Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1888-01-05
AlASKA'S NEEDS.
Governor Swineford Discourses
of the Great Possession and
the Seal Monopoly.
More American Settlers Wante d
and Less Monopoly. Congress
sional Legislation Necessary.
swINEFORD's SAY.
Alaskan Prosperity and Remedy for Abuses
Existing In the Great Possession.

bW1NEFORD'S SAY.
Alaskan Prosperity and Remedy for Abuses
Existing In the Great Possession.
1T was my intention TO 'uake q
through trip 10 the east this time" re-
marked Gov. SwIneiord, Of Alaska. NJ
he pulled v gorously at a choice Par.
taga III the Ryan roluuda last even.
ing, but my vile Was lndisposed from
Tie fatigue Incident to our lou, jJur-
uey, aud l was consequently COM
PEELED ~ remain over for day or so iu
81. Paul.
"a, to the needs of our territory
embraciYg as IL does, according 10 the
'alest computation, over SOO, 100 square
miles. uuquallteJly, 1 should say.
more white men " settle aud develop
thl gloriaus country. To-day In the
whole oi Alaska tn.re are but twenty.
one settlers who hold deeds in fee siui-
pie " their property, while the re-
nainuer are tquatters liable 10 dlspos-
session whenever the government
may see tit. Co gress should remedy
,he evils regarding the land problem
III Al ska at The earliest possible mo.
ment, aud while at Washington 1
shall urge upon that body the neces.
slly for prompt aud vigorous action u
this regard.
In my opinioi, the greatest draw
back lo the prosperity OF Alaska grows
nut Of the monopoly enjoyed by the
mni.rcial Fur Seal con ;,any, rhose
contract do suit expire until 1890.
Here Is an organization that pays An
nually $3i7 ,0U0 10 the United States
for the privilege Of taking l0J,0O0 seals
off tD o small islands, but 30 great is IT.
influence that IL contrUls he territory,
with the exception Of a small portion
10 the southeast where the only whites
i've. Its power Is ~ great Ms that OF
the famous Hudson Bay company ,and
az they own all the trading posts
where supplies are furnished they can,
il they sre fl, starve men into submis-
sion who will not obey their orders.
This was demonstrated q short tune
ago In the care Of deputy United
States marshal, who, in trying to en-.
force orders Of his superior officer, be
came obnoxious 10 the seal company
and boycott WAS instituted against
him, resulting in his compulsory quit.
Ting the district in which he had been
ordered to prosecute his duties. Ac-
cordlDg TO the report Of Special Agent
TiDgle the seal company did not con-
fine itself TO the stipulated number OF
seals of their contract during the sea-
son just ended, but exceeded the limit
5000. Ii IL q question Ia my mind
whether the company has the privi
lege of killing Ms many seals as 1t sees
fit aud then picking out a hundred
thousand maj ketable skins and say
ing: we are allowed to do this II We
want to- Among our people the i'm
preston prevails that the time has
arrived for speedy action by Congress
both In regard to land and seals 10
Alaska, and the place to begin is with
a restriction Of the privileges granted
to the commercial people. Until this
is done immigration will not seek our
territory and aid In It's development,
and enterprises that would put mill.
ions of dollars into circulation are de-
tered from 80 doing by the fact that Il
IL impossible to obtain a title to lands,
Some Of the capitalists who have In
vested money with US are working
uron lands TO which they have no
title, and q knowledge Of this fact,
keeps US hack when We should be 60
ing ahead"