The New York herald., 1879-08-31
A L A S * A.
A Provisional Government Organized by the
Settlers ut Sitka
ITS AIMS AND INTENTIONS.
Need of More Efficient Protection by the
United States

- ssay A~Ds l AHAoTutcu you OF INC mectluB eio
July Is to discuss the situation and to consut to
the advsability OF establishing some form of local
government. having power adequate to maintain
peace and insure equity and encouragement to all
here. a. well as any who may contemplate coming.
The committee appointed by the citizens failed to
report any progress on the day named but. most
all had determined to take immediate steps in the
much desired direction. the subject thoroughly
discussed and finally resulted in the adoption of the
following ordinance Of government:-
PROVISIONAL GovERSxENr OF THE TowS AND DIsrRIcr OF
Whsrsa: the Torriscry Alaska purchased Russia
nss Or Sssn
authorities for the administration Of the
ny
toc s and property to the effects deceased
to the pnbc peace and 20 punish cre
population .S5ss there the
1877 sundry which danger the aud
dssmoa g tue property Of residents has resulted from
intmson by the United States government Of an inion
thority the citxens might the right establish
soa ssS,a
Sensible eonadoace shoy viii enjoy per%snsnsiy
sSsn % onah sna the support Of their
:" TN ~ snpPsa.sd BY regularly enacted such
has h ao, esy n
dvdua rights weifars and existence Of the com.
aaor,y S
law and in duty to oarsevos and our posterty
Now. thretore, belt
Of sks and the settlements thereto, the
rssted
for the said and adjacent country be-
Ths dossrnmens the Town and District
Ss &c
ssp'S the and as .s
msnt Of said town and district. and to which
ton Obedience and support in all their authorised acts
sas.In raa uphold the same Within the
The authority Of the provisional government shall ex
or tho
Within oi ms or arhs IL
Ct profession OF AMERICAN interests and for the
and sue% % eSer as
nss es % s % Hf
tS any portion of tho Territory whore such
ns Ss SS s s. Be
be elected as ;oowsrhe chief magistrate by majority
cnct by majority votes east in each precinct rsspoc
lively. which are established IS follows:-
(Here is introduced the limits Of the three pre-
cncts Of Stka town. that Of Silver Bay the min
ing section. aud that Of Port Hunter. whore is Cut
ting Co.'s canning establishment).
The Chief Magstrato and each OF the Se!ectmen shall
separately authority hear and determine any civil
or to take cognixance of criminal offence
OF 10 and G H to
Civil must 30 in the Precinct ~isron
tho defendant resides and before the soectman for
ss'' S 6Saas
taken 70 the Provisional Council after Judgment given
1n either case the selectman having first jurisdie
for hearing But shall not be compelled to do so un
Ss s
lie from the Chief Msgisrae to any scectman to compel
In criminal essss the same rights Of apso" Or removal
sas pH. to So Chief 0 e
sal ds.onion and the general right appeal
intermediate question Of law right BY petition in
sssss.sry s%psnsiii%s ssspas
:Ss of S & be but certified %
of the psass including upon tho
streets ai.Srdsrly ss1sylSr - and ogYSss. and
Zig sslesmaa WHICH ,hoy and
Council and shall have authority to make ali the nseos
Ssrsn ss,asshed They shall the Board Of Appeal in
all cases, herein provided Three members shall con
rsa de-
Whsrs praesleaSle ali minor oisuess shall be
seizure of property. in preference to confinement
m nEeisrsArIos AND yorisc
male residents of the district herein provided upward
q Ne Witch they
Or vU'sr Su .h hs Mags
tiste after his election shall reside at si,ka fhe
resisraon lists suS the Of precincts may
changes
sentstion The first election hereunder .ha take place
che third Monday in August, 1885,
Then follows duties of Supervisors and registra-
tion ofhcers:-
residence of month the declaration of an neu
oa % san Sa shall son'u w,s tho
two persons voted for tor oce the having
Tho Council shall submit to the voters at any time tho
or eo y OF c n as 10 ihs
srablc TO have an expression OF the popular wilt and also
srnment
be he duty Of the pros,ons Council 20 ass s"rss
s ss suss % rs
the usual laws OF probate.
TO g'9yde TOR eayng on The hereby estab
sonors or conduit themselves an .ssessmen OF all the
and shall also tax the value OF portion Of
pars: "siss p-spsr,y 30 rsssirsS q
pay such taxes: The Council vi .ha also provide for
The Council shall power owe to- eses,
garn Of claims school shall DO mansainod, II
$ Hus o az 'SS 20 ss
children by proper regulations.
Tho Provisional Council shall have power compel tho
OF rules of health and cleanliness by the
dents VI Sitka.
THE FInsr EIEcTIoN.
This ordinance Of government was adopted by the
residents OF Sitka present ut the meeting. and nm
election ordered compliance with it with the fol-
lowing results Collector H. M. Ball, Chief Mags-
trate; =. Corcoran, I. Holborn, Father N. q. Metro
uoski and Thomas McConley. Solectmen.
At the Canncry. six miles north OF Stka. sixteen
votes cast.
There were sixteen votes cast at the stewart Mine
Mill In the morning, but in the afternoon y report
from thirteen miners ut the Witch Mine.
which about four miles distant. that they did not
the proceeding, and advised against con-
curing. This induced tho others TO withhold their
assent. and . paper WAS sent notifying the Provi-
sional Council government of their intentions
and the election return kept back. The follow
Ing 10 . copy of the paper:--
To TIM CHAIRMAN MKxBsRs or the So CALLED Pro-
vistoFAL GOVERNMENT
We the undersigned citizens silver Bay district
pose aud ntcnd TO hold oursclves aloof from all inter