New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-16
ALASKA.

81 SlNLoc ACTIVITY SINCE THE TRANSFER-
ADVANCE OF PRIcEs-GENERAL ORDER FROM
THE COMMANDER.
Stka HartOr tOct 2p Correspondence the Alta California
When Capt Cole, the bearer of the intelll-
genee TO ska Of the eesson OF Russian America TO the
United States, arrived here, there hotel store,
meat market, shop restaurant tenpm alley place OF
amusement Of any kind In Ska The past IA days mark
the beginning Of a change. A dozen spectators from
Victoria reached here during the latter part Of the Sum-
mer awaiting the transfer OF authority. OF course,
among them were the inevitable Jew and the irrepress
bic Yankee There was for them as yet very limited
Held for operations The entire mercantile business Of
the country in the hands of the Russian Fur Com
pany, and as yet no land In the market As nothing
better could be DONE lots Just outside the pre-
empted, stakes set for boundaries and premina
ries made for engaging in traffic as Alaska be-
camo the North star OF theAmeucan Republic"
Meanwhile the Commissioners arrived, and immedi
atey after the transfer Of authority TO the United States
proceeded TO discharge the remaining duties OF their
mission. The instructions TO Cen Rousseau from the
State Department are as follows:
DEPARtNEST OF STATE, WAsHrNGToN, Aug. 7, 1867.
To BiT0adier.Gen LoreH II. RotsseaH: You will here
with receive the warrant Of the President, under the
great zeal Of the United States appointing yOn Commits
soner on behalf OF this Government TO receive from
similar officer appointed behalf Of the Imperial Gov
eminent of Russia the territory coded by that Govern
ment to the United States pursuant 10 the treaty Of the
3Oth Of March last You WILL consequently, enter into
communication with Capt Pestchourof the Russian
Commissioners now here and arrange with him IN regard
10 proceeding may be convenient, 10 the ter
Ory referred to- in order that your Commission may be
fulfilled
on arriving at sltka the principal town in the coded
territory, you will receive from The Russian Commits,
the formal transfer Of that territory, under mutual
autes from the artillery in which the United states Will
Pursuant the stipuatons ofthe treaty that transfer
Will include all forts military posts, and public buildings
sach as the Governors house d those used for Govern
ment purposes, docsyardS barracks, hospitals ana
schools al public lands aud all ungraned lots Of land at
Private dwellings and warehouses, blacksmiths', join
er cOOper tanners. and other similar shops, iccOuses
Hour and saw mills and any small barracks on The island
are subject 10 the control OF their owners ana are not to
be included in the transfer 10 the United States
Jhe respective COMMISSIONS IS after DISTINGUISHING pc
tween the property To- be transferred to the United States
and that to be retained by individuals will draw up and
sign fun inventories Of the same in duplicate. In order
however that the snid individual propIieorS may retain
the property aforesaid, or, II they should prefer
may dispose OF the you will upon the production
II The proper documentary or other proof Of ownership
furnish The said prOpctOrs with certificate OF their
In accordance with the stipuatons of the treaty the
churches and chapels In the coded territory VIII continue
Ia be the property Of the members OF the Greco Rus
san Church Any houses ana lots which may have been
granted TO those churches VIII also remain their
Az IL is understood that the Russan-A merican Com
pany IN that quarter large stores and furs pro-
where ON the mainland aud ON the island it is proposed
that that Company shall have a reasonable time to
lect SELL or export that property For that purpose the
Company may appoint an agent agents for the pur
pose OF closing their business No taxes viii be levied on
the property Of the Company now IN the territory until
Congress shall otherwise direct.
tbs expected that IN the transaction Of the important
business hereby ntrused to you, II Will be borne IN mind
that. in making the OF the Territory referred TO,
His Imperial Majesty the Emperor OF all the Russias has
been acluated by desire Of giving signal proof OF
that friendship for the United States which has charac
terized bis own reign and that Of his ln-trous predeces
sOr IL Is hoped, therefore, that all your Intercourse WIN
the Russian Commissioner will be friendly frank and cour
tcous.
This Department understands from the President that
upon the conclusion Of the business with the Russian
Commissioner. yon will have command OF the Territory
TO exercised under the orders Of the War Department
w. WILLIAM II. SEWARD.
The arrival Of the John L. stephens and several smaller
craft about the first Of October brought quite addition
TO the corps Of out sders sitka They now number
about 70. Among them few hardy miners and
mechancs but tho majority men Of rafic-specula
tors ready embark business promising Irui
table return. The American nag hardly raised before
with the frame work of shauties, aud negotiations were
entered upon for the purchase OF houses rs aud other
a century had known nothing beyond dull unyatying
routine Of labor and supply at prices fixed by corporate
body 5000 miles distant profoundly startled, even by
tli, small ripple " innovation In less than week
three stores Two teupu alleys two drinking saloons and
Russians and Creoles rjoced n this advent OF uniram
meicd trade, individual reliance, ANA free competition
have no reason doubt The Indians. more independent,
heir MID meat and IN did not hesitate to ayow their
satisfaction 80 TIE t,o', order of events.
one ,sns II esrtantns sp Of sfeeneon ha1 a2t
whether owned by the Company or individuals have
cone UP 10 figure ryaliug the price at san Francisco
Lumber held at 500 per thousand tll timely arrival
from Puget Sound reduced to less than nall mat sum;
"a
potan several lots by the action Of the Commissioners
came iuo the market the property OF Old seer and
a price asked In advance Of any sale yet made upon
the Baidcman tract" In n word, the Russians wen
know that the Americans are an enterpri,ing restless
penple: that the coming season Will probably bring "a
Tide ~ emigration tins country, with consequent rise
Of both real ana goods aud, Ike sensible men, they
Intend 10 reap the advantage OF ts uuNanco III INC '@iue
OF property. a.,
In tie mean time the native population are equally alive
20 the growing mania for mOnry-inakin9. They alone
hunt Wild animals and control this class OF provisions
Hitherto officer 0f the Government was the only per
son allowed 10 purchase Wild game OF them, and he kept
lie price AT minimum figure. But the advent OF 500
Americans now IN port aud IN town, has caused de-
mond for wild meat and fowl such never known
before our people especially after sea voyage, hnyea
love FOR drcates Of this knd-and they nave grained
H. The Russian officials declare that for month past
they have not been abe To get taste OF veOn or VIA
duck The price has advanced three ana oiten nyeIod
A staustcai MuScoyite has handed me table showing
the prices the meat and poultry market ut eka year
ago as compared with the price OF to-day As thefe mas
never been printing press I'm Alaska, the ana VIII CON
fer favor on the citizens OF the capital OF mat TERROR!
by inserting the following market taDe-the put
i'm prnt-repOrted by r. TreskyOsky; ...