The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-12-13
4 Man From Alaska.

ties under the United States Govern.
ment.
Mr.. Morton has spent eight years in
the Territory Of alaska. and has had
better opportunities Of becoming &c.
quainted with that almost unknown re-
gion than most men who have sought
Co learn Its resources and future possi-
bilisies. He has been officially con-
neoted with the Islands OF st. Paul and
st. deorge--two Of the Aleutian group
and bis duties, IN conjunction with
three assistants, were 10 act In behalf Of
the government Ia enforcing the terms
OF the lease under which these islands
are held 4. + twenty years by the Alaska
Commercial Company. In regard 10
these islands, the inhabitants aud their
principal occupation, Mr.. Morton says:
The population Of the island Of 81.
Paul Is about 240 natives, and that Of
Sc. George 100. There are not more
than 800 peeplo upon the Aieutian
group, aud those who live upon the two
Islands named are unquessionably
much better OF and In . higher condi-
tion Of civilization than any Of their
neighbors. There has been q marked
improvement in their condition during
the last seven years. When the con-
tract Of tho United States Government
came into existence these people lived
IN mud tents, partly dug out, and 30
low that they we're Obliged 10 crawl IN
and out, while these miserable dwell.
ings had no ventilation whatever. I'm
der tho conditions Of the lease the COM
pany Is compelled 10 do certain things
| Tor the inhabitants Of the island; but
they have done more than was required
Of them. All the men are employed IN
the seal fisheries, which occupy loss
than two months in the year. They
drive the seals in shore, kiln and skin
them, and salt and otherwise prepare
the skins for shipment 10 San Francis
co. For this work which rarely lasts
more than about six weeks, each man
receives s400 or $500, and all the rest
of the year they have nothing In the
world 70 do. The company are also
compelled 70 furnish tho people with
fuel, salt ilsh 70, the winter, and suiiici-
ent salt in barrels with which they may
preserve the fieah Of the zeal for winter
consumption, thia being their principal
article Of diet. All the money the peo-
pie have 20 spend il in the purchase Of
dread and such other things ~ they
may desire 10 get from the company's
store.
They need not spend much for dress,
as they can obtain plenty Of aealakin
clothing; but na q matter Of fact some
Of them do buy very fine clothes. and
dress in quite sfsliah fashions. It Fests
with the people themselves whether
they will save money or waste IL on
hnsry and trinkets. The company's b
store keep . good assortment, and they
have plenty OF opportunity 90 spend
money there II they are so inclinod.
But many Of them are getting quite
rich. Some Of them know have as
much as 50 900 In the savings bank 81
San Francisco; and there are no class
Of lkborers Retting more money with
less Woik than these natives engaged IN
the seal fishery. The company pro-
vides . school eight months Ia the year,
aud has built each family comfortable
frame house, thus lettering their con-
dition 10 . very great extent. Last
year . church was erected nt q cost OF
S16 900. for which the people contrib.
uted out Of their earnings and have
paid OF the whole amount. They are
devout members Of the Greek Church,
and attend 10 their religious duties with
great regularity.
One stipulation Of the lease II that
not more than 100 900 seals shall be
killed IN any year, aud as the lease ex-
tends over twenty years, and the COM
pany expect 20 renew IL ut the end oi
that term, Il il as much to their inter
est as that Of the government 10 observe
this condition. This present year the
full number has been killed, but IN
1876 and 1877 only T5, 900 seals were
caught each yer, the reason being that
the price Of seal skins had become
someN hat reduced. This year both
the demand and price improved. There
, is DO danger of killing of the seals
under the system 1t present adopted, a.
care Is taken to catch only the young
males from 10 years Of age. They
never kill female seal. nor yet an old
male. Bnd as there are several million
seals around these two islands moro
than all other parts OF the world com.
bined-the reproduction il more thar
enough TO perpetnate the stock.
The company pays TO the government
yearly about $500. 900. and this amount
may be said 70 represent about all thai
, Alaska contributes 20 the United States
: The rest Of the country, which is d
vtst extent, covering six hundred thou
i sand square miles, Is practically unpro
iuctiye, but in this time the spruce
J pine aud yellow cedar timber upon ths
) mainland will become valuable, and Il
is probable that extensive mineral 70
sources viii be developed; their exist
ence in some localities Is already known
: The temperature on the islands wher,
reside is not Of such extreme cold a
| in other parts Of Alaska. Last winter
was the coidest have known, ana ths
thermometer was never more than 2.
degrees below zero. Strong winds and
! frequent storms prevail, however, ter
months out Of the twelve, and thii
makes the weather much colder thar
, would otherwise be the case. The tws
months Of summer, June and July, ar.
usually wet, but that Is the only tim'
in the year when there are no winC
storms. There is but little movinl
J about in the long winter, and the hal
dozen white people on the islands rel,
: upon good library and such indoo
amusements % they can follow to 90
cupy their time Indianapolis Journal
Robert Burns's nieces, Agnes and Is
4 abella, reside near Ayr, Scotland
s'Yhey Iiven Saws q tourfek Gin A likti,