The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1898-01-06
KLONDII<E RELIEF.
Canada VIII Cooperate In Getting
In the supplies.

Washington. Dee 3O.-Mr. SiitOn, the
Canadian minister of the interior, called
mt the war department by appointment 70
day and had long conference with AS
sistant Secretary Mcikc,jOhn, who Is CIV
ing his attention To the klondlkc rcllci
rXpcdit ions during the illness OF Secretary
Algcr. Having secured the consent ol
the British government to the passage OF
United States troops to he used ms guards
over Canadian territory, nll that remains
TO be done is to arrange for the admission
of the supplies to he taken To the miners
without payment of duties, provided they
are not sold for more than their actual
cost. II is expected that this matter can
he shortly arranged,
Mr.. Sifton says that the only practical
bic route to Dawson City is what is
known AS the White pass, or commonly
called the lake route, commencing ut
Skaguay and Linn canal.
He states that they have Cighty-hyc
men in the territory and expects TO have
fifty more at Skaguay on or before ,lanu-
airy r. They have twenty tons of sup
plies stored ut Skaguay for transportation
over the pass, to which will I've added ten
tons more within the next ten days for
transportation over the pass. The
Canadian authorities have post ut Lake
Bennett. another at Tagish. mt which lat
ter place twenty men are stationed: and
post at White Horse rapids, and two
posts intervening between the latter
point and Fort Sclkirk
II is the intention of the Canadian gov
eminent to have u detachment of 40 men
in the territory within the next thirty
days. This detachment will he ready to
leave Skaguay on the 10Th proNimo but
the minister has kindly consented to hold
the expedition that they may accompany
the expedition of the war department,
which will leave Sknguay ON February |.
The government has consented to grant
escorts to our expedition provided the co
operation can not he consummantcd.
The government dues ON all supplies
sent in under military control will he
waived by the Canadian government The
minister was over the pass in October
last. He stated that the government
would he very glad 10 grant our eNpcdi-
ton the use of their posts on the route
and grant all other facilities to the move
mcnt OF our expedition over their terri
tory.
The arrangement between Mr.. Sifton in
behalf of Canada and the war department
cOntemplatcs that the relief expedition
shall he executed Jointly by the United
states army and n force of the mounted
police of Canada, which constitutes the
military arm of the dominion. The United
States force will proceed with the relief
stores 10 Skaguay, where il is tO be joined
by the Canadian mounted police. about
forty in number, and the two forces will
then proceed together to the points where
the relief il to he distributed The de
termination rs TO SkaGuay is. however.
still open. The Canadian officials con
cedc much latitude to the American au-
thoritics in the actual distribution. rccog-
nizing that the expedition is fitted out on
this side, although n considerable amount
of its work will he done in the Canadian
side Of the border No duties will he
imposed on the stores carried by the re-
lief expedition.
Mr.. Sifton also held n conference with
Secretary Gage and discussed the unsat.
iSfactOry condition of customs rcgula.