, 1877-11-23
CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN ALASKA.

NV HkHONNs
TO TIE HONORABLE, THE SENATE AND
IIorsE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
UNITED STATES:
The memorial of the undersigned
citizens of California, Oregon, Wash
ington Territory, Alaska Territory,
British Columbia and other parts of
the Pacific coast and now stationed
at Fort Wrangel, Alaska, respectfully
shows that FIT Wrangel, Alaska Ter
,itory is situated upon an island at the
mouth of the Stikeen river. That
said river has, during the past few
wears been navigated by American
and British steamboats, and is the
only accessible route of communities
tion with an extensive gold mining
region in British Columbia, known
MS "Cassiar." That in consequence
of the rush of miners to Cassiar and
to gold mines lately discovered in
Alaska, it has become and now is a
place of considerable trade and COM
merce.
The steamboats, plying the Stick
cen river, all clearing from Wrangel,
aud it being SO far as the mines are
concerned, the terminus Of ocean
navigation.
The mining population Of Cassiar
during the season of 1877 is estima
ted at 1000, being an increase
upon the previous seasons, and there
is every reason for believing that the
year 1878, will see as large mining
population in CaSsair as the year n,
and that the camp will last for years.
That at the close of the mining sea
son nearly the whole of the mining
population leave the mines for their
respective homes in California,
British Columbia and elsewhere, re-
turning to the mines in the spring,
and thus Fort Wrangel in the spring
and fall, has continuous passing
population of miners who must go
through, and who are frequently de-
tanned at Wrangel awaiting ocean
and river navigation.
The fixed population Of Fort Wran'
gel from October till May, is about
800 that is 300 whites and 500 In
dians. Aside from this large float
ing population of Indians is kept up
by adjacent tribes visiting Wrangel
for the purpose Of trade and traffic;
The receipts of merchants and
others at Wrangel during the year,
is estimated at not less than $780,
600, and the receipts of ocean going
steamboats, by reason of Wrangel
trade, at not less than 100000 an
nually. Tho estimated cost of pri'
vate improvements at Wrangel dur
ing the past four years is $4,000.
Goods and provisions to the ex'
tent of 1900 tons annually for use
and consumption at Cassair, pass in
transit through Wrangel.
The amount of goods brought to
Wrangel for sale and consumption
is estimated at 1900 tons annually.
Extensive credits are necessarily
given by the merchants of Wrangel
to the merchants and miners OF Cas-
star, and to the inhabitants OF Wrsn-
gel.
Large deposits Of gold dust are
made from time to time, by miners
and others passing through Wrangel,
with the merchants Of Wrangel, and
at times it is estimated as much rs
$500,000 is so placed on deposit
The whole OF Alaska Territory at
present is without law or order.
The Customs authorities are the
only recognized authority and they
are powerless to act.
No legal tribunal exists, either
civil or criminal.
Disputes and controversies both
civil and criminal, are arising daily,
and tho want of such tribunal is
keenly felt.
Such want Of law creates much
dissatisfaction, and is calculated toI