The San Francisco call., 1898-03-10
Projected Expedition to Dawson Not Wholly
 Abandoned.
Government to Send a Pack Train Over the Dalton
 Trail.
A Relief Station Will Be Established in the Vicinity of Circle
 City.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SEATTLE, March 9.-Of1cial notice
 of the Governments abandonment or
 it's proposed expedition Of rel1ef to
 Dawson was received to-day In Seattle
 by Captain w. W. Sobinson Jr., in the
 form of a copy of a telegram sent to
 General H. c. Merriam, of the Depart ment of the Columbia, by Secretary or
 War Alger. The notice, while stating specifically that the relief expedition IS given up, makes provision for the sub- stitution of another expedition, having
 practically the same destination in
 view, and which, if successful. will subserve the same purpose
 Food supplies will be taken into the
 valley of the Yukon, and they will find
 their way in on the backs of Govern ment reindeer, tended by Government employees and led by a United States officer.
 Practically the abandonment of the original idea of a relief expedition has
 resulted in a simple variation of the
 plan. Instead of attempting to get
 supplies over the Chilkoot Pass and l down the Yukon to Dawson by means l of a mule pack train, the Dalton trail | will be followed and reindeer instead or mules utilized Relief will go in just | the same
 The plan now is to divide the herd 1 of 537 reindeer that arrived in Seattle 1 Monday nights into two parts. The
 greater number-337-will leave here as ! soon as transportation arrangements can be probably within
 Week-for Pyramid HarbOr Thence
 they will proceed over the Dalton trail
 to the Yukon River. At some point
 in American territory near Circle City
 a relief supply station will be estab-
 lished, under the immediately charge l of the reindeer expert, William A. 1 Kiellman, and will in course of time come under the general management of l the Department of the Interior. The
 prime object of the expedition IS, as ] has been before stated, to find an all-
 American route to the gold fields, thus enabling miners to avoid the details and complications of passing Canadian | customs officers. Until this Is accom-
 plished the reindeer, which go over the Dalton trail will be under the control | of the War Department.
 The remaining 200 reindeer or the i herd will be sent to Prince William l Sound, together with about fifty herd CTS, the native expedition to be under command of Captain Abercromble. The
 reindeer for the Sound will be selected | from the finest in the herd, and will i be maintained under orders from the ! War Department.
 The second expedition will leave here for Prince William Sound some time Tn May, and will start for the interior or Alaska in June. Captain Abercromble has been selected to lead because of his
 familiarity with the Copper River country gained in a previous trip of exploration. It is expected confidently that an all-American route will be
 found through the Copper River coun- l try. In order to cover as much terri i tory as possible it is probable that the l expedition to Prince William Sound will ! be subdivided in two parts, each to
 work in the same general direction. Only such attendants as can be util- 1 ized will accompany the latter eXpedi- 1 ton. The remainder will be shipped to i Lynn Canal to go in by the Dalton | trail For attendants to go with the { reindeer to Alaska, unmarried men will 1 be given a preference, though should
 any of the Lapland husbands desire to go in they will be allowed. The men remaining here with the women and l children will probably be quartered at l Vancouver Barracks and will be ra- i toned from the relief supplies. This
 will prevent any waste of store already | purchased by the Government.
 1 In the spring those men, women and 1 children who did not go with the rein l deer will be sent to St. Michael by ! freight boat when navigation opens. Those who have families and go with 1 the reindeer will be sent from the mill tary camp to be established near Circle City. down the Yukon to join their fam flies at St. Michael. The department has contracted to furnish subsistence for the reindeer attendants and will thus utilize the relief supplies instead of selling them as at first intended.
 A well equipped party will go early Tn
 the spring with provisions for the SUD-
 sistence of those who have already reached the military camp until they
 can be reached with supplies at the
 camp by boat from St. Michael, when
 the balance of their provisions for one
 year will be sent in.