The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-21

WASHINGION, Feb. 2O.-Secretary
Alger has transmitted to Congress a
complete report on the relief work of
the War Department in the Klondike
country undertaken under Act of Con-
gress as a result of reports that ex-
IRENE distress among the miners fol-
lowed the influx to the gold country
during 1898. 1t embraces the de-
tailed reports of Captain p H. Ray
and Lieutenant w. P. Richardson.
Aside from details of the relief work,
! Captain Rays last report dated May
last, contains the following interesting
statement:
1 deem it of the greatest importance
for the development of the country
that roads should be opened, so as to
enable the people to 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
country only by the one big highway
the Yukon River-and they cannot hope
to be landed at any point before July
LIST
The gold-bearing districts are from
fifty to 100 miles back from the main
stream. There are not any summer
trails except foot trails, and provisions
and mining tools can only be trans
ported on the backs of men.
I 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,
trading and mining companies. In the
Northwest Territory no discoveries Of
extraordinary richness have been made
since that of the Klondike, and the
claims are almost entirely confined to
Bonanza Fl Dorado Dominica, 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 coun-
try has been staked it has been done
for speculative purposes, and no work
is being done except such as is neces-
sary to hold a title until they can be
sold to the unwary newcomer or dis
posed of in the States for corporation
schemes. Captain Constantine of the
Canadian Northwestern Police is my
authority for denouncing the scheme
as a fraud.
In the absence of any other indus
try, except cutting wood for the river
boats, l do not see anything in the fu
ture for over 80 per cent of the people
now fiocking to that country but dis
appointment and suffering. Even those
who obtain employment at $1.5O per
hour find that after deducting the cost
of food, packing. candles, etc, they do
not net to exceed 50 per day, and they
tell me it is barely enough to tide them
over the idle season.
up to date no paying mineral leads
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 necessarily be slow, owing to the
climatic conditions. 1 recommend the
early introduction of horses, mules and
cattle, and extra inducements should
be held out for the development of ag-
riculture in the valley of the lower Yu-.
kon especially. Wild hay can be OBJ
tanned there in great abundance, and
oats, barley and spring wheat can be
successfully cultivated, as we'll as po-
tatoes, turnips and all the 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 profitably work 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 a factor in its permanent deyel-
opment. They must pass away before
the time when the wealth of the coun-
try will become known and developed.
To promote this recommend that sew
eral equipped parties be put in the
field and a thorough geographical and
geological exploration of the country be
made, SO that men of ordinary means
will be able to engage in the work of
prospecting and mining. AT present 1t
requires considerable capital to first
explore the. country for a practical
route to transport supplies before any
work con be done in operating.
The ruling rate of interest at Daw-
son is from 10 to ID per cent per month,
which is the best exemplification l can
give of the specializing conditions of
tho fnancfa Of that country"