The record-union., 1897-12-31
Arrangements for Admission Through Brit
ish Territory Effected.
Canadian Officials Concede Much
Latitude to American AutLori-
ties in the Actual Distribution
of Supplies-The Expedition to
be Executed Jointly by the
United States Army and Mount
ed Police OF Canada.

called at the War Department by APP
pointment to-day, and had a long con-
ference with Assistant Secretary Meik-
lejohn, who is giving his attention to
the klondike relief expeditions during
the illness of Secretary Alger.
Having secured the consent of the
British Government to the passage of
United States troops to be used as
guards over Canadian territory, what
remained to be done was to arrange
for the admission of the supplies to
be taken to the miners without pay
ment of duties, provided they are not
sold for more than their actual cost.
This matter was shortly arranged.
The arrangement eifected by Mr.. Sif-
ton, in behalf of Canada, and the War
Department, contemplateS that the re-
lief expedition shall be executed jointly
by the United States army and a force
of the mounted police of Canada, which
constitutes the military arm Of the Do
minicn. The United States force will
proceed with the relief stores to Skag-
uay, where they Will be joined by the
Canadian mounted police, about forty
in number, and the two forces will then
proceed together to the points where
termination as to Skaguay is, however,
still open.
The Canadian officials concede much
latitude to the American authorities in
the actual distribution, recognizing
that the expedition is fitted out on this
side, although considerable part of
it's work will be done on the Canadian
side of the border.
Mr.. Sffton says that the only practi-
cable route to Dawson City is what is
known as the White Pass, or commonly
called the Lake route, commencing at
Skaguay, on Lynn canal. He states
that they have eighty-five men in the
territory, and expect to have fifty more
at Skaguay on or before January 9th.
They have twenty tons of supplies now
stored at Skaguay for transportation
over the pass, to which will be added
ten tons more within the next ten
days.
The Canadian authorities have a post
at Lake Bennett, another at Taghish,
at which latter place twenty men are
stationed; another post at White Horse
Rapids and two posts intervening be-
tween the latter point and Fort Sell
kirk
1t is the intention of the Canadian
Government to have detachment Of
250 men in the territory within the
next thirty days. Their detachment
will be ready to leave Skaguay on the
10Th proximo, but the Minister has
kindly consented to hold the expedi-
ton that they may accompany the
expedition of the War Department,
which will leave Skaguay on or before
February 1st.
The Government has kindly consent
ed to grant escorts to our expedition,
provided the cooperation cannot be
consummated.
The Government duties upon all sup
plies sent in under military control Will
be waived by the Canadian Govern
ment.
The Minister was over the pass in
October last. He stated that the Gov
ernment would be very glad to grant
our expedition the use of their posts
on the route, and grant all other facil-
tiles to the movement of our expedition
over their territory.
Mr.. Sifton also held a conference with
Secretary Cage, and discussed the un-
satisfactory condition of customs regu-
ports where goods are received by one
country for transportation to the other
country. 1t was the mutual feeling
that an Improvement of the system
could be made, and negotiations are
in progress which are hoped to effect
changes advantageous to both sides.
Mr.. Sifton left for Ottawa at 4 O'Clock
this afternoon.
Secretary Alger has received two re-
ports from Captain Robinson, the con-
tract Quartermaster at Seattle touch
ing the respective merits Of the different
trails leading from the sea- board into
the Klondike country.
He made a thorough inquiry at the
direction of the Secretary, and in sub
stance his conclusien reached, after con-
ference with Jack Dalton and other ex-
perts, is that the Dalton trail is not we'll
adapted to the uses of the Government
expedition during the winter. but that
the Sl1aguay route is probably the best.
The Captain says he has had an inter
view with one man who claims to have
10000 pounds of beef stored at Lake
Bennett. which he is willing to sell at
dollar per pound. The same man says
he has 10000 pounds of corn and twen-
ty or thirty horses at the same place,
with which he proposes to organize a
sled train into Dawson.
Captain Robinson says that his opin-
ion is that the difficulty of reaching
Dawson has been very much exag
gerated and that good army officer
could make his way in with an expedi-
ton. Montana horses should be used
PENSION ATTORNEYS.