‘Grubstake’ system

Discovery of oil at Fort Norman, in the Mackenzie River Basin, has resulted in the departure of several

parties from Edmonton, Alberta with dog teams to stake claims in advance of others, who will travel by the river route in the spring. At the present time every available berth on all the boats plying to the north has been taken. The rush of hundreds of oil prospectors to the Far North where “strikes” have been reported, has caused the Canadian Government to revive the old grubstake ordinances of Yukon days. As the situation threatens to become serious, it is proposed to prevent those who go in from becoming charges upon the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Therefore, only those in physical condition to stand the rigors of an Arctic winter, and with enough “grub” to keep them, will be permitted to go.