IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) k // ^/ £^ - 4> J V] /] ^>. 1.0 ^ 1^ 12.0 Hiotographic Sciences Corporation I.I ^ m M ill U 1 1.6 23 WEST MsiN 3TxiET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 # V ?v \ ;\ \ %^-\ ^.^, K%.^ \ Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy whi^h may be bibliog'aphicallv unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. 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Les cartea, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre fiim^s A des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pcur itra reproduit en un seul clichA, il est film6 d partir de Tangle supAriaur gauche, de gauche d droits, et de haut en baa. en prenant le nombre d'imeges nicessaire. Las diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 32 X 1 2 3 4 5 ^^ ^ DEPARTMENT OF THE INTHRIOl^ REPORT KESI'ECTING THE YUKON DISTRICT BV MAJOR J. M. WALSH COMMISSIONER OTTAWA GOVERNMENT PRiMTIXG BUREAU 1898' v^f^^^fv^^!^ A > ri/ DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR rrti--r^- REPORT RESPIXTING THE YUKON DISTRICT BY MAJOR J. M. WALSH COMMISSIONER »^.^. "*C OTTAWA GOVERNMENT PRINTING BUREAU 1898 900443 ■ necessa dent Cc Gold C R H P O R T T(i tlie Hon. Cr.ii'Koui) Siitox, Minister of the Interior, ( )tta\\a. SiK, — Wlien the Canadian Yukon Administration party first camped at the IJig and Little Salmon Rivers, it was with the expectation of proceediii}.! by dotj teams, as soon as they arrived, to Selkirk and Dawson City. ( )n the arrival of the dog teams, which owing to the condition of the rivers and lakes has been con- siderably delayed, I decided, as 1 realized the importance of the infiuence of tlic IcW being put in motion in the Dawson District, and the necessity of the Justice and the Crown Attorney of the District reaching Dawson City as early as pos- sible, to send Justice .McGuire, Crown Attorney Wade, Accountant lUiss and In- spector of Mines McGregor to that place, hoping that I would myself be able to follow with the next complement of dog teams, which I understood would arrive in a few days and in which event I would overtake the advance part\-. With :ny secretary, dog drivers and dog teams I left the Big Salmon River on l-'cliruary loth, and on the 14th we were within two days' march of the advance party wheii we were overtaken by a special courier bringing word that a Cnited States relief expedition was to pass through our territory. On receipt of this information I felt it my duty to return to the coast. Instructions to Inspector Woop. Previous to my departure from the Big Salmon River I had sent full instruc- tions to Inspector Wood, in command of the N. \V. M. Police, from Selkirk to the International Boundary line on the south. A copy of such instructions is attached to this report, marked (a). At the same time I forwarded to you a copy of my ••^;5tructions to Inspector Wood, and also wrote to you pointing out the most imp^ ..- n matters with which they dealt. I might here state that before starting for Big Salmon River from Dawson City, information was received by me which made it appear to me that my presence was more necessary at the coast than at Dawson City. Subsequent events amplv demonstrated the correctness of this information. First, there was the freighting of supplies at the foot of Lake Lebarge and the construction of boats there to carry the supplies down to Dawson City by the first open water. Then there was th.e construction of boats at Bennett and the shipping of further supplies from that point on the first opening of navigation, the locating and finding accommo- dation for and the supplying of the reinforcements coming into the district in the spring, the establi.shment of i)osts on the Dalton Trail, the river and Teslin Lake posts, and handling of the large influx of people in the spring. pn the other hand, we had learned that the people of Dawson District were safe in their food supply until the ist of June. My i)resence there could not help the food situation, and I could do a great deal in' that direction by going to the coast. I had also written Crown Attorney Wade to secure a court room, and, if necessary, put the law in operation immediately, and had instructed Superinten- dent Constantine of the N. W. AT. Police to bring his prisoners before the Judge Gold Commissioner Fawcett had reported that little rovaltv could be cf)"l!cctc(i ;:. ^ :,/ ;• «■ i.) this year owiiiy to the best paying claims being renewed under the old regulatiuns, and that the mines which were being wurked under the new regulatiuns would be uriable to pay royalty, as their expenses would be greater than their output this year. Under these circumstances it appeared to me that my place was at the coast, where so many matters had to be attended to. Regarding the United States relief expedition, 1 wrote you as follows:— "It a foreign expediti(jn is to pass over this district, 1 consider it my duty to go and see what it is, the number of troops the party consists of, what part of the terri- tory it is to pass over, its authority for doing so, the length of time it is to be in the district, from what point it will depart, and what stores it is carrying. There is not tii,e slightest necessity for an expedition of this kind. If the'Ciovernment of the United States has a desire to assist any of its citizens in our country along the Yukon River or in their own country on the Lower Yukon, it will only be necessary for them to contract wi*h some parties to put forty or sixty tons of pro- visions over the passes to Lake Bennett and the foot of Lake Lebarge and at these places to construct boats and ship supplies down the lakes and rivers by the first opening of navigation. This quantity would remove anv possible chance of a shortage that may take i^iace between the ist of June— the date when the short- age would begin to be felt— and the time the first steamers arrive from St. Michaels. I feel quite positive that there is really no danger this vear. It is next winter that I fear the population will have to be assured against shortage, if anything like the number of people come into the district that we are infomied will do so. If the l nited States Government would give its attention to this question for next vear and put in a large depot of supplies this suinmer bv wav of St. Michaels and' the Yukon River as far as Circle City, they would be doing something that might prove of great value, but this present undertaking, to people who understand the situation, is inexplicable. If the expedition is onlv for the puqiose of puttin- supplies at the water and shipping them down bv the first opening of navigatioi? It IS all right, but if it is proposed to take the trail co Dawson City it will meet with dismal failure, for neither horse teams, dog teams nor reindeer teams will make the trip to Dawson City at this season of the year. The rivers would not only be open before they could make half the distance, but the expedition would consume all it started with." I further stated that I would return to the coast, meet the officers in charge of the expedition, confer with them, give them all the information I possessed xnd assist them in every possible way to make their undertaking a success At the same time I pointed out that if their plan was to attempt the passage bv trail I would show them the folly of such an undertaking. Shortlv after mv arrival at hennett I learned of the abandonment of the expedition. Return Trip to tuf. Coast. The morning of the 14th of Februarv we began our return journev to the coast, stopping at the different police posts along the line to inspect the work ^ ereon. At t. > White Horse Rapids we met Captain NorAvood Inspector of Mines en route with dog teams to Dawson City and carrying mail and instruc- ic.ns from the Department for the Gold Commissioner. With Captain Norwood 1 sen further instructions to our officials in Dawson. Subsequentlv we learned that the advance party reached Dawson City on the 26th of Febru; Vv, and Cao- t^^u'^'T uTr^ °" f^' ^l^''^' ^^''' encountering severe weather and heav^v trails. My party arrived at Bennett on 4th March, after having encountered severe weather. During the month of February the thermometer had regi ere L)lcl regulations, ,lioiis would bo icir output this icc was at the i follows: — " It Juty to go and irt of the tcni- e it is to be in rryitig. There le Governtnent country along it will only be ty tons of pro- .charge and at d rivers by the >iblc chance of •hen the short- 11 St. Michaels, ext winter that ^•tiling like the do so. If the 1 for next year :hacls and the ig that might inderstand the )se of putting of navigation, y it will meet ;er teams will ers would not edition would :ers in charge possessed .md ;cess. At the age by trail I mv arrival at )urney to the ect the wor'v Inspector of and instruc- ain Norwood y we learned iy, and Cap- er and heavy encountered ad registered from 40 to 6rj degrees below zero, night and morning, will' a slight rise -it mid.lay. and travelling was anything but comfortable. Affairs at Bkn.vktt. Shortlv after our arrival at Bemiett it soon became apparent that the activity which we had learned was going on at the coast even exceeded (nir exi)ectatiuns. The town of Beimett which, six months previously, coiuanied one frame buildmg and one or two teiUs, now coiUaincd twenty frame imildings and hundreds of tents. Thousands of tons of provisions had arrived at that point, sonu to l)e carried (luwn the lake over the ice and some to remain in store or cache until tlie opening of navigation. The two trails -the White and fhiikoot Passes— were l)locked with men. animals and sui)plies, and tlie collection of duty at the summits was bemg car- ried on almost night and dav. Along any of the trails, so far as the eye could reach, could be seen one long stretch of men dragging their loaded sleds or urging then- jaded animals forward. Sometimes i)assage VvOuld be l)locked fnr an hour at a time. . , .f Wherever timber could be procured boats were under construction, and it many of these boats arc primitive in model and outline, their building has at least' contributed to demonstrate what the best model of boat is for use in these waters. We found also that several steamers were being put oven the ])asses in sections, and one or two were already l)eing put together again. W e also learned that travel on the passes was becoming dangerous. Dn the 3rd of .\iiril a snow slide occurred in the Chilkoot Pass just below the " Scales," in which it is thought some seventv-five people lost their lives. I visited the scene of the accident along with my secretary, but could not ascertain that any of the victims were British subjects. TlIF, 1m)OI) QfF.STlON. In my report of 31st January, I ])ointed out that the food question' was the most important with which we liad to deal. To take such steps as would best assure the people of Dawson District against distress from shortage of food or the more direful possibility of st.irvation, was my most imperative duty. ( )n my return to Bennett, I inv. -diatelv gave orders that the work of freighting supplies to the foot of Lake L< 'jji-ge, which had been stopped, should be pushed f(^rward with all possible six-ed. To further protect the people of Dawson District against shortage of food, I sent the following instructions to Inspector Wood as early as 4th Tanuarv: — "Yiiu'will inform the ])eople who are-crossing the trails froni Skagway and Dvca with the intention of making their way into the Yukon District, that diey \vill not be permitted to cross the line unless they have with them three pounds per dav of provisions each for one year. The shortage of provisions at Dawson makes it very important that this order be strictly enforced, and you will make the necessary arrangements to carr>' it out. I have instructed Inspector Strickland not to permit any person to pass his jiost unless he has with him this supplv." the salutary effect of this order is now patent to everyone. In the first place, it prevented a great many people from going into Dawson City over the ice with only suflficient provisions to carr>' them to that point, and from throwing them- selves upon the population there for provisions until the arri\al of the spring boat's with supplies. It was impossible for them to carry in on the ice any such quantity 6 l»"Klrc,ls ,.f tons nf MM.pIio. nv\r .' : . "'" "'<='»<*»•"« of hrin^fin^ wcM, hacktn Sl- ^•^••^- -....an.lin^ the Dis- '•'- - to the f i-si;;;aH!;n on't ; :;;v;:;'^;;;^:;;;^>-i«^"i,,,a f,„i r.'^.or, f;.;;, avo„rahk> nature of that report m I i f' nn t? ^^• ' ^"■f ""•"•-""•< -f tl-c ".istantine at Dawson C'ilv that 1 11 , •? "'''''} ^'■"'" ^"IHTinten.Jent •^;f'"-^' tl.e arrival of the spVittj? t eetV h m .l^?'' '"'''^'^' "^ f""'' '" "''''t .Urcctio, ^•l..win^r eo.nnu.nieation <, Ma o St i , V'^V?^"''' "T.'T "'"^ ' ^^'"t tl'o Strickland at iM.rt Sifton-- ' '*' f'" "'•'>'•<''•'' '-y l>iu, to Inspector f/' "[ f.....l iu that .listrict. a d t' t n I : oT"""' ^^'''^ ""■'■"^' ^" "•'• >''>•"•>- t>.s winter without carrvin^ suffici ',t ,"„,:. ^'^'''^'l^^^ "•""' «"in;,' there tlie hoats woul.l arrive in the spH,,;. ''"'"• "^ ■^''"visKms to keq, them ,„,til "-."fniin ■;;;;. r:t 'y i;kn";n;:?th"rr"'T """""^ '' •---- f- ship. t.nie hein,,: .icar at hand whe.i the ice of .V r- i U """f "^ "'yf^'-'^f'-". and the people to reach Dawson before tl e s i ^ Heets n u"?h '"^'"' '", T"^ '" •"•'■""■t larf^n^ quantn.es of supplies will arrive I a.n i kr tl e dt' ''^'^'''' ^'^''' f''^''^^'"'"^' sl>"rtu^.e o, tood takin.t,^ place kefore eiicVca e-H ''^''T'''' l"""''''^ '"' •■'■'^• fore, decided to reduce the uuantitv of r,, V • '''' '''^^'''- ^ ''''vc. theiv- -ith him to 600 pounds. an,l a" 00, JZ Hve^^liS '^^'^ 'T""" ^''""'^' '-- •S0.1 ( ity hy ,ce is positively at an end si ]| tl dr u t|"'' ","' '"'^:^*T '" ^''^^^- I may .say here that the ^' Year's S„n, v '• nr/w '"''''''" ^'"t.rely." qtiantities of supplies ship,>ed in , Dau "in- 1,1 "'V'' ""^'^'"^ ^'^ ''''•^■■■"ff 'ai-^v "PO" which ,he popnlati/,,; of Daw < C Ive f,7ti' ^''' "T""'^^ "^ "•''vfe.ti.ii. transportation facilities. I stro,,rfvcX,l ,,,.,. "' ,""'""'•' ^^ '"■ I'm nVlini; prov.ons report in this oo,,,,eet o .^'tV >e ne™''"? °' l^" "'"«"'<■« ,o ,„? Pnce of a,,,e,es „n„ tnateriais ^enttirel 'r^;^t^; ^ j-t;^;,^;" - .1. ans of l)rin^Mt)jT VlT llilVL* iil'i'll iiixlrcd pounds le full cornple- tod tliorrtuiijhly dcMi will ^,, iij) rt'tiirn starva- "■•■imj) of over lit i)articidarly ill the iiitfiior nadi" for adc- KliiiK- till' Dis- II ri'port from <'i"iis for sliip- I's I'oint and ion. and the I'd to permit ■'s frc'ij^d)tin,!jf I'^sed (,r anv 'lave. therc'- ■'^iioiild lla^■e R-c to Daw- L'ly." laviiift- larj^c iiavijratioi). ' the arrival I'lit supplies ? the pfilice lary on the rtance. To population ihle prices, providing lent to niv elc'R-raphio coninnnn'- III also the 'usands of acres of land uliicli cannot now he worlxcd profitahly tnay he worked with satis- factory returns. From Hknnktt to Dawson. On tlic 3rd of May, having arraiiKoinents (piite complete for the proi)er carry- ing out of the many matters which re(piired attention at the coast, I again set out for Dawson City, taking with nic three Peterborough canoes, it being my inten- tion to proceed to tiie foot of Lake Lebarge over the ice and from thence to Dawson by water. On ()th May we arrive., at the I-ewes I'ost (foot (jf Lake Lebarge), having encountered very little difficulty, fainain .Staines, of tiie Xorth- W'est Mounted Police, left th Lewes Post immediatciv after tiiv arrival there, with twenty-three men and nine boats, carrying somethiiig over i,o,(xx) jjounds of l)rovisions. We left the Lewes Post on the nth and arrived a't .Selkirk on the 14th. Captain Starncs arrived with his P.eet on the 15th and left the same dav for ]:)aw,son City, which ])oint he reached on the 17th. '\\e remained at .Selkirk for three days and tried to get ui> the Pelly a short distance, but eould not do so, f>wmg to the current being too strong at that season of the vear. We examined the countryin the vicinity of .Selkirk thoroughly, and 1 ha'e'no liesitation in sav- mg that it is the finest location between Dawson and the coast, bv the P.enne'tt route, that can be found for a town site. On 19th May we arrived at the Stewart River, made an inspection of that locality and proceeded on the way to Dawson wliere we arrived on the jist. KoVAr.TV. ( )n arrival at Dawson i foimd a great many questions awaiting solution wliici> could only be disposed of by the authority of the Commissioner. I'or instance, the rpiestion of royalty, over wliich tlie-e had t)een considerable discussion, ap- piared to be somewhat mixed. 1 immediateh announci-d that rovaltv would be collected on all claims the leases of which were renewed subsecpient to the date when the law canie into force. Xeariv all the leaseholders ' f the larger i)rospected clanns .showed a disposition to respect the collection of rovaltv. ( Hhers. however, were not so tractable, their i)rincipa! objection being that their leases were granted for one year and that once being grante.j subse(|uent restrictions could not l)e placed upon them. r pointed out to the leaseholders that collection of rovaltv was necessary for the maintenance of courts of justice, for jjolice i)rotection. niail communication. and for public services. \\'hile acknowledging the force of these reasons ihev .submitted that a more thorough examination of the real cost of outimtting ilie gold would convince the (iovernment that the rovaltv is a severe tax and (>x- pressed a hope that next year would see it removed. Rovaltv was not collecto u'- hI?V", ^"^t'l- ^^■'^-••^■''^^thcv were stake.l 500 feet. After careful exami'iat o ue decided to confirm the.nghtful staker in his claim of 500 f.et. The settling u of the claims in this wa>- gave great satisfaction. All the remaining creek clSns on Dominion and all fractions of claims were reserved to the Gov^rnm^'t Many other disputes regarding claims were constantlv presenting themselves but m due course were s.ntisfactorily disposed of. •' g mtmseues, <;nvERx.MK\T BriT.nixcs. a new iZdinp'rir' 'r ^'''''^" "^"' '''' ^°^'^ Commissioner had contracted for a 1 eu building on the Government reserve for an oflfice, the old office beintr alto- gether 00 small. Subsequently I found that the new building was also too^smaU o the Srw ?'■"'' the erection of an addition to it fof the accon'modaT^ ouloicS \y^^^^^^ ^r'^-^'^ ^^'^^ '^^^J '^'t'^^rt^ '^^e" with- out oi+iccs. \\ ork on this addition was not begun when I left IJawson Citv. I he Gold Commissioners house was also too small for his own and his staff's cr;rbl:Tart:;r ""'"^'^"' '^" ^'^^'^^'°" ^^ '- --'^ ^^ ^^ ^^'--'^ -''• ^^ It was also found necessary to provide accommodation for other Govern- nient officials in the district, and with this object in view tenders were ailed for, for tie erection of a building on the Government reserve. This building is a commo dious and substantia! structure, having seven good bed rooms Ihe storeroom at the barracks was entirely too small for the post not havintr a capacity for more than three or four months^ supplies. It was. he dor e found necessary to provide further accommodation for torage purposes and I Accord mgly authorized the construction of a new storehouse ^"'1'°'"'' '^"'' ^ ^"°'^^'- As the guard room at the barracks was entirelv inadequate. T authorized the coZand"" "" '"" '""'"^ ''' ^'"^ P""-^^^^ ^"^' ^-- -^ «ffi- foi-Z Xer in The mail service had increased to such proportions at Dawson Citv that it was impossible to find sufficient room for its distribution in the barracks where 1 had hitherto been done, and in consequence a building had to be procured n the town. As the owners of this building wished to use it for other purn^^^^^^^^ was necessary to provide some other place where the mail servkrcotdd be nro perly attended to In accordance therewith a new building suitable or the ^ser-' ' \n the?.'h;nA-P''"^f "'^k"'^ '°"^'-^^*^^ f^"-- ^"d ^^ P'-^bablv now comp e ted f. f, K , ^"''^'"f^ 'la^'e been constructed on the Government reserve close to the barracks and should any changes, such as the construction of a nil rost Mail Service. of thi'' 7^?T'°" ?■ r°'-' ^^'^ Department should take over the mail service of thi> distnct-ccrtainly tiie Dawson part of it. The service is growing very ling Dominion ilty. By some lerous disputes the creek pend- s on this creek )uld liave heen 111 examination rhc settling up g creek claims •nment. ng themselves, contracted for ice being alto- also too small, cconimodation irto been with- son City, and his staff's h will make it 3ther Govern- called for, for El' is a commo- st, not having ?rcfore, found and I accord- ludiorized the the officer in 1 City that it rracks, where i procured in r purposes it :ould be pro- i for the ser- w completed, reserve close f a new post use of with mail service ■rowing ven- .1 9 large and requires the full attention of a postmaster with a few clerks thoroughly educated m the service. It is impossible for the police to handle it satisfactorih". H-om hve to thirteen men were constantly emplovcd to carrv out this work at Dawson, reduc.ng the number available for other dutv below what it should be 1 think It would be advisable to establish a branch jjost ofifice at the Forks' of the lUdorado and Bonanza Creeks where people uj) tlie gulches may get their mail. Salk of Govkrnment Lots. Previous to my arrival at Dawson, Mr. Wade, Registrar of Lands, liad had a survey made of lots in the Governmc>nt addition of die town of Dawson. All these lands had been applied for. I gave instructions to have the.n properlv valued and pubhc notices posted so that the lots might be sold i„ accordan.-o herewith. Subsequently a survey was made of the town of Klondike, and tlie lots according to that sur\'ey will be disposed of in a similar manner. Lease of Water Front, Dawsox. I also found on my arri at Dawson, that Mr. Wade and Mr. F^awcett as the Zrr"McDon:;V'r ^i°"'""" Government, had leased to Messrs. R. M^rriso, am A. McDonald, for $30,000.00 per annum, part of tlie water front of Dawson before the terms of the lease were settled witli Messrs. Morrison and McDona ' tenders for lie water front had been made to Messrs. Wade and Ivawcet ' r W. Bourke had offere.l to pay quarterly a rent of $3,000.00 per annum; MM L i ".n nn 7 ", i''^^ '''." ""'T''^ ''"'''^ "^ ^^.Soo.oo for the whole front, or one of $120.00 for eadi lot of 25 feet; Messrs. Dunsmore, Spencer and McPhee ha oftered an annual rental of $25,000.00 payable monthlv in advance- M T h Cameron had offered a monthlv rental of $2,050.00: and Messrs. Al^r i on a McDonald had offere.l one (,f $2,500.00 per month, or $30,000.00 per annun \ part of the tract, about 100 feet frontage which it was proposed .reserves . ^:lte for Government offices, and all of the front whicli exteiuk fr.,„ n ,V Tr feet to the nord, of Third Street to the Smith almlon tc^D^l^J ' ii /a ," hat afforded sufifiaent water for steamboat landing purposes, were excqS from the and covered by the lease. It was granted for but one vear, and cwen ti^s hort term may be terminated by one month's notice from tlie-Go^'ernment Ihe transaction bemg one which I considered to be most satisfacton- from every standpoint, I at once gave it my approval. cuisiacior> irom Liquor. > On my arrival at Dawson I found that Mr, Bulvea renrescntinfr thf^ \T^.,r west Territorial Government, had collected $2,000.00 Uc^I^U^'l^ ^^±, Mxteen saloon-keepers, and had issued licenses to them accc ZgK I I ad .ntten you previously that I could not recognize the authoritv (he Terr to i Government in this district, and advised the saloon-keeners' th.t T ' 7i reco,gnize ATr. r-ulyea's action. The saloons were, in con^.i e f run blfor oLtanli.:jyS:^.^H^StMou;;^ as the closing up of the bars on the^ sib^^^ ' ^^^^J;::^^:^:^^ ^^ lie (I'stnct was passed through under permit from the LientennnVr r .1. Nor.h.wes. Territories prcvict. ..! „y applSfenVT afef'lSi;;' 10 Officer of the Government of Canada in the Ynkon District, except in two in- stances of pemiits issued on my own autiiority. In two or three oases Hquor was all(;wcd to pass into the district at l^awson City by tlie X(jrth-west Mounted PoHcc at Tagish, under permit issued by the Territorial (Government, subsequent to my appointment as aforesaid, but why those jiermits were recognized I have been unable to ascertain, as it was directly contrary to instructions in this regard, which 1 had explicitly given and which I thought were as explicitly understood. Immediately upon the arrival of this liquor at Dawson I ordered it to be put in bond until such time as instructions could be received from Ottawa. At the same time 1 forvyarded instructions to the Officer commanding the North-west Mount- ed Police in the Southern District to rigidly adhere to my previous instructions, and I concurrently sent him a copy of the list of permits which had been issued for the importation of liquor into the Yukon District, which were to be honoured by him, instructing him that these were the only permits which he could honour, 'i'his was in accordance with your communication to me from the Deputy Minister nf your Department, with which was inclosed a list of all jicnnits issued for the importation of licpior into the Yukon District up to that time. I forwarded a copy of this list to the Oflicer commanding the North-west MountedPolice in the .Southern Division. At that time I wrote to you that I would do all in my power to curtail the licpior traffic and strongly advised that until; I had seen vou and given you all the details of which T had become cognizant! licjuor be prohibited from the'district. Subsec|uently, I received a further list of i)ermits from Colonel Steele, which had been issued by the Government of the North-west Territories and which, having been held l)y the ^Minister of Justice to be legal, had to be recognized, and I gave orders accordingly. the Police Posts. The following police posts are now established in the Yukon District:— Fort Cudahy. Dawson City, Stewart River McQuesten River. Fort Selkirk Five Finger Rapids, Little .Salmon River. Big Salmon River, Hootalinqua River' Lewes Post (foot of Lake Lebarge), Leliarge I'ost (head of lake\ White Horse Rapids, Fort Sifton (Tagish). Dalton International Line Post and Dalton's House There is also a detachment at Bennett, one at I.inderman, one at the summit of the White Pass, one at the summit of the Chilkoot Pass, and one at the Stikine River. Law, Order and Sabbath Observance. it has been a matter of gratification to me to note the law-abiding and orderly character of the permanent and transient residents of Dawson and the district generally. All have evinced an easiest desire to obey and uphold the law I round, however, on the first Sunday after mv arrival at Dawson that while order was preserved as usual, the general wcek-dav business was continued I deemed It highly improper that the Sabbath should be desecrated, and at once gave orders for Its due obser\'ance in accordance with t!ie .statutes in that behalf, and since that time the Sabbath has been quite as well observed as it is in the older towns east. In confirmation of the above I may copy the following from a Dawson Citv paper that has been usually hcstile to Canadian administration:— " No one here but admits that never before have we been personally present where so astonishing a state of order an* safety to life and property has been u )t in two i Il- ls liquor was ?st Mounted , subsequent lized 1 have this regard, understood, to be put in At the same ^vest Mount- instructions, been issued he honoured juld honour, uty Minister sued for the irded a copy olice in the in my power en you and e ])rohibited -om Colonel t Territories , had to be It is something to be remembered and spoken of the longest day we riot: — ort Selkirk, nqua River, /'bite Horse on's House. ; summit of the Stikine and orderly the district tlie law. I while order I deemed e:ave orders , and since Dlder towns 'awson City illy present y has been maintain iu, live." A prominent American resident in Dawson, writing to the press said upon the same subject: ' ;• I wish to say in regard to the Mounted Police who govern the North-west Territory under the management of Major Walsh, that a more orderly and (luiet mining camp does not exist on the face of the globe. Thev have complete control and the people are high in their praise. Your property and person are safe all the Lunc. You need have no fear day or night." Cf)iiRT.s EsTAni,Tsni;i) and the Law at Wohk. _ _I found, on arrival at Dawson, lliat law courts had been established several criminal cases had been disposed of. and two sentences of five vears' imprison- ment bad been imposed. The moral effect of tliis is patent. People f el hat ^ Wn-^^ 7 T '''''^'?^' ^^ '" ""''>''"^ ^'^■'^'"^t' '"-^tice is adminis ered as it i a^lmimstered wherever the British fiag flies. Shortlv before mv departure from Meeham on the McChntock River, and were found guiltv and sentenced to be hanged on ist November next. ' se....ncea to De Assistance to Hospitals. Some time after my arrival at Dawson the Rev. I-ather Tudire priest of this dis net informed me that the St. Mary's Hospital tinder his cli.rje had reached a s ate of financial embarrassment, and that if no assistance were foXomin^ he shoulj have to discontinue receiving patients. He also informed tl a son e ,W t tZr ,'' '''"' *° '' "^^^^ ^"^ '^'^ l^^^'^"ts alreadv in the hospital T s institution has been one of great mercv to the district, and up to last vear iiad re TLar't^rfoSr ff'r ^, '"i"'"'^ ^''^'''''^^" '^ "-^ ^^ its expanses but tie scarcity of food last fall and the large mimber of persons who were left in the district without money or labour to provide it, threw upon tU hospital a ereat Ihetosnhllf "'" ""'■' ""^^'V" ^^>' '"^^ ^"-^'''^"-- The liabiht ' ncurred bv ake?'3Tsed for h > ° *'' ''"'""^' •'^'"^^ ^"'" °^ <^^"'-^'' ^^^^^ had been stitution.s (, this kind are far more required than in anv other district I have evei^ S MWs HoStn?"'''/''^'""^ ?'''^' """'^ '^^^'^ '^ -"- '- ^"'- assistance o M. -Alary s Hospital; otherwise, should it be forced to close the care of the ^ick would surely fall ...on the Government. This would en aU an xpenditure of not '"rarof"$-LSo' o- 'T""".f '?'^"; •''''"'^'- *^-^^ circumstanced r"anctioned a grant of $5,(x)o to aid in the liquidation of the debt of St. Marv's Hosnital ?n Ihe 5tv Me'ssTlv":; '"^T^n"^ ^^' ^'" ^'^'•^''"^■" "^ ^''^^^ clinches rSS cr ntion • ;nd n ni .f '"^ ^.'''" T"'^^^^ ^ '''''''^^' ^"^°""t bv private sub- nS:;^^de:rthe^ho:;SarSc£;r' ^"^ ''' ''''''-' "^ '^^'^'^ '- '^^'-- General Hospitai,. A general hospital was also under construction by the Presb>teri-it>s -ind Ei)iscopahans, and I authorized a grant to them of 152 cno /^^naM li . the hosnitnl nc ^r^r,,. ,. ^ -ui ^t^, ^" .'^"^'" oi $2,500 to enable them to open tn. hospital as soo- .... possible. These institutions are ^bsohuely essential to 12 Dawson. A lar^e population of men living alone in cabins or tents, with nobody to assist thcni ni case of illness, have but one place to go to and that is the hos- pital, and I therefore recommend that the matter of future assistance for such mstitutions be given consideration. The Church rs and Fratekxal Organization's. On my arrival in Dawson I found that the Episcopalian bodv had already built a church and residence upon the police reserve, and I granted permission to the I resby eriaii. Methodist and Greek bodies, and Salvation Armv. respectively to erect churches; also for a general hospital. I also granted permission to' the Aiasons, Oddfellows and I'oresters conjointly toi erect a building on the reserve and 1 acceded to the ro(|uest of the Presbyterian Church and the Roman Catholic Llnirch to build upon tlie reserve at Selkirk near where the Fuiglish Church Mis- sion hr.d already built. i Banks. The opomng by the Canadian Bank of Commerce and Rank of l?ritish Xorth America of offices in Dawso City has been a great boon to the population. The eople have now a safe pl.ce to deposit their gold dust and are able to purchase ( ratts for the shipment of money to the outside without risk. The currency is also 01 great convenience. Dawson. F,n, J'n^ *"''''i ?• ^^'YT' ^'""l '''°''" '•e'liarkable growth during the past summer. 1 om a population of from five to seven thousand in May it increased to from sixteen to seventeen thousand in July. Most of the people were living in tents, l^e saw-mills were running day and night, and preparations were being made i)v a great many for winter quarters. I understand that under the new Act for the Government of the Yukon Dis- S rTaces'Th- '"hV"''' ^r the immediate incorporation of Dawson a ik1 a little Sfn; J '•! 1 ' '".^'■'f '''"'^'- ^^"^^'^°" ^'^°"1'1 ^'^ incor,)orated with a. h tie delay as possible so that the responsibilities of municipal government may be placed upon the inhabitants at an early date. vcrnmcn: may R:vER Navigation. .nH Se^ "''t'?^'?" °f *^' ^'PP'' "^"'^^^ ^•^^'- ^^tvveen Dawson City and Bennett and Teshn Lake has become an accomplished fact, and the practicability of thlse routes for steamers of paying capacity has been demonstrated to fc rtainty and m the future the passenger and the freight traffic as well will be by S tw routes and not by St. Michaels and the Lower Yukon. A suggL ve on ment r upon the St. ]\ ichaels route is that the first steamer this seasSi d d , „ Trrfve n Dawson from aown the river until the nth of June, and this steamer lad '^^lnere boaltnTs^MS 7Tf ";'' °"^-^' ' ^''''^ ^"'-^"^'^-^ ^^ provisions Tl fir beat from St. Michaels did not arrive at Dawson until the latter part of Tulv and as no boa has ever left Dawson City later than the first week it To ws {l e nnvi from the :st of June ti^t^ li:^^^'^^^::::;,!^:^:::^ ^- IH Its, witli nobody that is the hos- istaiice for such lad already built ^rniission to the respoctivcly, to rmission to the on the reserve, 'Ionian Catholic sh Church Mis- if British X(jrth ^inilation. The ble to purchase riic currency is e past summer, reascd tcj from living- in tents, being made i)y le Yukon Dis- f Dawson and orporated with vernment mav y and Bennett ibility of these certainty, and by these two e commentary I not arrive in • had wintered ns. The first t of July, and ows the navi- ?eks duration, r Teslin Lake seasons up to the 1st October. Again, steamers can make the trii) from Dawson to liennett which m six days brings them within two days of the coast, while it takes from eight to ten days for the best boats to make the trip from Dawson to St. Michaels. Steamers will make the trip from Bennett to Dawson in three days, while it takes a steamer from St. Michaels to Dawson from sixteen to twenty davs to make the trip. Ihen it is i,ooo miles further from St. Michaels to Xancouver than from bkagvvay to \ ancouver, and Skagway is only 48 miles from r.ennett. Another point IS that supplies going into the district bv the American Yukon are carried against the current, while by the Britisli Yukon thev are carried with the current, a.l uf winch proves the advantage of the Canadian route over the American route, and wit' our own coast ])ort the advantage which the Canadian merchant would' have over the American merchant in supplying the district with what it requires IS evident. ' j Tiiis winter the channel of the Thirty-IMile River could be greatlv improved ])}• the removal of the dangerous rocks in its course. It would re(|uire very little expense to put this river in safe condition for navigation. I would recommen.l that attention be given to this matter at once. Last winter when I was going up the river over the trail I noticed tliat the dangerous rocks were all cxnosed \ charge of dynamite could very easily remove them. Some dredging at the foot ■ )f Lake Lcbarge and at Cariboo Crossing would also improve navigation by this route. In a former report I stated that the Lewes River was not navigable, and intimated that it could not be made navigar)le. I have since found that the waters of this river are very much deeper at the points referred to ii, my rcnort tnan I ^^^as then aware, and by removing a few rocks at different places' a good channel for navigation can be secured. ReSERV.XTIOX of LaXI) for Till- GOVF.RXMFXT. ..uyl'J.'T'i ^°J ^^'^ ^f Xf """^"t all land outside of the Hari)er, Smith and Dav additions to the town of Dawson, and also all the suitable land on the west side hJelnl\Z?'^'''-^'' ^'\ ''^'°"- I ''""''' '^'"°"^'>' '•e*--""!'"^^"^! that if patents la e not yet been issued to Haq^er, Smith, or Day, and if the Covernment is not bound to issue such patents, that patents to these parties for their respective addi- tions to Dawson be refused. ^^>->v<. auui ,, J 1'" ^'^f ^^f/"*- tlie Government the most suitable town site property at the Forks of the Eldorado and Bonanza Creeks, at the mouth of the Stewart RivJr ar tl^e junction of the Stewart and McQuesten Rivers and at Selkirk. Mining Regulations. For the purpose of providing a suitable tribunal for the hearing and decision am nSt; "'^w^""^^ '" '''''■''' '''r' """'"^ P'"°>^^'-^>'' ^ ^^^-^'^^ advisable" amend the re -ulations governing placer mining in the Yukon District A copy of my amendments is attached hereto, marked (b.) Tq facilitate convenience of management and to afford description of mining properties, I d vid ^11^^' iLn S'whin" "^ four mining divisions, according to ihe memorandum o regula iom of which a copy is hereto attached, marked (c). bLuacion, Presentation of Petition. A committee representing the mining interests of the district called upon me and presented me with a petition requesting that I would lay it before tlie Govern 14 nu'nt. lliis petition, whicli deals with several matters regarding the mining regu- lations, accompanies this rei)ort. TlMJ'.KU. Regarding the timber of the district, a policy of extreme caution should lie adopted. \\ ithoul timber there can be absolutely no development in this district, and tlie regulations should be such as will best ensure its preservation while afforrl- mg the i)opulation all that its members recpiire for legitimate use. Timber leases should be issued from tiie district, and not from Ottawa. GOVERNMKNT Hi' ADOUAKTI.KS.. While Selkirk may periiaps iu a feu years become tlu' proper place for the Government headquarters of the district, it is not so at present, nor can anything be done to make it the centre wliile the Klondike and Indian River districts turn out the gold they are now doing. Dawson Citv, in the meantime, nuist be the seat of Government for the "S'ukon District. Till-: Battalion'. ^ (3n my arrival at Selkirk on my tri]) up the river I found Col. Evans camped t.iere with sixty men. The balance of his command had not vet arrived Good progress had been made in getting out logs for the various buildings to be con- structed. I informed Col. Evans that it was more than likelv that at least lOO of his command would have to winter at Dawson. Subsequentlv Col. Steele advised me that the police force at Dawson was to be increased to 70'men, and I wrote to Col Evans stating that perhaps this number would be sufficient to perform Hi^ work there this winter. Weights and Measures. An officer to attend to this duty should be sent in at once. A great deal of business is done with gold dust, and it is very important that the gold scales at l)usmess places shoula be well looked after. I was informed by a weigh man in one of the establishments that a gold sack with $100 i,, it will in small purchases nui short about $25, or in other words, the weigh man takes 25 per c^nt There should also be a fishery inspector. The Weights and Measures Inspector could attend to both these duties. AssisTAXT Judge. I would recommend that an Assistant Judge for the Dawson District be ap- pointed, and that one of his duties be the deciding of mining disputes. I do not think anyone but a lawyer is qualified to try these cases. _ If the present Gold Commissioner had such qualifications, I am inclined to think that complaints against his administration would have been few— if indeed anv would have been made. < ' , : , ■ '.11 15 lie mining regii- .ition should he in this district, on wliile afforrl- Tiniher leases -T place for tlio )r can anything I'Y districts turn le, must he the Evans camped arrived. Good ings to be con- at least loo of . Steele advised and I wrote to to perform ^he A. great deal of gold scales at igh man in one purchases run cent. There nspector could District be ap- ites, I do not am inclined to few — if indeed Steamboat Inspector. A steamboat insi)ector should also he sent here to examine and make in- spection of the steamboats oi)erating on the lakes ami rivers of this district. A large number of people are and will be travelling bv steaml)out. and I am quite sure that these vessels are 'not sailing under regulation. \\\i. 'rSK'RKM.'s S|-.R\UKS 1 \ TIM-: Kl O.MlIkK DlSlUICT. i would reconmuMul that Mr. Tyrrell, at the end ,,f his season's work wliich 1 understand ternnnates about the end of .Septemlier, sIduI.I be sent to the Kk.n- cikc District to make a thorougii examination of the work going on thert' durin- the fall and winter. Xo expense should be attached to this actio,, other than ti,e payment of Mr. Tyrreirs services and his expenses. The iiiformation l,c. w..,ild be able to gather could be used to great advantage in other di^trict^ and 1 think this excellent opportunity should not be lost. Incoming Population. It is hardly possible to estimate the nun.ber of peo],le who will have passe.l into the \ukon histnct before the closing of navigation this fall, but whatever tiie number may be it ,s certain that a great deal of neu' ground will have to be oncied up in order to retain all the people now in the district. Tliere can be no doub hat a great many w,ll become disheartened and discouraged at what mav seem to tl.em ill-success due ,n reahtv to their own unfitness for combating the circu,n- s ances surrounding them. There will, however, be a great manv who are f Iv ahve to he situatio,i an* who will assist in ope.iing up the new territorv T at tZ Tu"- '"'\ """"f'' "^ t^- ^l'^''^PP"i"t'^^l °"^^ n-t fall and winter mav 1^ ant 1- fhi H-cJ^^^r^T l"""" '"" '" "° '''*''>' ^^ fl^tnmental to the mining interests of Output of Gold and Gkxlral Prospects. The output of gold this year from the Yukon District will be in the neidi- bourhood of ten million dollars. When I lefr Dawson on 4tli Augu 1 e s, h ur and sumnier's output amounted to about eight and one-half miE do L? a g we estimated that there w^as about two million dollars of gold stiir",! tl e du.np most of which could not be washed up for want of water, but depend ngentev upon ram this could be c eared up before the close of tl,; season Thfe m Hon dollars was carried oyer from last autumn, which was shipped out his sim i er This amount cannot be counted in this year's output. I twill require tlsvei When' t^^e Z ',f "'^" ^'""■^''^ ^° ""^ ^^^^ ^''^^^^ °f ^'- ^l^^trict " U hen the difificulties of operation, the scarcity of supplies and the lack of proper facilities for mining and the small territorv worked are considered an "reaTfx^ •/;• "'T' f ''" "^'"'°" ^^"^^"^ ^^^ ^ remarkable shov-inTaml tifi s fwo c e'kf imoi?whlh" *"'""• ^'''}^^y^ ^.Idorado and P.onanzf are the onlv rr^reseS the "n;^^^ n^ S """' '""T^^'^^'^' ''''.'^ '^"^ ''^'^'^ 'l^'"^" Thev. therefore, several other crX t 'V' ^'"^' ■'''' ^"'^'^ l^°'"inio". Hunker. Sulphur, and o the I s^ of nrnH \ •' • ^''"^ "^•^'^>' '^'" ""'"'^ '^^"^^^ '^^'^'''^ ^"" be added to the hs. of producers and it ,s impossible to make anv estimate now of ^^■hat 16 llic piiKhict (if j^old will 1)1'. Sonic loss expensive way of thawing out the ground will (liinl)tless !)e found and a better process of mining can then be adopted. There is a great field for hydraulic operations, and tliis system will no doubt be introduced before long. Work can then be done on a large scale. The output (jf gold slidiild continue to increa.se from \ear to year until it reaches a sum which will class the district among the greatest mining camps in the world. I he kloiidil^ the country and its means. AH the information sent out from the countrv was left to the rci)resentatives of English and foreign newspapers to supplv. Last siiring and summer there were in the Yukon in the neighbourhood of two'hundi'ed repre- .sentatives of newspai)ers, sent there for the express puri^ose of examinino- into tl^ie resources and wants of the district. Of these about thirtv-five represented Knghsh papers, about ten represented papers publi.shed hi Paris, ten papers puh- hslied m Cermany. and about one hundred and fortv represented newspapers of thel nited States. From time to time occasional letters from the Yukon appear- ed in Canadian ])apers, but these were onlv from casual correspondents and were 17 ut the j^roiiiid u he adopted. I no (louht l)e Tlic output of a sum uhicli iity-livc \ears, rmr the trade lould l)e ours. at is. iiol tiuly IS far down as e went up the le ahove Me- Mie, l)Ut ii^nn] ieved tliat tlie lectin,!.,' in tliat i(Juesteu and 1 llij;- .^^alniiin rospeets have \i' really only of the hvdrau- ield. it the trade of ethinj^ is not 'resiiti Lake V railway was St iniportanee (lovernnient. will he worth come to the uired for the ada have not at our |)eoplo sun)rise you, in Jidy there n the distriet. into the eon- ' result of his lat means the on rej^'ardiu'i;' mtry was left Last sprinji;- undfed rei)re- aniiniuo^ into ; represented I papers puh- ewspapers of ukon appear- its, and were jjfeiieral in the charaetcr of their eontents. They were not written hv men who made it a husiuess to investigate and obtain information sueii as was needed to tiring,' the people of Canada thoroughly in touch with tlic needs of the eountry in a eommereial way. There is, however, tiiis to he said--that while the Ameri can papHTS have heaped upon us a >,n-eat deal of ahuse, ou'- tluuiks are certainlv due to them for advertisiiif,' our country, as'witliout liie assistance nf their press and l)opulation, comparatively little woul/I he yet known nf the I'.ritish ^■ukon. NeWSI'AI'KK RkI'OKTS. 1 wisii to call your attention to the reports \\]:ic!i have been iiuhlished iu cer- tain newspapers accusing- otticials of the Yukon District of cornipiion. I lu.se rcjiorts are ahsohitely false. I have in(piire(l into tlie matters wliich have onie to my notice throuf,di tlie press, and found no foundation for them Duriii^f mv slay in Dawson City I several timi'S recpiested the public to send iu anv cliar^^-s which they had aj.;ainst any of the officials iu the emi)Ioy of the (ioveriiment in the Yukon District, and I al.so had the recpiest made from the |)latform at a mass meetiuj,', that if persons who were accusing the ofVicials and emplovecs of the (Joveniment with corruption would make their charj.;es to me thev would be thorou{,dily investif^ated; but not one sin^-lc cliar),^' was i)resented. The .abusive cru.sade or aj,ntation a>,'-aiiist Dominion officers in the Yukon was, I am infonned, first started by a .\Ir. Perry at .'^ka^'way. ft was carried over the passes from there by the peo))le i^oiuf,' into Dawson, and was circulated anioiifi;' the disappointed new-comers. It was then taken up by the coa.st ])apers and by them .sent broadcast over the land. As soon as I heard of it T took promi)t action to ascertain what truth there was in the reports that were beinf:^ circulated. With that object in view I sent out requests everywhere asking ])eople, if they had any charj,a-s against officials, to hand them in to me and they would be thorouj^hly investif,'ate(l and, as f have before stated, I even went so far as to have the matter referred to at a i)ul)lic meeting. The only responses to my recpiests were charp;es which were made acrainst some of the police for offences of a minor nature. These charp^es had nothinf,'- to d(j with the administration of the po.st office, the laud or mining- laws, but were for siich ofTences as using abusive language, il'c. They were carefully incpiired into. Not one charge, however, was made against any of'ficial f)f the Co'vcrnmetit. Officials of any Government entering into' a new and isolated district where the people are not closely restricted by law and are free from taxation have almost invariably met with just sucli^ an experience as we have had. The introduction and enforcement of law and taxation naturally made us unpopular with the older residents, who were unaccustomed to that sort of thing. Added to this, some twenty thousand people of all nationalities had flocked into the district in' a few weeks. They did not find things as they were in their own countrv and, as might be expected, in a few weeks everyone was dissatisfied with evervthing around him. The Englishman from South Africa wanted things earned on a.s he had been accustomed to have them carried on there; the New Zealander, as thev had been carried on in New Zealand; the German and Swede as in their motherlands. Those who came from the Ignited States wanted the mining laws and regulations adopt- ed which are in force in that country, and the British Columbian called out for the regulations of his province, with this exception, that in his case he preferred the 500-foot claim of the Yukon to the 100-foot claim of British Columbia. When regulations could not be made to suit all these varied elements of nopulation. the officials and the iaw had to ^ bused and, therefore, the crusade that was started against both. 18 Aliens. Tlie results of my oxporiciice .-iiu! the knowledge I have j?ained during the past yi'ar will not admit of my) a,i;TcciiiR' with thov^e who think that it would he proiHT for the Dominion (iovermnent to i)ass a law prohihitin;,' aliens from tjiking up nnnin)r claims in the I'.ritish Yukon. The gt)ld-hearinf,' territory of the district IS of such vast extent tliat to do it justice and to develop its resources proper) v a larj^^e population will he reipiired, very much >,neater than our own country can, or will provide, fn July last there was in the district a population of ahout i;o.ooo, - ^''^I ^^> ^""' the hope oM^i, g ab I sel them on the outside to people unaccpiainted with their va ue. Af er'a dai has been staked there ,s a great deal to be done before its actua value-if ifln $ o7to'V"oc;l'^T7'"''- J'"^ ^"-^^ °^ prospecting a claim may 1^ nvw v ro ^500 to $2,000, and even five times as much as the latter amount has been ex Et'zr^Tii;-™; ;;.:;■;.■;■" •' '■•*■'- - ■"-■ I do not think that either the service or the nuhlic hae =„ff^^» i 1 u the officials who were located in the Vntn,-, n f' V suffered by those of 19 sd during tlic t it would he s from tiikiiig of the district X's ijropcrly a country can, about 30,ocx), K'-half. or less ive and hard \n unjxjpular s and rc,y;ula- capital of the he provid'nl construction nihoat trans- these things ce of iahour ly the miner rict ought ♦o w years will of an ofificial It permitting 1 be therel)y They seem > a delusion, which have entered for. labour and I I know of sing able to fter'a claim le — if it has lyway from IS been ex- ith cheaper s not mean le fact that nes a week 1 that there ndertaking \ )y those of | 7 and who sn done to any person by the few ofiRcials wlm have staked claims since that time. I hojie the Governnu'iU will not refuse tlio jirivilege of slaking a claim to any man in the service. At the same time I would not permit any public otiticial tn speculate in sucli claims. Did I wish lo procure a claim in tlie Klundike mysell' 1 would l)U\ it tiran itUerest in it after it had been prospected, and 1 am sure 1 wuuld accpiirc it at less ex|)ense than if 1 iiad prospected and staked it myself. Pro i'( »s !•: 1 1 (lo\- K u .\ m i;.\t. I''or the govermnent of the Yukon District i would reconnnend the appoint- ment of a council to consist of the Commissioner and of fom- api)oiiUed and four elected members, tlie ai)i)oiiUed members to be selected from the population of the district, and the elected members to be returned from the four districts of Dawson, Stewart Riven Pelly River and IIootalin(|ua kiver— that is, each of tliese districts to be entitled to elect one of such representatives. I would als(j reconnnend that a census or registration be taken of all r.ritish subjects in the district, and that they otdy be eligible to vote for the four rei)resen- tatives above referred to. The I'ederal (iovermiient should also convey to the ^■ukon council such powers as will enable die council to grant incorporation to t*>vvns and municipali- ties, if the Act i)assed last Session with regard to the district does not contain the neces.sary provisicms. I understand tliis h;is now been done. A government made u\) in this w;iy, giving the poi)ulation an elective re])re- sent-.tive from each of the four mining divisions ("and such a representation is cer- tainly all that should be granted at present) will, 1 am assured, give satisfaction to the population and remove a great deal of the ])resent grumbling. In concluding this Rei)ort and at the same time bringing to a close my term of ofifice as Commissioner of the Yukon District, [ may be permitted to suminari/.e briefly some results of tiie year's work, Although the expedition under my com- mand undertook a great t.isk and at an unfavourable season of the vear, it never- theless accomplished all it went into the district to do and succeeded' in surmouiit- mg the many obstc^cles which confronted it. Police posts were established wherever necessary to form a comi)lete chain of communication from one end of the territory to the other, and for the enforcement of law and the ])reser\-ation of order, and by the location of these jwsts it is nowi)ossible to travel from the north- ern to the southern boundary of the district without being exposed to the danger of perishing either from want of food or lack of shelter; courts of justice were opened; the mining regulations were enforced and in some respects amended; the Yukon District was divided into four mining divisions for the greater convenience c>f identifying m.ining locations: buildings were erected for the accommodation of the several public offices; needed assistance was granted in aid of hospitals- sites were granted to various denominations for the erection of churches; trails were improved; town sites at the most important points in the district were reserved for the Government; a thorough examination of the several routes bv land lake and river and of the passes was made, also of the timber resources of the district- relief and shelter were given to travellers over the ice last winter from Dawson to the coast, and the most complete law and order has been established throughout the district. In a word, the Y^ikon lias, during the past year, become a live, populous and promising outlying Canadian possession, and only awaits railway, steamboat, tele- 20 graph, poslal and trnns|)(,rt;iti, „ lacilii'^'s ireiUTallv toLn-Hwr «,;.i, i;i ...i • • Vinir ()I)rtliiiit servant Yl'kon Provisional Distkkt, iSt'> August, i8(j8. ;. M. WALSH, Conimissiimcr, ]'iik;}n District. 21 SCHEDULE A. COPY OF IXSTRL'CTK )\S TO I XSl'IXTok WOOIX Tlie following ixjsts will be put out early in the spriiin:— On Da (.ton Tkah.. i' l'in),^'r Rai)i(ls a addle horses and ten Between the International hoiuidary line and the hi inoui'ted detachinent of one officer and fifteen men, sixteen pack horses, to be distributed as follows: — An officer and ten men, eleven saddle horses and ten pad. liorses at the Inter- national Line I'ost. A non-commissioned oflicer and four constables and five horses at the hive Finger Kapids. the terminus of the Five Finger branch of the 'alton Trail. The men and horses for the l-'ive Finger Rapids Post shoi d reach thv re as early in June as possible. Good hay and grass can be found convenient to the Intenritional line and good grass at the Five Finger Rapids. Provisions, stores and grain will be packed to the Line Post bv i)ost pack horses, and wdl be freighted to the I'ive I'inger Rai)i(ls Post Lv 'boats from Bennett. The detachment at the International line and at Five Finger lapids should be well mfonned m customs work and tarifT. Information received makes it ver\' nnportant that this trail be well looked after during the coming ear v spring- and summer, as it is altogether likely large quantities of merchandise an 1 liquor will pass over it m the hope of escaping the customs. The post at the iMve Finger Rapids will be in a position to intercept anv parties who escape the Line Post. The supplies for this post will I - freighted down from Bennett, three of the men for the post to freight t!,em , the Five ringer Kap^s and the otlier two men of the post to take the horses th. e by trail. 1 Me men going down by boat should start as earlv as possible and hax - the post estal)lishcd when the other two arrive with the horses. This post will require a good lioat. This detachment will occupy tents during the summer. P. is likelv they will be called in in the autumn. Tiie detachment at the Line Post will, in the absence of a custom^ official examine all goods coming in. ask to see invoices, ascertain if duty has b»en paid and if not collect it. ■ ' If duty is refused, they will make a seizure and report to you They will also keep a close watch for liquor, and if anv 'is found, dc nand a permit to cover it. If a permit is not forthcoming, thev wil'l seize the liqror and report to you. ' i ^ _ The 'detachment at the Five Finger Rapids Post will make a similar ex- amination and report to the officer in command of the Line Post, who will report 00 Telkgrapii Crkek axd Teslin Lakic Detachment. One non-coniinissioned officer and six men and seven horses. A non-commissioned officer and three men and four horses at Telegrapii Creek. Three constables and three horses at the head of Teslin Lake. I am informed grass and hay can be had at these places. The men of these post.,, like the men oi> the Dalton Trail, should l)e well informed in customs work and tariff, tlie detachment at the head of the lake to have a good boat. It may be possible that you will find it difficult to direct the movements of these detachments owing to the irregular mail service. You had better ask Comptroller White to give them their instructions direct. River Posts. Posts from Tagish to be maintained as follows: — White Horse Rapids, three constables. Foot of Lake Lel^arge, three constables. Junction at Hootalinqua and Lewes rivers, three constables. Little Salmon River, three constables. Posts to be established as early in the spring as possible: — Foot of Marsh Lake near the McClintock River to keep up communica- tion with the post on the Hootalinqua, 25 miles east, three con- stables. Posts to be established during the summer: — Head of Lake Lebarge, three constables. Big Salmon River, three constables. The swift waters of these rivers makes communication between posts very difficult, hence the necessity of h.aving tliem not more than forty miles aparti and not less than three men at each post, and to be used in winter as mail stations and a place of shelter for i)eoplc moving between Dawson Citv and the coast. Boats. You will find sufficient boats at the Hootalinqua, Freeman's Point and the Little Salmon River to carry all the i)rovisions and stores at tliese places to Daw- son City; but pitch and oakum will liave to be sent down to the foot of Lake Lebarge by horse or dog train, and from there to the Hootalinqua, Freeman's Point and the Little Salmon River by dog teams, to repair the boats and put them in order for taking the water in the s])ring. Boats of not more than four tons capacity should be constructed at the foot of Lake Lebarge to carry from there not less than twenty-five or thirtv thousand pounds of provisions, and be in readiness to sail at the'earliest possible date to Dawson City. An efYort should be made to reach there not later than the 20th of May. By this date all the jirovisions at Dawson City will have i)een consumed and the lives of the population in that district will be 'depending upon the earlv departure and safe arrival of these boats, and the boats which, T understand, are coming in with provisions on the first opening of navigation, on speculation. The Lewes River is very low aivl dangerous in the spring, and men who have passed down it before should be selected to pilot the bo.^tR. Ther<- arc a number at Tagish. Captain Stanies can give you their names, and he himself should be sent down ir* command. The same caution should be exercised in the manning [It Telegraph ould Ije well f the lake to to direct the e. You had coinmunica- t, tiiree coii- 11 i)osts very les apart) and stations and 3ast. oint and the ices to Daw- Foot of Lake a, Freeman's Dats and put d at the foot rty thousand sible date to lian the 20th en consunied ion the early (lerstand, are ulation. en who have ;rc a number Mf should be ic inanninc: 23 of the early spring boats from Bennett, which should leave that point immediately the lake is clear of ice, and reach Dawson within fifteen days after the arrival of the Lebarge fleet. This fleet should have not less than twenty-five or thirty thousand pounds of provisions with it. These two fleets should be in readiness not later than the ist of 'Slay. The Lewes River was open at this point last year (Big Salmon River) on tiie 3rd of May. Some fifty boats reached Dawson last year on the i/tli of Mav. We will expect vour first boats not later than the 20th of May. Pkovisioxs. The quantity of provisions required for the Government force in the Yukon District, estimating that it will not exceed 100 men between Bennett and Dawson from 15th July, 1898, to 15th July, 1809, will be 1 10.000 pounds. You will re- quire to make recjuisition for this, and for 1,100 pounds for each additional man over that number. Liquor. I have received from the coast, from a number of people, applications for permits to import liquor into this district, some of the applications lieing from Canadians. They do not seem to understand that the tax must be paid on receipt of the permit, and have not inclosed funds to do this. As I shall be leaving for Dawson City in a very short time, I consider it better to depute to you the power to issue permits, and inclose herewith your authority to do so. A tax of $2 per gallon will be paid when the permit is signed and handed over to the ap])licant. Please instruct your posts to notify people who are asking for permits to apply to you. _ I am informed that there is a quantity of liquor at Tagish Post. Please advise me on whose permit it has been imported, the date of the permit and by whom granted. I am also informed that great quantities of liquor passed TagisJi Post last summer and fall without permit. Give instructions for closer examina- tionto be made of boats coming in this year, both at Tagish Post, \Vhite Horse Rapids and at the Hootalinqua. Doos. * You will have to arrange for a supply of dog feed next winter at safe i)laces between Bennett and Selkirk, where fish are plentiful. I think fish can be ob- tained at Selkirk, Little .Salmon River, Big Salmon River, foot of Lake Lebarge and Marsh Lake. The dogs will have to summer -ome place outside, where food is cheaj). Near the motith of the McClintock River, on Marsh Lake, there is an island that might make a good runway for the dogs during the summer and where thev could be fed ven,' cheaply on fish. We should not have to import or freight a pound of dog feed next winter. MlPCET.I.AXF.OrS. I am sending by' Captain Starnes a report and marked maps of the i:)alton Trail, received hy me from Mr. McArthur. From this \ou can ascertain about where the Dalton Line Post should be placed. Advise me when the detachment is put out on the Dalton Trail. 24 Please instruct that all police boats en route to Dawson City will call at the Five Finger Rapids and Stewart River posts, and ask if any mail or orders have been left for them. Please send any mail arriving for me and your communications by dog train up to as late date as possible; after that by any possible opportunity you can, and then by the boats coming down in the spring. Arrange to send Captain Norwood down by first mail train. I cannot await his arrival here. The detachment at Selkirk will examine all goods coming in over the Selkirk branch of the Dalton Trail, ask to see invoices, ascertain if duty has been paid, and if not, collect it. If driy is refused they will make a seizure and report to the non-commissioned officer in charge at the Five Finger Rapids I'ost, who will report to the officer in command at the Line Post on the Dalton Trail, who will report to you. They will also keep a close watch for liquor, and if any is found, demand a permit to cover it. If a permit is not forthcoming, they will seize the liquor and report as aforesaid. SCHEDULE B. YUKON PROMSIONAL DISTRICT OF CANADA. Under the powers vested in me by my commission as Chief Executive Officer of the Government of Canada in the Yukon District, North-west Territories, ap- proved by His Excellency the Governor General on the 17th August, 1897. I'or the purpose of providing a suitable Tribunal for the hearing and decision of disputes with regard to title in placer mining properties; I hereby amend the "Regulations Governing Placer :\Iining in the Provi- sional District of the Yukon, North-west Territories (approved bv Order in Council of i8th January, 1898)" by adding thereto the following sections:— 41. The Gold Commissioner and the Mining Inspectors for the District of the Yukon shall each have power to hear and determine all disputes with regard to mining property arising within the Yukon District subject to appeal bv either of the parties, as follows : — (a.) In case the appeal shall be from a decision of either of .he Mining In- spectors it .shall be heard by the Gold Commissioner of the Yukr n District. (b.) In case of an appeal from the decision of the Gold Con missioner it shall be heard by the Minister of the Interior of Canada. _ (c.) There shall be an a])peal to the Minister of the Interior not only from decisions by the Gold Commissioner on cases originally tried bv him, but also on cases decided by him on appeal from decisions of either of the Mining Inspectors. _ 42. No particular forms of procedure shall be necessary, but the matter com- plained of must be properly expressed in writing and a copv of the complaint served on the opposite party not less than seven davs before' the hearing of the matters contained in said complaint. 43; T'le complaint may by leave of the Gold Commissioner, or either of tlie .said Mining Inspectors, be amended at anv time before or during proceedings in connection with the trial thereof. 44. The complainant shall at the time of filing his complaint deposit therewitli a bond-fee of twenty dollars. whicH shall be returned to him when the complaint proves to have been well founded, but not otherwise, except for special rau-^e and then only by direction of the Gold Commissioner or either of said Inspectors 25 45- I» all cases of appeal the appellant shall at the time of lodging his appeal deposit at the office of the Gold Commissioner a bond-fee of twenty dollars, which shall be returned to the said appellant if his appeal proves to have been \yell founded, and not otherwise, except for special cause, and then only by direc- tion of the person hearing said appeal and rendering de-^ision thereon. 46. The appeal must be in writing and must be filed at the office of the Gold Commissioner not more than twenty days after the decision appealed from has been communicated in writing to all the parties interested, and must state the ground upon which said decision is appealed from. Time shall not run against said appeal and the lodging thereof until said decision has been communicated in writing to all the parties interested, as aforesaid. 47. If the Gold Commissioner or either of said Inspectors decides that it is necessary to a proper decision of the matters in issue to have an investigation on the ground, or in cases of disputed boundaries or measurements to employ a Dominion surveyor to measure or survey the land in question, the expense of the inspection or re-measurement or re-sur\'ey, as the case may be, shall be borne by the litigants who shall pay into the hands of the person hearing said dispute in equal parts such sum as he may think sufficient for the case before it takes place; otherwise it shall not proceed, and the party who refuses to pav such sum shall be adjudged in default. The person hearing and deciding each such dispute shall sub- sequently determine in what proportion the said expense shall be borne by the par- ties respectively, and the surplusage, if any, shall then be returned to tlie parties, as he may order. 48. All bond-fees adjudged as forfeited and all payments retained under the last preceding section shall as soon as decision has been rendered, and all entry and other fees or moneys shall, as soon as they have been received under anv of the foregoing sections, be paid by the recipient' to the credit of the Receiver Gen- eral in the same manner as other moneys received bv him on account of Domin- ion lands. 49. For the purpose of enabling said Gold Commissioner and Mining In- spectors to properly dispose of every case brought before them under these regu- lations and compelling the attendance of witnesses where necessary, I hereby con- fer upon said Gold Commissioner and said Inspectors all the powers of a Justice of the Peace with reference to the issue of summonses requiring the attendance of witnesses, and also with reference to the issue of such warrants as may be neces- sary to compel the attendance of witnesses who disobey any such summons. Given under my hand and seal of office this 2nd day of July, 1898. (Seal.) (Signed) J. M. WALSH, Commissioner, Yukon District I hereby further amend the regulations governing Placer Mining in the Pro- visional District of Yukon, North-west Territories (approved bv Order in Council of i8th January, 1898), by adding thereto the following:— 41a. The Mining Recorder shall have power to hear and determine all dis- putes in regard to mining property arising within his district subject to appeal bv either of the parties, to the same tribunals and in the same manner as in the case of an appeal from either of the Mining Inspectors. (Signed) J. M. WALSH, Commissioner, Yukon District Dated at Dawson in the Yukon District, 13th July, 1898. 26 M SCHEDULE C. COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE. Owing to the hardships incidental to the prospecting of distant streams such as the upper portion of the Stewart River and its tributaries, the Commissioner of the Yukon District has decided that the Hmit of four claims to each individual now in force in the Dawson District shall not apply in the Stewart River District, but that any free miner who shall stake, and do legitimate prospecting on any large tributary of the Stewart or McQuesten Rivers shall be entitled to entry for one claim on such tributary in addition to a claim on the main river. It has been further decided by him that the Stewart River and its tributaries, together with the White River and other streams flowing into the Yukon River for a distance of sixty miles up stream from the mouth of the Stewart and down stream to the mouth of the Henderson Creek, comprise the Stewart River District. That the Dawson District extend from the International Boundary on the north to the Henderson Creek on the south, including the Henderson and its tri- butaries. That the Pelly River District extend from the Stewart River District to the Tittle Salmon River, including the Little Salmon and its tributaries. That the Hootalinqua River District extend from the Little Salmon River to the northerlv boundarv of British Columbia. Yukon' Provisional District, I9di July, 1898. (Signed) J. M. WALSH, Commissioner, Yukon District. I'* COPY OF .MINERS' PETITION IN COMMISSIONER WALSH'S REPORT. Whereas, it is evident that the memorial presented by the deputation sent out last winter by the miners of the Yukon District failed to impress upon the Gov- ernment the necessity of amending the regulations governing the mining industry; And whereas, it cannot be disputed that the application of the present laws has had the efifect of almost paralyzing the industry, and that a continuance of the present regulations will result in the most disastrous effect next winter,— proven by the fact that a large majority of the best claims in the district were either worked at very small profit, in many cases at a loss, and that after that experience most of the miners have decided to suspend all operations on their claims other than those necessary to hold them; And whereas, the sentiment of the public is unanimous that an immediate change in the regulations is necessary: It has been deemed expedient to present t!ie following resolutions before a mass meeting of the public in the Yukon, and that their voice on the subject shall be embodied in the memorial to the Government, signed by everv- one interested I. That no timber limit be issued to any individual or companv n,i a creek where the tmibtr may be necessar\- for the use and development of mines 27 strict to the ion River to 2. That should a free miner lose his certificate he should be able to substitute the same at any office that may hereafter be established in the Yukon. 3. That placer creek claims be enlarged in length to 500 feet as heretofore and that the hmitation of breadth be that of a line run along the rim rock parallel to the general course of the stream and which at every point is four feet above high water mark of the stream. 4- That to Clause 15 of the .Mining Law be added the words " and number of certificate. 5. That Clause-; 16 and 17, referring to the alternate claims, be absolutely struck out. ' 6. That a discoverer or discoverers be allowed one claim as a bonus and the right of each man besides of pre-empting one full claim as heretofore. 7. That Clause 25 be modified owing to its impracticability under some cir- cumstances and the possibility of its affording the Miners' Recorder an oppor- tunity of defrauding original stakers. 8. That the Clauses 30 and 31, referring to rovalty. be absolutelv abolished on the grounds of its mjustice and paralyzing effect on the industries of the coun- 9- That their attention be called to the too great extent of some of the dis- tricts, notably the Stewart and White rivers. 10. That the words in Clause 37. " upon which, however, the rovalty pre- scribed by these regulations shall be payable." be eradicated. - - 1 11. That Clause 39 be strictly enforced, preserving the rights of prospectors to en er on any claims vacant through non-representation, knd that clause be in- serted that a miner be permitted to abandon his claim and re-stake in same dis- trict upon giving satisfactory proof to the Gold Commissioner or Recorder that Ins claim is worked out or cannot be worked at a profit. 12. That a company or miner owning two or more adjacent claims be allowed to consolidate their labour on one claim for the representation of each claim re- quired by the regulations. ^ 13. That a memorial, embodying these resolutions, be drafted for signature by all interested and a copy of the same be presented by deputation to Major W alsh, and another transmitted to the leader of the Opposition in Ottawa. (Signed) JOHN F. SUGRl'E. Chairman. And about 1,500 others. " Indian Cliff," Brockville, 2oth September, 1898. -.11 S;R,-In my report which I recently handed to you. you will notice tint I call attention to the necessity of a telegraph line being constructed between Dau r ^^'^'^ '^^''- ^ ^° "°'>"°^^' °f ^">'^h'"^ that is of more importance to the district than an improvement in the means of communication with the o itside A telegraph wire connecting Dawson City with the coast would mean that Se d t: net won d be safe to a great degree, from shortage of any articles equired for he maintenance of hfe, or for the operation of the mines.' The trouble now is hat the people on the outside cannot be quickly informed of what the peopl^o^^ the nside require Mail communication is so uncertain that no dependa"cel can be placed upon orders sent by mail being promptly filled. Not only would a eTe- graph hne ser^•e the countr>- in this way, but it would serve in many other ways 28 which would benefit the mining interests. There will always be a great many transactions involving large sums of money, and to have telegraphic communica- tion to the coast from whence it can be carried in three or four days by steamer to Vancouver, and there wired to any part of the world, would afford a great boon to the mining interests of the district. Again, it would be of great service to the Government. A connection of the posts from the coasts to Dawson City by wire would permit of the present police force being reduced by loo m-.-n. and — what would be of still greater importance — the Department could be kept thoroughly and promptly informed upon all mat- ters occurring in the district. There is no doubt in my mind that such a telegraph line would pay good interest on capital invested, from its opening. Yours very truly, (Signed) J. ^1. WALSH. great many comnuinica- s by steamer a great boon ection of the resent police niportance — pon all mat- Id pay good ALSH.