Evening star., 1868-08-19
IRON ALASKA.

Interesting Particulars of Matters and
Things there-Pleaty Of Goal and net
much eIse-Is the New Acquistsion an
Elephant The Natives an unwheie-
some set-AIaska Ice Crop for San Fran
cisco and China.
We are permitted to tabo the following
extract from 8 letter received n this city from
an officer in the U. g. servics at ALASKA:
u. s. REVENUE STEAMER wAYANDA. ST.
Paul's Harbor, Rodiack Island, Alaska Terri
tory, Sunday, June 1&th, Is6o.-. 1
will now give you some idea of what part of
the world ] sm in. and hope il may prove
interesting Aprfi 18th we sailed from San
aIassa TerTitory n Arrived Il i Al ska Nav d
renamed there one week, coaled ship, and
sailed for this place, where we arrived June
9th. We examined, on our way to this place
all the harbors Of note on the coast; have found
several places where coal could be mined at
pr oft on a sroall capital In fact this country
is full Of coal but great deal il of an inferior
quality-the only good feature that have seen
so far IN Alaska. Upon the w hole, think the
Government has an elephant in this ssven
million purchase. -. .-..
The Indians who inhabit this country are q
most indolent race, particularly the southern
westward their dispositions appear to change,
owing, NO doubt, to their intercourse with the
Russians, as many Of them have been con verted
to the Catholic faith. Far we have gone the
natives seem to be delighted by the change of
Government; but i fear IL will do thsm no
good, as the traders are Introducing "r1m'
among them, which has proved q curse TO all
men. During the winter months the natives
are employed trapping the fur animals which
abound in this country, such as sable, mink,
beaver, fox, ermine, and many others too
numerous to mention.
The natives live in q most miserable manner,
their principal food being whsle meat, seal,
and salmon; their houses are filthy, and they
are filthy in person; their clothing consi sts
of fr1rs M Ia
they sell all the best skins to the traders. l
find but very few old persons among them,
most OF them dying under forty, principally
ment have and are sending troops to different
parts of the country, but Of the different mill
tary posts have visited prefer our present
thing but pleasant living as they do In tents,
where I is constantly raining during the sum-
mer months and showing during the winter.
AT this place, on an island in the harbor, ice is
collected to supply the San Francisco and
China markets, the only business that pays in
these regions. At present there is q vessel here
with United States troops and supplies, which
will lead with ice for San Francisco. which Is
the occasion OF my visiting at this tune, as the
mail facilities in this part of the world are not
Of the best. The weather during the summer
months is anything but pleasant, raining most
Of the time, but very little wind; during the
winter months IL Is very cold, and the winds
are very severe, ice forming about three feet in
still water. am told by parties living here 1t
IS hardly safe tor person to venture ont dur
ing gale.
We are now waiting the arrival OF our coal,
when we will proceed west ward 70 Ouualaska,
Bristol Bay, Norton Sound, and through Bier
ing Straits to the most northern part Of our
possessions in the Artic ocean. We are in hopes
of getting South before the winter sets in, as it
is fearful TO think OF spending winter so near
the north pole. The vessel that am attached
10 at present 4. propeller Of about six hun
dred tons burthen, but In no manner adapted
for this cruise, as her accommodations are very
small for the number OF officers and men at
tached. We have ten ofhcers and nifty seven
men. A vessel for this coast should have plenty
of room for both officers and men to protect
them from the severity of the weather, and al
low them some exercise as a preventative from
scurvy and other diseases liable to be con-
tracted in this climate.