The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-02
WORST Is NON I(QD
Captain Rays Report on KIon-
dixie Affairs.
IT WERE AN ACT OF MERCY
To Keep Anybody From Going
GoId-Digging
IT WERE AN ACT OF MERCY

washington, Feb. General Merriam
hinder instruction from Acting Secretary
MeiIkIejohn of the war department, yes
1erdav opened at Seattle the dispatches
brought by Special Messenger Wells from
CAPTAIN Ray, the departments speclal
REPRESENTATIVE in the Klondike, and for
warded an abstract of them to the de-
partment by telegraph. Acting Secretary
Meikleiohn was 50 impressed with the
statements submitted that he usbmitted
the dispatch at once TO Secretary AlSef'
who is NOW convalescent at his home from
. long illness. and after consultation be
tween these officials the paper was sent
over to the White House, where It formed
the subject Of consideration By the cab
inet meeting today 1t was SAID at Ihe
denarInaant that the repor Of Captain
Raw fully iustifes all that has been zone
nv Secretary Alger and Assistant Secre-
sary Meiklejohn under the authority con-
5erred BY congress to relieve the situation
In the Klondike.
Tie report OF Captain Ray is particu-
]arIv acceptable in view Of the conflicting
statements as to conditions in the goid
fields that haze been made by persons
coming out this winter, for it is not doubt
ed that he had a broader field Of obseraN-
ton than others who have made reports
and with the thoroughness and caution
as TO exact statements that form the
guiding principles Of ali army oihcerS
when called on to make reports III the
line of duty, this report is taken as estab-
Iishing the facts. Tor all official purpo-
ses. The state of affairs in the klondlke
as thus revealed is worse than was sus-
,,ecteJ at the war department and, IN
decd. so large is the task that remains
10 be executed in order to insure the
safety of life and property on the Amer
lean side of the line alone that the war
denartmcnt officials have concluded to ad-
wise congress as to the facts and place
anon the legislative branch the duty OF
devising ways and means to meet the
exigencies of the case.
The abstract Of Captain Rays report
as teegraphed by Major Robinson Is as
follows:
Seattle. Wash, Jan 3l-To the AdJu-
faint General of the Army, Washington
ID G:
"tompIying with telegram of today hVe
letters and two packages from captain
Rav. addressed to you, in hands of spe-
cial courier, Z. II. Wells, interpreted by
me. Substance as follows:
--latest bearing date of November
and 3. refers TO attempted robbery 4"
caches. recommends that United States
government take steps to eifecluan'
check imnigra ton to interior OF AlaSA'
of all persons not fully supplied to las
Two wears. giving as reason no way .
earn living and that no placer dlscoV
cries have been made within last elGh
months either in Alaska or the North
west Territory
There is no employment for any larg'
number OF people in any capacity. Al
values are speculative. There Is no hAe'
standard for labor. There is not nov
or likely to he within twelve months ade
cuate or efficient means of supplying PEG
,Ia nov, in Alaska or Northwest Territory
Is Of opinion that about per cent OF al
,,oonlo who have entered during the pas
wear have earned their living and hun
dreds are now scattered along tn rive
destitute of food clothing and money
People coming have not had faintest con
,eption what to do to earn living an
after spending money they BRING oeconi
dazed and helpless. The great rush WI
he next year and any step that VIII pre-
vent people coming in through ignorahc
viii bc an act of charity
In view Of recent developments an
knowledge that the lawless are bandlH
together along the river for the purpos
of robbery. renew suggestion for govern
ment placing on the river small Ign
draft steamers with high power, arme
and used to patrol river, and the placH
Of dat,cbr5ents as the movement of PEE
pie demands.
Courier sent with dispatches by
IN train today to report to General Me
,i,r, Also ~ecommends preliminary su