The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-02

FIRsT AMERICAN sSEvICE-THE RUSSIAN PoPU-
LATIoN.
to.-rssp-naenre o sOstou JourDaa
SITKA, Nov. q, ls67.-When the intelligence of
the ssion of the Russian America to the United
States reached Sitka its characteristics were ut
terly unlike those of an American town. II had
neither hotel store, pOstOfiiee meat market shop,
restaurant, ten.pin alley, or place of amusement
of any kind The absence OF all signs could hut
strike the Yankee visitor as something peculiar.
You could not ind the single Of a lawyer or a
doctor, not plaeard OF mhliner or dressmaker,
no conspicuous sign Of dry goods dealer or
grocer, no projecting transparency Of restaurant
or hotel.
Everything in these colonies had been owned
and administered by the Russian Fur Company.
Jhey owned all the buildings, public and private;
they furnished all the goods and supplies bought
all the products of sea and land, were proprietOrs
of all the whaTves and shipping; every specimen
Of live stock, except the dogs and poultry; every
musical instrument the town could boast Of were,
and are TO this day, their exclusive property.
The general regulations we're enacted by the
directors at 81. Petersburg, sane tioned by the
car. All executive and judicial authority was
vested in the governor. Alaska has never had
any judges or jurors, and no law-making body
has ever been convened in her capital.
BUSINESS ACTIVITY SINCE THE TRANSFER.
But no sooner was the American flag raised
than trading shops were opened, vacant lots were
covered with the framework Of shanties, aud ne
eotatOns were entered upon for the purchase of
houses, iurs, fish, and other property of the CON-
pany. Silka, which for two-thirds of a century
had known nothing beyond the unvaryiug routine
of labor and supply at prices fixed by a corporate
body eight thousand miles distant, was profoundly
aTtled even by this small ripple of innovation.
In less than week three stores, two whisky
saloons, two nine-pin alleys, a cigar stand and
restaurant were opened. How the Russians re-
gsrGed this advent Of untrammelcd trade and free
competition it is not so easy TO ascertain but the
Indians, more selt-reliant, ard awake to the ad
Of fr,,rr rorA kof-
meat and fish, were not tsTdy in svowng their
satisfaction at the new order of events. The old
chef Of the resident KOlOosh tribe at first re.
fused TO lower the Russian flag which waved
over his cabin, bat few days later he presented
himself officially az the headquarters of General
Davis, and announced 20 him his qualification at
the advantages which his people had already
gained by the transfer, and his wish to have the
flag of the United States displayed over his
dwelling.
SPECULATION DOMINANT.
Added to the military force OF 800 men, there
were now in the harbOr four American ships Of
war, the transit steamer John l.. Stephens, and
four large merchant vessels from San Fraccisco,
making an aggregate of 800 Americans. This
caused demand for wild meat and fowl such az
was never known before. The Yankees, especially
after a few months diet on salt junk have love
for delcaces of this kind, and they were not SLOW
T. crafty 1t. The natives alone hunt wild animals
and control this class of provisions. Under the
hnssiaL regime an official appointed by the COVE.
gene of them, and the price vas kept at a mini.
mum figure. But the supply now was hardly equal
to The demand, and the price increased az least
four fold. Formerly few trinkets or second hand
clothing would purchase a ships supply Of fish;
but the Indians have learned the value of silver
money, and DO people are more eXacting and "a.
paciOus in their demand for a high price. Deer,
which three months ago could be bought for fifty
cents, Low sell for five and sometimes as high as
eight dollars. The wild sheep, duck and grouse
also sell at rates which the Russians pronounce
fabulous. Luckily, the fish market can not be ex.
hausted. Salmon, hslibut, perch and clans can
be caught by the most unskilled and every man
be bis own angler Ihave seen the Jolly tars catch
scores Of halibut weighing from so to $50 pounds
from the gangway of a ship Of war.
PRO. PEcTs FOR THE WINTER.
The military force, consisting OF two companies
of infantry and one of artillery, are in their
winter quarters, and occupy the barracks made
vacant by the withdrawal of the Russian troops.
Gen. Davis and lady occupy the governors house
and the unman led officers have convenient quar-
teIs at the Club House," The government
stores are safe deposited in the warehouse and
even the cows and sheep brought for supplying
The soldiers winter TatlOhs, are now sheltered
We're IL not that the weather is unremttingy du.
bous, this military post would be the most de.
sirsble on the coast. But the constant rains be-
come exceedingly annoying to the soldiers, es-
peclay when serving on guard. Returning last
night after four hours endurance OF the ptiess
storm. one honest Ceit as he came dripping up
y
ing, WHO bought this country? 1t wasn't me -
There is for the winter an ample supply of pro-
visions of all kinds. The United States troops
have stores for ten months, and many Of the
miners came with years supply of grub" As
for rent, they have built comfortable cabins and
are +" masters OF the situation" Living in Sitka
the coming winter will cost about the same a. az
Boston. Groceries will cost more, but fuel is
gratis. OF the seventy Americans and Brit SD
people here, outside tf the army, those who are
working men will find employment at about Cali
foTnia prices. IL will require several months to
fit up buildings for government use, and make
such improvements as are imperatively demanded.
SUNDAY AMONG THE RUSSIANS.
Saturday, the third day after my arrival at Stka,
was gloomy with ncessaut showers. By our ship !
calender 1t was Saturday, but on shore Il was the
Russian Sundsy-s discrepany which some Of the |
readers OF the Journal may not have especially |
noted. Civilization, Tadiating from Europe, and |
carrying with it, both east and west, the obser.
vance of the first day OF the week as the Christian
sabbath, has met midway on the opposite side Of |
the globe among these islands of the North Pa.
ciiic. Advancing eastward, every fifteen degrees |
Of Longitude brought the beginning of the day an |
hour earlier. Al the settlement Of these islands |
cane from Russia eastward, bringing with the |
Russian flag western time, the day is earlier by |
twenty -four hours than with US Americans, who,
coming from Western Europe, brought with us a
time growing later with every advance OF western |
Longitude. Hence, their Sunday il eur Saturday, |
and the other days OF the week In correspond
discrepancy arising from the rotuLdity of the |
earth, ard its daily revolution from west to east.
1t was thought that as soon as the American |
flag raised the Russian calendar would give |
place to ours, and sunday would be the same day |
with the Russian population as with US. But FIVE |
weeks bsve gone by. and the Russo Greek Church |
It'll continues its observance of Sunday one day |
n advance. Ii must continue TO do so until direc.
leo to make the change by the high council OF |
BIZ hops at ST. Petersburg. Ii will probably be |
eight months before this authority can be obtained.
Meanwhile there are two Sundays each week at |
siiks--to the great risk of having neither of them |
properly observed, at least by the Americans.
SERVICES AT THE GREEK CHURCH.
have already alluded to the external structure |
Of the Greek Church. with It's chime of bells and |
OIitntsl dome. The Russian bishop had come with |
u from Kodak, and the exercises Of to-day we're
TO be Of unusual interest. HIS countenance did |