Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-02-15
AGv'Ges Sent by lis Agent in
alaska Given Out by the
War Department..
Some Danger From Lack Of
Food, but No Great Loss
of Life Feared.
With Cheaper Supplies Alaska
Will Be First in Produce
ton of Gold.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The war dc.
partment has made public the advices
received from Captain Ray, who was
sent to Alaska to report on conditions
in the mining country.
The reports embrace a period run
ming FROM Oct. 8 to Nov. 8, and are
dated from Circle City and Fort Iu-
kon. They show a very serious state
OF affairs-that trouble is threatened at
various places aud that there is serious
danger at some points Of lack of food
owing in large measure to the failure
of tho transportation companies to get
in sufficient supplies.
In report dated Circle City, Oct. s.
Captain Ray recommends, should the
department decide to establish pest
on the upper river, that the mouth OF
Mission or American creek be chosen
as the site with a suD-post, 1t necessary,
Ut Circle City. The best interests or
the service, he says, require permanent
garrisons to De located we'll away from
mining towns, SO that tho troops, il re.
uuired to act, Will not be biased by
local influence.
The Question OF Food.
1.-THE Question of food," Captain Ray
continues, "is q very serious ono and
the action Of the North American Trau.
ing and Transportation company IS
causing much friction. l use my best
endeavors to reconcile all diff. renee,
peaceably and get al people who are
without provisions down to Fort Iu.
kon as SOON as possible, where there =;
al abundance of food. l learn that
while toCd is scarce Ill Dawson City
tho miners i'll the outlying camps are
fairly we'll supplied. The two stores
are selling very conservatlveiy. Tie
eating houses are all closed save one.
While I consider the situation critical,
loss OF lie beyond that incident TO u
climate so rigorous us this. That there
will be much suffering along the river
and the trail owing to the rashness ana
Ignorance Of people unaccustomed to
this climate, no well informed per-
son here will deny; but there Is moth
ing that should cause undue anxiety o..
slarm among the people in the States
who have friends in this country.
Much Gold in Amer can Territory
"From what have learned from
mine owners and prospectors, uln
fully satisfied that the greater part OF
the gold belt lies in our territory along
the range known as the Upper Ram
parts; that along the TanEail, Mn oS
creek, Birch creek and tho head Of
Forty Mile creek, there are digginys
that will pay from $40 to $50 per G.y
per man now lying idle, as they will
not pay expenses at the present prices
of food. l am satisfied that, with AIDE.
uuate means of transportation and
cheaper food, this will develop into one
of the greatest gold producing regions
in the world. A railroad from the
head of Cooks Inlet or Prince Williams
Sound to the mouth Of the Tannah,
from which point supplies could be de-
ivered by light draught steamers along
the navlgable tributaries of the Yukon,
will secure to our people the commerce
of this whole country. 1t would give q
route to tho open sea- that could be op.
Grated all winter and act as a chock to
the Canadian routes.