The National tribune., 1893-11-02
PROSPEROUS TERRITORY.
Alaska Advancing in Industries and Civil
Government,


Government,
James Sheakley, Governor of Alaska, has
submitted his annual report to the Secretary of
the Interior.
The civil officers who were intrusted with
the administration both of the civil and crimi-
nal law have been vigilant and faithful in the
discharge of their duties. and the people are in
the enjoyment of peace and prosperity. Mining.
fishing, and tho taking of furs the leading
industries that furnish employment for 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 we'll established mines have continued 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 gratifying results.
The large amount of fish taken from Alaskan
waters during the past few years has creaIe ed
some apprehension in regard TO the supply.
The Government has already taken efficient
measures to prevent the further waste(ul de-
struction of this valuable species of food, and
no effort in this direction shall be- relaxed.
The decision Of the Boring Sea Court Of Arbi-
traton, made pnblic at Paris on Aug -. has
given great satisfaction TO the people of Alaska,
for the reason that il is a triumph of civIliZ2-
tiOn to have great international dispute
settled by arbitration, and also because it will
afford protection to seal life. and put TO an cad
that animal. Tho occupation Of the pOacher is
gone if the now regulations are enforced in
regard to the close of the season, and the pro-
hibition of the use of firearms and explosives
in fur sealing.
The militia organization Of Alaska is in a
state of disntegTatioG. The migratory habits
of the people will prevent such orgaBiza-
tion froa becoming permanent. Militia soldiers
in Alaska could only be used as home guards,
or for police duty in the immediate vicinity
of their organization. To be any service to
the Territory-at-large each organized COM
pany would be under the necessity OF having
| and maintaining steamboat transportation,
there being no roads or land travel possible
in the country.
The natives are not hard to control, and can
be easily led into better ways if kindly treated; !;
but the coming of the gunboat has had some
influence with the more uncivilized portion OF
them.
The law prohibiting the introduction, manu-
facture, or sale of Intoxicating liquors in the
| Territory, in its present construction. Ia .
source of irritation and discomfort among all
classes in the Territory. / gives rise TO large
| traffic in smuggling, mostly from British Co
| lumbia, which eur customs officers can neither
| prevent nor suppress. The employment Of
Indian police by the Government has ten
dency to establish confidential relations be-
tween the two races. Their influence has been
| exerted for good in having Indian children
attend the Government schools. Fourteen
| Government and as many contract schools
were in successful operation during the year.
| Eleven denominations have established mission
| schools in the Territory.
Dr. Sheldon Jackson, who WAS the first
| Protestant missionary in Alaska. and by whose
| good management he Government and mission
schools were established, is now engaged in the
| laudable work of importing domesticated REIN
| deer into western Alaska from the tame herds
| in Siberia. Each year DIR. Jackson, with Capt.
Healy, Of the Bear, has made annual trips to
| Siberia, and brought back reindeer for distri-
button at points along the Alaskan coast.
It is claimed that the introduction of this
| animal into the Territory will arrest the pres
| ent starvation and restock that vast country
| with a permanent food supply, and that, by
covering these great plains with herds OF
| domestieated reindeer, it will be possible TO
support in comparative comfort large pOpu-
| lation. Then it is also claimed that the REIN
| deer may be used as a means of transportation.
The public buildings at Sitka and Wrangell
| have been repaired and put in fair order The
old log building erected many years ago by
| the Russians at Sitka and known as The
| Castle" has been transformed into handsome
| twO-story building. to be occupied by the
| United States District Court, the United States
Commissioners Court, and other officials. The
other old Russian ruins at Sitks are beyond
repair.
Since the establishment of civil rule the
population has increased, towns have been
built, mines have been opened, commerce has
developed, industries have grown in gratify
ing way. The Territory has outgrown its
swsddling-clethes, and the organic act is no
longer sufficient for the administration of just
ice and the enforcement Of law.