The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-12

'ne W sif department Show Il Seri-
Gus but Not Hopeless State of A.
fairs in the New Gold FieIds-
Largely Law Abiding.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE war
| department today made public the ad-
niceS received from Capt. Ray. who
was sent to Alaska to report on con
dttions in the mining country.
Inc reports embrace a period run
1lng from oct. to Nov 3, and are
gated from Circle City and Fort Yn-
| kon. They show a very serious stat
OF ahalrs; that trouble is Threatened
a. various places, and that there is
serious danger at some points Of ok
OF FOOD, owing in a large measure IN
| the 1alIure of the transportation com
panles to get in sufficient supplies
On the food question he saws: "Tba
| question of food here is a very SORT
Gus one, and the action of the n. A. Y
q L. company is causing much fric
ton | will use my best endeayors IN
reconcile all differences DeaceabIv and
| get all people who are without DrOvi-
slons down to Fort Yukon as soon as
of food NC
L learn that, while food is scarce I'm
Dawson City, the miners in the outIv-
ing camps are fairly wei IsuppIied. The
Two stores are selling very cOnserva-
lively. The eating houses are all clos
ed save one. While I consider tbe
situation critical, [ do not believe
| there Will be any great loss of life
beyond that incident to a climate co
rigorous as this
Ihat there will be much suffering
along the river and the trail owing to
the rashness and ignorance of peopIe
unaccustomed to this climate. no wen
informed person here will deny; but
| there IN ho
due anxiety or alarm among the Deo-
pie in the states who have friends in
this country
There are fabulous stories being
circulated and will be published about
the prices paid for food. I have veri-
| fed instances where 500 were paid for
fifty pounds of flour. but such cases
are rare; We're outside deals, and not
the prevailing price"
A report dated Circle City. Oct. 6,
deals with the subject of miners meet
lngs' several Of which Capt. Ray wit
messed and noted their actions. 1t
shows that Capt. Raw was able TO Der-
suadc the men at Circle City to take
no more provisions than they needed
TO save themselves from starvation. and
that they agreed. Capt. Ray continues:
~ large majority of the people now
here are peaceable and Iaw-abiding, but
IN the absence of any person in au-
or many differences that are constant
ly arising, they are compelled to act
outside of the law, and when influenced
by passion, prejudice or liquor will
commit acts that jeOpardize great
financial interests, and from which
there can be no appeal
Il am only surprised that matters are
not worse. ] believe it is the first
time in the history of our government
that 1t has been called upon to govern
an outlying province where the issues
arc vital and important, both national
and financial. For if the transportation
companies cannot be given protection
along this river, they will be driven
from the field and q route opened up
through British North America to sup
ply our own people in our own coun-
try"
Martial Law.
After detailing the circumstances I'M
der which he took possession of the
stores at Fort Yukon, hosting the flag
and mounting a guard over the prop
erty, Capt. Ray says: This is not a
case of worthy destitute miners; 1t Is
premeditated robbery, and had they
been able to get possession Of either
Lieut.. Richardson or myself the cache
would have been lost
A number of very desperate char
acters have been forced out of Daw-
son, Northwest Territory. There are
quite number in the camp near the
cache. and l learned today that they
have been quietly securing arms ever
since their arrival here, and mean mis-
chief. | am securing all the arms and
ammunition l can, shall move with
caution and get matters in such shape
as to hold the balance of power. I am
compelled to take the responsibility to
protect life and property and to save
as many lives as possible in the emer-
genCy."
On the subject of gold discoveries
the report says: From what l have
learned from mine owners and pros
pectOrs L am fully satisfied that the
greater part of the gold belt lies in
our territory, along the range known
as the Upper Ramparts. Along the
Tannah, MinOOk creek, Birch creek
and the head Of Forty Mile there are
diggings that will pay from S1n TO $40
per day per man now lying idle, but
they will not pay expenses at the pres
ent prices of food. / am satisfied that,
ton and cheaper food, this will devel-
OPP into one of the greatest gOld-prO-
ducing regions in the world.
"A railroad from the head of Cooks
inlet or Prince Williams sound to the
mouth of the Tannah, from which
point supplies could be delivered by
light draught steamers, will secure to
our people the commerce of this whole
country. At the request of the Citi-
Zens here l most respectfully recon-
mend that the government make
preliminary survey of the route nam
ed"