Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-12

could be accomplished II the employees OF
The transportation companies devoted less
time TO personal traffic.
Most Gold Is in Alaska.
From what / have learned from mine
owners and prospectorS. / am fully salts
fled that the greater part of the gold belt
lies in our territory. along the range
known as the Upper Ramparts: that along
and the head OF Forty Mile. there are
diggings that will pay from so to $40 per
day per man now lying idle, as they will
not pay expenses at the present price of
food. / satisfied that, with adequate
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. Prince Williams sound, TO the
supplies could be delivered by light
draGght steamers along all the navigabe
tributaries of the Yukon. will secure TO
our people the commerce OF this whole
country. II would give a route to the
{ open sea that could be operated all win
Ter and act as check to the Canadian
most respectfully recommend that the
: government make preliminary survey Of
the route named"
The Situation mt Fort Yukon.
a report. dated Fort Yukon, October 26,
deals with Captain Rays trip from Circle
City TO Fort Yukon. he having left the
former place on the 18th inst. and reached
the latter. after a perilous trip. At Fort
Yukon. about 10 people were found gath
cred and there had been some threats of
taking supplies by force. The report adds:
Lieutenant Richardson, We found, by
prompt and decided action. had checked all
turbulence and by cooperating with the
agents OF both companies. had arranged
that all destitutes should be fed. Those
willing to work were to be allowed TO cut
wood for the companies at s. per cord. and
when they had earned sufficient money
they should pay for their supplies. The
sick and INDECENT should be fed without
charge, and the bills for. such issues to
come TO me to be submitted for the action
of congress. This action is now being TAX
en-. %. X the orders for all supplies
which the government is to be responsible
for, and will submit the total amounts when
the work IS finished.
Both agents have verbally asked me to
take charge of the caches, which ] have
refused to do. for cogent reasons: l shall
not force an issue, but shall defend the
caches from all violence and pillage, as
they contain the only provisions this side
pie are dependent for existence for the next
seven months.
Stock of Supplies Exaggerated.
'T have gone over the stock and mani
tests of both companies. and find that both
have exaggerated the amount on hand here.
The people arriving here all agree in stat
Ing that the managers OF both companies
fnducement, that there was over loo tons
Of provisions at this place, when. in fact.
for ssae W ifns aad naon ahad Of hres
3 pounds per day, there can be fed al this
place 800 people until the first Of June, with
position where 1 may be Compelled to take
{ possession of the caches to save them from
. piIlage, and to insure an equitable dis
tr1bution. Whatever course may be COM
PEELED to pursue, trust that the, president
and congress will sustain me In what l
AS I am. in using my best enGeayors to
: DEATH" -
Captain Ray. in commenting on letter
20 him from President Weare regarding the
unloading of supplies at Circle City. says
ences between the citizens and the trans
portation company. as. of his own knogl-
-. edge. he is aware that the consignment Of
he saw stores consigned to Dawson City
and Circle City landed at ,Manook, and
Weare and Bella had not been taken the
hsShie sood. would have suffered from want of
Matters Become Serious.
D. Apparently Captain Ray left Fort Yukon
for time, as,sunder date Of that place of
November !, he says that since his return
pect.
The Alaska Commercial Company had a
cache OF 200 tons four miles above Fort
cache at Fort Yukon. The Alaska COM
pany's agent reported to him meeting
was being held to further a movement to
seize the eompany's cache. He adds
Il went up with Mr.. Richardson, and
toon after arriving there was waited upon
who stated their demands. There were sew
snty-five of them and they demanded they
provisiones and clothing for nine months.
This Mr.. Davis, the agent declined to do.
] explained to them that 1 would give or
fhn ctr 4 f<.n TO-
destitute. but as the companies offered
work at good wages the able-bodied should
accept % u and those having money would
be allowed TO purchase reasonable out
Ut OF provisions for the balance of the
year. came away without getting any
tenant Richardson son al at then the cache ae Tor 1.-The the
night. received a note from him saying
he believed they intended to attack the
cache at 10 a. m. the next day. i at once
issued notice taking possession of the
cache copy inclosedD and had them posted
and in ali the camps, and early next morn.
Ing started from here with twenty-five men
volunteers.
Few Arms for Defense.
''I could not arm them efficiently. being
able to raise only five rifles and few pis-
. tolls. SO deemed it wise not to take any.
thing but pistols concealed.
soon after starting. word came to me
that they had passed resolution to arres
When l arrived within one-half mile of tn,
cache. was met by one man (NobletD who
stated the miners wished TO have me com,
10 their camp to, talk over the situation
which i declined to do. He then came OIL,
in his true colors and said they had de
force. and at signal from him, twenty
two men armed with rifles came out of tht
timber and covered the party. NoDlett saIt
they had possession of the cache. As Lieu
tenant Richardson was there. and / hat
not heard any firing. 1 knew his statemen
starting on, and told them they might opel
the fight IL they wished to. He then sait
that, as conditions were changed by m,
seizure of the stores. and as they were lotl
20 disturb governmental property. IL
would wait few moments he would con
suit with the committee, and asked IL
was still wiII.ng to feed the destitute.
stated my terms to feed the destitute and
as long as the companies would take WOO,
they were to go to work at the rate of !
per cord. and IL they could not get worl
they would be fed, II possible, until tn
obtain outfits provided they wen: In tn
field at once.
Miners Accept the Terms.
'In few moments he CNobletD re
turned and said they accepted the terms
and / went on to the cache. where
found between thirty and forty men VIII
said they had nothing and / caused al
TO be fed. 1 have hoisted the flag owe
the buildings and placed a guard
This Is not case OF worthy destitut
miners; II is premeditated robbery, an
had they been able to get possession
the cache would have been lost. mum
her of very desperate and lawleSs charaC