The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-18
N)T CALLED OFF YET
Government Relief Expedition
to Dawson.
RAILROADS IN A RACE
For First Entry to the Yukon
The Spring Rush.

General Merriam. the commanding gea-
eraI Of the Department of the Columbia,
has been ordered from Washington to
postpone the departure of the govern
ment relief expedition 10 Alaska The
departmenthas become much annayeG by
intention % abandoning the relief pr
ject. NoLEine that Lad teen reported 10
the officials rs . he ALLEGED suisc;ency
of food SUPPLIES IN Dawson has come fro:n
a source that carries cor viction, an3 II
can be stated o. the authority of Acting
Secretary MeIEe!ionn that tie relief eX-
petitions are going forward as rapidly rs
the department can possioly push chem.
If therein as teen any change made by
General Merriam in the arrangements for
the shipping of the expedition it is said
that he has undoubtedly done 50 because
he could secure more advantageous condi-
tons. 1t was also said that the reindeer
will be used for transportation. as origi-
nally intended.
MAJOR FUCKERS REPORT.
Portland, Ore, Jan. 15.-The report Of
Major Rucker, of the Fourth cavalry,
who was sent to Dyea by the war depart
ment to ascertain the condition of az
fairs in the Yukon, has been received by
General Merriam at Vancouver Barracks.
From his interviews with those who have
come out from Dawson recently, and from
his observations of the Chilkoot and
White passes, Major Rucker concludes:
"First-That, while there Is q shortage
of stores in the Yukon basin. q state Of
famine does not at present exist nor is i,
likely to exist in the immediate future.
'Second-That any large expedition
with quantities of SUPPLIES hauled on
sledges by horses or reindeers could not
proceed down the Yukon further than the
foot of Lake LaBarge. 100 miles from
Dawson.
''Third-Reindeer on such an expedition
are no more serviceable than are mules
or horses.
"Fourth-That if government assist
ance is conspicuousIy needed in the Yukon
It will be when the stores now in the
hands of the people are exhausted which
is not likely to beearller Than April or
May"
He therefore recommends that II the
snow locomotive company which has a
contract with the government does not
convey the relief into the Yukon during
February, the governmentp ack trains
with sledges should carry them across
the Chilkoot Pass and thence down the
lakes and rivers to the foot OF Lake La
Barge during the month of March and
there await the breaking up OF fee in the
Yukon. The supplies could then be taxi
en- to Dawson in boats.
The Chicago Snow and Ice Transporta-
ton company. which has a contract with
the government TO haul the relief expedi-
ton supplies from Dyea 20 Dawson. noti-
fed General Merriam today that they
would be unable TO start their snow train
into the in-.rior earlier than the middle Of
February.
Tacoma, Wash. Jan. IA railroad
building race involving the expenditure
of 100000 has been commenced by two
wealthy corporation each Of which de-
sires to own the first railroad into tho Yu-
kon country. Each road VIII be about 800
miles long, running from Pyramid Har-
Dor. near the head OF Lynn Canal 20
points on Louis River, below Five Finger
Rapids. The companies back OF the rail-
road projects are the London Explora-
ton company and the Yukon company.
organized last summer by Andrew =. Bur-
leigh. the principal stockholders Of which
arc Philadelphia and New York men.
Both corporations have engineers and
surveyors at work between Pyramid Har-
nor and the Lewis river. The projectors
Of both roads figure on an average cost
OF over $4,000 mile. requiring an out
lay Of over 100000 for each road. Tho
equipment for each viii cost about a.
oJ00DG more.
Both companies have secured riGhts ~
way from the Canadian government and
are How working 70 secure from congress
necessary rights OF way through thirty
miles Of American territory.
San Francisco. Jan. 15-The Pacific
Coast Steamship company anticipates "a
rush of travel from San Francisco and
Seattle when the northern country opens
up that viii be beyond The ability ~ ez-
listing transportation compauiez t0 handle
They will have their three big eteanerr.
the Walia Wa'ia. Cmafilla and CITY 90
Pueblo. running between here and TU-
get Sound. ard from Pgest SoEnd north
feet ~ fourteen vessels. The company
has officially notified western roads that
IL VIII 10. guarantee passengers against
delays ~ any Of the ports - Hhlca it-
70 carry passenger on any particular
steamship. as g. vill hep racticauy lmpos-
stole 20 handle the rush without some -
those objections aIef eaturee
Chicago. Jan 1---Ttere ia AK once
more a. revising TIE cid Traug-7ntIrertaI
Passenger association ard e f. Ukss~
taat "a meeting viii - held Ia shc nea-
future f7- that purp1se. T5s Threatened
trouble over the Alaska business has
stirred $50 souc roads - the necessity ~
getting TIE old a=soclatt1n l-to WORKING
order once more y serIoas GEM -allzsts1a
is ~ ~ avoaed. Just hos me Canadian
Paciar =tth i's demands f9r dirersr4t.zIs
ca Paciac coast business ana lts a-tls-
s.ay % a=roelations. e go I-e ga ares1d
S. q matter ~ - settled vEea fs meet
ing c1nTeaes hat g. sozre 1uar-e-r tae-e
- "a strong feeling fhat II ar rsr1a ,r
"a the ogrs.de AID ~ atranz O. g ls we're
- Htt5e caance = lta forming ~ aso
clarson Easea VII o. sat.sEec.o~y - al
zenberr
san Fraarsco Jan 1r-Tae Faase
steam Waauag corzaany'a Ez-elsle- VIII
- awsy fron Dyes a-a skzEaay e-
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