Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-19
puslIc sulLDinos IN ALASKA.
information for the Secretary Of the
Treasury.

tFCoo4fTs
The Secretary or the Treasury sent a
request to Congress fes days ago, ask
ing for an appropriation OF $4,000 for
buildings 10 accommodate the new Gov
eruInent OF Alaska Secretary McCui-
loeb is, of course, dependent upon 9th
ers as 10 the need Of expending the
money be asks for. Had he been cor
rectly informed as 10 the condition OF the
public buildings at Sitka aud Fort
Wrangle he would doubtless have hesita-
ted longer before yielding 10 the impor-
tunities of parties who are Interested ia
expending the public moneys IN the con-
struction OF public buildings In Alaska.
Sitka is already provided with ample
accommodation for the residence OF the
Governor and other officers, as well as Tor
court rooms, jails, etc, In the buildings
acquired from the Russian Government.
and since repaired at cost OF several
thousand dollars The public buildings
of Sitka comprised the Castle" formerly
the residence OF the Russian Governor,
and another large building, formerly used
as a residence for the officials OF the Rus
sian Fur company, and lately occupied
by the collector of customs. Ihls Duiid-
ing is in excellent condition, and needs
no repairs. Its lower floor Is used as a
guard-house and jail. Then there Is the
custom house, a large building, part OF
which may be- used as courtroom wlth-
out interfering with the rooms used by
the revenue officers. A comfortable mousse,
formerly the residence OF the military
commandant, and three large warehouses,
rented at a nominal rent, one or two or
which can be fitted up at tritilng ex-
pense for government offices II they
should be required for that purpose, COM
plete the list OF available houses.
At Fort Wrangle is an extensive range
OF buildings, erected at large cost to
the United States Government, for the
accommodation OF the garrison formerly
stationed at that post These buildings
comprise house and offices for the COM
mandant of the garrison, large hospi-
tai buildin, barracks, storehouses, ETC.
/ When the garrison was Withdrawn III
1873 the buildings were sold by the uar-
termaster to w. X. Lear, trader IN the
/ tOWl. MI. Lear uclu poroCooloh eAhsH
last year, receiving rent for the buildings
1t was then decided by the authorities at
| Washington that the sale to MIR. Lear
was invalid, and the buildings were taken
from him and handed over to representa-
tives of the Presbyterian Board of Home
Missions, the transfer including the
| building used as a custom house, no pro-
vision being made for premises In which
to conduct the public business.
1t is believed that this disposition OF
| Government property was made by sub
ordinate officials in the Treasury Depart
ment without the sanction of its official
head, and without warrant OF law. The
Catholic mission at Fort Wrangle was ex-
cluded from any participation In the ben
efits of this disposition of Government
property, as it was all bestowed upon the
| PRESBYTERIAN establishment.
If the buildings are to remain In the
control of their present possessors 1T will
be necessary for the Government to build
new offices at Fort Wrangle, and before
money is voted for that purpose an invest
igation of this large donation of public
property to sectarian missionary asso-
ciatio will be in order. If subordinate
officials in the department are at liberty
to bestow the public property for private
or sectarian purposes without legal au-
thority, it is we'll that Congress and the
public should know it.-NeC York SIM.