Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-12-14
A MAJ From Alaska.


Heightened sbsepcs in Alaska, where
he has been occupied in his Official du-
ties under the United States Govern
ment.
Mr.. Morton HIS 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
to learn its resources and future posi-
bilities. He has been officially con-
nected with the Islands of 1t. Paul and
st. George-two Of the Aleutian group
and his duties, in CONJUNCTION with
three assistants, were to act in behalf OF
the government in enforcing the terms
Of the lease under which these islands
are held for twenty years by the Alaska
Commercial Company. In regard TO
these islands, the inhabitants and their
principal occupation, Mr.. Morton says:
The population Of the island OF st.
Paul is :bout $40 natives, and that of
st. George 100. There are not more
than ! ,SO0 people upon the Aleutian
group. and those who live upon the two
islands named are unquestio oably
much better OF and in . higher cOndi-
ton OF civilization than any of their
neighbors. There has been O marked
improvement in their condition during
the last seven years. When the con-
tract OF the United States Government
came into existence these people lived
in mud tents, partly dug out. and SO
low that they we're obliged TO crawl in
and out, while these miserable dwell
ings had no ventilation whatever. Un-
der the conditions OF the lease the COM
pany is compelled to do certain things
for the inhabitants OF the island; but
they have done more than was required
of them: All tho men are employed in
the seal fisheries, which occupy less
than two months in the year. They
drive the seals in shore, kill and skin
them, and salt and otherwise prepare
the skins for shipment to San Francis
CO. For this work which rarely lasts
more than abost six weeks, each man
receives $500 or $500, and all the rest
OF the year they have nothing in the
world to do. The company are also
to furnish the people with
fuel, salt fish for the winter, and sutfici-
ent salt in barrels with which they may
preserve the flesh of the seal for winter
consumption, this being their principal
article Of diet. All the money the peo-
pie have to spend is in the purchase of
bread and such other things as they
may desire to get from the company's
store.
They need not spend much for dress,
as they can obtain plenty of sealskin
but as matter of fact some
OF them do buy very fine clothes, and
dress in quite tylish fashions. It rests
with the people themselves whether
they will save money or waste it on
fnery and trinkets. The company's
store keep good assortment, and they
have plenty Of opportunity to spend
money there if they are so inclined.
But many of them are getting quite
rich. Some of them know have as
much as $4,000 in the savings bank at
San Francisco; and there are no class
Of laborers getting more money with
less work tl.Asa those 1ssstiveecnx-Sea-i in
the seal fishery. The company pro-
vides q school eight months in the year,
and has built each family comfortable
frame house, thus lettering their con-
ditlon to very great extent. Last
year church was erected at O cost of
BIG 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,
md attend to their religious duties with
great regularity.
One stipulation OF the lease is that
not more than 100000 seals shall be
killed in any year, and as the lease ex-
lends over twenty years, and the COM
pany expect to renew it at the end of
hat term, it. is as much to their inter.
est as that Of the government to observe
his condition. This present year the
Iull number has been killed, but in
1915 and 1877 only $4,000 seals were
caught each year, the reason being that
he price of seal skins had become
reduced. This year both
The demand and price improved. There
is DO danger OF killing off the seals
under the system at present adopted, as
care is taken to catch only the young
males from 2 TO 4 years of age. They
never kill female seal, nor yet an old
male. snd as there are several million
seals around these two islands more
than all other parts OF the world COM
reproduction is more than
enough to perpetuate the stock.
The company pays to the government
yearly about $500, 900. and this amount
may be sa.i to represent about all that
Alaska contributes to the United States.
The rest Of the country, which is of
vast extent, covering six hundred thou
,and square miles, 10 practically unpro-
luctive, but IL this time the spruce,
pine and yellow cedar timber upon the
will beccme valuable, and it
Is probable that extscsive mineral re-
sources will be developed; their exist
once in some localities 10 already known.
The temperature on the islands where
reside is not Of such extreme cold q
in other parts Of Alaska. Last winter
was the coolest I have known, and the
was never more than %
degrees below zero. Strong winds and
frequent storms prevail, however, ten
months out Of the twelve, and this
makes the weather much colder than
would otherwise be the case. The two
months Of summer, June and July, are
usually vet, but that il the only time