The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-29
PETITION TO LORD MIMIC.
CITIZENS SET FORTH CONDITIONS
IN THE YUKON TERRITORY.
Unreasonable Emotions OF the
Past, and state what should he
Allowed Them I'm the Future.

On July lf last "A committee which had
been appointed by the citizens az Dawson
prepared petition TO Lord Mimic. gov
ernor general Of Canada, in which were
set forth NJ length the complaints which
the people OF the Yukon territory have
felt they were Justified In making and
asking that the dominion government
give them such relief as might be fairly
warranted by the circumstances The
petition rccites some Of the grievances
10 which the people have given express
sion during the past three years and
asks for reforms such as win give the
territory better government and make
less hurdensome the exactions demanded
by Ottawa officials through their ignor-
ance Of the existing conditions.
The petition is as follows:
The Petition.
To the RI. Hon. SIR Gilbert John Muir
ray Elliot knynmound. G.. G. NJ O..
Earl q Mimic, viscount Meirund. Bar
..erai OF Canada. etc, etc.
MAY II please your Excellency-
The petition Of the undersigned humhly
showeth;
l. That on the 18th day Of February.
1900 the undersigned were duly appoint
ga a committee OF the citizens OF the Nu-
kon territory to petition for and secure
representation OF the said citizens on the
Yukon council and in the house Of COM
mons Of Canada.
= AZ TWO large subsequent mass meet
ings OF the said citizens. your petitioners
were commended for the faithful perform
ance OF their duties. and at mass meet
ing held on the 9Th day Of May. 1900.
which was the largest indoor mass meet
ing ever held In the Yukon territory
your petitioners were requested and au-
thorized 10 represent the citizens OF the
Yukon territory on all questions arising
between the date % said mass meeting
and the election OF the duly qualified rep-
reseniatives OF the citizens. Up to the
present time. the Yukon territory has
not had the boon OF responsible govern
ment, but has been governed by appoint
ed officials and not by representatives
chosen by themselves
3. Since the 18Th day OF February, 1000.
communications have passed between
your petitioners and the Yukon council,
and petitions have been addressed 20
your excelency In council and 10 the
parliament Of Canada. and your petition
ers now wish to thank your cxcsllency
for bringing the subject matter Of our
various petitions before your advisers
and before the parliament of Canada.
T. The famous discoveries OF gold in the
Yukon region, and particularly in tho
Dawson district. were made In the au-
tumn of the year 1895 and became wide
~ known during the year 1897 and in that
year and In the following year there was
large influx Of people TO the Yukon ter
ritory. Of about 20N0 or more souls. and
a population of about 100 900 for the Yu-
KIN territory seemed assured.
!. Upon hearing very much exagger-
famous discoveries. the privv council Of
Canada adopted IA most hgrdcnsome tax
known as royalty which was first placed
NJ % per cent. of the gross output and
later on was reftfred 20 10 per cent This
taxation had the effect OF being practi-
cally tax upon labor and a fine for de-
veloping the resources OF the Yukon
territory, and has had the effect Of shut
ting on the development Of all save the
richest placer mining claims ~ the Yu-
kon territory or has forced them 20 he
operated az a loss Along with this bur
densOme taxation came system ~ Inn
posts and restrictions upon the various
Industries and commerce OF this territory
that greatly added 20 the burdens Of the
citizens and retarded the development of
the territory. and the mining regulations
adopted in the years 1897 and 1898 were
evidently made without proper knowledge
OF the conditions existing In the Yukon
territory.
6. A fee of $40 per annum was Imposed
upon every individual who attempted 10
riches Of THIS territory. and n success
ful In the search therefor further foe
~ sib was charged for recording or renew
ing each claim In the Yukon territory.
Under the euise Of prohibition ragu-
lations there was Instituted a system %
liuuor permits and prohibition ~ local
manufacture that had the eject az shut
ting down all legitimate hrewcrias In the
Yukon territory. and ~ the present time
there are two weli-eqnlrned hrewefteA IN
Dawson shut down, while hundreds ~
thousands Of dollars worth n american
beer Is for sale all over the Yukon terri
tory Thus making this country. Hg far
as the manufacture ~ beer 81 concerned.
solely under the control and monopoly
~ the beer manufacturers Of the United
States Of America. while ilqu1r permits
were NOT az any time and are not AZ
Iris date issued 10 the parties who nav
licenses 20 sell fauor. but 10 spectators
who seem TO have the rower ~ obtain
ing permits which arn danted legitimate
dealers ~ the territory. These snecnlai-