The San Francisco call., 1898-06-28
Transportation Compa-
 nies Suffering.
SOME ARE IN DEEP WATER
ALASKA YUKON COMPANIES
 CREDITORS MEET.
Travel to the Gold Fields Has Fallen Away Tremendously and Conse- quently Many People Will
 Lose Money.

The failure of the Klondike boom Is playing havoc with the companies that went into the Yukon transportation busi- ness. Swiftwater Bills venture was the first to go into eclipse, and now the Alaska-Yukon Transportation Company has been compelled to meet its credi- tors.
 When the rush to Dawson began last year the Alaska-Yukon Company came into existence. H. J. Barling was chosen president, and associated with him are s. F. Weeks of the s. F. Weeks Com pany, Captain Hatfield, who resigned his command of the British ship Lancing to join the venture; Walter J. Scammell. James Eva and others They chartered the steamers National City and Albion and the bark Rufus E. Wood and con- tracted for four river steamers. One Of these, the James Eva, Is now on her way to St. Michael. in tow of the steamer Ma tional City, and the Walter J. Scammell is now at the Fulton Iron Works, ready for sea- Both the National City and the Albion have done well since they have flown the Alaska-Yukon Company's flag, and the Rufus E. Wood left here for St. Michael with a number of passengers and a full cargo. Had the rush to the gold fields only continued all would have been well, but as the passenger trade to St. Michael Is very light and growing less every day the company thought 1t better to come to an understanding with It's creditors at once.
 The chances are that when the steam CTS begin to arrive from the Yukon with the interest in the gold fields will be re- newed. Millions will be brought down in gold dust and nuggets. and the sight of these fortunes will start the rush again. In that event 1t will be nearly too late to go by the way of St. Michael, and the travel will be again to Dyea and Skaguay. Another meeting Of all con- cerned will be held to-day, and it will be then decided whether the river boats now nearly completed will be held here until next summer or sent to St. Michael at once or sold The Rufus E. Wood was to be kept at St Michael as a receiving ship for passengers, and she will probably be brought home. The charter of the steam CTS National City and Albion can be can celed at any time. and then II everyoody is willing the company can lie on US oars until next year.
 c. Dickey, who chartered and fitted out the barkentine Catherine Sudden for a voyage to Kotzebue Sound, went to St. Michael on the steamer Humboldt. On his arrival there he will get together a. party of returning gold hunters to como down on his vessel. After discharging her passengers at the mouth of the Kowak River, the Catherine Sudden will be taken to St Michael to bring down the passengers MT. Dickey has booked.
 The steamer Dirigo and her tow, the stern-wheel river boat City of Dawson, are still in port. The repairs to the lat- ter's machinery have taken much longer than was at first expected and now it will be tonight or tomorrow morning before she will be ready. The City of Dawson belongs to the Swiftwater Bill company. and many of the passengers on the Dirigo bought tickets from that concern. They spent nearly all their time for a week past on Mission-street wharf waiting for the expedition to get away, and their patience is nearly exhausted. It is now thought that a start will soon be made.
 Twenty-one members of the San Diego naval reserve arrived in the city yester- day and paid a visit to the California boys on the Mohican. They will be sworn in at the naval rendezvous to-day and will be sent to Mare Island to help man the mosquito fleet.