The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-06
SITUATION In ALASKA.
Capt. II. II. Rays Report on COndi-
tiOns i'm the Gold Country.

ASHINGTON, April 5.-Secretary Alger
received interesting reports from Capt.
II. Fl. Ray, of the Eighth Infantry, who
was sent to Alaska to keep the War De-
partment informed as to the condition of
affairs there resulting from the large imm-
grafton into that Territory as a result of the
gold excitement. The latest of these reports
is dated Fort Yukon, Dec. 20, a little more
than a month later than those previously
received In one Of his communications the
captain calls attention to the deplorable
condition of the mail service in Alaska, the
regular contractor having brought but one
mail (Oct. 12) as far as Circle City this
year, and had sent none out. There is no
provision, he says, for forwarding mail west
Of Circle City in the winter. The post
master for Circle City is somewhere in the
States his assistant has been put out of the
office for drunkenness the Postoffice De-
partment has failed TO provide the postoffice
with any postage stamps, and the mail that
comes in by steamer via st. Michaers is
without any proper supervision. There are
no route agents, and the officers of the COM
panies handling the mail pay little or no
attention to it. The present mail contractor
is frozen i'm somewhere about the mouth of
the Tanana and it is to be regretted, the
captain says, that contracts are awarded to
men who do not understand the conditions
existing in the Territory. They seem to be
financially and mentally incapable of full
filling their obligations.
In another report the captain says that
3 the migration of people from the Northwest
Territory has about ceased. From parties
direct from Dawson he learns that those
who are without provisions to last them I'M
til the opening of navigation are going out
by the way of Juneau. From his knowl-
r3s.ksrz VI
kon and reliable Information from Dawson
City, he does not believe there will be any
loss or starvation among the whites.
The Indians along the Porcupine and
Juan de Leure are starving. Advance
couriers have come in begging that food be
sent out, as the women and children are
out food, and said he would do all he could
to keep them from perishing. There are
about 49, all told, in two bands. They re-
port that the caribou migration did not
come their way, and that the fish catch last
fall was almost an entire failure Nearly all
their dogs have persisted from the want of
food. leaving them helpless
The captain says the civil authorities are
not furnishing any protection to life and
property from the boundary to the sea, and
are powerless to do so with the meager ma
chinery at their command. There is a dan
gerous element gathered at Fort Yukon that
was forced out of Dawson, which shows a
disposition to be troublesome, but the cap
tain says he hopes to be able to keep the
rowdies under control. Should the army be
gwen any power TO act next spring, ne Sug-
gests that small detachment of troops, UNI
der A discreet officer be sent UP the river
: by the first boat. 1t can be used to guard
the boats coming down the river with treas
ure, will have an excellent moral effect,
and. the captain adds, it is possible that ne
may be in need of assistance.
Parties coming up the river report three
steamers wintering at the mouth of the
Tanana, with over one hundred people on
board. and about four hundred people at
Rampant City (Manooka.)
There had not been any new discoveries
OF gold reported either i'm Alaska or the
Northwest Territory. The captain says that
he has not received any communication
from the War Department since he left the
United States.