The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-21
THE RELIEF WORK..
ofthc War Department in the KIon-
dixie Country-Rcport ofthc Sccrc-
Iary of War. *

Ofthc War Department in The Klon-
dixie Country-Rcport ofthc Sccrc-
lary of War.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 Secretary
Alger has transmitted to congress n
complete report on the relief, work of
the war department in the Klondike
country, undertaken under the act Of
Congress as result of reports that
extreme distress among the minersgfol-
lowed the influx to the gold country
during 1898. 1t embraces the detailed
reports of Captain p. H. Day and Lieu
tenant W. P. Richardson. Aside from
details Of the relief work Captain Rays
last report, dated May last. contains the
following interesting statement:
Il deem ii OF the. greatest importance
for the development OF the country tina:
roads should be Opened, 50 az to enable
the people to enter the country not only
from the Yukon to the open set 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 existing condi-
tons persons can enter the country only
by the one great ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
rivcr-and they cannot hope t6ybu tdnd-
ed at any point in Alaska earlier than
July |.
The collaborating districts are from
nifty to one hundred and tiftymilcs back
fr6m 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 the northwest territory TO
justify the great rush OF people TO that
country, or the enormous investment
now being made in transportation. trad
ing and mining companies. In north
west territory no discoveries OF extra
ordinary richness have been made since
that OF the Ktondikc, and the claims
are almost entirely confined to bonanza,
Eldorado. Dominica, 1ionka and Sulphur
with 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 stakcd
1t has been done for speculative pur-
poses, and no work is being done except
such as Is necessary TO hold 4 title unfit
they can be sold to the unwary new
conner or disposed of in the states for
corporation schemes. Captain conStau-
tine. OF the Canadian northwestern
mounted police, Is my authority for de-
nounc!ng the movement rs Il fraud.
In the absence Of any other industry.
except cutting wood for the river boats.
DO not see anything In the future FOR
over ninety per cent. Of the people now
focking to that country but disappont-
ment and suffering. Even those who
obtain employment ut one dollar and
half per hour find that after deductng
the cost OF food packing, candies, etc,
they do not net to exceed two dollars
per day, and they tell me 1t Is barely
enough to tide them over the idle sea-
son.
up to date no paying mineral loads
of either gold or silver have been dis
covered in North Alaska so far as
known.
II 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 recommend the
early Introduction OF horses, mules and
cattle and extra Inducements should be
held out for the development OF aEricul-
turc in the valley Of the lower Yukon
especially. Wild hay can be obtained
there in great abundance. and oats, bar
ley and spring wheat can be success