, 1879-02-13
ALASKA TO the FRONT.

"oregOnlan teleTraphlc mention
of Special Agent VIM. G.. Morris
report 10 the u. 5. Treasury Depart
ment, concerning the resources, con-
d:tion and prospects of Alaska; also
the favorable comments of Secre.
tary Sherman upon the document.
The whole matter has been laid be.
fore the Senate, and agent Norris
has undoubtedly ere this appeared
before a committee appointed to ex.
anime into the condition and claims
of Alaska, with view to establish
ing civil government; up there and
providing for the more rapid devel-
opment Of the resources of that por.
ton of our public domain.
We deem the present time to be
most auspicious for Alaska, and her
prospects are brighter than ever be-
fore. Notwithstanding misrepresen
tation, she is surely coming to the
front. A specimen of the animus
prompting weak but wholesale at
tacks upon measures for advancing
Alaska's best interests may be noted
in the course of our local cotempo-
rary. That sheet, in one of its re-
cent articles, sides with special agent
Elliot in condemning and belittling
Alaska, and mentions Mr.. |. Dennis,
for several years Deputy Collector
of Customs at Fort Wrangcl, rs e1-
perienced authority in support of its
position. We quote from its issue
OF Nov. 80, 1877, as follows:
at appears that Deputy Collector OF
Customs, |. g. Dennis, of Fort Wrangle,
is lonely, and sighs for the sweet compan-
iInship Of genial spirits. His long letter
To Congress. teeming with fearful lamen-
t2iions, evidently dicates that
ne either pines Tor more company or in
Q eased salary"
1t is evident, from the above. that
friend Blanchard's memory either
proved treacherous, or that be will.
fully misrepresented. The occasion
Of this comment was q petition to
the Senate and House of Represent
atives, published in the ARGUS Of
Nov. 20, 1877, and letter from NJ.
Dennis, urging speedy action, pub
lished at the same time. From Mr..
Dennis letter we qaote:
Ten years have elapsed since the acqui-
sition by our government Of this country,
and during that time Government has
neither encouraged or sanctioned the de-
velopment of its resources. Nothing has
Leen done towards improving the condi-
tion of Its inhabitants, either intellectually
Or morally. All that has been has had a
telislency to stagnate our commerce i'm
pede enterprise. and deDase and delnoral-
ize the native inhabitants."
"Alaska's wealth will Justify little
legislation In her behalf.
During the past year, mineral has been
discovered In this Territory. that will,
truly believe, revolutionlze the Pacific
coast. Alaska fish are being looked after
and within few years Alaska canned
salmon will be exported TO all parts OF
the world. DsbeIievers may croak as
much az they please, but these things are
as inevitable as the rising Of the sun.
Aside from all this is the Csssiar mines
IN British Columbia. This season has de-
yeloped the fact that Cassiar ia an extern
siye gold country that will last for years.
The year rs will bring near three
thousand men thIther, perhaps more. all
ofwhom must pass through Wrangel."
We might quote more extensively,
but deem it unnecessary, as our OBJ.
ject is merely to show how basely
some persans will misrepresent facts
in order to gain u point. A little
more than q year ago the "Press"
assailed and abused Mr.. Dennis for
advocating Legislation in favor ol
Alaska; it now brazenly assert.
him to be opposed to measure.
Of that kind, and lauds him as being
a man whose suggestions are worth,
of consideration because of his ex,
perience. On our first page will be
found further quotations.
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