New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-16

"Of these it should be added that the grown
"was forced in lighthouses, and that without
"such special care the supply would have been
"eyen less than it was" In relation TO the
growth of cereals, ga practical agriculturist,
saws the report, would naturally inquire how
grain could be better cured than hay in
"country where such wet weather prevails, with
so brief intervals of clear sky" and though
"having had many years experience as
"farmer,r the agent grimly confesses his ina
bility to answer the question.
The white inhabitants of Alaska number
about three hundred of whom perhaps
hundred and twenty five are voters. The ma
tiyes amount to indefinite thousands. Those
of Eastern Alaska come under the general APP
relation of Koloshians, though not related, so
far as we know, to the people whom Paul
apostolically addressed. The missionary efforts
of the Greek Church among them have not
been eminentIy successful A church was built
for these unappreciative kOlOshians Mt SItGa,
and their head chief baptized ordained, given
a robe, and made priest of so far as possible,
but he never made any conversions in that
character, and just before his death. which
occurred since the transfer of the Territory, he
IL
ceremonies, procedure not recognized by
the Greek Church, and one which throws con-
siderable doubt upon the character OF his
"evidences' He would seem to have fallen
from grace to say the least, and his people
never having had any to fall from, were about
to accommodate his humane wishes, and would
have done so but for the interference OF the
newly constituted authorities. We are unable
in the inspired strains of Bishop Hcber, to say
of Alaska, as of other pagan lands,
"And every prospect pleases,
And only man is VIE"
The whole thing is vile; and as for scenery
il there is any it cannot be seen on account OF
the fogs and general muggness of that forlorn
region. If there be one thing more definitely
settled than another in regard to Alaska 1t IS
this that our Government can make nOthins
out of it, The question is, how much shall we
lose One hundred and twenty-five voters are
not worth setting up territorial government
for. Customs of five to ten Thousand dollars
per annum will, if not moro "honOrcd,' be
considerably cheaper in the breach tllah III
"the observance The special agent suggests
an abandonment of the territory as the most
economical course, or if that be not deemed
politically expcdicnt, the mere establishment
of small garrison at one point, who shall ey-
erastingly vcgetate in locality where vege-
tables cannot, and keep guard over dirty ma
tives with the assistance of a solitary revenue
ship. We have only one suggestion to make
in reference to the disposition of Alaska which
seems preferable to the above. 1t is this: give
it to James Fisk. If that gentleman could be
hrou Obt tn coo in Alaska an unlimited field for
railroad enterprises, and his friend Barnard
could be induced to 90 out with him and carry
on the injunction business at the same time.
we feel that the money sunk in that territory
would not have been spent in vain. Mean
while, let the would-be Alaskan delegate to
Congress wait.