Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-07-01

later rev opus were entertalneu III tue
parlors, where champagne flowed as free as
beer at picnic. Col Barry presides at the
Custom House as deputy collector, enjoying
q salary of 81, 500 per sDnum with about ten
minutes work month, whilst Judge Seebe
fills the office of commissioner (three or
four in Alasks) pocketing $1,000 and fees
as compensation for his Punishment from
civilized Frisco, the Judge in the past year
married one couple and tried one case, the
prisoner was duly convicted and sent to the
capital (Sitka) in charge of Deputy
United States Marshal via San Francisco,
Portland and Fort Townsend, the officer
has been gone six months, his mileage
amounted to $4,000, salary $3.50 per
annum, for Col Bill Love whilst Col. James
Flynn could fill Col Barry's place.
The Alaska Commercial Co.
is q California corporation organized for the
transportation of the fur business in Alaskan
waters and is the second largest or most
powerful corporation in the, United States.
By virtue of an act of Congress passed in
1870 they contracted with the Secretary OF
the Treasury for the exclusive right to take
fur seals on the islands of st. George and
ST. Paul in the Behring Sea, and about $50
miles from the Russian line, these islands,
being the only places where the seal con-
gregate in any considerable numbers, and it
is estimated that 100000 annually come
upon the islands, their contract limits them
to killing 100000 annually. Besides this
exclusive privilege which is the basis Of
their business, the company have over fifty
sub stations on the main land and various
islands where they establish depots Of
supplies and employ the ma
tives in hunting fur producing animals
of all kinds, the sea otter being the most
valuable Of all furs, each skin being worth
from 800 to $500. The natives are happy
in the enjoyment of their Greek Catholic
religion and in the possession Of an abun-
dance Of provisions furnished by the com.
pany, which / consider the greatest civilized
in Alaska, and consider it great wrong
for the Christian churches to send their mis-
sionaries among these creatures to stir them
up and make them unhappy. Their efforts
and their expenditures are also entirely lost
on people whose condition and happiness
they cannot improve.
st. George
is the first of the Seal islands, was reached
by US yesterday morning at daylight, the
ship anchored and the natives pulled
out to US with large skin
boat (Bidarra,) taking the agent
and traps ashore. l took advantage OF the
opportunity and visited the government
officers and installed one Of my assistants in
his new position and tackled up good pic
ture, in the office, of Grover Cleveland, in
place of Chester A, retired. My stay in
the town was brief as the ship could not dis
charge cargo owing to low tide. So we pro-
ceeded to st. Paul where we landed at II
o'clock to-day, the distance between the
islands being 40 miles
IS our home and am writing this letter on
tie desk in the Government house, where
we are comfortably fixed. The house is a
cottage, so by ~ feet, with four rooms,
ball, pantry, clothes presses aud coal house
AL completely and comfortably furnished.
The population of the town on the
first Of January last was. males,
81; females, 40; number of marriages last
wear, 2; births, l6; deaths, y. A good
school is kept going eight months of the
wear. and as in Ounalaska and st. George
the church looms up as the most imposing
building in the place, with its chimes Of
bells, there is also chime OF bells hung
I'D in the cornor of their graveyard to make
music for the funeral carriage. This is the
most important station of the company as
they take $4,000 70 $4,000 seals
here annually. The killing will commence
next week, when we will all be
kept very busy. look out Of my window
ON the beach covered with seals Sighting
and believing 30 they can be heard a mile.
The sea is running high and the surf beating
and roaring like thunder over the rocky
shores. The weather is mild and the tenn
perature is so even that fires are kept up
the wear round. The coolest it reached last
winter was l30 below zero. We brought to
the Island the first mail since last Septem-
Der, and the first news of the election OF
Cleveland reached the Island by whsler
ON April 81. The time between mails is the
greatest deprivation to me, to be withou
current news of the day is almost like not
existing. Just here let me say that my
mail should be directed in care of the Alas
Ia Commercial Company, San Francisco,
Cal. will then get it in April or May,
also in September. We viii get an extra
mail this year about the first of July by the
revenue cutter, which leaves Frisco In
June. l wish you would give my address
in local, so that any one wishing to write
me NAV know how to direct. will not re-
prn to the States until September, 1856,
when / will take my family and spend the
winter. The gentleman relieve has been
here two years. They return by the steam
az we came on, which leaves
INV wife and daughter the only
white ladies on the islands. and the junior
The only white boy. The natives are mostly
Russian with q considerable number Of
Alentes. This island is on the direct hne
70 The Arctic, so the whslers generally put
in and the revenue cutters always call to
soc us, These cutters cruise in the North
Pacific, Behring and Arctic seas, to pick up
vsssels in distress and save shipwreeks and
sdventurers.
Hunting for the North Pole, any one de
string 10 read up will find Arctic Cruise Of
he Revenue Steamer Crown" to be had By
wiring E. W. Clark. Chief of Marine, Wash
;noton, d. C; Elliot on Seal Fisheries,
a Trip to Alaska" published BY Ssmue
Carson & Co, 40 Suffer street. San Fran
cisco.
We can read BY daylight until 10 O'Clock
q, n;vh, in the summer, and it is daylight
ar "a M. whites in winter it is dark at
n Ca. and not light until 8 g. N. :.
This letter is 30 long drawn out you WI
h.va 40 cut il down. We are ali well ant
,isssed with our home in the sea.
with krud regards to all friends, / am,