Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-10-31

SCHOOLS ~ ALASKA.
nov the Ooyernmcnt Helps missionarIe
Educate tho Nativcs.
What have tho Senate Committee OF
Indian eNairs. who so shrowdly chose
a trip to Alaska for this summer,
innnt found out about tho schools n
that Territory This is a subject thai
Raises discussion from time 70 tims
when Congress Is Engaged upon Terri,
toriol appropriations.
After tho Territory was acquired
from Russia the Presbyteriaus. who
from the tirst have boon prominent in
missionary enterprise in that region,
established sort OF Industrial school
at Fort WrangelI under Rev. Mr..
Young. Boys and girls we're taught
farm ~orS. The boys also learned
some trades, and the girls were taught
the art Of housekeeping. Congress APP
propriated $4,000 year TO aid this en-
terprise; and Mr.. and Mrs. Young
were encouraged TO go on and employ
assistants. After two years the appro-
priation was discontinued and the in
dustrial farm was abandoned. Tho
Presbytcriaus. however. kept on else-
where with their missile 'ud their
schools. Still. rs a whole Size edrr
tion OF Alaska was for mmy 5, ars
pretty much neglected.
A public school system was intro
duced in Alaska only Eve years ago.
rho Indian appropriation bill OF 1884
provided for the maintenance OF indus
tfial schools. The appropriation was
rcnewed for four years. but as it
amounted TO only $4,000 or $4,000
annually. the Interior Department con-
sidered that the wisest use that could
be made OF the money was 10 divide il
among the religious societies for the
purpose Of enlarging the existing
schools and establishing new ones. By
that timo. too, the Indian Office, which
had originally sought TO manage the
schools. concluded that they properly
belonged 90 the Bureau OF Education.
The commissioners held that any ap-
preparation for this purpose should be
for the people OF Alaska, not for the
Indians. and that the whole matter
should be put ''under the management
OF the Bureau OF Education, which has
its own officials on the ground. and is
now. better equipped than the Indian
Once would ever be for the prosecution
OF such work" Congress adopted this
view, and thus the business has gone
on.
Tho amount appropriated for educa-
tion in Alaska last year was 5000.
and for 1889 IL is $4,000. Last year
Secretary Villas reported the existence
of 3S schools. 10 supported by the gov
ernment 10 by the Russian church,
six by other religious bodies. and two
by the Alaska Commercial Co, built on
StPaurs and StGeorge's Island. The
aggregate attendance in all these
schools was over 1900 pupils. 1861 Of
whom were instructed in the govern
ment schools.
The Senate Committee have visited
the colony Of 1920 converted aud
christianized natives who removed
two years ago to Annette Island from
Matlalxabtia in British Columbia and
they were much impressed by the
.nnoEfoss OF these Indians in civiliza-
I1H But the fact is their leader. Mr..
Ififi1m Duncan. has been engaged
nuonR them for about thirty years.
Had not both the civil authorities of
British Columbia aud the Bishop
made trouble for him. he and his
India ms would still be on the Dominion
side Of the line. Instead of
that they have annexed themselves
TO the United States, aud during the
first year OF their residence in Alaska
they erected dwellings, school-houses.
"A church and saw-mill. aud, as Secre-
tary Villas reported. seemed likely ITO
become an important element In tie
industrial and social development OF
the Territory" Congress voluntarily
set apart s., 900 OF the last fiscal years
school appropriation for this colony and
Mr.. Duncan laid IL out in paying the
salaries OF teachers. This year the
colony receives $1,000.
Another interesting and important
school is that Of the Presbyterian mis-
sion In the suburb OF Sitka. .for which
last year Congress set apart the liberal
sum of $4,000 out of It's total appro-
priation. In return the Home Mission
Board agreed 10 support 81 pupils at
the institution. which had already
been provided from its private re-
sources with school rooms. dormltories,
shops for learning the trades Of car
penter shoemaker and blacksmith. a
laundry and sewing room for the girls
and agricultural tools for working the
farm.-N. Y. Sun.