The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1870-03-15

The Attempted 1easpely q tAs Alaska
ssal Trade.
wAsnmeros, ID. CO.. March z, 1870.
One Of the most powerful, audacions and
corrupt rings that has ever infested the lob
bies Of the Capitol 10 now at work with the
usual machinery of money, entertainments
and strikers ON what il called the "Alaska
Monopoly" They are endeavoring to obtain
a twenty years lease Of the fne seal fisheries
ON the two islands Of St. Paul and St. George
of the Alaskan shore, which are the only
localities now known in the habitable world
where those beautiful animals, the fur seal,
can be found. These fisheries are very val
liable, especially a. the monopolists who
have carried them ON for the last two years
have the exclusive right to trade with and
supply the native Indians. These are known
as Aleutes. They are a simple, peaceful,
ignorant people, about 400 in number, and
their only means of support is the seal fisher
les of their native islands. Ever since Alas
ka became part of the territory of the Uni
ted States, two mercantile firms, Hutchin-
son, Kohl & Co., and Williams. Haven &
Co.. have enjoyed a monopoly Of this trade
and business They have killed nearly twice
the annual number Of seals allowed by the
regulations Of the Government. which must
be limited in order to avoid the determination
Of the seal, and thus leave the poor Aleutes
their choice between starvation and suicide.
They have eolluded with officers of our Navy |
and agents of the Treasury to cheat the In |
dams and defraud the revenue. They have |
colluded with officers of the British Navy to
have the seal skins sold and cured in Lon
don, thus depsiving our own country of val
nable branch Of manufacture, for the value of
! skin is nearly quadrupled BY its being pro-
,erly dressed. They import, free Of duty,
rast quantities of goods, such IS arms and
whisky, ETC., ostensibly for the
'upport and supply of the Aleutes. but really
o be sold at the Sandwich Islands and on
he Pacific Coast. They are unscrupulous
md rich, and, consequently. powerful in
Washington. They have three different
louses or suites of rooms where they enter
ain promiscuously. They have bought the
ntire press of the city, and effectually inter-
iewed the chief guns among the New York
eporters. Should they get this lease, as
hey probably will, they will, in less than
alf the term of it, count their fortunes BY
Millions, starve and beggar the poor Aleutes,
estroy the fisheries, and finally be lost in
be great army Of the shoddy gang.
They are pretty sure to succeed. They are :
rained and experienced lobbyists, and have
ny quantity of money. The only opposition
,ey have is the Secretary of the Treasury.
Tho has made an able and conclusive report,
howinR that the United States are bound by
very principle Of public virtue, national
onor and enonomy, to take active charge of
,ese islands and the natives, whose only
ountry they are; but what are the argu-
tents of any Secretary, whatever his ability
nd patriotism, as opposed to the insiduous
ishes of a rich and experienced lobby : Not
pinch of snuff.
lsgrace few narrow-minded greenhorns,
tho sold few cadetships for n few hundred
pillars, but is that to be the end Of the move
tent? 1t is good enough for = skirmish,
Mt will i. really lead tn the grand attack on
ublic men who absorb black-mail as a
PONCE will dishwater, without SO much as
hiking. Great is the trio Cant, Humbug
nd Mrs. Grundy! How nicely the dear
eople are humbugged. w.
COLONIZATION FOR TIE PACiFIC.-John