Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1885-12-19
eureka Dailp 5entinel.
DECEMBER 10, 1885 .
ALASKA.


ALASKA.
In the report just issuedof the Secretary
of the Interior for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1885, the following interesting
account of Alaska is found:
The present Governor Of Alaska did
not reach Sitka, the seat OF government,
until the 18th of September last. Not
w~ithstauding the short period OF fifteen
DAYS intervening between the day OF his
arrival and that on which he IS required
to make his report, he has with the most
commendable industry prepared and sent
ON a report remarkable alike for the IN
terestlng information it contains con-
corning the population, resources, and
general condition of that remote district,
and for the Importance OF its suggestions
and recommendations respecting the adj
ministration of it's civil government.
Having received this report just as my
own was going to the press, | must post
pone to a future occasion a fuller discus
sion of the latter subject.
He estimates the population OF Alaska,
exclusive of the eastern portion OF the
Territory, which has not yet been re.
ported on, at between 5000 and 3D..
600 inhabitants, including Creoles,
Aleuts, whites, and Indians. He states
that the native Alaskans are largely edo.
Gated in the elementary branches OF a
common school education, and as a rule
are industrious. provident, living in per.
manent and substantial homes. and all
self.sustaining. Many of them are
members of the different Christian
Churches-Greek, Presbyterian, and
Catholic.
He says that they belong to an en-.
tirely different race from the Indian
tribes, and are capable of being educated
up to the standard of good and intelli-
gent citizenship, and recommends that
just in proportion to their educational
progress they should have the rights
and privileges conferred and the duties
and penalties of full citizenship imposed
upon them.
On the l4th Of October last Governor
Swineford states in a private letter that,
up to the date OF writing, they have had
no frost at all, and that last Winter at
Sitka the lowest point reached by the
thermometer was 14.06 degrees above
zero.
He says the impression that Alaska is
a country of Arctic Winters only is err
roneous, and furnishes q meteorological
summary for the twelve month ending
August 81, 1885, kept by the signal Off.
Ger at that station, which shows the mean
maximum and minimum temperature,
together with the number Of clear, fair,
and cloudy days. as proof of his assertion.
He thinks that Alaska in the near
future will prove a most important ad.
dition to the aggregate wealth OF the ma
ton. He has never seen more luxurious
vegetation than in Southern Alaska. All
the harder vegetables grow to maturity
and enormous size; white turnips weigh
ing ten pounds. cabbages twenty-seven,
and as fine potatoes as can be found any.
where in the Eastern markets, growing
at Wrangell, Juneau, and Sitka, while
timothy and red top grow to a hight Of
from five to, seven feet. and hay in great
abundance, capable of being cured for the
Winter. Cattle few, but in the best
possible condition.
The most important interest after tbs
fur trade is that of mining. The most
complete reduction works OF any TO De
found on the Pacific slope are at Douglas
Island, opposite to Juneau. His de
scription of the coal, iron. copper. and
other mineral regions of Alaska is in
teresting, but based. as he admits, upor
heresay. The waters of Alaska swarm
witt. food fishes, principal among which
are the cod, salmon, and halibut. The
curing and canning of cod and salmon
has assumed large proportions. There
are immense forests Of spruce and hem
lock, with scattered groves OF yellow
cedar, which last is very valuable. HI
urges the necessity of a more perfect
form of civil government for the Terri
tory. and gives reasons for allowing tina
Territory to send a Delegate to Congress
which I think are entitled to grave con
siderations.