The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-21
GREAT RUSH IS
NOT JUSTIFIED
Captain Rays Report on
the KIondike.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2O.-Secretary
A1eer has transmitted to Congress a
complete report on the relief work OF
the War Department in the hlondlke
country undertaken under act OF Con
gress as a result Of reports that eN-
rrana distress among the miners LoI-
loved the influx to the gold country
5,,rine 1897 as. It embraces the deta1led
-ranorts of Captain P. H Ray ana Lieu
+Anan+ W p. Richardson. ASIDE IIoIll
5a+,iIs of tbe relief work Captain ray
1asr reDort dated May last, contains
he following interesting statement
,.,r, = az the greatest Importance for
-. 6a1-aIonnent of the country tnau
roads should be opened so as 10 elldL 1ol's
The peopIe to enter the country hot olIis
rom the Yukon TO the open sea IN oua ~" -
country which IS OF the gTedte9N mp
.tance, but to enable miners Gu 90 eboir
.yac+ors TO get into the interior Win tliell
s,,nnIias Under existing conditions per
sons can enter the country only by the
- one hig bighway-the Yukon River-and
By that they cannot nope 10 NC I0iiOe1 '0
any M pom t-oIdsbeaTi3g districts are from
Hftv TO one hundred and nifty miles Dan ,
from the main stream mere are ny aILS
summer trails except foot trails, ana pro
visions and mining tools can only pc
transported on the backs OF men l Qo
find ANYTHING either IN AldShd VI III
the Northwest Territory 10 JUSTIFY the
great rush of people TO that country,
or the enormous tnYestment now DelhS
made in transportauon, traaIns I anu mn mn
no discoveries of extraordinary r1cnnesS
have been made since that OF the kloIl-
confined to Bonanza. Ell Dorado, Domln-
ION: Hunker and Sulphur, with rev
claims on Bear Creek In this distrlcI al
rich claims are well known ana helQ at
. very high prices, and while the whole
country has been staked it has been done
for speculative purposes ana no WoLk
70 hold a title until they can be seld to
the unwary newcomer or disposed OF IN
tain Constantine OF the Canadian North
western police IS my authority for de-
.Ilouncing the movement as fraud;
except cutting wood for the river boats,
J do not see anything in the future for
lover 90 per cent Of the people now flock
ing TO that country but disappointment
and suffering. Even those who obtain
employment at 81 30 per hour find that
:: after deducting the cost Of food, pack
: ing, candles, etc, they do not net to ex-
coed 81 per day. and they tell me it is
barely enough 70 tide them over the idle
: season.
=: Up TO date no paying mineral leads Of
either gold or silver have been discovered
In North Alaska, so far as known. l am
now fully satisfied that in the near future
Alaska will be the source Of great wealth,
. but the development will necessarily be
slow, owing TO the climatic conditions. L
g: recommend the early Introduction of
horses mules and cattle and extra in
ducements should be held out for the de-
velopment of agriculture in the valley Of
the Lower Yukon especially. Wild hay
can be obtained there in great abund-
.ance and oats. barley and spring wheat
can be successfully cultivated, as well as
potatoes. turnips and all the more hardy
garden vegetables, all of which would be
required for many years to meet the local
3 demand.
But few Of the people now entering the
northern part Of the territory will ever
become a factor in its permanent de-
valcpment. They must pass away before
the time when the wealth of the country
. win become known and developed. To
promote this I recommend that several
well-equipped parties be put in the field
and a thorough geographical and geo
logical exploration of the country be
made so that men of ordinary means will
be able 70 engage in the work of pros
pecting and mining. At present it re-
uufres considerable capital to first explore
the country for practical route to trans
port supplies before any work can be done
In prospecting.
The ruling rate of interest at Dawson is
O from 10 to Y per cent per month. which
Is the best disqualification l can give of
the specializing condition Of the finances