The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-17
GETTING THE CENSUS
The Difficulty in Obtaining Facts
and Figures in Alaska.
Special Report Of Ivan Petroff, Special Agent.
How One Has TO Travel In Uncle
Sans Cold Territory.

1850 what may be termed census recon-
nOisanee" of that Territory. The isolated
condition of Alaska and the lack of means
of ansportation and mail facilities made 1t
inpracteable to employ the same methods
used in other parts of the country, ana IL
was deemed best that Mr.. Petrof should be
allowed TO embrace in his work, as far as
applicable to Alaska, the various subjects
OF invest CATION which in the general census
are intrusted to separate divisions OF this
office.
Nj. Petr0ff began his work on February
10, 1880, and. having divided the Territory
into eight divisions, organized force OF
assistant special agents for field work from
residents of Alaska familiar with the Ian
guage of the country.
The general and special schedules used in
this investigation cover the following sub
jects: First, white OF civilized population;
second, native population; third, churches {;
fourth, schools; fifth, canneTies and fishing;
sixth, trade and commerce; seventh, gold
and silver mining; eight, coal mining
The enumeration of Alaska is nearly COM
pleted, but the returns have been received
only in part, and those from several interior
districts cannot be obtained until next
spring.
The accompanying letter is issued in or
der 10 show the obstacles in the way of
pursuing this branch of investigation. Mr..
Petroff's Journey in Alaska footS up about
l., eco miles, and the distances which have
to be travelled by his assistants would prob
ably be four or five times greater. The
superficial area Of the territory covered Is
estimated at $4,000 square miles:
Sir: In compliance with your suggestion
I have the honor to lay before you brief
account of my journey through Alaska dur
ing the past summer. and Of the work OF
this division thus far accomplished
As previously reported | first proceeded to
Southeastern Alaska by mail steamer, leaV-
ing San Francisco, Cal, March 10th, visiting
Wrangel. Juneau, Loring, klIlisnOo and New
Metlekatlah. At all points OF the district
obtained promise OF cooperation In the CEN
suS work on the part OF the Government
officials as well as the clergy, teachers and
business men generally.
One of the objects of this voyage was TO
select two individuals for appointment as
special agents for that section, whom found
in the persons of Messrs. Henry Boursin Of
Juneau and Miner ". Bruce OF WraDgel. /
returned to San Francisco about the middle of
April, and sailed again on May 10th for
Nushegak, on the coast of Behring Sea, by
a small steamer of twenty-six tons burden,
called the Arctic. This voyage was a COM
paratively short one. occupying only fifteen
days, with the slight drawback OF leaky
vessel. wet bed and no COOK
After arriving at NuShegak | admins
tered the oath of Office TO Mr.. Frank E.
Wolff, the special agent appointed to assist
in the Nushegak District, and instructed
him in his work, and | began my prepare
tions for an overland journey from this
point in the direction OF the Yukon River.
! purchased two skIn-canoeS, laid in small
supply of provisions, and engaged the ser
vices of four natives to carry me up the
NuShegak River to a point from which l
could etfrct portage TO the kusk0kVlm
River. This point Is about 80 miles distant
from Nuskegak. In I'VE days l succeeded in
making 200 miles against very rapid cur
rent, but on the sixth morning two OF my
men were taken sick with symptoms some
what resembling la grippe, ana they and
their companions refused to 90 any further
| spent day in frUltleSs endeavOr to induce
other natives living on the river to take the
place OF my TecalcItrant crew, but finally
had to give up and retrace my steps TO
Nushegak, the return journey being made
in two days.
on THE ALBATRosS.
1t had now become necessary for me to
obtain other men and to proceed along the
coast route to the kushokvim River in or
der to reach the special agent appointed for
that district. While L was still negotiating
for paddlers the Albatross. belonging to the
United States Fish Commission, arrived in
port anu Captain L. l.. Tanner, its COM
mander. kindly offered to carry me, my ma
tive crew and canoes TO some point near the
mouth Of the kuskOkYim River. This offer
| gladly accepted, and accordingly placed
myself and belongings on board the Alba
truss without delay, taking with me two
canoes and three natives whose homes were
on the kusk0kvim.
No sooner had the Albatross left the
shores of Bristol Bay behind than two of
my natives reported themselves sick and
We're attended by the doctor of the steamer,
N.-bo found them suffering with
During the six days | spent on board of this
hospitable steamer these men received every
attention and care, but when we at last
reached the vicinity of Cape Newenham,
at the mouth of the kuSkokvim, the pa
tients we're still unable to help themselves
in any way. The commander of the
Albatr0sS was obliged to be at OonalaSka on
a certain date, which was rapidly approach
ing. Ii was therefore necessary that should
be landed without delay. Captain Tanner
placed a steam launch at my disposal, with
which 10 take me to the nearest native settle
lnent, where my natives could be housed and
taken care of. We left the steamer at
o'clock in the afternoon, heading for a vii
laEe which the charts locate within five
miles OF the position OF the Albatr0SS an
chorage. l had 10 confidence in the exist
ence of this particular village. and my doubt
was borne out by the fact that we steamed
twenty-five miles without seeing any sign Of
settlement. AT that time we sighted some
HdliNto VII llc DCatii, SIu 40 III suC
the wind had been rising and the weather
began to look exceedingly threatening | in
sisted, against the protest OF the officer in
charge Of the launch, that | be landed right
there, hoping to receive assistance Eom the
people we had seen. The officer reluctantly
complied with my decision, and left me on
an open beach, surrounded BY my baggage,
canoes and helpless natives.
must not fail to express in this place my
heartfelt thanks to the commander ard OFF,
GERS Of the United States steamer Albatross,
who did everything in their power not only
TO make my brief stay with them pleasant,
but also supplied me with many comforts
could not otherwise have obtained also for
some ammunition and medical stores for the
treatment of my natives.
WITHOUT SHELTER.
On meeting the natives we had observed
before Landing | found them to be party Of
men from distant village engaged in hunt
ing the beluga, or White grampuS. they
had no house or tent, but slept under the
shelter of some drift logs, piled up against
each other. Even this shelter was several
miles away and they left me for the night,
promising To return In the morning. As
soon as the landing was accomplished the
third native exhibited symptoms of pneu-
mOnia, and consequently was unable to help
me in any way 20 procure shelter for the
night, which was stormy and cold. | sue
ceeded. however, in covering the sick men
with the tents. which was unable to put up.
On the following morning the hunters re-
turned and gave me some assistance, to-
gether with a promise TO help me mp the
river TO point where party Of traders
and MOravian missionaries were then await
ing the arrival of the annual supply steamer.
BY hiring extra canoes and men, so as to
enable me to have each sick man lowed
along, l succeeded in making my way to
this point, a distance of only two hundred
miles, in seven days; but my native assist
ants, being entirely unfamiliar with the
idea of being employed for a compensa alton,
were constantly going off on their own bust
ness and keeping me waiting for their re-
turn.
At the station of Shevenagamute | was
fortunate enough to find the party referred
to above. and among them Mr.. John Ii. Kill
buck, horavian missionary, the special
agent appointed to assist HE in the Kus-
kokvim district. L at once administered to
him the oath OF office and gave him his in
structions, as he was ready to enter upon
his duties. | was kindly received here, and
my troublesome patients were takea off my
hands. subsequently learned that all Of
them recovered. L was, however. disap-
nointad in my AXDpcfatiOn Of obtaining Su ~