The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-02-20
ALASKA.

fSe 'tal i'lAO ID hAOnl Va tliS pOScSsAoi
thus acquired by the United States.
When, therefore, the Post met Maj.
William Gouyerneus Morris, Of Califor-
MIA, in the lobby of the Ebbitt house
yesterday, the reporter found an oppor-
tunity of enlighteniDg the public that
was not to be lost
lyon visited Alaska in al official cap
acity, did you not?" quoth the Post.
Eyes, sir; / went there under direction
from Secretary Sherman to inspect the
customs districts located there. [ have
inst returned, aud submit a report to
congress tomorrow.
Can you not tell the Post something
OF that country, its people, climate, re
sources, etc., said our young man in his
most seductive manner.
81 shall be very glad to, Was the re-.
ply. In the first place, you must know
that Immediately after the purchase Gen.
Lowell II. Rousseau went to receive the
territory with large body of troops in
naval vessels, after which it was garri-
soned by several companies at posts Sc
lected by Gen. HalIeck. These posts
were marked out by Gen. Halleck at his
military headquarters in San Francisco
by merely looking at map of Alaska
without tour of exploration having
been made. This fact is not generally
known. AS the result of this the posts
were located at points that were either
totally inaccessible or difficult to reach,
and where it was expensive to supply
the troops with garrison stores. Suisse
quently all these posts were abandoned
by order of the war department except
two, viz: Sitka and Fort Wrangel, on
Wrangel's Island, and the government of
the territory was finally turned over to
the treasury department
"What was done thenl'
1.-The government was placed in the
hands of the collector of customs and
his deputies, who were occasionally Wis
tied by o revenue cutter. But these
deputies being only 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 government at ALL "
"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
catching and is partially civilized from
intercourse with the whites. He also
trades with the tribesNof the interior and
with the whites. In this trading busi-
ness he is shrewd and adept and gen,
orally gets the best Of a bargain. Their
villages have been several times de-
stroyed by British and American gun
boats, and this has taught them a severe
lesson. In fact, the true way to govern
them would be TO keep a gunboat con-
tinually cruising along the coast. .
"Are they easily governed
"There Is 10 trouble, was the reply,
"to be experienced from them except
when they are crazed with drink, and
then there IS no telling what they might
do. The troops could only pretend to
keep order Immediately adjoining the
posts. and for this reason were with
drawn. 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 partitioned off for each tribe.
They are warlike, 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 Tartar origin"
'.What is the climate of Alaska,
Major"
THE temperature Of southeastern Al
Gska is no colder than at the mouth of
the Columbia river, Oregon, and three
degrees 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 N 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 air is far more to
be feared than the cold. These remarks,
however, do not apply to the entire
country west Of the Aleutian Islands, !
which is barren and inhospitablt. .
HAS Alaska any rivers?" inquired the |
Post.
Eyes, sir, the principal one being the !
Yukon, which flows through Central !
Alaska, and empties into Norton Sound.
1t has large arm debouching to the
towards British Columbia. from |
which flows innumerable streams"
''How large Is the 1ukon?'
lit has never been thoroughly sur
veyed, but Capt. Raymond navigated it I
for 1900 miles. 1t is believed to be |
arger than the Mississippi or Amazon.
Il is frozen up in the winter time and its /
breaking up in spring is grand and ter
rife sight, The debris OF driftwood, and |
timber which is carried down at each /
ireshet is, by the force of the current,
ioated ont to the Aleutian Islands, |
where 1t serves the natives as fire wood. /
It is the only kind they use, as no trees
grow or these islands"
What are the resources of Alaska2"
''In the first place, Alaska is full of
soal. It can be found cropping out
everywhere. But it cannot be utilized, /