The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-05-09

Others such appeIliations as worthless,
" drunken WRETCH" worthless cuss,"
"lazy, "abIe.bodie,i, worthless" &c. The
following remarks as TO the character Of
tue population accompanies the report Of
Lieutenant Lyle:
II found, US general thing, great
want Of cleanliness, both as regards per.
son, apparel and Place Of abode. The
houses, with lew exceptions, were small,
filthy, lily ventilated and bore evidence Of
habitual neglect. There appears to be no
energy in them, no desire 10 look forward
to future self.support A good deal Of
sickness exits, caused, | think, by their
lack Of cleanliness, food and clothing.
Their ideas of virtue and chastity seem
very limited, and consequently much ven
ercal disease Is found among them. A
great many complain that they can get
nothing to do; that they would work II
they could get 1t. Many OF them who
orc able to work are too lazy, drunken
and worthless 10 try to make living.
They do not appear 10 have ever man.
aged their own affairs, but have looked
upon their employers and rulers to take
charge Of them and look after them.
Many are destitute, and will require to be
fed during the whole of the coming win
ter"
Mr.. Dawson,a Russian by birth, who
assisted Lieut.. Lyle in taking the census,
says that their condition Is even worse
than represented, and adds:
THE priests Of tho Greek Church at
Slka, with two exceptions, arc often
drunk upon the streets, and their lives
are anything but good examples TO their
people. The women, almost without cx-
ccption, are prostitutes, and even theglrls
OF twelve or thirteen years must be in.
Cluded in the number" ....... ~.
These people have 10 DO fed by tho
military 10 be kept from starvation, and
number about three hundred. They want
TO go3back 10 Russia, ind Major luding.
ton recommends that their condition be
made known TO the Russian Minister at
Washington, and If his Government does
not remove them, that honor, policy and
humanity require that we should lose no
time in SO doing. There is no employ
ment for them, even il they hal the dis
position 10 work.
But the report shows further that we
have truly "bought an elephant" by our
investment in Alaska, one that will be q
perpetual cost, without the slightest pros
poet in the future Of any return. Thesoil
Is thus described by Major Ludington:
1.-THE whole land portion OF the archi-
pelago is q mass Of rocky and Jagged
mountains, whose precipitous sides ex-
tend to the watet's edge, leavingnOwhere
scarcely any slOping foot hills or level bot
toms, their sides are gashed into inaccessi.
BILE gorges, and their SUBMITS covered
with perpetual snow, which, melting in
the summer, together with the constant
rains, converts every reckless spot into u
sphagnous moraSs. Activity here up.
pears to reject the usual laws Of drainage,
and the mountains are miry even to their
tops. .4
AIN localities most favored by ireeness
from rocks huge trees have grown and
fallen, and others as large have sprung up
among the decaying trunks, until the
whole forms mass Of dark ENHANCEMENT
which would appal the stoutest heart, il
set to work to clear out this dripping mass
to prepare for his support from the pro.
ducts Of the soil beneath. Judging from
the labor required 10 clear away space
enough for tho buildings at Tongass and
Wrangel, 1t would cost from 81 900 to
5000 per acre 10 render the most favor
able localities fit Tor cultivation, an ex.
pensR which no farming. even under the
most favored climate, could justify.
THE obstacles which interpose them
selves against the cultivation Of the soil
obtain also against the raising Of stock,
There is no grazing land, and none can
be made"
After the soil should be cleared for cul.
uvatiun, an expense Of 81 900 to 5000
per acre, the climate intervenes to render
the labor and expense Of no avail. As to
what it will produce, Major Ludlngton
says:
AN experience of three summers in
Alaska, and practical test Of everything
likely togrOw In this region, enables me
to speak with confidence upon this sub.
1ect. Grasses Of any variety grow lux.
uriantly wherever there exists any space
Tor them to grow Wheat, rye, oats and
barley'also grow luxuriantly, but produce
no grainin the head, nor will they ripen.
Corn will not grow at ALL therefore the
cereal crops are out Of the question. In
favorable localities potatoes grow large
enough for ordinary use, but are sogGy
and without good flavor. Owing to the
difficulty of raising them, nearly all that
arc used by the white population are
brought from Oregon or California. Tur.
nips do excellently well, as likewise do
cauIHlowers, kohi.rabl and kale. Gabages
grow luxnriantly, but do not head we'll
Lettuce and radishes grow finely and Of
excellent quality. Onions grow, but do
not bulb. BeeIs, parsnips and carrots
grow TO a small size, and then run to tops;
nevertheless, small as they are, they are
Of some Importance where so few other
things grow. Beans will not grow: meas
will grow, but only certain varieties Win
pod. Cucumbers, squasles and melons
are out Of the question, as are also toma.
knan ~ HnH. sT.f