The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-15
rnucAr1oN IL ALAsKA.


from Mr.. George R, Jingle, in which be
totally disclaims having said anything to
a reporter or any one else which could be
construed as derogatoTy to the character
Of Rev, Sheldon Jackson, D, D., Of sltks,
Alaska, 1 thank the gentleman for this
statement, and for thus correcting an erro'
nsous impression which had gone abroad
But he is pleased to say concerning me
81 am sure II the Doctor had been well
posted in Alaskan matters and taken
second thought, he would have modified
his estimate Of Mr.. JaCkson's work. My
knowledge OF the good he has done aE
compared with others differs 30 widely
from DIR, Cunningham that l must con,
clude he Ia not well posted as to what IL
being done all over Alaska" Now let ut
see. One Of the best American scholars
who had travelled in Palestine
was asked what was the beaI
guide book for the Holy Land, aside from
the Bible2 He replied, It was written by
an American student who never saw Pal
estine; and yet his book was the most
accurate in every respect. Why2 be
cause he had judiciUuhly and thoroughly
Investigated the sources OF information
/ have never seen st, Paul's Island In the
Pacific Ocean, fifteen hundred miles dis
tant from Southeastern Alaaka, Thert
Mr., Tingle ia located as the Government
agent TO look after her seal fisheries, but
know that in 1870 that the Alaskan
Commercial Company leased the fisheries
from the Government upon certain con
ditions for twenty years, and that tn
company was also to provide school f0i
the children. But have doubtless beer
far more interested in the general worl
OF Christian education in the extensive
territory Of Alaska and tho mission worh
OF the Presbyterian Church and othel
denominations than my friend could pos
sibly be while looking after the seals o
that distant ialsnd OF St, Paul.
Alaska wm- purchased from Russia II
1867 for $120O,00O. u % az large az al
the New England aud Middle States, 10
pether with Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin
Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee com
bined, or rs large as all the United S!atel
east OF tho Mississippi river and north oil
Georgia, aud the Carolinas, or nearly Que
sixth OF the entire area oil the United
States. Protestant Missions wer0 Gom
menced In Alaska in 1877, by Rev. Shell
don jackson, D. D., and Mrs. A. B. Nc
Farland, Of the Presbyterian church, and
we now have Q Presbytery there composed
Of Beyen ordained ministers, besides
twelve lady missionaries, two organized
churches, and at least half dozen Of suC
cestiul schools, The MoraVians and the
Baptists and the EpisCopalians have theil
missions there. There are thousands o
souls for them to look alter without inter
lering with the Greek Church, which hal
only equal rights with any other denomI
nation.
I have in my possession tho report or
education in Alaska, with maps and illus
tratlors, by Sheldon Jackson, Genera
Agent Of Education in Alaska. This re-
mort was made to the Commissioner o.
Education In Washington, D. o., last Feb
ruary, and Ia a most comprehensive doCu'
ment, printed in q pamphlet Of eighty
pages. An intelligent correspondent Of
the New York Evangelid says: ut Is the
best encyclopedia OF Alaska which has
ever been published. No man can be
thoroughly posted on Alaskan matters at
they now exist unless he possesses that
report.
Let mo hCre quote, 10 show the value oil
DR.. Jackson's laOora for Alaska, an ex'
tract from the report Of the Commissions
er OF Education, 1928, pages 40 and 40;
"In 1877 Rev. Sheldon Jackson, DID,
Superintendent oil Presbyterian Missions
for the Rocky Mountain Territories, hay
ing had his attention called to Alaska,
visited the Southeastern portion, and es.
Lablished the frat American school In
that section on the 10th OF August, 1877,
with Mrs. A. r. Mcfarland rs teacher.
Later, he established schools at Sitka,
Haines, Boyd and Jackson. Returning
to the States, DR.. jackson commenced an
agitation to arouse the dormant public
sentiment Of the country in behalf OF q
government and schools for Alaska. He
held public meetings In many Of the lead
ing cities and many Of the prominent
towns from the Pacific TO the Atlantic
delivering from 1878 to 1884 about nine
hundred addresses on Alaska. He,went be.
fore committees Of the 4Oth, 47th and 4Slh
Congresses, and with unaagging zeal
sought to enlist the interest Of Congress.
men. He secured the hearty co.opera.
ton OF the missionary societies OF the
Baptist, Methodist, Congregational, Epis.
copal, Moravian and Presbyterian
churches. So persistent and continuous
was the pressure invoked by Dr.. jackson
fr0m 40 many. varied and Widaly.ganarat.
ed forces that when the bill was reached
Congress passed 1t with great unanimity.'
The Hon. John Eaton, OF the Bureau OIL
Education, wrote to the Secretary OF the
Interior:
WASHINGTON, D. O., April 8, 1851
have known Mr.. Jackson thoroughly for
considerable number Of years. He Is q
Christian gentleman, Of excellent ability
great energy, and, / believe, specially fitted
to carry through successfully the plan o.
establishing schools In that far off coun'
try"
Now, am I not right in the estimate
which l have placed upon the labors o.
Dr.. Jackson for Alaska? Have not otheFl
corroborated what l have said2 Are mol
such men as he to be trusted with the
social, civil, educational and religious In
terests Of that important territory, when
they appeal to the committees In Wash
ington2 II not they, who2
D. A. CUNNINGHAM.
Wheeling, September II.
People famed aud crippled for twenty
yaasa hava hanr Nt,Rnd ktS 81 Iannha niI