The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-02-25
.TE k0ND|KE country.
A Complete Report of the Relief
Work of the War Department
Sent to Congress.
SUCCIACT STATEMENT OF CAPT. P. H.. RAY
Nothing Found in Either Alaska or the
Northwest Territory to Justify the Great
Rush of People There, or the Enormous
Investment in Transportation and Trad
ing Companies.

Washington, Feb. 21.-Secretary 81
ger has transmitted to congress a
complete report on the relief work of
the wa department in the k!ondike
country, undertaken under act of con-
gress as 4 result of reports that ex-
IRENE distress among the miners fol-
lowed the influx to the gold country
during 1S91-9S. 1t embraces the de-
tailed reports of Capt. P. IL. Ray and
Lieut.. W. p. Richardson. Aside from
details of the relief work, Capt. Rays
last report, dated May last, contains
the following interesting statement:
CAPT. RAYS STATEMENT.
Il deem it of the greatest impor-
tance for the development of the coun-
try that roads should be opened, so as
to enable the people to enter the coun-
try not only from the Yukon to the
open sea in cur own country, which
is of the greatest Importance, but to
enable miners and p~rospectors to get
into the interior with their supplies.
Under existing conditions persons can
enter the country only by the one
great highway-the Yukon river-and
they Il not hope to be landed at any
point in Alaska earlier than July !.
The collaborating districts are from
so to $50 miles back from the main
stream. There are not any summer
trails except foot trails, and provi-
sions and mining tools can only be
transported OF the backs of men.
Il do not find anything either in
Alaska or Northwest territory to JUS
tify the great rush OF people to that
country, II the enormous investment
now being made in transportation,
trading and mining companies. In
Northwest territory no discoveries of
extraordinary richness have been
made since that of the Klondike, and
the claims are almost entirely con-
fined to Bonanza, EIdarado. Dominica,
Honka and Sulphur, with a few
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 been done for
purposes, and no work is
being done except such as is necessary
TO hold title until they can be sold TO
the unwary newcomer or disposed of
In the states for corporation schemes.
Constantine, of the Canadian
Northwestern mounted police. is my
authority for denouncing the move.
as a fraud.
in the absence of any other in-
dustry, except cutting wood for the
river boats. | do not see anything III
the future for over 90 per cent. of the
people low tiocking to that country
but disappointment and suffering.
those who obtain employment Mt
S1:50 per hour, find that after de-
Quoting the cost of food-packing. can
dies. etc, they do not net to exceed -
per day., and they tell me it is barely
enough to tide them over the idle sea-
Up to date no paving mineral Iodes
of either gold or silver have been dis
covered in north Alaska. so far az
DEVELOPMENT WILL BE SLOW.
Il am now fully satisfied that in the
near future Alaska will be the source
of great wealth, but the development
necessarily be slow owing to the
conditions. I recommend the
introduction of horses. mules
and cattle and extra inducements
be held out for the Develop
of agriculture in the valley OF
Lower Yukon especially. Wild har
can be obtained there in great abund.
ahce, and oats, barley and spring
can be successfully cultivated
well as potatoes, turnips. and all
more hardy garden vegetables. all
Of which would be required for many
years to meet the local demand, and
by reducing the cost of transportation
and food render it possible to profita-
bly, work a large per cent. of the
mines now lying idle"