Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-02-15
Adv'ces Sent by lis Agent In
alaska Given Out by the
War Department.
Some Danger From Lack Of
Food, but No Great Loss
. of Life Feared.
With Cheaper Supplies Alaska
/ Will Be First in PRODUCE
ton of Cold.

w ASHINGTON, Feb. l2.-Iho war Oe'
partment has made public the advices
received from Captain Ray, who was
sent to Alaska to report on conditions
in the mining country. -. 49, ~
The reports embrace a period rum
ming from Oct. 8 to Nov. .. and are
dated from Circle City aud Fort Yu'
kon. They show o 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. s.
Captain Ray recommends, should the
department. decide to establish post
on the upper, river, that the mouth OF
Mission or American creek be chosen
US the site with a suD-post. 1t necessary,
vt 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, 1t re.
quired to act, will not be biased by
local influence. ~-:,
The Question OF Food.
1.-THE question Of food" Captain Ray
continues, ISIS 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 arc
without provisions down to Fort Yn-
kon as soon as possible, where there IS
an. abundance OF food. i learn that
while food is scarce in Dawson City
tho miners in the outlying camps are
fairly we'll supplied. The two stores
are selling very conservatively. The
eating houses are all closed save one.
While I consider tho situation critical,
I do not believe there will be any great
loss OF lie beyond that incident TO
climate so rigorous as this. That there
will be much suffering along the river
and the trail owing to the rashness ami
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 .:
alarm among the people in the States
who have friends in this country.
Much Gold in Amer can Territory
"From what l have learned from
mine owners and prospectors. l aln
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 Tannan, Min oox
creek, Birch creek and tho 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 an satisfied that, with ade.
uuate 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. 1t would give q
route to the open sea that could be op.
Grated all'winter and act Us a check to
the Canadian routes.