Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-12
FACES A DESPERATE TASK
Yukon Relief Expedition Likely to Encoun-
ter Serious Obstacles.
Returned PrOspectOrs Tell of the Dam
gers of the Passes and the
Extreme Cold.

Advices from Juneau, Alaska, under date
Of December 30, via Seattle, Wash, say:
Another party of Yukoners, about forty
in number, came in today, but none of
them left Dawson later than November "a,
and. therefore, could add little to the news
sent last week. They had heard of the
Dawson City fire, and believed it was not
put out at the time courier Montana Kid
left.
Many read with interest the most recent
newspaper reports of the proposed govern
ment relief expedition, and all expressed a
belief that the plan was not feasible. They
said the government could not possibly get
supplies through before the steamers got
up to Dawson in June. The trip was such
an arduous and hazardous one that the
supplies taken in would be exhausted on
the journey.
c. p. Sanders of Seattle, an experienced
iukoner, said it was as much as they could
do to get out light" that is, with just
sufficient provisions to last them through
the trip. To battle against the cold it was
necessary for man to consume three
pounds of provisions a day; dogs would
need quite as much, and horses from twelve
to fifteen pounds of grain and twelve
pounds OF hay day to do any kind of
work.
for eighty days. he said and by figuring on
what men, horses and dogs could pack be-
yond that amount, it could be easily seen
that the expedition would reach Dawson
with very little provisions.
Food is selling in Dawson City at S1.5O
per pound, and there are men who would
rather go hungry than pay such prices
and they will probably curtail their living
expenses to dangerous degree. Others
are on claims that are not yet producing
and they will have hard time.
Before Sanders came out he had pur-
chased for his Seattle partners $500 worth
of provisions at s1.5O per pound all round.
He has come out to buy more This has
been the case with majority of those who
have come out. Others have come out to
take in provisions a business specula-
ton.
One Of the latest strikes reported, and the
nearest to Dawson City, is on dams creek
two miles above the town. The owners are
still four feet above bed rock with pans
running from 10 cents to 20 cents. The
creek is a short tributary of the Yukon
and already fifty locations have been filed
on 1t.
Another rich creek, probably not before
heard Of is Quigley creek, which runs into
the klondke between Bonanza and Hunker
This promises to be very rich. Other small
branches of Hunker-Sulphur, Quartz and
Bear creeks-are being rapidly located, and
show good prospects.
G. W. F. Johnson, a mining engineer,
who was with the party, has a magnificent
collection of nuggets and some maps of
the Yukon district which he made last fall.
He owns fifteen claims, and estimates that
the output in the spring will be about
$15.00OOOO.
He says the Canadian laws will affect
the output in any case. If the royalty Is
collected miners will not work their dumps,
but just leave their mines unworked until
the country is more developed and the cost
Of supplies and labor is reduced and ma
n hinarv