The San Francisco call., 1898-01-23
A WARNING TO KLONDIKERS,

THE Washington correspondent of the Philadel-
 phia Public Ledger st-tes that it has been off Cialy made known to our Government that the Canadian authorities desire to the public against so-caed transportation companies which are offer ing for sums ranging from $50 to $I5o, payable in advance to convey persons from the Eastern States to Dawson City by Canadian routes and to provide them with food route.
 It would be well if our Government could initiate the Canadian authorities in warning the public against similar schemes to swindle Alaskan adventur- CTS out of their money and possibly endanger their lives All the promoters of fraudulent transportation enterprises the Klondike do not advertise to take their dupes through Canada. Some of them propose to operate from American ports and to cross the sea under the American flag
 The eagerness of inconsiderate persons to get to the gold fields renders them easy dupes to the wes Of the interruptions and the latter have been prompt to take advantage o the excited condition of the pub lie mind A host of schemes in which the discern ing easily recognize fraud being put forth to deceive the unwary. They are not unknown to San Francisco and they swarm in the boom cities of the north.
 One of the most dangerous forms of these unscru- pulous enterprises Is that of preparing for the rough voyage to St Michael ships that hardly fit to carry coal along the Old hulks, utterly unseaworthy
 
 to with hundreds of passengers. They will be hardly more than death traps, and unless the Gov ernment inspectors intervene prevent, many san- guine company of gold seekers will sail forth only to perish amid the wastes of the
 American officials have been notoriously careless in the inspection of ocean-going ships. Many a wreck has occurred because ships left port in a condition unfit for long stormy voyages Some have been overloaded, some badly equipped, some in- efficiently manned and some have been worn out and rotten that they should have been burned torn to pieces long before.
 The rush to Alaska this year will afford a good opportunity for Government inspectors to begin forcing rigidly the laws for the protection of sailors and ocean voyagers. The need Of close and scrutinzing watch cannot be doubted by any one who pays attention to the way affairs going. Small ports that known to have barely ships enough to handle their normal local trade now advertising whole fleets of vessels for the Alaskan voyage Not many ships in these swiftly created fleets come fresh and strong from the shpyards. Most of them have been hauled from the inner flats of coast harbors where they anchored years ago as abandoned huks unfit for further service.
 Whatever is done elsewhere there should be strict enforcement of the law in San Francisco. There will be no justhabe for permitting any unfit ships to sail or from this port San Francisco is not like the small boom cities where shipping facilities are scant Tn this city there is a large mercantile marine There are many ship yards with a large capacity for constructing vessels These have been busy all winter It is fair that will have enough good strong, stanch ships to meet the demands for the traffic, and certainly should not allow any other kind to sail from the Golden Gate.