The daily morning Alaskan., 1900-03-27
WHY TRAVEL HAS FALLEN OFF


 would be, and it may indeed be called comparatively small if there Is taken from it the numbers going through whose objective point Is Nome. For this not very encouraging state Of at- fairs much is due to what would be called in the United States the petty peanut policy of the Dominion govern ment and that of British Columbia. In narrow minded selfshness both are on level, and as their acts have materially intertered with the prosperity Of this port, there can be nothing improper in passing an opinion thereon.
 The gold in the Klondike was discov' cred by American miners, and. no fault can be found with the extent and rich- ness Of these discoveries. But SO long as the country continues 70 he cursed with such dog in-thc-manger lcgisla> tion as hampers it at present. develop ment must be both slow and uncertain. The prospector without means is all most absolutely debarred from the Elondikc by the present regulations. It costs him. for instance. ten dollars for free miners certificate, fifteen dollars Co record. and $500 Co do the as- sessment work on his claim. lt costs him the same next year and every year, as his title Is but yearly lease. And his lease extend, Co 250 feet only and he has a royalty of ten per cent. tO pay on the fruits of his own industry. ln the United States the miner gets twenty acres. and all that he pays for it Is two dollars and hall for recording; then he owns his claim.
 But what struck the hardest blow at the business ot the prospector and the prosperity of the Yukon Territory, was the withdrawal ot the principal creeks from location. This has killed pros pecting, which must now and during the enforcement of this legislation nec- e-sarilly Oe confined co territory which Is already known.
 In the passage oi these regulations, and in thc enforcement of them, there has alEay4 JAsSfP afaea' at The Amer ican miners. British Columbia was merely a triae more brazen. passing a law which literally robbed American miners Of the rights which the same government had sold to them.
 The only law referring to Alaska mining now on the statute books Of the United States Is that of 1898, which gives to Canadian miners the same rights on Alaska soil as are given 70 American miners in British Columbia or the Northwest Territory. That was an indication on the part of the United states to be fair and ncighbOrly; it was an offer of friendly arrangement that the Britishers have cOntemptuOusly ignored. Tn SC Of British ColSmbia in return for this offer Co grant the Canadian miner a placer claim of twenty acres on Alaska territory, pass ed an alien law with the express pur- pose of shutting out the American miners altogether.
 This condition Of affair." should be brought Co the attention of congress while it has under consideration SO many bill, for The regulation of mining in Alaska. and particularly ia regard 10 Nome. It is believed that the Amer ican mincrs at Nome will themselves see Co it that no Britishers are permit ted Co miue there. but there should be strong law Co support them in this desire.
 Iu every way that Is possible, in short. the United State, government should adopt a policy similar to that DON being carried out by the two Can adan governments mentioned. It should pass an alien mining law which particularly excludes Canadians and no other aliens. lt slould collect duty on every pound of supplies going into Nome from British ports. It should close the port Of Skagway, the gateway 70 Atlin and the Klondike sni exact duty on every pound of supplies that goes over the summit.
 Such a drastic course of reprisals on the part of the United States govern ment would find favor even among the Canadian, themselves who are now in the interior and smarting under the heavy impOsitions of their own govern ment. And by giving them taste 10 their own medicine, it might enlble the Canadian politicians to view min ing natter in more liberal and com mon sense light. and tend to the adopt ion oi mining laws and regulations that would be fair and equal Co all
 There is no doubt of the richness Of the Rlondike, and Mir. Joseph McGi.,- vray, a man whose reputation as an e. . pert miner is second to no one who has had experience in the Klondike, says, in another column. that the rich gravel beds there will take many generations 10 work out. All that Is needed Is more liberal laws. Then capital would come in, and thousands of miners an pros pectors would make their homes in the Yukon basin. and it's rapid and great development would make Skagway a port of importance that in the amount of it's business would rank next 70 Seattle and San Francisco.