Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1898-02-18
RAYS REPORT
WAR DEPARTMENT GIVES OUT
SYNOPSIS OF IT.

Some Danger From Lack of Food, but
No Great Loss of Life Fearod-With
Cheaper Supplies Alaska Will BE First
In Production of Gold.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The war dc
partment has made public the advices
received from Captain Ray, who was
sent to Alaska to report on conditions
in the mining country.
Tho reports embrace period run
ming from Oct. 3 to Nov. 8, and are
dated from Circle City and Fort Yu-
kon. They show very serious state
of affairs-that trouble is threatened at
various places and that there is serious
danger at some points Of lack of food
owing in large measure to the failure
of the transportation companies to got
in sufficient supplies.
In report dated Circle City, Oct 3,
Captain Ray recommends, should the
department decide to establish 4 post
OH the upper river, that the mouth Of
Mission or American creek be chosen
as the site with sub.post, if necessary,
at Circle City. The best interests of
the service. he says, require permanent
garrisons to be located well away from
mining towns, so that the troops, if re.
quired to act, will not be biased by
local influence.
The Question of Food.
"Thc question Of focd," Captain Ray
continues, "is a very serious one and
the action of the North American Trad.
ing and Transportation company is
causing much friction. l use my best
endeavors to reconcile all differences
peaceably and get all people who are
without provisions down to Fort Yu.
kon as soon as possible, where there is
an abundance of food. | learn that
while food is scarce i'll Dawson City
the miners in the outlying camps are
fairly well supplied. The two stores
are selling very conservalivcly. The
eating houses are all closed save ono.
While consider the situation critical,
I do not believe there will be any great
loss of life beyond that incident to a
climate SO rigorous as this. That there
will be much suffering along the river
and the trail owing to the rashness and
ignorance Of people unaccustomed to
this climate, no we'll informed per-
son here will deny; but there is moth
ing that should cause undue anxiety or
alarm among the people i'll the States
who have friends in this country.
Much Gold In American Territory
"From what I have learned from
mine owners and prospectors, am
fully satisfied that the greater part of
the gold belt lies in our territory along
the range known as the Upper Ram
parts; that along the Tannah, Minook
creek, Birch creek and the head of
Forty Mile creek, there are diggings
that will pay from $40 to $40 per day
per man now lying idle, as they will
not pay expenses at the present prices
of food. I am satisfied that, with ade-
quate means Of transportation and
cheaper food, this will develop into one
of the greatest gold producing 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 de-
livered by light draught steamers along
the navigable tributaries of the Yukon,
will secure to our people the commerce
of this whole country. It would give
route to the open sea that could be op.
Grated all winter and act as check to
the Canadian routes. "