Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-01-27
The spring rush To the Klondike gold


The spring rush To the Klondike gold
,lds has begun, following closely upon
10 announcement that the govern
ent had abandoned It's proposed relief
xpedition to Dawson, having received
.liable information that things there
ere not In such bad way as reported.
he Canadian government is about to
sue new customs and mining regula-
ons applicable to that region. 1t will
olice the territory and establish pos
VI and other facilities for the miners,
vying a supply entrance duty" to
sfray the expense incurred. Several
Ills introduced In congress provide for
new criminal code and homestead
wv for the district, and the establish
ent OF a new consulate at Dawson.
'wo great corporations with practical
unlimited capital are organizing to
uild railroads into the Yukon coun-
~ at an expense OF $lS,OO0,0OO. The
london Exploration Company, which
the Rothchilds' firm, and the Yukon
ompany are each endeavoring to con-
ruct the first railroad from Pyramid
arbor over the Chilkoot pass and
,alton trail to point on Lewis river,
Glow Five Finger rapids. The dis
aince is 400 miles.
The talk going the rounds of the
ress about the thirty or forty million
e,llars paid out annually to soldiers
ut entitled to pensions, and about the
secessity for purgiDg the roll OF
honor" and all that sort Of thing, APP
osars 10 very ridiculous light when it
b remembered that very recently,
onder Judge Lochren's administration
the Pension Bureau and by Presi-
emit Cleveland's direction, every cor
Ger and Granny OF the pension roll was
,arched for supposed fraud and thous-
Ids OF just pensions were denied or
elayed, the secret intention OF the ad
!, illustration being to cut down expen-
lx,tures to the lowest limit, in order to
weep down the monthly deficit as much
=, possible. A great hullabaloo was
|diade by the pension officers about
S. aud, and something like $780, 900 was
)ent in exhaustive investigation oil
pc same, with the result that just thir-
cen cases of fraud were discovered.
-.
| Neighbor Smith of the Muir Tribune
as an enthusiastic 10 to ! man during
kae recent campaign but we judge by
5 le following from his last issue he has
Pltvsed his views somewhat. He says:
T. The Republican Newspaper Associa-
on has voted to send delegate to
exec to examine the financial pro-
Fem, and report for the benefit OF Re-
,.blican newspapers OF Michigan.
h Eats. We've heard enough OF Mexico's
iances. We're getting taste OF good
|ugmes now, and they'll come faster il
hple agitators will only stop harping
Ve.'ld put their shoulders to the wheel.
! set Mexican finances alone, and If you
ire I'VE any energy to spare put it into
lstling right here at home"
N'Wm. Alden Smith was a caller at
roge white house on Cuban business,
riday morning. The president com
= .imented the Michigan man on the
!. .tience he had shown in the past few
Fl Tvs, while the committee was under
I've. The president said he had in
! ind Mr.. Smiths Cuban enthusiasm,
4 I'd would not have been surprised II
y, as a member OF foreign affairs com
9llttee, had made some effort to get
before the house. Half an
FJur was thus spent in discussing
{3I ases OF the question, but the presi-
kSnt did In no way indicate what action
x& lad In mind.
$XThe Populist convention recently
"a I'D in ST. Louis vehemently declared
eainst further fusion with Democrats.
0rbe leaders attributed all the confu-
th)n and loss of strength during the
D o,st two years to the entangling al
efrnce entered into with the Demo-
V vats. The leaders declared absolutely
arainst any further combinations OF
flee sort.
ar -
;ndOf course the calamity howlers who
roll claim that the times are as hard
I. lever take no apparent account Of the
blet that there were l,737 less business
,tiolures in 1897 than in 1896, and that
e y aggregate value OF the failures for
bv37 was s72,OO0,OOO less than 1895.
exlamity howlers never do take any
| count OF such important figures as
larese.
rui =,
bo 'erry +. POWERS euiIor oi Ihe Oauli-
News and Express, puts forward
noe name OF Justus s. Stearns OF Lud-
Il ton for Secretary OF State and pre-
oe .da,hvo to the Republicans of the
t;tute as their nominee in the conven-
LHn.