The Red Cloud chief., 1899-02-24
The kL0NDlKE WAS THE LAST
An O.lciai Report Denies Later Gold
Finds in Aias%s.

~" O"'c''i report Denies Later Gold
Finds IN Aia,ta.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Ala comp,ete
report on tho reliof work OF the War
department in the Klondike country.
undertaken as a result OF reports that
extreme distress among the miners fol.
lowed the influx to the gold country
during lS97-9s, has been submitted by
secretary Algcr. IL embraces the de.
tailed reports Of Captain r. II. Raw
and Lieutenant W.. T.. Richardson.
Aside from details OF the relief work.
Captain Rays last report, dated last
May, contains the following interest
ing statement.
II do not find anything either IN
Alaska or the Northwest territory 10
justify tho great rush Of people TO
that country or the enormous invest.
ment now being made in Transports.
tion, trading and mining companies.
In the North vest territory no dis.
coveries Of extraordinary richness
have been made since that of tho
klondike, and the claims arc almost
entirely confined to Bonanza, Edo
rado, Dominica, IIonka and Sulphur,
with n Few claims on Bear creek.
In this district all rich claims are
well known and held at very hiph
prices, AMI, whilo the whole country
has beer staked, IL has been done for
speculative purposes. and no work IA
being done except such as Is necessary
10 hold q title until they can be sold to
the unwary newcomer Dr. disposed OF
In the states for corporation schemes.
Captain Constantine OF the Canadian
Northwestern mounted police Is nv
authority for denouncing the move.
ment as n fraud.
I'm the absence Of any other indus.
try, except cutting wool for the river
boats, do not see anything in the fu.
turc for over 90 per cen of tho people
now f~ocking to that country except
disappointment and suffering. Even
those w~ho'obtain employment at 81. so
per hour find that, after deducting thf
cost OF food, packing, candles, ETC.,
they do not net To excel So per day,
and they tell me it Is barely enough
to tide them over the idle season.
up to date no paying mineral
lodes OF either gold or silver have been
discovered In North Alaska, 90 far a.
known.
II am now fully satisfied that In the
near future, Alaska will DO tho source
OF great wealth, but the development
will necessarily be slow owing to the
climatic conditions l recommend the
carly introduction OF horses, mules
and cattle and extra inducements
should be held out for the development
OF agriculture In tho valley OF the
lower Yukon especially. Wild hay can
be obtained there in great abundance,
and oats, barley and spring wheat can
DC successfully cultivated, as we'll as
potatoes, turnips and all the moro
hardy garden vegetables, all Of which
would DO required for many years to
meet the local demand aud by reduc.
ing the cost Of transportation and food
render 1t possible to probably work
a large per cent Of the mines now ly.
ing idle.
"But few Of the people now entering
the northern part Of the territory will
become u factor in its permanent
development. They must pass away
before the time when the wealth OF
the country will become known and
developed.
1.-THE ruling rate Of interest at Daw.
is from 10 to ~ per cent per month
which is the best exeniplifcation
give Of the speculative condition
Of the finances Of that country"