The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-06

In this connection the following letter
has been received by the Associated
Press correspondent, in Juneau. under date
of March /;
James d. Esary has just arrived from
the lakes where he has been examining
the two passes in the interest of some
men who shortly expect to go to the in
terror.
''He reports that Capt. Strickland. of
the mounted police, Is at the summit OF
White pass with force of eighteen men,
collecting duty. and that a lieutenant.
whose name did not transpire, with
eighteen men. was at Chilkoot pass doing
the same thing.
1.-THE White pass camp of the mounted
police is within twelve miles Of Skagway,
and the Chilkoot camp is within eighteen
miles of Dyea.
The following letter copied from the
original. shows that rights of ownership
are exercised at Lindeman definitely by
Collector of Customs Godson. and Capt.
Strickland has stated that duty would be
collected at the points indicated:
Bennett. r. c.. Feb. a.
willis Thorp, Esq. Skagway-Sir: I
yourself at Bennett, Il. c., within the next
few days. with all invoices for goods and
meat now In the province of British Co
lumbia at Lake Bennett. l found no.
tice OF sale OF your goods on the tran be-
tween Lakes Bennett and Lindeman. and
have forbidden your man In charge TO
dispose of a single pound until the duty
Was paid.
please give this your earliest attention.
II have the honor to be. sir your ohe-
dent servant. u. GODSoN.
Collector OF Customs. Lake Bennett"
Among the passengers who returned
from Skagway on the steamer City Of
Seattle yesterday morning was James ID.
Esary Mr. Esary went to Alaska three
months ago. and while there spent six
weeks in looking over the trails and pass
es In an interview iasr night Mr.. Esary
stated that the reports sent out concern
Ing the high rates OF duty imposed on the
outfits and property Of miners purchased
in American territory are true. and that
the present rates are excessive and I'M
reasonable in the extreme.
while a; the summit OF Chilkoot pass
said Mr. Esary last night to Post-Intel-
llgencer reporter. II interviewed Inspector
Belcher. OF the Canadian mounted police.
who Is stationed there with twenty men.
I asked him If Re had been sent there.
and ne replied that he was acting under
orders and had nothing 20 say upon the
subject. The inspector came to the sum
NIT OF Chllkoot pass February 20. bat did
not begin collecting the duties untn Feb
ruary -. While was talking to Inspector
Belcher two men came up and paid their
duties.
There was much talk among the men
a, Sheep camp Of getting together and
going over the pass regardless Of the
mounted police or other Canadian otflcals
but the cooler heads Of the party prevail
oi. and this plan Was given ~. The ma
fority OF the newcomers have piled Up
their outfits and other property on the
American side OF the block house at Lake
Beanst, and are discussing the situation.
AT Lake Bennett, tbs Canadian off,
ciais are charging SO per cabin for logs
used IA building. Twenty dollars per
stump Is charged upon all logs cat Capt
Strickland is stationed at White pass. do
lax the same duty as Inspector Bclcher.
An horses or pack animals going over
the summit e ihe pass 10 Lake Bennett
Will BE- charged - per cent. according TO
the value ~ the animal A steel ring Is
passed around tie animals neck. 10 which
IS attached an Official stamp. The animal
can then pass back ard forth as often as
as owner pleases. Twenty-Five dollars
duty Per head IS charged on dogs. regard
lass % SEC or value
Mr. Esary further states that when ne
left Sheep camp ard Lake Bennett the
excitement ot the invasion q the Cana
<ian officials over tae boundary tie VAS
Intense among the nEinsrs In ard arogaa
tAoao places Many yl2rs o. golng II =