The herald., 1898-02-01
RUCKER'S
REPORTS
On the Plans Prepared for
Alaskan Relief
"HE'S NOT STUCK ON HIS JOB"
AND WOULD PREFER TO RENT A
RAILROAD
Reports Received of New Strikes
Along the Big Salmon River.
The Rush Continues
"HE'S NOT STUCK ON HIS JOB"
AND WOULD PREFER TO RENT A
RAILROAD
Associated Press Special Wire

| Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3l.-The war de-
partment has received advices from it's
| agent at Dyea. Major l.. II. Rucker.
| Fourth cavalry. He reports at length
upon the plans he has prepared for the
relief parties to be sent out by the gov
| ernment. He says that it will require
115 mules and 100 Juneau sleds to trans
port 120 tons of supplies into Lake Le-
Barge ready to send down the Yukon
river to Dawson when the ice will per-
nit. He proposes to divide the route
into three sections. The major has
worked out all the details of the expe-
dition, but while submitting them ac-
cording to his instructions he adds that
he recommends strongly that the gov
ernment contract with one of the rail-
way companies to take the supplies.
One at least of these roads will be open
by the time supplies reach Dawson City,
he says, and he incloses an offer from
one crossing the Chilkoot pass to take
$50 tons or more of supplies for 161@ cents
per pOund, delivered dt Lake LiHue-
man.
telegram was received at the war
department today from E. H. Wells, a
newspaper man who has just arrived at
Seattle from the Klondike, saying that
he has with him the long expected re-
port from Captain Ray to the secretary
of war, which he was charged to place
in the hands of the secretary himself
~ .ln,a
he sent his report on December Goth last.
Inasmuch as the department officials
who are charged with the preparations
for the government relief expeditions
are very anxious to secure such infor-
nation as Captain Ray has, without
waiting fol Mr.. Wells to make the trip
across the continent, he was tele
graphed by Acting Secretary Meikeljohn
to place all the dispatches for the war
department in the hands of Gen. Mer-
riam. commanding at Vancouver bar
racks. The general has been instructed
to open the report and telegraph such
points as may be necessary for the in
formation of the department.
TRAFFIC AND RATES
CHICAGO, Jan. 31.-After all the talk
that has been made over the meeting of
the western roads to be held tomorrow
for the purpose of the consideration of
the rates and arrangements for Alaska
business, the Canadian Pacific has an
nounced that it will not be represented
at the meeting. 1t declared today that
all the decentralization that exists in the
Klondike business is the fault of the
large and unauthorized commissions
that are being paid by the western roads
and the low rates made by those lines
and their eastern connections. There
is no necessity for a meeting. according
to the Canadian Pacific, and it declared
plainly that if the western roads would
change their tactics there would be no
trouble over the rates to Alaska.
The transcontinental passenger Off
GERS report the heaviest business they
have known for many years in the alb
sence of any special attraction on the
Pacific coast to draw the crowds.
Some of the roads report that all their
sleeping car space has been engaged un-
til the middle of March. The southern
roads are naturally getting the larger
share of the business, but the northern
roads have the Klondike business to off
set it and they have, they say, all they
could expect at this time of the year.
NEW STRIKES REPORTED
PORT TOWNSEND, Wash, Jan. 81
The only story of new strike of gold in
Alaska brought down on the Al-Ki was
to the effect that prospectors on the Big
Salmon were enthusiastic over what
they are taking out, but no definite state
ment could be had. Hunker creek con-
tinues good, every claim that has been
prospected proving very rich.
STEAMERS SAILING
TACOMA, Jan. 31.-The steamer Rosa
lie cleared tonight for Dyea and Skag-
uay with 1856 passengers and 200 tons
of freight.
Port Townsend.-The steamer Chill
koot, en- route from Portland to Alaska,
arrived here today.
TWO HUNDRED MORE
SEATTLE. Jan. 31.-Two steamers
sailed tonight for Alaska, the Protec-
tion and Rosalie. The former had thirty
two passengers and the Rosalie It's.
A NEW YORK PARTY
NEW YORK. Jan. 31.-Sixty men with
$500 each and provisions enough to last
them for nine months will leave this
city on Thursday for the Klondike. They
will travel by rail as far as Seattle and
then take ship for Juneau. The party
is composed of Germans and is known
as the Peter Schrammen Klondike
party.
SOUND ADVICE
BUFFALO, N. Y, Jan. 31-Wm. Ogil-
vie, the Canadian surveyor was in Buff
falo today. Being asked as to when he
would advise Americans to set out for
the Klondike. Mr.. Ogilvie said: parties
starting March. list to Goth will get to the
diggins about as soon as those start
ing now. The middle of May is the ear
Hest time they can reach Dawson CITY.
would advise them to go by the Dyea
or White pass route at present That
lroute takes them there in the shortest