New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-09
AWLESSNFSS IN ALASKA.
CRIMES AND MIsDEMEANORs COMMIT
TED WITH IMMUNITY.

OuTRAGEs RECEIVED IN WASHINGTON
NEED OF LEGISLATION by CONGRESS
THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM
fnY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNEl
Washington. Jan. SIT is estimated by Dr. Shell
don Jackson and Others, who are familiar with
the subject from personal observation and nvesti-
CATION that before the end OF this year the popu-
latlon OF Alaska will number from 10000 to 100000
While this to be an exaggerated estimate. 1t
may be realized. but II the number Is TO reach
only 100000 1t Is apparent that some additional
legislative action for the preservation OF public
order the protection OF life and property and the
enforcement Of the laws Of the United States will
be necessary at tho present session OF Congress
The population Will consist mainly OF gold-seeKers
and Adventures OF every description. among whom
will be a great many who will require the severest
restraints of law. Reports have already reached
Washington of murders. robberIes and other out
Iages which have gone unpublished because OF the
lack OF means to enforce the laws The necessary
machinery OF government is almost wholly lack
ing, and crimes and misdemeanors are committed
with mpunity. OF course there Is some hesitation
In Congress to provide and put in operation such
machinery because of the belief or impression that
the hosts who are expected to rush to Alaska IN
the spring will rush out again within Few
months disappointed In their quest for gold and
leaving an unpeoped wilderness behind them. This
belief or impression is not shared by men VINO are
more familiar with the country and It's resources.
At present the committees having jurisdiction OF
the subject in Congress devoting their attention
mainly to propositions to extend the public land
laws the Territory and projects to open regu-
lar lines Of communication and transportation be-
tween the scacoast and the interior. In res pect
10 the latter several bills have already been OIL
fercd. granting rights of way 10 transportation
companies The routes indicated have their coast
terminI Dyea. Skaguay and COOKS Inlet Inc
ara. yh al e
~ discussed in a report and memorandum SUD-
rnitted to the Secretary of the Interior several
weeks ago by the Commissioner OF Education VINO
had at his disposal a mass or Information lut-
nished by DR. Jackson and other officials OF the
Government the result OF personal observations
and Investigations or the route from some one OF
the ports on Prince William Sound, the memoir
andum says:
b. conducted BY Behring Sea. But It might be
conducted either from some one OK 1ne por,b Oh
empties next It on the east. or from OK OK.
Inlet to the west Of it. Some Of the streams now
the Tanana the FortyMie Creek and the White
ths ForyM h1 Creek owng into the
the place where the Yukon crosses the nouhdary
sessions and the White River flowing into me
Yukon fifty miles above Dawson IN bl ,ni
railroad over this route it would furnish short
and ready communication from the south lhnilss-
and large villages would grow up very soon at the
harbor which formed the starting point OF tne
route would have the advantage Of being wholly
within the boundaries of Alaska. On this line At
ts th"U Would go down the Tanana River 70
Mnook the middle Yukon and the other 1ranca
at or about Circle City, or some point turtle,
south nearer the British boundary and the goid
Should this railroad not be built by private par,
ties al express and mai route could DC established
BY reindeer with relay houses built on the entire
route. a, intervals Of from ten TO twenty miles,
stocked with p1oys9ns ana each guarded oy one or
Dor to the Is a1put two hq b aon
hundred miles. and about the same distance 70 me
Yukon on the east over a good road the reindeer
one hundred miles day. II relays are furnished
the upper Yukon and all points down 10 the middle
Yukon could reach the ocean steamer at Prince
eight days more will reach Seattle making com
two weeks old on reaching Seattle.
According TO the report. however the only feast
bic winter routes the interior FOR some years to
come will be those by southeast Alaska. Bills
giving rights OF way 10 transportation companies
from Dyea to the Canadian line and from Skaguay
to Lake Bennett now pending in Congress. Re-
specting these and other routes from Southeast
ern Alaskan ports the report referred to says:
The Lynn Canal running north from juneau into
the Chilkoot Inlet and the Chilkat Inlet furnish
deep water ana GeeP at o az S
Inlet as far Dyea has less depth Of water
From Dyea two routes the one oyer the Thk DOT
Skacuay over the White Pass. 2i0 feet above the
of the Yukon and naturally have attracted the
most travel Another route up the ChilRat Kdver
feet above the seal to Lake Arkell and down the
Tahkeena River connects with the other trails Just
the west. called the Dalton trail manned for IT'S
discoverer. moves from the headwaters OF the
keeps along the hills down to the region OF Fort
Sekrk near the mouth OF the Pey River. and
the other routes and the summit of the watershed
over which it leads is only goo feet above the sea
It Is claimed by It's advocates that this Is the true
line Of communication for a reindeer trail.
This third avenue OF communication. namely. by
summer. and will command by system of reindeer
from Ghst the enrs region OF sSka
CURED for the transmission Of mails are as fol-
days; from ChiIkat to Circle city 800 niles, eight
days. passing Dawson City and the klondike re-
veying letters from the Klondike miners the
tire distance 10 Seattle In two weeks or possibly In
5n d TIE Prom Tee cy to w Mnoo he al s
mouth Of the Tananl River. on the middle Yukon,
These estimates suppose that reindeer Will be used
sy the n four nn4 4ay rSa used and h dn
ney kept up the entire twenty-four hours the time
three DAYS 'G To circle City four days. and to Mnook
FIVE days From MRoSk doSn the eS YukSn Io River
Would require six days for mail service From
Mnook by way OF Nulato. and thence 10 Cape Prince
OF Wales direct. distance OF $40 miles. would
quire eight days Northward TO Point Barrow, 500
miles would also require eight days. With nfty-milc
relays and continuous journey. the time to these
remote points would be shortened one-haf making
from Mlnook four days to Point Barrow. the same
length Of time to Cape Prince of Wales. and only
three days to ST. Michaels Summary:
Distance Time 81 quick
Place. from Chilkat. est mail service.
Dawson ..........,... 600 miles Three days
Circle ............. 500 miles. Four Days
MnoOk ................ 900 miles. Five DAYS
ST Michaes. 900 miles. Eight daye
Prince OF Wales /. sou miles Nine days
Point Barrow 800 miles Nine days
Adding six days for the journey to Seattle 1t
will be that even Point Barrow Cape
Prince OF Wales could be communicated with in
sixteen days from the date OF the starting OF the
steamer from Seattle TO Dyea.