National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-14
EDUCATION IN ALASKA.
The school Mnster vcry Fnr Ahroah

Tho School Master Very Far Abroad
Mail News snd Money once Year.
DR.. sheldon Jackson, general agent Of cduca.
tion in Alaska, IS now in this city, completing
his labors at the bureau of education. In re
sponscto a questionnbout his experience there
he said:
"Nes, / visited southeastern Alaska, nn1 os.
tablished the first American mission school
at Fort Wonngle, august, 1877 while in the
employ Of tho Board of Home Missions. of tho
Presbyterian Church"
"IIave you established any other statlons?r
~ secured the appointment Of missionaries
70 sitka In ISIS, and erected buildings for them
in 1882 and 1881. In 1879 established stations
among the Ilydah, Hionah, and Chilcat people,
which comprise n group in southeast Alaska,
and are under the control OF the Presbyterian
Church. Ihave endeavOred, however, 20 enlist
other leading denominations and the Mora
vinns have selected q field among the Eskimo
on Behring's sea, and established station NJ
about 1,5O0 miles from sitka. The Domestic
and Foreign Mission Society OF the Protestant
l., copal Church has selected two missionaries
To establish station on the Upper Yukon
river above the Arctic circle, 200 miles north
of Suka. The Home Mission Society of tbs
Baptist Church is looking for missionaries to
send to Kadiak, 633 miles west Of Sitka. The
Congregational and Methodist churches have
rlso had under consideration entering the
Alaska work"
"NCs, but rot until recently. Congress, IN
the spring of 1854, extended civil law over
Alaska for the first time since the American
occupation, and appropriated $4,000 for tho
purpose OF commencing n public school system
in that country. IL was not, however, until
the spring OF 1885 that the Secretary of the Iu
terror placed the work In charge OF the bureau
of education: In southeast Alaska the Prosby.
terrain Church transferred their schools TO the
government as fast rs the bureau could ar
range for them, Other schools were estab.
liClpn nj n X m
Yukon rivers, so that now there are eleven
public schools In Alaska, with 600 pupils in at.
endance several others VII be established
DO you have any difficulty in that matter2'
Yes, very great. SO great that the general
PnpiiSo 40 no. begin 70 realize them R1mem'
nnccs In Alaska. once month the mail
steamer visits five or six points In southeast
Alaska. All other places are reached by the
small canoes of the country, or by an occa-
slonal trading vessel at irregular intervals
For instance, TO visit the school at Unalashka
am compelled to take steamer at Sitka for
San francisco, distance Of 1000 miles, then
at san francisco take trnding vessel 10 Una
lashkn, 2,flS miles away, making LOIS miles in
all. Then, IN some instances, the teachers
can procure their mail and supplies but once
tend with"
What is your connection with the secular
II resigned the SUPPLEMENTARY of tho
Mission Training school at Sitka last spring to
accept my present position of general agent OF
education under the government"
GLOW many children are there to DO pro.
vided with school facilitles?'
ut is rather difficult to say. Perhaps, in
round numbers, 10000"
"Did you not have difficulty during the sum.
mer with some OF the other oticlalsG'
"Yes, Il commenced, while was In charge of
me mission school, andthe persecution was con.
position. Judge McAllisler issued a temporary
Injunction restraining all the teachers aud em-
ployes of the school at Sitka from making i'm.
pIovements on the school property. This was
dissolved as soon as II reached the court. The
grand jury, under the influence and mis-.
representations Of the United states dis.
against me, ostenstly for obstructing the pub.
lie highway, but the indictments were so man
iiestly unjust and so much like persecution,
that they were all set aside by the court and
my bondsmen released. II was during these
troubles that was unlawfully imprisoned for
short time. There was so much lying and
misrepresentation that undoubtedly strong
prejudice was created for a time but my ii.
legal imprisonment caused reaction in pub.
lie sentiment in my favor, and gentlemen who
ieied me their sympathy and assistance f Ss
Then have taken special pains TO secure su.
peror teachers and furnish the public with all
reasonable school facilities. so that all are
compelled to acknowledge that the schools are
What is the character of the present Off.
cials?"
"They seem to be good men, sincerely DESTROYS
ofgiving the people OF Alaska an honest gov.
eminent. Gov. Swinetord has taken special
pains to co operate In school matters am
Senate wih confirm them"
SIS Alaska improving any?'
''1he southeastern section is The mining
interests particularly arc exciting much atten-
ton. The 120-stamp mill at juneau Is crushing
out $4,000 OF gold bullion per month. Pros.
pect, V for new mines Is being pushed vigor-
ously both on the coast and OH the head waters
of the great Yukon river. Some valuable mines
near Sitka changed hands last fall, and ar
raDgements are being made for their develop
ment. A number OF fisheries have been estab.
lished, but have not attempted much the last
season on account of the dizziness of the market.
The fish oil works at Killisnoo have done a
prosperous business. The lumber and coal in
terekts are under examination. The undevel.
oped resources generally OF Alaska are very
great.