Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-27
ALASKA is PROSPERING'
The Governor Tells of the Advances of the
Territory.
Raising Reindeer for Food and Trans
pOrtatfOn-The BerfnE Sen Deci-
sion POpular-The Natives.

SdineS onedhley, governor or Alaska, has
submitted his annual report to the Secre-
tary Of the Interior. The governor states
that because of his brief period of control
in the territory he must be limited to gen.
eralities in his report. There has not been
sufficient time to collect accurate statistics
of the diversified industries and products Of
the country. The civil officers who were
iptrusted with the administration both Of
the civil and criminal law have been vigi-
liant and faithful in the discharge of their
duties. and the people are in tine enjoyment
Of peace and prosperity. Mining, fishing
and the taking of furs are the leading in
dustries that furnish employment for a
large majority of the people, both white
and native.
There has been greatly increased activity
in the gold mining industry during the past
year. The well-establshed mines have con-
tinued to yield their usual amount, and
some Of them have largely increased their
production. Many new claims have been
located and new mines opened with graf
flying results. The large amount of fish
taken from Alaskan waters during the past
few years has created some apprehension
in regard to the supply. The government
has already taken efficient measures to
prevent the further wasteful destruction of
this valuable species of food, and no effort
in this direction shall be relaxed. The
rains during the present season have so
swollen the streams that the usual catch
could not be taken. and the pack will not
be up to the average.
Dering Sen Decision.
The decision of the Bering sea court of
arbitration. made public at Paris on August
Is. has given great satisfaction to the peo-
NIL of for he haf Sc
triumph of civilization to have a great in
ternational dispute settled by arbitration,
and also because II will afford protection
to seal life and put to an end in a large
measure the wanton destruction of that
animal The occupation of the poacher is
gone IL the new regulations are enforced
in regard to the close of the season and the
prohibition of the use of firearms and ex-
p.osiyes in fur sealing. But 800 seal skins
were taken by the North American Com
mercial Company, lessees of the islands Of
st. Paul and ST. George. during the season
of 1883. So far as can be ascertained. the
company has complied with the conditions
OF their contract, and have dealt justly and
fairly with the natives The militia organ
ization OF Alaska Is in a state of disinte-
grafton The migratory habits of the peo-
pie Will prevent such an organization from
becoming permanent. Militia soldiers in
Alaska could only be used as home guards
or for police duty In the immediate vicinity
the territory at large each organized COM
pany would be under the necessity Of hav-
Ing and maintaining steamboat transpor-
tation. there being no roads or land travel
possible in the country. The civil govern
ment Of the territory can rely on the United
States. navy. which has always rendered
protApts and effective service
Smuggling Troubles.
=. The natives are not hard to control, and
can be easily led into better ways IL kindly
treated, but the coming OF the gunboat has
had some influence with the more uncivil-
lied portion Of them. The law prohibiting
the Introduction, manufacture or sale of
intoxicating liquors in the territory. in its
present construction is a source of irrita-
ton and discomfort among all classes in the
territory. 1t gives rise to a large traffic
in smuggling, mostly from British Column
Dla, which our custom officers can neither
prevent nor suppress The employment OF
Indian police by the government has a ten
dency to establish confidential relations
between the two races. The native police
men take great pride in the performance
of their duty. and have proved themselves
honest and prompt Their influence has also
been exerted for good in having Indian Gill
dren attend the government schools. -Four.
teen government and as many contract
schools were In successful operation during
the year. Eleven denominations have es-
tablished mission schools in the territory
The amount of the appropriation of $50 ON
for education is entirely inadequate. A new
school house is badly needed at Juneau
city.
Raising Reindeer.
DR.. Sheldon Jackson, who was the frs,
Protestant missionary in Alaska, and by
whose good management the government
and mission schools were established. is now
engaged in the laudabie work Of importing
domesticated reindeer into Western Alaska
from the tame herds in Siberia Each yea,
DR.. jackson. with Capt. HeaIy of the Bear.
has made annual trips to Siberia and
brought back reindeer for distribution at
points along the Alaskan coast 1t is claim.
ed that the introduction of this animal into
| the territory will arrest the present starva-
tion ana restock that vast country with a
permaneD: food supply, and that by cover.
ing these great plains with herds OF domesti.
Gated reindeer IT will be possible to support
IN comparative comfort large population
Ihen, II IL also claimed, that reindeer may
be used as a means of transportation. For
| moresShan a hundred years after the dis.
| covery of Alaska by Vitus Bering, in 1742
that country supported a great population
and was swarming with sea otter and other
| fur-bearing animals and was a mine OF
| wealth to the Russians for more than >
century, and of great commercial import.
ance to all the civilized nations of the
| world.
The public buildings at Sitka and
Wrangell have been repaired and put In
fair order. The old log building erected
ma many years ago by the Russians at Sitka
ana known as ''the Castle" and about
which ciings many a legend. has been trans.
formed into handsome two-story building
ana VIII be occupied by the United States
district court. the United States commits.
sioner's court and other officials The othe,
old Russian ruins at Sitka are beyond re.
pair, and II would be cheaper to build new
structures than to attempt their reconstruc.
ton. Since the establishment of civil rule
the population has increased, towns have
been built. mines have been opened. com.
merce has developed. industries have grown
in a gratifying way The territory has omt.
grown Its swaddling clothes, and the organic
| act is no longer sufficient for the adminis.
tration Of justice and the enforcement OF
| law.
The Model Battle Shin ulfnof..