New-York tribune., 1885-01-16
machinery of the Marion and ordered duty on board
GOVERNOR KINKEAD ON ALASKA.
THE FIRST CIVIL RULER OF THE DISTRICT EXPLAINS
ITS WANTS AND ITS RESOURCES.
Try TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl

Try TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNEi
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-In Leutze's fresco
painting which greets the visitor as he mounts the
ern staircase In the House wing OF the Capito' QUO
the prominent figures is that OF an oil 'r'Pp
horseback train Of emigrants In the foreerouhu
making the tosome ascent OF the last mountain ridee
which divides them from is to be their future hoe'
A few of the have closely followed the uappoi ~
is leading the way. Standing on the sah"i' y, W
kuo overlooking the scene he POINTS WIN ouIscono
hand to the promised land in the distance patneu III
food OF golden sunlight.
The model OF that rapper is said to have been the
present Governor OF Alaska. Governor Kinkead was
appointed TO the rost which he holds In June INC
act organizing the District OF Alaska was hpro'o" o
Nav II, 1884 He has not had much experience there
FORE s Governor bat he Is nevertheless well acqnaou
with the country. In 1867 when the Territory was
acquired from Russia by purchase he went tnere wiz"
commission as postmaster OF Ska in his pocket at eas
three feet long and the prospect OF making in his Official
capacity S12 year. He is a typical western man III
appearance. His features are strongly mHkeu poeP
his face i'm every direction Keen eyes
firmly set mouth gray hair and beard-the latter closely
trimmed, upper lip and an erect bearing MAKE
him look ten years younger than he must be-and tha'
is sixty at least
a. lave been frontiersman all my le, he exclaimed
as he sat In his shirt sleeves at the foot OF
his bed at WelkeTs.
"Iwas trader In Salt Lake City good many years
ago. long before there thought OF constructing
the trans continental railroads. was In CALIFORNIA
In the early days OF gold fever and was Governor oi
Nevada when that state still a Territory.
"You want to know something about Alaska ne con-
tnIed a" know the country pretty we'll ~ least 'na'
part OF 1t which is known at ALL was In business there
for three years Before went 70 Alaska last summer
had no civil government at ell Things themselves
somehow; though United States man-of-war'
commander exercised such authority IN tpe gov
ernment of tho country seemed necessary Tor the
peoples good
"Tne transfer of authority into my hands was an
imposing affair Commander Nichols, or the fins anu
his officers n full uniform the sailors In their
best rig parade, Governors salute OF don't know
how many guns and all that sort OF thing. IL was
stunning The natives stared, though they didn't know
at first what going They behaved themselves
though, and it good for them they did.
rHg RESOURCES or THE DISTRICT
What are the resources OF the Territory. Governor
"The resources are varied aud important. Mining OF
course takes the lead. In the vicinity OF juneau on
Douglas Island large reduction works are nearing com
pletion One company in which Senator Jones among
Others Is interested has already. expendei nearly
S5OOO0O This miDe has already bcon explored suih-
ceny insure large therefrom Tor many years
In the vicinity OF Stka and 10 the region OF Prince
williams Sound and Cooks Inlet, "a well as In many
sher places the promises the future coed Gold.
copper ana other minerals known to exist in many
localities in the District What gives the miner In that
country great advantage other places SUCH for
instance Nevada Is the fact that supplies are cueaper
than any mining camps that have ever know THIS
owing fact that all transportation Is by wafer
1t costs only 81 - ton to bring supplies to sitka
from San Francisco while from San Francisco to Carson
City only 200 miles distant It used e. cost from $50 TO
$40"
"what other Industries there IN Territory =
"The growing and canning OF fish has already reach
large proportions. The supply is tnerhaustibe both In
quality and quantity and the production Is limited Only
uos about the In value as III former ears
II falling on IN the southern se0o % o. % ,e
of, red them by the WHITES In tn" canning establishments
fisheries, mines and other industries where their pay Is
assured and they are comfortably housed clad mdIcd
Hence they abandoned 10 great extent the ex-
posre aud uncertainty OF hunting and trapping leaving
tn, work 10 the natives OF the interior, who 1nd "A
market furthet TO thu west AMI north.
The Indians are not, as mas heen genefhiiy reIro-
sented ayerse 10 work. At Chicott Chinamea,
employed in the samon-canniDg factory. struck Inc
employed native Indians who proved no. on.
thought 10 be skilled Chinese labor
What about the climate .,,- ,.-., ,,
temperature along the coast is higher on the average
than II is in new York The trouble IS that ~ rams m
such high latitude is accounted for by tile fact that
warm ocean current originating somewhere Ia the sonth
interior. OF course, the cold Is cxtrene" go
WHAT does the agriculture amount TO = e., .
IL will never amount to much though vegetables OF
nearly ever description arc grown easily The raising
of believe, VIII prove IN the future prohaJe
Investment. Deer abundant In the Immediate
vicinity OF settlements and where deer can ye cattle
can live also"
WHAT ALASKA NEEDS AT ONCE.
"What Is the object OF your present visit T.
"I came here to make arrangements Tor number OF
things which those who framed the organic act seem "
have left out OF consideration altogether. What the
Territory needs Is school facilities The Presby-
terian mission aries are doing good work among the
Indians but they will not take the children OF white
setters At Juneau there are twenty y-eght whle
children without education, and Mt Sltka not less than
1O3 Race distinctions marked. White children VIII
not attend the schools which hays been esai llshed ly
missionaries for half breeds and for In Hans and hall
breeds wont 20 schools attended by indian children
THE Indians themselves are anxious 10 become
civilized Americans, tbey express IT, Boston men.
In cOntrad tncton TO King George men, as the English
them Their cnrse the abect superstition which
makes them Yield absolutely 10 the commands of their
medicine Though NOT hlthy ABOUT their persons,
their homes unclean and IL is also trub That they
suaer from oahsnme diseases IL IL necessary think,
thai the Government should IrOvide for competent
physloans whose work the Indians wOnld appreciate
am sure that they would also weaken, not alt0geter
destroy the influence welded by the medicine
men." - -
How about the liquor traffic |"
"Curiousy enough tho law prohibits the Introduction
prevents its sale therein Il is OF the points which
demands We also want better mall iacltles
There should at least semi monthly communication
with Fort Townsend Al present II takes Elk months
10 send letter and get an answer"