law; that Congress snail
| enact all laws for the government OF the Terri
| tory as is now done for the District OF columbia
| This government should remain in force only
| until such time as the condition OF affairs shall
| become more settled and the Territory has
sufficient population to Justify full civil form OF
government.
| ly the emergencies of next spring. and II Con.
| gress at its next session should see fit TO enact
such a law, Il WILL with the opening OF nayiga-
ton at once give to the Territory what every
good citizen is now asking for, viz, Protection
TO life and property and II continued for only q
wear will tide over the critical period and give
10 the Territory officers who can devote their
whole time 10 their duties and to the develop
ment to the country. unprejudiced by local or
personal interests. Should a provisional gov
ernment be established. | recommend that the
Government have constructed and put together
at St Michaels a strong river steamer OF 100
tons capacity, 10 draw not more than "a Inches
loaded 10 be- used in supplying outlying stations.
patrolling the river, and In relief OF people In
distress Could such a steamer be available
here now much suffering could be relieved"
DESTITUTION ON THE YUKON
A REPORT MADE TO THE SENATE By SECRETARY
ALGER.