The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-16
ENTHUSIASTIC OVER THE OUTLOOK
FoRnGATHERING THE YELL
y Low METAL.
KEEP AWAY FROM THE KLoNDrKE
IS THE CRY OF NEARLY ALI, OF
THOSE. WHO ARE NOW
COMING OUT.
NO STARVATION ANY
ANYWHERE.
Governmental Relief Expedition Re-
GnrGed as Ridiculous by Those
Who Have Reen at Dawson.

Special Correspondence of the Globe.
SEATTLE, Wash, Jan. III am
especially impressed with the editorial
in the G o b e of Jan. /, entitled
Helping Themselves" having refer
ence to the reported food condition at
Dawson. / had occasion to read this
article to one of the recently returned
Klondikers At it's conclusion he fairly
jumped from the ground, exclaiming
That's the stuff" and adding There
is just as much need for relief from
the government here in Seattle as in
Dawson. OF course, there are those in
Dawson, as in. our cities over all the
land, who, if there was any show for
securing food supplies from our gov
eminent, would demand and clamor for
it. For myself, 1 would eat my dogs,
eat mule or live on fish before l would
ask or accept relief from Uncle Sam.
Send food now to the few at Dawson
who may not have sufficient to carry
them through None are in danger Of
starvation) and next winter govern
ment aid will be demanded by $4,000
Klondikers and Alaskans, because of
this winters precedent and a reliance
on a paternal government to aid and
assist it's subjects under all circum-
stances. But, who is asking for this
aid? Surely the appeal does not come
from Dawson. Not a thing was known
at that place about a relief expedi-
ton; there was no talk of need for
such an expeditions Besides any or all
who were short of grub could go to
Fort Yukon, where there is an abun-
dance, or could come out to Dyea, as
I and many others have, though none
of us came out for that reason"
1 have talked with ever so many re-
turned Klondikers.. Not one of these
claims or admits that there is any dan
ger Of starvation or even suffering at
Dawson. All that's necessary to carry
them through is-on the part Of few
economical use of what food supplies
they have. I have before me the gov
eminent tender for bids for supplies
for the needy at Dawson. Besides the
essentials-fiour, bacon, beans, etc.-I
find chocolate, butter, canned goods
and such like-luXurfes, not necessaries.
Yet this is, a relief expedition to our
starving people within the lines Of the
British government Paternalism with
a vengeance, Where did this move,
ment originate? Where and when did
it start AS late as Nov. Is nothing
was knownof it at Dawson. For two
days past have been much of the
time with my townsmen. Carl M. John
son, Of Duluth, and his companion.
Henry STEINER, just, over the Skaguay
pass from Dawson. I met them at
the Hotel Rainier a few hours after
their arrival in Seattle. I expected to
find two weather-beaten, weary trav-
elers, and I was much surprised to find
them as lively and fresh as though they
had come out of Pullman palace car.
They assured me the journey was not
a hard one. My young friend Carl de-
scribed the journey in such way as
to leave the impression of pleasant
and interesting excursion. They left
Dawson Nov. 25, with sled and three
dogs and provisions to last the jour
ney. The temperature at time of start
ing was 40 degrees below zero; on the
9th so degrees below; on the 30th GO
degrees below; the rest of the way I'M
til over the pass the temperature was
from 10 to 40 degrees below zero. They
kept on the ice of the rivers and lakes,
encountering no serious. difficulties, and
but for the ice being in ridges. almost
continuous, sometimes twenty feet in
height, they would have accomplished
thirty miles per day. AS it was, they
were about forty days on the journey
from Dawson to Dyea.
Carl NJ. Johnson is young lawyer
Of Duluth who started for the Klon-
dixie with the rush of last summer.
He and his companion leading the pro-
cession from Lake Bennett and the
first to reach Dawson. The evening
paper here describes him as a graduate
of Cornell and noted during his con-
nection with that institution as an ath-
lete, besides saying of him that he is
one of the very brightest and most
promising young men that has passed
through Seattle going to or coming
from Klondike.' His companion, Mr..
Henry Steiner, Is one of the characters
of Alaska, one Of the most intelligent
and interesting gentlemen I have ever
met. A German by birth, a graduate
of a German university and of a min
ing school. Went to Alaska in 1896. en-
gagged in explorations all the time since.
this being his first visit to the states
His explorations have extended over
about all Alasks Of which anything is
known, and he is an encyclopedia of re-
liable information Of everything per
tanning to Alaska. In my many hours
conversation with Mr.. Steiner, we have,
SOlle over dDOul ever IN the MIN
eral climatic and other. conditions of
Alaska, all Of which I, with greedy
ear, devour. I wish space were allowed
me to give in detail these wonderful
recitals. The following extracts will, I
am sure, be of interest to the readers
of the G 1c b e.
ST went to Alaska in 1896, after sew
eral years explorations in Arizona,
Colorado and California. I was a firm
believer in the mineral wealth of this
new district. I have been ever since
engaged in exploration, have twice
been for a brief season on the Pacific
coast of Alaska, but not outside the
borders until now. This journey is one
of business purely. and I shall be glad
to return again to my work in Alaska
No other land on the face of the earth
is so misunderstood and misrepresented
as is Alaska. AS to climate. why, my
dear sir, we have a better climate-the
year around-than yours of Northern
Minnesota. True, the temperature
sometimes goes to so degrees below
zero, but atmospheric conditions are
such that we do not realize or suffer
from the cod.s I have often, in the
coolest weather, wrapped myself in my
blankets, and, beside fire Of twigs and
branches, slept in comfort The Indians
dress mostly in the native furs. I pre-
fer the WOODEN for under and outer
wear. My young friend. Carl. started
out with a sleeping bag and furs and
overcoat. These articles were discard
ed the first few days. Getting down to
work. our ga1fb was heavy wooden I'M