The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-02-24
Ara.1a-wha. shall he Done with 1,r
A WILMINGTON despatch saws: The

A Warrington despatch says: The
following is a letter which has just
been received by the Indian Com
Last year | received the
appointment of United States deputy
collector at Urangel, Alaska Terri
tory, and having an opportunity to
observe and study the inhabitants
there, became interested in their
condition, and felt impelled to impart
to your department such matters as
might further induce official attention
towards their interests. In Septem-
ber last fl874), / called together at
Fort Urangel a meeting Of the chiefs
and leading heads of families, who
were assembled at the vicinity for
trade and other pursuits connected
with transportation to the Cossisiar,
by way of Stickeen River.
At the meeting, from what | ap-
proximated by various reports from
all accessible sources, | infer that the
native aboriginal inhabitants were
about 90, 600 souls, extending 81
deg, 40 min, to Unalasks, mostly
settled in villages along the shores,
upon islands, estuaries, &C., in locali-
ties best adapted to their special pur-
suits, fishing, hunting, fur trading,
etc. | made succinct address in
which | portrayed to them the ad-
vantages of civilized habits and
modes of industry In prompting com
fort over their present condition, and
took the responsibility of informing
them that by the Great Father at
Washington, as well as by hosts OF
good people throughout the United
States, if they, the assembled chiefs,
expressed a desire to be educated
and learn to live like the "Bostons"
Chinook appellation for the Ameri.
can people), they would be assisted
by teachers and others sent to in
struct them. The chiefs and others
present OF the meeting purported to
represent about three thousand souls
They expressed the most earnest as
sent to my proposition, and voiun'
teered that if teachers, ministers, ETC.
were sent to instruct them they
would build churches and school
houses at their own cost and labor
which they are competent to do, at
they are all expert in log architecture
on primitive principles, In the re
marks by one of the chiefs at the
meeting, interpreted to me, he said
Boston" had come among them IL
great numbers for a good while, ano
had got rich by buying their furs
but that my proposition was the first
time that anything had ever beer
proposed to them for their good
They further appeared to enter into
nv views with alacrity, from the
fact that they have long been enyiou'
of their neighbors on the British side
of the line at Fort Simpson, known
as the Metla Katla tribe, who have
advanced in civilized habits and edu
cation by the efforts Of English Pro
testant missionaries quite up to the
standard of the older Christian com
munities of the sea coasts. They
have o church, school-house, ETC., al
erected by Indian labor, and nov
have native pastors and school teach
ers severally ministering to them,
The assembled chiefs requested M
to prepare a petition for them to th'
Great Father at Washington, t.
which they attached their signs man
usl, asking for ministers and schoo
teachers to be sent among them
This petition was placed in the hand
of Major NJ. P. Berry, Collector a
Sitka, and l suppose has reached tn
President before this time. | an
sure that if civilizing agencies ar
extended to these people, under goo'
auspices, results will follow such a
will be gratifying to all who ma!
feel an interest in their behalf. l
government and missionary aid i
extended toward them for civilizin!
purposes it should be in form some
what modified from the formula nov
in use by the Indian Department
There should be no attempt to aggre
gate them on reservations, nor t.
change their pursuits, but only in
crease their industries They hay
already utilized the climate an
topography by the selection of villag
sites, where fur trading, fishing
hunting, etc, can be most advantage
ously conducted. The Fort Simpso
Missionary Station is their ideal G
civilizing effects, where Rev. Dl
Duncan is ma gistrate, minister, mel
chant and general adviser, VIII
shows as marked an effect upon hi
flock as missionary influence eve
exerted in the Sandwich Islands
If the appeal of these people shoul
meet favorable notice from oficia
sources at Washington, as well a
from the missionary influence noJ
active in Indian affairs, all the troop
might be withdrawn from Sitka, an
q revenue cutter to cruise along th
coast, calling from time to time q
the several village stations las tn
British now have service on thei
side of the line, among the same rae
of people, J would keep smuggling i
better check than now, restrict th
whisky traffic by the eoasting schooI
ers now in the business, and insur
good order, equal or better than q
lpresent.
The two companies of artillery
Sitka have no influence mile b,
yond their parade ground, and 80 ia
as exerting police influence over tn
territory, they would be equally e
fective FIVE thousand miles distant
If you favorably entertain what
herein set forth, and desire furtht
information upon any point regart
ing the status Of these people, | wi
use the utmost promptness and dill
gence in response. If nothing inte
feres with my present expectation
expect to be again at Urangel SON
time in April next; until then, in tn
city. Yours, respectfully,
JOHN A. CARR,
Deputy Collector at Urangel, Alask