Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-04-12
ALASKA.
Stories Told by a Government In
spectOr.

<hiNuOuSh ~ 10 iiOW ItlOTc JIdU beIl wears
since the Russian Govern ment decided to
this country. for the consideration of ST.
1000, that portion of its territory in
America known as Alaska, yet but little
is known of the possession thus acquired
by the United States. When, therefore,
the Post met Maj. William Gouverneur
Morris, of California. in the lobby Of the
Ebbitt House, yesterday, the reporter
found an opportunity of enlightening the
public that WAS not to be lost
"You visited Alaska IN an official capa>
city, did you not ?" quoth the Post.
"Y es, sir; went there under directions
from Sec'y. Sherman to inspect the GUS
toms districts located there. have just
returned and submit "A report to Congress
Tomorrow"
"Can YOU not tell the Post something Of
that country, its people, climate, resources,
etc." said our young man, in his most
seductive manner.
II shall be very glad to" was the reply.
"In the first place, you must fnow that
immediately after the purchase, Gen. q.
Lowell H. Rousseau went to receive the
territory with large body of troops in
naval vessels, after which it was garrison
cd by severai COMPARES ut posts
selected by Gen. Halleck. These posts
were marked out by Gen. Halleck at his
military headquarters in San Francisco
by merely looking at a map of Alaska,
without tour of exploration having
been made. This fact is not generally
were located a. points that we're either to-
tally inac"ess BILE or fficult to reach, and
where it was expensive to supply the
troops with garrison stores. Subsequently
all these posts were abandoned 5y order
Of the War Department except two, viz,
Sitka and Fort Wrangel, on Wrangel's
Island and the government OF the Terri
tory was finally turned over to the Treas
ury Department"
"Whai was done then ?"
| "The Government was placed in the
hands OF the Collector of Customs and
his deputies, who were occasionally visited
by revenue cutter. But these deputies
being Fly authorized by law to collect
revenue, and having no extended powers.
whatever government they have exercised
has been usurped. This is but little at the
best, and as a result there is no Govern
ment at all. 4"
"What kind Of people, Major, are the
natives ?"
They are Indians of two classes. The
first is the coast savage, who lives in vii
lagos and subsists on fish of his own catchs
ing, and is partially civilized from inter
course with the whites. He also trades
with the tribes of the interior and with the
whites. In this trading business he is
shrewd and adept, and generally gets the
best of a bargain. Their villages have
been several times destroyed by British
and American g,nboats, and this has
taught them a severe lesson In fact, the
true way to govern them would be to
keep gun boat continually cruising along
the coast"
"Are they easily governed ?"
"There is no trouble" was the reply,
''to be expert fenced from them except
when they are crazed with drink, and
then there is no telling what they might
do. The troops could only pretend 10
keep order Immediately adjoining the
posts, and for this reason were Withdrawn,
as being of no service"
"Who are the second class OF people?"
"They are the interior tribes, of whom
little is known. They will allow no white
man to enter their DOMAIN, and only trade
with the coast Indians. Their country is
partitonea off for each tribe. They are
warlke, dangerous, and, in fact, perfect
savages. Both classes Of Indians are
more of an Asiatic type than our red men
of the plains, and clearly show their Tar
tar origin"
"What is the climate of Alaska, Ma.
jor?"
''Tne temperature Of Southeastern
Alaska is no colder than at the mouth of
the Columbia River, Ore, and three de-
grees warmer than at Ottawa. This is
owing to the warm current which flows
from Japan, known as the japanese Gulf
Stream. Snow is very rarely seen in the
streets of Sitka, though in the winter
time the mountains in the vicinity are
covered. The same clothing is worn
there as you wear to,day in Washington.
The dampness of the mir is far more to be
feared than the cold. These REMARKS,
however, do not apply to the entire coun>
try west of the Aleutian Islands, which is
barren and inhosptaole."
HAS Alaska any rivers ?r inquired the
Post.
"Yes, sir, the principal one being the
Yukon. which flows though Central Alas
ka, and emptes into Norton Sound. 1t
has large arm debouchng to the east
ward toward British Columbia, from
which flows innumerable streams"
How large is the Yukon ?"
at has never been thoroughly survey
ed but Capt. Raymond navigated it for
1000 miles. 1t is believed to be larger
than the Mississippi or the Amazon. 1t
is frozen up in the winter time and its
breaking up in spring is n grand and ter
rife sight. The debris, driflwood and
timber which is carried down at each
freshet is, by the force of the current,
floated out to the Aleutian Isands, where
it serves tho natives as fire. wood. 1t is
the only kind they use, as no trees grow
on these islands"
| uVhat are fhe resourcos of AlsskaY 81