Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-31
FIRST BATCH OF sUPPLIESTO START
FOR kLONDIKE TO-MORROw.
WILL BE RUSHED THROUGH.
ANOTHER BATCH WILL. LEAVE Sc.
ATTLE 4 WEEK FROM TO-DAY.
General Merriam Thinks There VIII
BE Fur Greater Need for Relief
Next Year Than There Is
NOw-klondike Rush
Is On.

Portland Orc. Jan. S0-The steamer Ell
| wood. loaded with government equipments
and forage. for the Alaska relief cxpedi-
ton. Is lying ut the wharf at Vancouver
Barracks ready to transfer her freight to
the steamer George W. Elder. when she
arrives from Alaska tomorrow. The Elder
is scheduled to sail again on February l.
She Will carry the escort of sixty en-
listed men and 80 tons of supplies. and the
steamer Signal. which sails from Seattle
February :, will carry 10 pack animals
and twenty-four men and portion of the
supplies.
General Merriam. commanding the de-
par;ment of the Columbia. has decided
upon landing the entire expedition at Dye;l
and pushing forward over the Chilkoot pass
as fast as possible. He has notified the
Chicago Snow and Ice Transportation Com
pary, which has the contract to transport
the supplies from Dyea to the interior that
its train must be ready to receive freight
by February 10 at Dyea.
General Merriam is working out plan to
ascertain the number of people and the
amount of supplies that will enter Alaska
this summer. Speaking of this matter to-
day. he said:
From present indications a greater re-
lief expedition will be needed next winter
than this. Hundreds are already embarkinS
for the gold fields without more than suf-
fcient supplies to last during the summers
prospecting. 1t appears that thousands
more are on the way in 4 similar condi-
ton. While many may come out at the end
of the season, others will stay with the
hope of purchasing supplies. Therefore, it
is my opinion that the Alaskan detachment
of the army could not be better employed
than to watch the trails and tally the men
and provisions passing to the interior. The
government would have definite informa-
tion as to whether there Will be want or
suffering in Alaska next winter.
Because of the conditions which may
arise to alter the present arrangements.
General Merriam will go in person. at least
as far as Chilkoot pass, to direct opera
tions.
The steamer Rosale arrived tonight
| from Alaska. Among her passengers was
E. II. Wells. who left Dawson December
20. Wells claims to be the bearer of i'm
portant dispatches fror. Captain Ray at
Fort Yukon to the war department. He
| would give no hint of the contents
Wells also states that Major Walsh has
issued an order prohibiting persons from
entering the Yukon country with less than
1000 pounds of provisions exclusive of tea
and coffee. The order was to be effective
from January 15.
The great gold rush is on. Men are leav-
ing the Pacific coast for Alaska at the rate
OF eco week. By the middle of February
this number will have risen to 10000 u
week. In the seven months between Feb
ruary 1 and September !. 100000 will at
tempt to reach the frozen North. This is
the most conservative estimate obtained
from men who are making d study of this
new form of transportation OF this vast
total not more than 5000 will reach the
gold fields. This, too, is a careful esti-
mate.
The world has never seen anything like
it. Possibly nothing like 1t will ever he
seen again. In future years the California
exodus will be but Il dim memory. Men in
recalling vast movements of fortune-seek-
ers will speak of ''the Klondike rush OF
1885,"