The Anaconda standard., 1898-02-02
IF YOU'RE GOING, DON'T
You Will Run Up Against Trou-
BILE in the Klondike.
CAPTAIN RAYS REPORT
Labor Uncertain, Food Scarce ana Will
Be Scarce-Gangs of Robbers Organ
izing Hundreds of People With
out Money or Good Clothing.

washington. Feb General Mer-
riam Yesterday opened at Seattle the
dispatches brought by Special Messen-
ger Wells from Captain Ray, the de-
partments special representative IN
the Klondike, and telegraphed an an
stract to the department. Acting sec
retary Meiklejohn was so much I'M
pressed with the statements wired that
he submitted the dispatch at once 10
Secretary Alger and the paper was mn
| ally sent to the white house where IL
| formed the subject of consideration at
a cabinet meeting to-day.
1t is said that the report fully JUST
! fes all that has been done to relieve
| the situation at Klondike. The report
is particularly acceptable in view of the
! conflicting statements as to the condi-
tions in the gold fields, for 1T is not
/ doubted Raw had a broader field Tor
observation than others VINO mace re-
/ norts. This report is taken as estap-
fishing facts for all official purposes.
The state of affairs in Klondike as
thus revealed is worse than suspecteu
at the war department so large - the
| task that remains TO be executed IN Or
| dor to insure safety or life and prop
| erty on the American side alone that
the war department officials nave con-
| cluded to advise congress as 10 tne
facts and place upon the legislative
branch the duty of devising ways anu
means to meet the eAiSeiieieS VI '
case. r.,
The substance of the report is as loi
lows: The latest bear date NOV. ana
2 and refer to the attempted ROBBERY ol
caches; recommends the ohi.eu ce oaa1I aIIs
government to take steps to efIectualiy
check immigration to the interior OF
Alaska, of all persons not fully supplied
TO last two years. He gives as a fea-
son that there is no way OF earning
living, and no new diseoVeries ,t aia,,t aake
: months. either in Alaska or Northwest
Territory There is no employment Tor
any large number of people IN any
= capacity All values are speculative t.
5 There is no fixed standard Tor iaoor'
: There is not now, nor likely to be WITH
= in II months, adequate and efnclent
| means of supplying the people now IN
$ | Alaska or the Northwest Territory. he
. is of the opinion that about per ceh'
0 of all the people entering during the
= past wear have earned their living, ano
hundreds are now scattered along the
rivers destitute of food, clothing ane
money People coming in nave not the
faintest conception what To 90 10 carr
a living and after spending the money
q theY bring become daZed and helpless
He states the rush will be great, anC
any step that will prevent people com
q ing in through ignorance will be an ac
e of charity.
i In view of recent developments an
II the knowledge that the lawless ar
II banding together along the river Tor Tn
Al purpose of robbery, Ray reneWs IN
L. suggestion for the government TO plac
L. on the river small light dratt steam
~ ers with high power, armed and read
g to patrol the river, and the placing
:, = detachments as the movements OF IN
"a people demand. A courier was SCI
III with the dispatches by the p. M. trai
~ today to report to General Merriam.