The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-02-14
CAPTAIN RAYS REPORT.
hds'ces sent by Its Agent In A,a.La
a'ivcn Out by the War D.nartm.,,

"' "S i'S Agent In Alaska y
'Sc" Out by the War Department.
w AslIlSGToN, Feb. l4-The war de
partment has made public the advices
received from Captain Ray, who was
sent to Alaska to report Oh conditions
In the mining country.
The reports embrace a pcriod run.
ning from Oct. 3 to Nov 3, and are
dated from Circle City and Fort Yu.
kon. They show very serious state
VI aifa!rs-that trouble is threatened at
various places and that there is serious
uahScr at some points of lack of food
owing III large measure TO the failure
OF the transportation companies to get
III sufficient supplies.
In IA report dated Circle City, Oct. 3,
Captaln Ray recommends, should the
department decide To establish a post
on the upper river, that the mouth Of
Mission or American creek bc chosen
as the site with Il sub-pos if necessary,
at Circle City. The best interests Of
the service. he says, require permanent
garrisons TO be located well away from
mining towns, so that the troops, If re.
quired to act, Will not be biased by
local influence
The Question OF Food.
The question Of food Captain Ray
continues. lis a very serious one and
the action Of the North American Trad.
ing and Transportation company is
causing auch friction. l use my best
endeavors 10 reconcile all differences
peaceably and get all people who are
without provisions down to Fort Iu.
kon as soon as possible. where there is
an abundance Of food. l learn that
while food Is scarce III Dawson City
the miners in the outlying camps are
fairly well supplied. The two stores
are selling Very conservatlvely. The
eating houses are all closed save one
While | consider the situation critical,
do not believe there viii be any great
loss OF life beyond that incident to a
climate SO rigorous rs this. That there
Will he much suffering along the river
and the trail owing to the rashness ana
ignorance Of people unaccustomcd TO
this climate, no we'll informed per.
son here will deny; but there Is moth.
ing that should cause undue anxiety or
alarm among the people in the States
who have friends in tins country.
Much Gold In American Territory.
"F'rom what | have learned from
mine owners and prospectors, am
fully satisfied that the greater part OF
the gold belt lies in our territory along
the range known as the Upper Ram.
parts; that along the Tannah, Minook
creek, Birch creek and the head OF
Forty Mile creek. there are digIinSs
that will pay from $40 to $50 per day
per man now lying idle, as they will
not pay expenses at the present prices
OF food. am satisfied that, with ade.
uuatc means Of transportation and
cheaper food, this will develop into one
Of the greatest gold producing regions
in the world. \ railroad from the
head of Cooks Inlet or Prince Williams
Sound to the mouth Of the Tannah.
from which point supplies could be de-
livered by light draught steamers along
tho navigable tributaries of the Yukon
will secure to our people the commerce
of this whole country. 1t would give
route to the open sea that could be op'
Grated all winter and act as check to
the Canadian routes.