The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-14
Commissioner Of the Yukon Re-
views His Operations.
THE YUKON ALIVE POSSESSION
Expedftjcp Under His Command Tn
dertook Great Task, but Ne
complfshcd All 1t Went Into the
District to DO md surnfounfed
Many Obstacles - Com m un lea ton
Secured From Lakes to Dawson

Maj. J. NJ Walsh who WAS rnief sxeca~
i've officer of the fakon district Tor Cana-
ca, and whose term Of year IN that Office
CLOSED hast July. has made nIs hlai report
20 the minister Of TIE interior, Cisio:G ST.
Ton, at Ottawa. Ta.s report. though not
dated, from lfs contents evidently takes up
his line Of operation from the close Of his
previous report tD the minister under date
OF January II up 10 the end OF his adj
ADMINISTRATION The following extracts cover
tie leading features Of ms report
when the Canadian Yukon adm!nis,ra-
ton party first eanped at The big and
Little Salmon rivers Il WAS with the ex-
pect8tion Of proceeding by dog teams. as
soon as they arrived, to Seskirk and Da~-
cor. On the arrival Of the dog teams,
which. owing 70 the condition OF the rivers
and lakes. has been co.'s .derably delayed.
j decided. az / realized the importance of
the influence OF ne law being put in mo-
ton in the Dawson district and the necea-
Hffy Of the justice and the crown attorney
OF tbs district reaching Dawson as early
possible, 10 send Justice Mcclure, Crown
Atsosh"S E..1e' Ai9vat5tahA bi.&s An. ~
epector Of Mines Acireg9r 10 that place
hoping that would Tnyssif be able 10 fol
lo@ with the next complement OF dog
teams, which ] understood would arrive
IL few days, and Ia wass}i ereat / would
oserfaks the advance party With ny
seereiary. dog drivers and dag teams left
tae Big salmon river on February 10 and
on the ltta We Bere within two daSs
march OF the advance party, n nen Ne were
Gverfak@n By q special caurier bringing
word that Il United States relief exp 3ttion
ceipt Of this Information ] feb II my duty
TO return 10 the coast.
Beside this Information Mai. Walsh ex-
plains that he wished To return 70 the
coast 20 look after the fysighIiag OF sup
plies at the foot of Lake fabarge. the con-
atruction Of boats and the establishment
OF posts al various points IL meet the an
f.cip9ted spring ruab Tie mator had
learned that toe people IN Dawson were
cafe tn their food supply. and IA sjug fully
Instructed Crown Attorney Wade about
putting the law "a operation ~ Dawson.
he felt that his presence there would not
be required for a while ~ least: besides
Gold Commissioner Fswcett had reported
to hiisl that little royalty could he collected
this year, ewing u the best paying claims
being renewed under TIE OH regulations.
and that The nlIues which were being
worked under the new regulations would
be unable 10 pay royalty, as their expenses
would lie greater than their output this
year.
Did Not Favor Interference.
Regarding the United States relief *
petition Maj Walsh says. IL "a foreign
expedition IS 10 pass over this district, /
consider Il my duty 90 go and see what Il
Is. the number Of troops The party consists
Of. What part Of the territory Ii Is Is pass
over. its authority for doing 80, the length
OF time Il is To be in the district from what
point II will depart and what stores il Is
carrying, There is net the slightest neces-
city for an expedition Of this kind IL The
government OF th. nltei States las a de
rife 10 q assist any of ~ citizens IN or COIN
try along the Yukon country or In their
own country on the lower Yukon IL wia
only 10 necessary for them 20 contract win
some parties 10 put forty or ffty tors OF
provisions over the passes - Lake Bennett
ard the foot Of Lake f.ebsrge. ana a. these
places TO construct BOATS ant ship supsliez
down the lakes and rivers by the first
opening q navigation Iris quantity
would remove any possible chance Of /
shortage ti48t may take place. between the
first az June-~the date when fhs shortage
would hesin 10 h FELT anal 'he time the
1Hst steamers arrive fron 81. Acnael !
feel quite positive fH3' There = Teaiy no
danger tbs yoar. u lis next winter that
! fear IN populate u viii have 10 le.
assured against SHORTAGE. # anvsainE like
the number of peuulc coinc into the fistrtet
that Ne are informed NH 30 so II the
led States goEernmf ~ Wolul give it's
attenil ta ibis question Ter next year and
pat IA large 'tpHnt Cf eNpNfes tHiF sum
ifler hy way of ST Michael and the Yukon
river faf as CieeIe CITY thesv would H..
doins something iAat might prove % great
value. hut ttis present undertaking 10 peo-
PIE who pndrret1nt fhp a'tuati0u. IS ~
.e,xpilc.shl". Il che expeiision is ONLY fer
the purpose az hntilrg supplies AZ the
water and shlpping .bt IA savvu bv th. ar,
opening ~ NAVIGATION. y s. H1l F.gGf ir, Il
II Is proposed 81 fake i3n tiaa e. FJ4,ssefs
Il Viii meet with dismal failure faf steEthaf
horse teams 5oe teams aux reindeer Teams
VII make fAe tffn 80 t14e seu zee fhfg ea1f-
sson 81 the Yenr the f'rets woull aef only
y omen hof7te thfN roI.5 make ha-f fhe
distance. haj the eyfse-itlea vtalF -.t~.tsgy,,
ali = started with
Shortly af,er MAJ Nat~h's arrival "A
1'ennett March !. as iasfrstl ut fA, ti.tu.
document -f che sNutt.f 5eu During ~
month of February o. eecsrntarse} sewer,
weather tht 'harFts ntr 's- r..t-ttrtrt- rsaa
e. 10 81 degrees iri72F zero
s-nssl ts.tss...r.s