The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-12
ALARMING NEWS FROM ALASKA
DANGER FROM LAWLEsSNEsS AND
STARVATION ACUTE.


l1On.
Washington, Feb. 1.-THE war depart
ment to-day made public the advices re-
ceived from Capt. p. H Ray of the Eighth
Infantry, who was sent TO Alaska to re-
port on conditions in the mining country.
The reports embrace period running
from Oct. to Nov. and are dated from
Circle City and Fort Yukon. They show
a very serious state of affairs. that trou-
BILE is threatened at various places and
that there is serious danger at some points
Of lack of food, owing, in a large measure,
10 the failure of the transportation COM
panies to get in sufficient supplies.
on the food question: he says: "The
question of food is a very serious one and
the action of the N. A. T. & t. Co. is
causing much friction. l use my best en-
beavers to reconcile all differences peace
ably and get all people who are without
provisions down to Fort Yukon as soon
as possible, where there is an abundance
of food. I learn that while food is scarce
in Dawson City the miners in the out
wing camps are fairly well supplied. The
The eating houses are all closed saved
one
while consider the situation critical 1
do not believe there will be any great loss
of life beyond that incident to a climate so
rigorous as this. That there will be much
suffering along the river and the trail ow-
ing to The rashness and ignorance of peo-
pie not accustomed to this climate. no well
informed person here will deny. but there
is nothing that should cause undue anx-
iety or alarm among people in the states
whom have friends in this country. There
are fabulous stories being circulated and
published about the prices paid for food |
have verified instances where $1GO. was
paid for fifty pounds of flour, but such
cases are rare and were outside deals and
not the prevailing price"
Capt. Rays then dwells at great length
on the serious injury that will result to
the Alaskan commercial interests if some
radical Steps are not taken to protect all
persons from interfering with their legiti-
mate business. He SAYS: "A large ma
jority Of the people now here are peacea-
BILE and law-abiding but in absence of
any person in authority to appeal to for
the settlement of many differences that
are constantly arising they are compelled
to ask outside of the law. and when in
huenced by passion, prejudice or liquor
will commit acts that Jeopardize great
financial interests and from which there
can be no appeal. While here l am con-
stantly being appealed to to act where
L have no authority. l can only act as an
arbitrator or mediator in the cause of
peace. The appeal continues to come to
me to know when, if ever, the government
is going to send officials to enforce the
law. Miners complain that they cannot
perfect any title to their mines owing to
the absence of land do
partments are sending out commissions
to commissioners, receivers and registers
who cannot qualify for obvious reasons.
The principal one is that there is no Off
cial qualified to administer an oath with
in thousand miles of this place. A COM
missioner is powerless if he has no power
to enforce his decisions.
Il am only surprised that matters are
not worse. We are facing a fact, not a
theory, as l believe it is the first time in
the history of our government that it has
been called upon to govern an outlying
province Where the issues are vital and
important, both national and financial.
For, If the transportation companies can
not be given protection along this river,
they will be driven from the field and a
route opened up through British North
America TO supply our own people in our
own country"
Capt. Ray, under date of Circle City.
Oct. Z, says that the transportation com
panies utterly failed to keep promises
made to passengers, that of 846 people
landed at st. Michaels destined for Cir
Gle City and above, forty-two reached
their destinations, the balance being
stranded between Circle City and St.
Michaels or having returned to the United
States.
There has BEEN" he adds Tess than
1900 tons of freight all told delivered
above Fort Yukon.
This failure on the part of the trans
portation companies to put into the min
ing districts a sufficient supply of food
has not only given a serious check 10 the
mining interests and caused great suffer-
ings, but has destroyed all the confidence
among the people here in their ability to
supply the demand by this route The
people here now are afraid that the fail
uro of the river route for freight will
cause the construction of a railroad
through British North America 20 the
Yukon river above the boundary, and that
the mining districts of Alaska will be
dependent for supplies on a route through
foreign country, with all that this
means in the way of discrimination in ia
vor of the British merchants.
From what | have learned from mine
owners and prospectors, am fully salts
fled that the greater part of the gold belt
lies in our territory along the range known
dS bilN upper IdiilpttIlS.
Along the Tannah Manok Creek, Birch
Creek and the head of Fort Miles there
are diggings that will pay from $40 to $40
per day per man now lying idle, as they
will not pay expenses at the present prices
of food. / am satisfied with adequate
means of transportation and cheaper food
this will develop into one of the greatest
gold producing regions in the world"
A report dated Fort Yukon, Oct g. deals
with Capt. Rays trip from Circle City to
Fort Yukon he having left the former
place on the 18th inst, and reached the lat
ter after a perious trip. Al Fort Yukon.
about $50 people were found gathered, and
there had been some threats Of taking sup
plies by force. The report adds:
Lieut.. Richardson, we found by prompt
and decisive action, had checked all tur-
bulence and by cooperating with the
agents Of both companies had arranged
that all desttutes should be fed Those
who were willing to work were to be al
lowed to cut wood for the companies at
IS per cord, ana when they had earned
sufficient money they should pay Cor their
supplies. Sick and INDECENT should be fed
without charge and the bills for such is
sues TO come to me to be submitted for the
action Of Congress. This arrangement IS |
now being carried out. l %. X all or |
ders which the government Is to become
responsible, and will submit the total
amounts when the work is finished
Ann1rpUfIV Cam Paw 1aft E~lrt U,,1.z..