Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-05

Eject of the Law Recently Enacted
Needs Of the Territory.

Il
Needs Of the Territory.
A San Francisco Chronicle reporter
called recently upon J. S. Oakford, the
late Collector Of Customs at Fort Wrang-
ell, Alaska, to learn some particulars
about the government with which the
Territory is to be provided. 1t may be
mentioned that Mr.. Oakford has been the
chief mover in the passage Of this bill.
Before proceeding TO speak Of the bene-
| fits that will accrue TO the Territory by
the installation Of government, l would
| like to give you sketch Of the past
| said Mr.. OakfOrd. You are well aware
| that the greater part of Alaska is an I'M
| explored country, and that the strip of
| country known as Southeastern Alaska is
| where the Europeans are resident"
"What does this country includeYv
sit begins at 54:40 and continues till it
strikes the Mount st. Elias meridian.
/ You can see that along the coast are dot
| ted myriads Of small islands, with some
| few large ones. Sitka, the capital, Il stu
ated on one of these islands, and here is
| the termination OF communication from
! the civilized world
"Do you mean to say that the only white
people that are TO be found are in this
stripg'
"No, not exactly. But with the excep-
( ton Of some few employees Of a packing
company living at Cooks inlet there are
no European residents in any other part
of the territory out of the employ of the
| Alaska Fur Company"
$50 practically the government will be
/ for Southeastern Alaskan
'Practically, yes. But let me give you
an illustration of how this country has
been arranged. Hitherto it has been IN
der the Treasury Department, and the
| rly resident officials have been custom
| house officers. There was no way to col
| lect debts or punish crime except by local
vigilance 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 in 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 notr'
"Yes, it did. At the time of the trans
| fer to the United States attachments of
troops were stationed at Sitka, at Fort
| Wrangell, and at Fort TOngass, in South
eastern Alaska. In 1876 they were all
withdrawn. Three years later a serious
| disturbance was apprehended from the
Indians, and, at the earnest request of
the inhabitants 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 following ships
have been on the station: The jamestown
and 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.
swell, has the presence Of these mem
of-war been beneficial?'
Certainly it has. Besides keeping the
Indians in subsection, it has also served
to support various trading establish
ments, especially in Sitka. at which place
it was estimated that the crews of the
jamestown, Wachusett and Adams spent
more money in each month of their stay
than did the regular white residents of the
town In three years. The small gunboat
Pinta, with her crew of forty men, is am
ply sufficient for all needed protection in
supporting the government officials in the
exercise of their duty.''
what will be the personnel of the new
government
"The bill provides for a Governor. a
District Court, with Judge, Clerk of
the Court, Marshal and a District At
torney. The court is to hold three ses-
slons IN each year-0ne at Sitka, one at
WrangeH and one at Harrisburg 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 tOthe official already
mentioned, four commissioners are to be
appointed, one to be resident at Sitka, one
at Wrangell, one at Harrisburg, and one
at OOnalaska. They are to try all petty
ofenses; in fact, they will act as police
magistrates. This is much needed, as the
nrn
and hitherto there has been no way of
Furnishing them. The Marshal will have
the power of appointing Deputy Marshals.
Besides, 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 Company
do not violate the terms of the contract
they have with the government. The
present law provides that the Governor
is to make yearly report on the Seal
Islands. but can not see how it can be
done. There is no possible means of COM
municatlon, except by a government
steamer.
"Will the officials have much to do with
the Alaska Fur Company"
"Ihe government is not likely to inter-
fere in any way or shape with the Alaska
Fur Company. They hold the Seal Islands
under lease which does not expire until
1890, and, as. | have already said, there
are two treasury officials to look after in
Engagements, and the visit of the Governor
is an impossibility. 1 will tell you one
good which Will result from the establish
ment of government, and that is that
it will suppress some few dishonest ira
ders, who get credit in Portland and in
San Francisco, and who refuse to paw
their debts. They also are enabled to I'M
dersell the honest traders by their swind-
ling operations"
Glow will the Indians be affected"
'ln my opinion they will obey the laws.
You know they are harmless, though an
exceedingly avaricious set. 1t will not
pay them to resist the process of laW.O