The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-06
They Need Courts, Land Laws,
Better Mail Facilities and
Other Things
He VIII Present Strong Memorial Ask
ing Representation In Congress
Statistics of Alaska.

sSAN~
has never denied himself the good things
of this life. The whole bearing OF the man
shows resolution, strength and vitality.
It is indicative of the successful man who
has bravely met the difficulties Of this life,
and with answering resolution conquered.
He looked like man whom no difficulty
could daunt or danger cause him to falter.
His name is Capt. james Carroll, and he is
the most intrepid navigator of Alaskan
waters. says the Seattle Telegraph. Since
1879 he has made 119 voyages to Alaska in
command of different steamers, and has
never met with a single accident. The
route, which abounds in rocks, shoals and
many dangers, is as we'll known to him as
the streets of Seattle are known to the "old-
est inhabitant." The passengers on the
Alaskan steamers always 1eel safe when
Captain Carroll is on deck. In fact he is a
man who inspires confidence by both his
appearance and manner.
Captain Carroll is a prominent figure in
Alaskan affairs. Since his first voyage to
that country he has had an abiding faith in
its future and has invested his earnings
there in mining, fishing and other enter
prises, till now there is not man in Alaska
who has more at stake in that territory. In
other words, he owns more property IN
Alaska than any other man in it.
The people of Alaska are practically
without government, and short time
since the residents by q movement which
might almost be called spontaneous called
convention which met in September at
Juneau for the purpose of devising ways and
means of securing government from con-
grese. One of the results of that move
ment was the selection of Capt. James Car
roll on Sept. 8 as delegate to represent
Alaska. There was no law to sanction such
an election, bnt he was selected Just the
same, and the convention said to him:
captain, you go to Washington and tell
congress that the people of Alaska are
clamoring for government, and do not
leave till you have accomplished the task."
strong memorial to congress was
adopted, setting forth that the people OF
gress; they have no title to the lots or tracts
Of land upon which their homes are built,
and the right to acquire title is denied them;
they have no management IN the public
schools; they have no local self government;
mands neither obedience nor enforcement,
the postal service ia inefficient and totally
inadequate to meet the wants of q growing
and progressive people; the seat of govern
ment is without public buildings. The
memorial asks that laws be passed to rem
The mission is in good hands, and it Capt.
Carroll cannot secure the people Of Alaska
all they ask for there is not man in that
territory who can.
"What do the people of Alaska want from
Capt. Carroll.
.sThey want great deal and are indebted
to considerable consideration at the hands
of congress. The territory of Alaska, which
comprises some 577,39O square miles and
which has shore line Of 5000 miles, was
purchased from the Russian government in
1867 for $7,20OOO0. Since that time the
people of Alaska have paid back over $5,-
600 GOO and will have in short time paid
back more than the original cost of the
country. Besides this Alaska has sent
millions of silver, gold, fish and furs into
the United States. From purely financial
standpoint. to say nothing Of moral and
political obligations, Alaska is entitled to
recognition from congress and will get it if
hard work and earnest effort on my part
can accomplish anything.
ION May u, 1884, congress created dis
tinct government for Alaska, with a COVER
nor, United States marshal, and a district
court sitting at Sitka and Wrangel. In the
act creating the district government was a
clause which provided that the law Of Ore
gon should be the law of Alaska. The ju-
dietary and laws are inadequate and un-
suited to Alaska. A decision in the district
court is final because it cannot be appealed ii
the amount involved is not over 5000, and
an appeal even then cannot be made to q
higher court. Matters judicial are in par
ticularly bad state at present, owing to the
fact that there is no money to pay court or
juries, and therefore there has been no $685.
sion Of the court since last summer. This
is because the Appropriation for that pur-
pose is exhausted. What is needed are up
per and lower courts, similar in character
to those in existence in territories"
.'How about land titles?''
"lhey are in bad condition also. There
is no code Of land laws and no title can be
secured land, not even to town sites under
the present lack of laws in this important
particular. A merchant. a farmer, salmon
Gamer or he who conducts any form OF bust
ness or carries on an occupation cannot OBJ.
tain a title to piece Of land NO matter how
many years he may be in peaceful possess
sion, or how much he has improved the
same. The only land for which title can be
acquired is mining land, and this can be
taken up under the general United States
laws which govern the taking up of this
class of land in the several states and terri
tories. This is manifest injustice to the
American citizens in Alaska. and I will use
my best endeavcr n to secure the passage of q
land law for Alaska similar in tenor to that
of the other states and territories. / believe
if the matter is properly presented that con-
gress cannot help but do us justice in this
particular.
"Under this same heading comes the fact
that residents of Alaska cannot cut even
enough timber with which to build fire to
cook single meal without breaking the
United States. timber laws. In fact, wood
and lumber cannot be obtained in Alaska
without breaking the law. Timber is alb
solutely necessary in the developing of the
mines and the building of canneries and
houses. Therefore the law has necessarily
been broken and within q short time suits
have been begun against the Alaska Milling