Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-08-16
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
ALANhA.
some Farther Observations by mr,
ChnS. T., Mead.

some Further Observations by mr,
Chns. T.. Mead.
Since his return from his trip to Alaska
Mr.. Chas. l.. Mead, whose interesting let
ter was printed in our issue Of July ., has
given some additional observations on that
country to the Iron Age, and from this arti
Gle we copy the following
"The native Alaskan, though spoken of
as an Indian, is an entirely different type
| from our North American Indian. With a
| Mongolan visage and with traits similar 10
the Asatic races, an observer can easily
accept the theory that the first inhabitants
Of Alaska came across from Asia at Behring
Straits They are industrious and for the
most part peaceable.
Abundant opportunity is offered tourists
to observe the natives in their cabins and
employed in fishing or about the mines.
The men are very skillful in making canoes,
of which great numbers are wanted. The
women make baskets, blankets and some
bead work, and wherever the steamer stops
the whole native population is down to sell
curios to the passengers. A very pictur
esque sight, and especially so at points
where there is no wharf, the steamer lying
at anchor, surrounded by scores Of canoes
| from which the natives display their wares
and shout the prices in cultural tones
| They are one price traders, though, and
competition makes no difference with them,
for they know nothing vet about selling
| goods by discount
AT Fort Wrangel small garrison was
once stationed by our government when
Alaska was turned over to the United
States, and the log houses used for bar
racks, together with portions of a stockade
which was thrown around the whole, still
remain standing. The hospital building
alone is now occupied for an Indian school
| No hostile acts by the natives required the
presence of soldiers and they were with
| drawn
AT Sitka, the old Russian capital Of
Alaska and the present seat of the United
States district government, small body Of
marines is stationed, and man of-war,
now the Thetis, cruises from Sitka down to
| Puget Sound, and away northwestward TO
Behring Straits and Point Barrow.
"The landing Of the steamer at Stka is
as interesting as any single incident in the
voyage. The crowd which awaits the ar
rival Of the boat embraces four distinct ele
ments The native Indians, the men whose
Russian garb denotes their origin the ina.
rines and officers stationed here, and the
few civil officers and citizens who now re
side in Sitka from down below, as the
Alaskans designate all other portions Of the
United States
The Greek church. the state church Of
Russia, is still prominent, and in Sitka "A
conspicuous church building filled with
rare pictures and treasures may be visited
Vigorous mission churches and schools
maintained by the Presbyterians, are found
at Stka, juneau and Fort Wrangel.
How rapidly population from the old
er sections of our country will he attracted
to Alaska will depend on the further devel
opments in the fisheries aud in mining. Ag
riculturc is unknown there. The fisheries
are already important and remunerative.
Very sangune predictions are made as to
future mining in Alaska and prospecting is
only project which has materialized, but
the prominent one, is the Treadmill mine,
at Douglas Island, near Juneau. Here is
the largest gold mine in the world, with |
240 stamps, crushing 600 tons Of ore per
day, and with an apparently inexhaustible |
supply Of ore in reserve. juneau is the |
principal commercial city in Alaska. and is
likely to remain so from its contiguty to |
mining operations Here the steamers stop |
both going up and coming down from Sitka. |
Alaska has not even territorial govern
ment yet but governor and other officials
are sent up under appointment from Wash
ington, the form of government being that |
Of district. No elections are held, and no
representation in Congress, even by dele
gate, is yet given. No land laws apply up |
here, and possession may be said to be ten
points.
Concerning Alaska as place of resi-
dence at present, it is undisputed tradition |
up there that a few years since all army |
mule was purchased 10y a man from Juneau
and shipped home The day after his ar
rival the mule deliberately walked out into |
tide water, put his nose under and gave up |
the ghost. No papers were found on his |
person accounting for the rash act, and it |
is supposed that the mule preferred death |
by drow ning rather than life in Alaska