The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-02-11
CITY OFFICIALS POWERLESS
Citizens Of Dyea and Skag-
way Want Martial Law.
ASK FOR GOVERNMENT AID
local Authorities Are Unable to Cope
With the Situation, Owing to Horde es
of Bad Characters.

local Authorities Are Unable to Cope
With the Situation, Owing to Hordes
of Bad Characters.
Seattle, Feb. S.-A petition is being
circulated in Skagway and at Dyea ask
ing the war department to send 800
troops there that law and order may
be preserved. The petition also asks
that martial law be declared. The
petition is being signed by nearly all
the best element. 1t reads as follows:
''To the Honorable Secretary of War,
Washington-We, the undersigned Cit
liens and business men of Alaska, re-
spectfully petition and set forth:
''That there is an extraordinary con-
dition of affairs existing at and near
Dyea and Skagway, Alaska, which calls
tor prompt attention from the proper
authorities. AS result of the recent
discoveries of gold in and near Dawson
City, N. W. T., Canada, during the
past two years, there is an enormous
rush of people to that country from all
parts of the world, and it is estimated
that there will be $50, 900 people start
for the gold fields Of Alaska and North
west territory during the present year,
and not less than IS per cent will at
tempt to get in by way of the Chilkoot
and White passes. Even at this early
date, the full capacity of every steam
and sailing ship on the Pacific coast is
taxed to its utmost capacity to- carry
the passengers and freight that are be-
ing offered, and they are being dumped
off at these two points to the number
OF 800 a day, which will soon be
largely increased.
''In view of the fact that there is no
local civil government in the territory
of Alaska, and no one with sufficient
authority to enforce the laws of the
land, much less to prevent crime and
disorder, and in view of the large num-
ber of the undesirable and criminal
class, who are now focking to our
community to prey upon the unwary
and innocent pilgrim, and in order to
have sufficient numbers to prevent
disorder and blockades on the trails
leading to the Lakes Lindemann and
Bennett, and to protect the property of
citizens of the United States. we, the
undersigned, petition that immediate
action be taken by the proper au-
thorities;
'And, believing this to be an ex-
traordinary emergency, we believe that
martial law should be declared in all
this part of Alaska. comprising the
communities of Dyea and Skagway,
and the tfsiis leading therefrom to the
international boundary. And that
sufficient troops, not less than 800, be
Immediately dispatched to these points
to enforce the laws and preserve order"
1t is stated that Governor Brady has
ordered one of the government vessels,
now stationed at Sitka, to this place, to
preserve order. The cutter will arrive
in a few days.
Good prospects have been found on
have been sunk to the depth of 81
feet, but water interfered with the work
before bedrock was reached.
Inspector of Mines McGregor, who
started for Dawson some weeks ago,
with several tons Of supplies and a
number of horses, has abandoned the
trip. McGregor got as far as Lake La
barge, where he received orders from
Major Walsh, administrator of the
Yukon district, who is camped at Big
Salmon river, to abandon the trip be-
cause of the impossibility of reaching
Dawson with horses. McGregor has
gone to Big Salmon to confer with
Major Walsh.
The recent order of the Canadian
customs officials at Lake Tagish, pro-
hibiting any person to pass there with
less than 1000 pounds of provisions
for each man, has had the effect of
stopping many people who had started
for Dawson with less than that amount.