Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-22
THE RELIEF OF. DAWSON
Shipment Of the E1pediti4 Hai Been POST
ponsd.
Opinions Regarding the. situation on
~. Ill
Gen. Merriam's Report.

Gen. Merriam's Report.
Acting Secretary Meiklejohn has received
report from Gen. Merriam, commanding
Department Columbia at Vancouver bar
racks. Washington, in which he says:
Referring to report of Major Rucker,
dated Dyea, January 4. I have deemed it
best to postpone shipment of relief expe-
dition. for which transportation had been
secured on s. s. Oregon to sail from Port
land on the 23d instant, and to secure like
space on the Elder, expected to sail about
February 1. This will land the expedition
at head of Lynn canal at least a week
before the date now fixed by the agent of
the Snow and Ice Transportation Company
for receiving freight there for shipment to
Dawson. Unless later reports from Major
Rucker shall change the situation, it is my
intention to divide the expedition so as to
send a portion Of the supplies forward by
the contractors trains, and the balance by
our tandem sleds to first depot at Bennett,
and second depot at foot of Lake Lee
BAH &c, prepared to build boats at that
point should the river below that point
be found still open, with no practicable
portage. as is now reported by officers of
northwest police.
by this process the river expedition
the ice expected to move by or before May
1, and should the situation at the mines be
then desperate. men and dogs with sledges
could take forward some supplies on the
ice, which is reported to be in good condi-
ton below the mouth of the Hootalinqua
The remaining distance to Dawson is about
400 miles. l have not yet been able to de-
termine whether reindeer moss is avail
able on either Of these routes or any route
in Alaska. Probably more information on
this subject can be found in some depart
N ents in Washington than can be gathered
here. as very few people in Alaska or To-
this question.
Opinions are not quite unanimous on
the food conditions at Dawson. The fol-
lowing from a private letter written by
Rev. 8. H. Young, Presbyterian mission
ary, dated at Dawson, December 1, has
been furnished me by J. T. Ross Of Port
land. and differs from the opinions gener-
ally expressed by persons recently arriv-
ing on the coast, both as to food supply
and good order:
The strife for something to eat is al
ready distressing. Thieving is frequent,
and no mans cache is safe when he is
cd Is likely to be very great before
spring. When we got here short of sup
plies we found flour selling at from $1.25
to 81 80 per pound, and other things in pro-
portion, and not to be had at all at the
stores. Only sugar could be bought, and
that sooE ran out
"A report from Capt. Ray. If one could
be received at this time. would probably
solve all questions on this point. He is
likely under his directions to report direct
to the War Department"
A Description of Dawson.
The condition of affairs at Dawson III
September at the close of navigation is
revealed in a report to tie commissioner
of labor by s. c. Durham, the expert of
the labor department, sent there for the
purpose of making an Investigation. The
report is dated Dawson September "A last,
and is as follows: ~ 30
Dawson lies in an inconceivably Doggy
swamp along the river, extending up and
down the stream about three miles and
back to the hills half mile more. 1t Is
very crude. Such houses as there are con-
poDs Of s with Sr zoo 81 es a n: Zoo ere os
300 terts. The present population is about
1000, but constantly changing. On ac-
count of the bad drainage. typhoid fever
PATENTS. Last night for ths fsst time ne this
season, the surface of the ground froze,
and it is said that with the approach of
Geld weather the fever will disappear; but
God help the place next summer.
THE reports In regard to the mortality
here, however, are greatly overstated. The
two great commercial companies have fine.
large buildings, each having expended
probably 100000 this summer in the con-
their warehouses are woefully empty. The
Alaska Commercial Company has thou
sands of tons of provisions in it's ware
houses but they are sold. The only article
in the way of food that can be bought to-
day Is canned corn. Flour is quoted at $12
a hundred, but none can be had at any
price. Only three steamers have arrived
this summer, although six more are ex-
pected daily. The Excelsior, which left
San Francisco July %, has not been heard
from, and she Is enc of the main stand
bys. If the steamers arrive the situation
will be somewhat relieved; If they do not
reach here there will be wholesale starva-
ton, as the visible supply of food will not
last till March. To aggravate the situation
most Of those coming down the river are
coming In with Scanty supplies. steamers
referred to never arrived)
Prices are abnormally high, Of course.
Good beefsteak chat Is, good for here) is
81 per pound; moose meat and mutton, 80
cents to 81, when they can be had at all.
The condition will be relieved somewhat
by the arrival soon from up river of 200
head Of cattle and 1900 head of sheep.
which are being brought down on RATS,
and Dyea trails. Several restaurants have
Sign something like this the door:
Closed till next boat arrives. No grub"
The War Department has decided that
1t will require a number Of cars for the
transportation Of the reindeer that are
coming to New York from Norway to the
Pacific coast In answer to inquiries from
the railroad authorities, the number has
been fixed at twenty-five stock cars. six
box cars for forage, two baggage cars for
cooking and dining, and two tourists sleep
ers for attendants, probably seventy-five in
number. who must be transported free.