The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-02-22
MANY FRAUDS
Nothing in Sight to Justify
a Big Rush to the
klOndike.
BY Wire From Washington, Feb. q

Secretary Alger has transmitted to con-
gress complete report on the relief work
Of the war department in the Klondike coun-
try undertaken under act Of congress as a
result of reports that extreme distress
among the miners followed the influx to the
gold country during 1898 1t embraces
the detailed reports of Capt. P. H. Ray and
Lieut.. w. P. Richardson. Aside from de-
tails of the relief work, Capt. Rays last
report. dated May last contains the fol-
lowing interesting statement:
Il deem it of the greatest Importance for
the development of the country that roads
should be opened so as to enable the peo-
pie to enter the country not only from the
Y ukon TO the open sea in our own country
which is of the greatest Importance, but 10
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 great highWay-the
Yukon river-and they cannot hope to be
landed al any point in Alaska earlier than
July /. The collaborating districts are from
so to $50 miles from the main stream. There
are not any summer trails except foot trails,
and provisions and tools can only be trans
ported on the backs of men,
II don't find anything either In Alaska
or Northwest territory to justify the great
rush of people to that country, or the enorm-
Gus investment now being made in trans
portatiOn. trading and mining companies.
In Northwest territory, no discoveries of ex-
traordinary richness have been made since
that of the Klondike, and tbs claims are
almost entirely confined to Bonanza, Edo
RADIO, Dominica, Honka and Sulphur, with a
few claims on Bear creek In this district
all rich claims are well known, and held
at very high prices, and while the whole
country has been staked it has been done
Ior speculative purposes and no work is
ro1, ;e 10
hold title until they can be sold 10 the I'M
wary newcomer or disposed of in the States
Tor corporation schemes. Capt. Constantine
of the Canadian Northwestern mounted po-
lice, Is my authority for denouncing the
movement 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 flocking to
that country but disappointment and SUI
fering. Even those who obtain employment
at $l50 per hour find that after deducting
the cost of food, packing, candles, ETC., they
do not net to exceed 81 per day, and they
tell me it is b>rely 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 50 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
De SLOW, owing 10 the CllmatlC COnOltlOnS. L
recommend that the early introduction Of
horses, mules and cattle and extra induce
ment should be held out for the develop
ment of agriculture in the valley of the
lower Yukon especially. Wild hay be
obtained there in great abundance, and oats
barely and spring wheat can be success
fully cultivated, wen as potatoes, tur-
nipS and all the more hardy garden vegeta-
bles, all of which would be required for
many years TO meet the local demand, and
by reducing the cost Of transportation and
food, render 1t possible to profitably 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 be.
come a factor in it's permanent development.
They must pass away before the time when
the wealth of the country will become
known and Developed To promote this
recommend that several we'll 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 pres
ent it requires considerable capital to first
explore country for q practical route to
transport supplies before any work can be
done in prospecting.
THE ruling rate of interest in Dawson is
from 10 to II per cent per month which is
the best eXemplification l can give Of the
specializing condition of the finances OF
that country.