The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-15
TIE NEEDS or ALASKA.


WARRINGTON. Jan. IA Territory that con-
tanned at the last census only 1903 white peo-
pie. and that hardly contains more than 5000
to-day. cannot expect a very elaborate and
costly system OF government. Yet this system.
however simple. should be good. and suited to
the wants Of the people.
Alaska has never been governed too much.
It has been a part OF the States for q quar-
ter OF a century. and yet not until within two
years could even titles to land be procured
anywhere In its area OF 580. 900 square miles.
Even under the law OF 1901 few applications
for titles to mineral or other lands have
been made. and only one town. Juneau. has
applied for a regular site. A district court and
four commissioners courts comprise the Judi
cial system. There are no Justices Of the
Peace. no Incorporated towns. no municipal
taxation. no homestead and preemption prirt-
lcEes for settlers, no fee-simple allotments for
natives. no Government hospitals for the
treatment OF the natives or for the insane and
for paupers. no representation In Congress-:
ana although tho Indian Bureau has nothing
to do with Alaska. there are no laws defining
the status OF its native population.
1t is clear. therefore. that a broad field exists
for Improvement in the system Of governing
this Territory. That Alaska Is not now a great
source OF revenue to the Government NAV be
admitted. Its court system is not sell sup
porting. and all the commissioners collected
an aggregate for tho year OF only Sl.2I0
in fines. The marshals disbursed S28.524.S1.
and havo an outstanding deficiency. for three
years. of so.030.5a The district court was
lucky IN getting receipts Of s.. 100 20. Of which
schooner and is seal skins; and there are
other cases OF seizure pending. The REGENTS
OF the Collector OF Customs. were SS.Ol02!
against disbursements OF Sl7.27G. The Land
once has only tnken in S2i5 In purchase
S5s.44 on aoversmsnt buildings during the
fHssls sat at inGne AIM Ta es'n Island .El h's and SAND
Point. $500 Tor repairing, the sitka wharf.
and Sl.lO2 for repairing the houses OF the
but Alaska is not wholly a source Of exrense.
and lite business SHOVE the signs Of prospective
hitherto OF great. value to. tho Government.
though now much affected by the n,odus III
ssna, lssr; ssfii mor. 1h spor srs tt si,a sal Inc se IN.
The totnl value OF Alaska's exports for the
year. as the Governors report shows. was
! .ibY:Y7t w Si,%eb IN 81 f .siS.s! ssDt sesissins
s555. 5s7; and various fish and fuIs. gold apd
s most o su the p:S 9'afi asGr'; rS See in Hsa su s.. id she
23s. included machinery. textile fabrics. and
s sn. H. RREi ssta Gon tneas; ,ipF Gomrsn and st IL
has an extensive rlant and numerous trading
stations in the Territory. as also has the North
Trcndwell Gold Mining Com pany. with works
ar ana 99 pSfa disi tisaas, Of re 4 6 esHa5f last st year seiGo While
Il has shipped S3.sl1ls3 ia bullion since lS!2.
Ese a nsp fs. 4 m:s sSm s sn1 .ss arg s also s.'sn nass,
district. OF 1900 tons in the aRerecato;, while
the Custom House entrances last ycar showed
IOl vessels Of So. rs nettons and 81 clearance
Of 1928 tons: and there were some landings
At @to "es' in a s"ut i, e"s,f Alaska astS ali rur.hasins
furs and other articles for shipment, hesidesa
nTSu ts q tpsdi in s s!.t,an. are I tndnS Su aioss I tns
coast. There are Ii mills for crushing ore, in
the Territory. with $50 stamps: and while the
ise have been discovered lately on Forty-miIe
Greek. which have been made mors accessible
by n new steamer put upon the Yukon.
But the fish industry in Alaska leads all tho
E 51No m InlF To stes sa,W vesse fsn nnI Zoo 9 is!,iSy
boats. representing q capital Of S~4;2.9noOo:
and yielsdtIhr s q prpa.ct ! in ,s is9l v; Of l;a7 T6%5
ss55:90o; ths whale hshiRs: BY f9rty.eigl,5
ivory. which was less than the average.
The progress OF Alaska thus affords ground
s fGn i% tne Is.ar ls s 81 cong 70. so from tIe h sad
days 2 6ill for this purpose has been intro
duties OF the former in his absence. The Gov.
ernor may call out the militia and grant rar.
a Judge and a Clerk, is to be continued. and
the number Of commissioners Is to be in
creased to seven. with u salary Of $4,000 each.
Now there are four. und they get only $1,000
each. One Of them quilted the Territory in dis
gust over, q year ago without attempting to
organize his court. although bis district was
the most important Of all. and has ever since
been without court facilities,
The general laws are to be those Of Oregon.
A land office Is established. with proper .ofti-
GERS. The liquor laws are revised. and in
crensed facilities given for executing. them.
All residents. Mt the passage Of tho act. includ:
ing Indians horn or naturalized in tn" Crited
States. nre dccln red citizens. thus settling the
question Of The legal status OF tho natives. But
only those who can speak English can vote or
hold Office. None but natives can live on the
coast north Of l,ehrinE straits, or within the
interior north Of the Arctic circle. Alaska is TO
have n delegate in Congress. to have IL Board
Of Charities. and to enjoy the privileges OF the
laws for agricultural experiment, stations.
Important. appropriations are made for in
creased salaries. for the purchase OF reindeer.
for buying u steam vessel in which TO take
the court officers from point to point. and Tor
establishing II military post.
The new net contains. in fact. whatever Is
urgently needed in Alaska. and within the
proper province OF the Government to supply.