The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-12
CONDITIONS IN ALASKA
Captain F. H. Rays Report to the
War Department.
TROUBLE is THREATENED
Serious State of Affairs Shown at
Various Places-Danger of Starva-
tion-Failure to Get Food
to the Miners.

Alaska to report on conditions in the
mining country. The reports embrace
period running from Oct. 8 to Nov. 5.
and are dated from Circle City and
Fort Yukon. They show a very serious
state of affairs, that trouble is threat
ened 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 report dated Circle City Oct. 3.
Captain Ray recommended that should
the government decree TO establish a
post on the upper river, that the mouth
of Mission or American creek be chosen
as the site, with sub post If neces-
sary at Circle City. The best interests
of the service, he says, require perma-
nent garrisons to be located well away
from mining towns, so that the troops,
II required to act, will not be biased by
local influences.
On the food question he says: "The
question of food here is a very serious
one and the action of the N. A. Il.
d I. company is causing much fric-
ton. | used my best endeavors to rec
oncile all differences peaceably and get
all people who are without provisions
down to Fort Yukon as soon as possi-
bic, where there is an abundance of
food l learn that while food is scarce
lying camps are fairly well supplied
The stores two) are selling very con-
sefvatiyeiy. The eating houses are all
closed save one. While / consider the
situation critical, / do not believe there
Will be any great loss of life beyond
that incident to a climate so rigorous
as this. That there will be much suf-
fering along the river and the trail
owing to the rashness and ignorance
OF people unaccustomed to this climate,
no well Informed person here will deny,
but there is nothing that should cause
undue anxiety or alarm among people
in the states who have friends in this
country. There are fabulous stories be-
ing circulated and will be published
about the prices for food. have veri-
fed instances where 500 was paid for
DO pounds of flour, but such cases are
rare and were outside deals and, not
the prevailing price"
report dated Circle CITY Oct
deals with the subject of miners meet
ines, several of which Captain Ray
witnessed, and noted their action 1t
shows that Captain Ray was able to
persuade the men at Circle City to take
no more provisions than they needed
to save themselves from starvation and
that they agreed that the agent of the
company should open the company's
storehouse and check the stores landed
from the companys steamer. no part of
cash payment at the eompany's own
price. On another OCCASION the trouble
was due to the fact that the master
OF the Weafe would not proceed to Fort
Yukon with SO people belonging in
Dawson who had come down as a vol
unteer crew at the request of Manager
Healy to handle her for the round trip
so that they could obtain winter sup
plies. The men appealed to Captain
Ray. who says:
Il took them before the agent of the
company who, after hearing their case.
admitted that the company was re-
sponSible, that he would furnish them
shelter and food until such time as the
river should become passable and they
could reach Fort Yukon The whole
matter mas been much aggravated by
the drunkenness and inefficiency of the
master mariner of the Weare.
Great injury will result to the COM
mercial interests along this great high
way II some radical steps are not taken
to protect all persons from such inter-
ference with their legitimate business.
At the same time there should be some
power to force common carriers to
transport goods for any person offering.
At the present time neither of the
| transportation companies will transport
pound of freight for other traders or
private parties, forcing all the people
coming into the territory to be wholly
dependent upon their stores for their
supplies at their prices.
"A large majority of the people now
here are peaeeable and law-abiding.
but in the absence of any person in
authority to appeal TO for the settle
ment of the many differences, they are
compelled to act outside of the law. and
when influenced by passion, prejudice
or liquor. will commit acts that ieop-
ardize great financial interests and
Xsthi hipb 10 la
here, | am constantly being appealed
20. but can only act as an arbitrator or
mediator in the cause of peace. Miners
complain that they cannot perfect any
title TO their mines. owing to the alb
sence of any land office
THE departments are sending out
commissioners. receivers and registers
who cannot qualify for obvious rea-
sons. the principal one Is that there is
not an official qualified to administer
an oath within thousand miles of this
| place.
Il am surprised that matters are
not worse. We are facing a fact. not
a theory, as | believe it is the first time
in the history of our government that
il has been called upon to govern an
outlying province where the issues are
vital and important both national and
| financial. for If the transportation com-
panies cannot he given protection
from the field and route opened
through British North America to sup
ply our own people in our own coun-
try"
Captain Ray, under date Of Circle
city oct. :. says that the transporta-
ton companies utterly fail To keep
promises made TO passengers: that 646
people landed at st. Michaers des-
tined for Circle City and about A.
reached their destinations; the balance
being stranded between Circle city
and ST. Michaels, or having returned
TO the states
There has been" he adds, less
than 2aGh tons of freight all told. de-
liVered above Fort Yukon. and there is
L..