, 1876-02-05
ALAS!ALASKA.
Harry Elliott DOdges a sharp Corner.
The Alta JObbing I'm the WhiteWnsh-
ing Line.

The " Alta JObbing I'm the WhiteWnsh-
ing Line. Z
For the PUGET SOUND WEEKLY AReusl
VICTORIA, B. c., Feb. 2, 1876.
ED1roR ARGUsE
There being some likelihood of
Congress in its wisdom soon attach
ing Alaska to Washington Territory,
for the purpose of judicially manag-
ing the benighted country which at
present suffers from mighty UNcivil
rule, or rather misrule, the affairs
of that section must be interesting
to your people and therefore 1 hope
that the following from a United
States citizen who has just returned
after an 18 months sojourn in Alaska,
where he has had uncommon facili-
ties for observing the state ofafairs,
may find place in your columns.
Mr.. Elliott, whiIom US. Treasury
agent, exploring Alaska and its re-
sources at government expense, is
out in the Alta. People have accused
him of reporting deprecatingly on
what he can hardly have any person
al or correct knowledge of, since he
visited no part of the mainland of
Alaska, and but few of its numerous
islands. He states the country to
be utterly worthless, except for the
revenue derived from the Fur Seal
Islands; and loudly he sounds the
praise Of the company there reigning.
In the letter to the above journal,
under date of Jan. 7th., he walls as
follows:
"Then again he (editor of the
Monitor) calls attention to the doings
of this Mr.. Elliott, because, he says,
the Anti Monopoly Association have
charged that / have minutely des-
cribed scenes and people which l
have never been within 500 miles of.
Who or what is this so-called Anti
NJ no ,oly Association of the Pacific
OoastY Who are the men who have
written and published that vile
pamphlet he quotes fromg
/, for one, have not been able to find
out who these men were and are
who, by this anonymous pamphlet, "
etc., etc.
How badly the shoe evidently
pinches, and how neatly the cap must
ftl Harry lodges the point he men
tions very clumsily. How about the
500 miles2 If a man comes out
roughshod in the journalistic field
with intent to save his aspersed rep
utation as public servant, he should
boldly charge the enemy's battery
and silence it, because his beating
about the bush with a great furry,
and then scampering of at wild
tangent in very unlogical line, will
i impress upright people with the con-
viction that he is not anxious or pre-
pa ed for the contest.
Now, whether OF not the fur seal
contract was obtained frauduleatly,
OF is unconstitutional, will not at
this time discuss. The offending
pamphlet boldly charges it, and
offers to prove it. Wincing Elliott
whines over its pages and calls it vile
and anonymous. AS to the latter
adjective 1 will prove it incorrect,
and after a careful and repeated Pc
rusal Of the publication l find no
trace of the former. Were the
pamphlet, as charged, vile and Sian
derous, the Fur Company could find
ready redress by suing the Associa-
ton for libel, for it is not an anony.
nous concern, the secretary of the
same having printed at the very end
of the pamphlet his name and ad-
dress in full, with the request to com
municate with him. Scores Of res
pectable business men Of San Fran
cisco are members.
Had Harry's optics not been dim
med by copious tears of vexation
when be was perusing the finale Of
the startling little brochure, which,
by the way, is far from being com
plimentary to him, he would be per.
feetly aware that he gave vent to an
antruth when he called the Associa.
tion nameless. But this does moi
puzzle me half SO much as the course
pursued by the respectable Alta.
remember at the time of leasing the
Seal Islands that paper was bitterly
opposed to the granting Of such q
monopoly, yet two editorials publish.
ed the same day with Elliott's letter
gracefully, if not gratefully pat the
Company on the back and emphati.
cally or" 90 XII Whencethe change
G. W. Y.