Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-12

lions OF the scientific corps sent out by the
western Union Telegraph company in 1858 to
report upon the feasibility of a cable acrossBehr-
ing straits. Prof. Dali, of the Smithsonian In
stitute. Prof Whymper, the great English
mountain climber. Rothrocker, the botanist, and
Others accompanied the party. telegraphlin
was erected for some hundred miles up the Brit
ish Columbian coast, and before the party had
more than reached the UNEMPLOYED regions Of
Alaska they were recalled. The success of the
Atlantic cables and the difficulty of main, aiming
the line through the dense forest regions of the
coast decided the company to abandon the url-
dertakng. Prof. Dali made close and careful
studies during that time. and the result of his
more prolonged stay has been given to the pub
lie in ponderous work entitled "Alaska and
Its Resources" Dalfs great volume is the only
reliable work that can be consulted for refer
ence, but his studies were chiefly chronological
ana confined TO the region of the Yukon river.
Succeeding writer's have drawn upon him en-
tirey for their statements. and his book,
although published more than twelve years ago,
is still the standard work. Prof. Whymper pub
lished book of his travels in Alaska. and it
being in lighter and more discursive vein. is
more frequently read than Dalls. Since then
Sheldon Jackson. the missionary. has put forth
small illustrated book composed of extracts
from Dali. and letters from his cO-workers in
the Alaska field. John Muir the geolOgist, WIS.,
tied the glacial region three years ago. and
wrote series of articles concerning them for
the San Francisco Bulletin. and special treasury
agents and census commissioners have gathered
much interesting matter into their official re-
ports. Discoveries of gold in the Yukon coun-
try have turned speculative interest toward that
region in late years. but its remOteness and in
accessibility have kept away the army of pros
pectOrs who would willingly Overrun it. The
Schief1n brothers, who first worked the mines
at IO0mDStOne. Arizona. have lately become in
terestcd in the Yukon mines. and are now work
ing them. They fitted out their own vessels at
San Francisco. and took up miners and mining
suppesa year ago, and this spring they sent up
another consignment Of wOrkmen. mining tools
mill machinery and supplies. From the fact
that no definite reports have yet been heard as
to the richness of the Schieffns' mines the
outside world is divided between a certainty of
failure or suspicion of fabulous and shrewdly
concealed riches. The Schefflins have with them
steam launches tor exploring the Yukon river
on prospecting tours, and it is probable that
through them something more will be known
OF that great river that empties into the sea
by five branches, forming delta more
than seventy miles across. The Yukon is al
ready explored for length of 1900 miles,
1.5OO of which are navigable for small vessels
Besides the Schieffiin colony Lieut.. Schwatka,
OF Arctic fame. has started with small party
OF men this summer to explore the head waters
of the Yukon. The Schwatka party lett the
mail steamer at the head of Lynn channel in
southern Alaska, going thence in canoes up the
Chllcat river to its head. then by portage of
twenty-fOur miles through the forest to chain
OF lakes that lead to one of the tributaries of
the Yukon. Important results are looked for
from the Schwatka explorations, and miners
are particularly interested in this last venture
of the Arctic hero.
More than for geological SURVEYS and exnlOra-
lions do the people cry for some form of govern
ment and the establishment of some definite
law and order; for in its present neglected con-
dltl0n Alaska is territory in name only. The
collector OF customs at Sitka and his two depu-
ties are the only civil officers vested with au-
thority. and their Jurisdiction only applies to
Treasury regulations as to imports. duties and
clearance papers. The people have petitioned
Tor a governor. for some judicial officers, or to
have recognized delegate in Congress. and
nothing has ever come of it. Man-of-war gov
eminent may have done very we'll for the few
years succeeding the Russian transfer. but
within the past five years Alaska has been
developing Industries and slowly coming into
prominence that demands some pr lection of
law and semblance of order. If a trader
is caught selling liquor to the Indians
he must be indicted and tried by the courts at
San Francisco. If convicted he may be fined
$500 meanwhile the expense of bringing the
accused and all the witnesses from Alaska to
San Francisco costs the government three or
four times as much as the fine may amount to-
As the United States attorney once remarked.
They bring ten cent Indian down to San
Francisco and give him 8 900 trial, all for
worst white man in it." 1t is only in extreme
cases. however, that prisoners and witnesses
are treated to an excursion to San Francisco at
government expense. since the commander
OF the man-of-war is vested with cOnstabu-
larry and all other kinds OF power, and
metes out justice by direct and common
sense methods without the rgmarole of
the law. The discovery of gold at
Juneau. and the rapid growth of that
mining town, make the want of government all
the more felt, and the trouble constantly arising
between the miners, and the miners and the In
dams, keep the man-of-war at Sitka busy MAIN
tanning the peace by wholesome examples
Owners of mining property at Juneau cry tor
surveyor and land office more than for police
court since without surveys or titles to their
lands they hesitate to put money into works or
mills that the first organized band of squatters
may demOlsh or take from them Willie this
state of perfect lawlessness exists enterprise is
checked and operations are slowly conducted,
the great capitalists waiting until some protec-
ton is assured to property and some form of
government is given to this rich and undevel-
opedcOuntry. RUHAMAH.