The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-21
BOOM NOT JUSTIFIED
TOO MANY PEOPLE RUSHING TO
ALASKA AND THE KLoNDIKE.
Captain Rays Report on the COndi-
Speculation Business

WASHINGTON, Feb. M.-Secretary Alger
has transmitted to Congress a complete re-
port on the relief work of the Wal Depart
ment in the klondike country, undertaken
under act of Congress, as a result of reports
that extreme distress among the miners fol-
lowed the influx to the gold country during
1S97-9S. 1t embraces the detailed reports of
Capt. p. H. Ray and Lieut.. W. H. Richard
son. Aside from details of the relief work
Captain Rays last report, dated May last,
contains the following interesting statement:
I deem it of the greatest importance for
the development of the country that roads
should be opened so as to enable the people
10 enter the country not only from the
Yukon to the open sea in our own country,
which is of the greatest Importance, but
TO Enable miners and prospectors TO get into
the interior with their supplies. Under ex-
listing conditions persons can enter the coun-
try only by the one great h~ighway-the
Yukon river-and they cannot hope to be
landed at any point in Alaska earlier than
July. The gold-bearing districts are from
fifty to $50 miles back from the main stream.
There are not any summer trails, except
foot trails, and provisions and mining tools
can only be transported on the backs Of
men.
Il do not find anything either in Alaska
or Northwest Territory to justify the great
rush of people to that country, nor the enor-
nous investment now being made in trans
pOrtation, trading and mining companies. In
the Northwest Territory no discoveries of
extraordinary richnesS have been made since
that of the K1ondike, and the claims are al
most entirely confined to Bonanza, Eldorado,
Dominion, Honka and Sulphur with a few
claims on Bear creek. In this district all
rich claims are we'll known and held at very
high prices, and while the whole country
has BEEN staked, it has not been done for
speculative purposes, and no work is being
done, except such as is necessary to hold a
title until they be sold to the unwary new
conner or disposed Of in the States for corpo-
ration schemes. Captain Constantine, of the
Canadian mounted police, is
my authority for denouncing the movement
as a fraud.
In the absence of any other industry
except cutting wood for the river boats, L
do not see anything in the future for over
~ per cent. OF the people now hocking to
that country but disappointment and suf-
fering. Even those who obtain employment
at $l.O an hour find that after deducting the
cost of food packing, candles, etc, they do
not net to exceed 81 a day, and they tell me
1t is barely enough to tide them over the
idle season. Up to date no paying mineral
lodes of either gold or silver have been dis
covered in north Alaska, so far as known.
Il am now fully satisfied that in the near
future Alaska will be the source of great
wealth, but the development will neces-
sarily be slow, owing to the climatic cOndi-
tons. | 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 abundance, and
O0tot RoAACS anu SHlAA45 WAlCaL a bC SUI
c~essfully cultivated, as we'll as potatoes,
turnips and all the more hardy garden vege-
tables, which would be required for many
years to meet the local demand, and, by re-
ducing the cost of transportation and food,
render it possible to work a large per cent.
Of the mines now lying idle.
But few of the people now entering the
northern part of the Territory will ever
become factors in it's permanent develop
ment. They must pass away before the
time when the wealth Of the country will
become known and developed. To promote
this recommend that several -Weli-equipped
parties be put in the field and a thorough
geographical and geological exploration of
the country be made, so that men of ordi-
nary means will be able to engage in the
work of prospecting and mining. At present
it requires considerable capital to first ex-
plore the country for a practicable route to
transport supplies before any work can be
done in prospecting.
1.-The ruling rates of interest at Dawson
is from 10 to II per cent. per month, which
is the best eXemplifcation 1 can give of
the specializing condition Of the finances Of
that country"