Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-07-10
GOVERNING ALASKA.
Eject of the Law Recently Enacted
Needs of the Territory

Wrangel, Alaska. to learn some par
ticulars about the government with
which the territory Is to be provided.
1t may be mentioned that Mr.. Oak
ford has been the chief mover in the
passage of this bill.
Before proceeding to speak of the
benefits that will accrue to the terri
tory by the installation OF govern
ment, / would like to give you sketch
of the past, said Mr.. Oakford. "You
are veil aware that the greater part
of Alaska is an UNEMPLOYED country.
and that the strip of country known
as southeastern Alaska is where the
Europeans are resident.
"What does this country includem
ut begins at 81 40 and continues
till it strikes the Mount st. Elias meri-
dian. You can see that along the
coast are dotted myriads of small
islands, with some few large
ones. Sitka, the capital, is stu
ated on one of these islands
and here is the termination of com.
munication from the civilized world
''Do you mean to say that the only
white people that are to be found are
in this STRIPE"
"No, not exactly. But with the ex-
ception of some few employees of a
packing company living at Cooks IN
let there are no European residents in
any other part of the territory out of
the employ of the Alaska fur com.
pany."
$50 practically the government viii
be for southeastern Alaska?"
practically, yes. But let me give
you an illustration of how this coun.
Try has been arranged Hitherto it
has been under the treasury depart
ment, and the only resident officials
have been custom house officers.
There was no way to collect debts or
punish crime except by local Wig
lance committees In the case of two
outrageous crimes, the people took
the law in their own hands. In 1879
they hanged white man at Wrangell
island for killing a countryman ia a
drunken brawl, and at Harrisburg
last year three Indians were hanged
for the murder of two white men"
'But the government used to have
a military force there, did it not2"
Yes, it did AT the time of the
transfer to the United States detach-
ments of troops were stationed at
Sitka, at Fort Wrangell, and at Fort
Tongass, in southeastern Alaska In
1876 these were all withdrawn. Three
years later serious disturbance was
apprehendcd from the Indians, and
at the earnest request of the lnhabit-
ants of Sitka, the British man-of-war
Osprey from Victoria came to their
rescue. There she remained until she
was relieved by the United States
ship Alaska. Since then the follow
ing ships have been on the station:
jamestown aud Wachusett and the
Adams This last vessel is waiting to
be relieved by the gun boat Pinta,
which is now on her way to this port
from Panama.
"Well, has the presence of these
men Of war been bunefcial2"
Certainly it has. Besides keeping
the Indians in subsection, it has also
served to support various trading es-
adjustments, especially III Sitka, at
which place 1t was estimated that the
crews of the Jamestown, Wachusett,
and Adams spent more money i'm each
month of their stay than did the reg.
ular white residents of the town in
three years. The small gun boat
Pinta, with her crew Of forty men, is
amply sufficient for all needed pro-
lection in supporting the govern
ment officials IN the exercise of their
duty"
what will be the personnel of the
new government
The bill r-ovides for a governor, a
district court, with a Judge a clerk of
the court, q marshal, and district at
torney. The court is to hold three
sessions in each year-one at Sitka,
one at Wrangell, and one at Harris
bdrg or Juneau. 1t will adjudicate
on all mining and property claims
1t is most important consideration,
as up to this time there has been no
tribunal before which disputed claims
could be settled. In addition to the
official already mentioned, four com
missioners are to be appointed, one to
be a resident at Sitka, one at Wran-
CELL, one at Harrisburg, and one at
Oonalaska. They are 10 try all petty
offenses; in fact, they will act as
police magistrates. This is much
needed, as the Indians are greatly adj
dicted to thieying, and hitherto there
has been no way of Furnishing them.
The marshal will have the power of
appointing deputy marshals. Besides,
l forgot to mention that there are two
treasury officials stationed at the Seal
islands, whose duty it is to see that
the employees of the Alaska Fur Com
pany do not violate the terms of the
contract they have with the govern
ment The present law provides that
the governor is to make a yearly re-
port on the Seal islands, but l can not
see how it can be done. There is no
possible means of communication, eX-
cept by government steamer "
"Will the officials have much to do
with the Alaska Fur company
The government is not likely. to in