Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-23

Later Ill Tne Gay large NUMBER OF tne
tourists, perhaps thirty, came in body,
bringing all kinds of useful and fanciful
presents, from canned goods and glass
ware to hand work prepared by them
selves on the journey.
Since we arrived the people have spared
no pains to make it pleasant for us, and
with such fine scenery, delightful wealth
er, courteous attentions, ceremonious and
official calls, the entertainment of tour
lists, senatorial committees and distin-
guished visitors, to say nothing of the
work of the office, in regular routine, and
the study necessary to acquire facility in
dealing with iaw-breaking Indian and
Russian names, we have scarcely had
time to become homesick, and certainly
have been in no danger of ennui.
The wonderful resources of this i'm
mense territory have not been exagger-
ated, though there must be misapprehen-
sion, if one depends entirely upon pub
lshed reports. | do not hesitate to say
that it is not likely to become an agri-
cultural country, though it would be a
mistake to suppose that the soil and eli
mate will not admit of profitable agricul-
tural pursuits. 1t seems, however, that
the territory is especially designed for
great preserve for fish. furs, minerals
these directions are rapidly increasing in
number and size. As Illustrations, let
me cite the fact that the II canneries in
operation last year have increased to ~
this season, and eight new patents for
gold and silver mines were filed for rec
ord in one day last week. Besides, upon
the same day eleven coal claims, 100
acres each, were duly entered.
One of the most embarrassing difficult
ties the civil government has to encoun-
ter is the lack of facilities for transporta-
ton and communication in the territory.
There are but five miles of wagon road
in the whole territory-not a horse in
Sitka and but four or five in Juneau.
When expressing our surprise that there
were no horses here, one lady remarked,
"Do you want the earth? There is
mule:'
But our roads are not wanting. We
have the most complete network of wat
erways, in and out among the beautiful
islands. like the streets of Venice. deep.
land-locked channels, safe alike for yes
sells of the largest tonnage and the light
est Indian canoe. | suppose there are
more than 100 islands in southeast tern
Alaska. containing more than 14.0OO
square miles, besides a wonderfully in
-
and the Alertian chain. If the civil gov
ernment had at their disposal. as they
have not. small steam launch, some
crimes and misdemeanors could be pre-
vented, and many more criminals could
be punished. Two war vessels have their
headquarters here, the Thetis and Pinta,
but the former has gone on tour rs
Behring sea and Point Barrow and the
latter is undergoing repairs at San Fran
cisco. Besides, when they are here, they
are too large for running about as we
need to go, frequently. Some three weeks
ago party of Indians came so miles in a
canoe, from Hoonah, to make complaint
of shaman," or Indian doctor, who
attempted to tie up" man for "be-
wilching" his patient. To site up"
means binding his hands behind him,
drawing his head back, rendering it lm-
possible to move, then putting him in
" dead house" to starve to death. The
Indian resisted, and was bitten severely
in the struggle with the doctors dupes,
and finally shot at, in their frenzy. after
he had supplied them plentifully with
" hoochinoO," a vile decoction which they
distil from molasses, said to be ten times
more terrible than whisky. / had papers
issued for the arrest of the "shaman."
pul VIC lldNC lIOt CI OtCl dDlC W llh, All
opportunity to send for the respondent.
Hoonah being off the usual route of the
steamers. So, in every department, we
have similar obstacles to an efficient.
prompt-acting administration. The school
teachers to the westward have to report
to the board of education here before the
government will pay them for services
rendered. And so imperfect and slow is
our communication, by mail or other
wise, that they cannot receive their pay
for services rendered under twelve
months. | hope something may be ac-
complished to secure better condition of
things before the adjournment of the next
session of Congress, though l confess l
do not see why should expect to bring
about reforms sought in vain by my pre-
decessor through his four years of SER
vice.
But cannot write more at this time.
hope to hear from you again, at your
leisure. With many thanks for your kind
thoughtfulness of us here in this north
ern wilderness, and our best regards,
am Yours sincerely,
LYMAN +. KNAPP.