The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
PLENTY OF
 GOLD IN OUR
 TERRITORY Captain Ray Reports on the Riches of
 Alaska Many Paying Claims on the American Side Not Yet Worked. Recommendations Made for the Establishment of Needed
 Military Posts. THE GRAB AT FORT YUKON In Official Language the Officer Tells How He Stood of a Greedy
 Mob.
Recomnendatio Made for the establishment of Needed
 Military Posts.
THE GRAB AT FORT YUKON
In Official Language the Officer Tells How He Stood of a Greedy
 Mob.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,

call Of11ce, R1ggS House,
 Washington, Feb. Il.
 The War Department to-day made public advices received from Captain F. H. Ray of the Eighth Infantry, who was sent to Alaska to report on con ditions in the mining country.
 The reports embrace a period run ming from October to November 3, and are dated from Circle City and Fort Yukon. They show very serious state of affairs; that trouble is threatened at various places, and that there is serious danger at some points of lack of food, owing in large measure to the failure of the transportation companies to get sufficient supplies.
 In a report dated Circle City, October 3, Captain Ray recommends that should the Government desire to es- tablish a post on the Supper River, the mouth of Mission or American Creek be chosen as the site, with a sub post, if necessary, at Circle City. The best interests of the service, he says, require permanent garrisons to be To- cated well away from mining towns, so that the troops, if required to act, will not be biased by local influences.
 There has been," he adds. Hess than 2000 tons of freight, all told. delivered above Fort Yukon, and there is now lying at that point 800 tons of provis- ions and liquor cached by steamers that could not get over the flats. This failure on the part of the transporta tion companies to put into the mining districts a sufficient supply of food has not only given a serious check to the mining interests and caused great suf- fering, but has destroyed all confidence among the people in their ability to supply the demand by this route.
 T am well satisfied that much more could be accomplished if the employees of the transportation companies de- voted less time to personal traffic From what have learned from mine owners and proSpectorS, 1 am fully sat- isfied the greater part of the gold belt lies in our territory along the range known as the Upper Ramparts, and that along the Tannanah, Minook Creek, Birch Creek and the head of Fortymile, there were diggings that will pay from $10 to $20 per day per man now lying idle, as they will not pay expenses at the present period I am satisfied that with adequate means of transportation and cheaper food this will develop into one of the great est gold producing regions in the world.
 Apparently Captain Ray left Fort Yukon for a time, as under date of that place of November l, he says that since his return matters have assumed a very serious aspect. The Alaska Commercial Company had a cache of 200 tons four miles above Fort Yukon and the N. A. T. & T. Co. a cache at Fort Yukon. The Alaska companys agent reported to him a meeting was hniy1 hold ro fry I seize the company's cache. He adds: T went up with MT. Richardson and soon after reaching there was waited upon by a committee from the miners meeting, which stated their demands; that there were seventy-five of them and they demanded they be furnished on credit an outfit of provisions and clothing for nine months.' This Mr Davis, the agent declined to do.
 T explained to them that I would give orders on the stores for food to sfeed the destitute, but as the con- panfes offered work at good wages, the able-bodied should accept it, and those having money would be allowed to pur- chase a reasonable outfit of provisions for the balance of the year. I came away without getting any definite an- swer out of them, leaving Lieutenant Richardson at the cache for the night.
 
 believed they intended to attack the cache at 10 a. m. the next day. I at once issued notices taking possession of the cache and had them posted that night on the door of the storehouse and in all the camps, and early next morn ing started from here with twenty-five men volunteers. 1 could not arm them efficiently, being able to raise only five rifles and a few pistols, so l determined vfe,n r,,AA4 4< A-lr |. IL concealed.
 Soon after starting word came to me that they had passed a resolution to arrest me, should I attempt to go to the cache.
 When I arrived within one and one- half miles of the cache, I was met by one man (Noblett), who stated the miners wished to have me come to their camp to talk over the situation. which l declined to do. He then came out in his true colors, and said they had determined to prevent my going forward by force, and at a signal from him, twenty-two men, armed with rifles, came out of the timber and coy- cred the party. Noblett said they had possession of the cache. As Lieuten- ant Richardson was there and as I had not heard any firing, I knew his state ment was false, and said so, at the
 
 they might open the fight if they wished to. He then said that as condi- tions were changed by my seizure of the stores and they were 10th to dis turb Government property, if would wait a few moments he would consult with the committee. and asked if I was still willing to feed the desti- ute.
 1T stated my terms to feed the desti- ute, and as long as the companies would take wood there. They were to go to work at the rate of $5 per cord. and if they could not get work they would be fed if possible until the river opened; that bona-fide miners could obtain outfits provided they went into the field. In few moments he (Nob- lett) returned and said they accepted the terms, and went On to the cache, where found between thirty and forty men who said they had nothing and caused all to be fed. I have hoisted the flag over the buildings and placed A ~uard.