The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-11-22
PROSPEROUS ALASKA.
During the Past Year the Fisheries
Have Been Successful,
The Mines Have Yielded Profitable Re-
turns, the Population Largely Aug
mented by Immigration and the
People Have Enjoyed Prosperity.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.--That Alaska
is steadily progressing in civilization,
with many of its advantages, is shown
in the annual report of James Sheak-
ley, the governor of the territory,
which he has just submitted to the
secretary of. the interior During the
year the fisheries have been successful,
the mines have yielded profitable
returns, the population has been
largely augmented by immigration,
and the people have enjoyed season
of unusual progress and prosperity.
In addition to this showing the build
ing of sawmills and the manufacture
of lumber in the territory has revolu-
tionized the manner of constructing
habitations in nearly all the native
villages. The Canadian police force of
Alaska consists of two chiefs and
nineteen men. This force has been Of
great utility in giving information to
the civil officers, preventing the maxi
ing of native whisky in the Indian VIII
lagos, keeping the peace and prevent
ing bloodshed among their own people,
and compelling the Indian children to
attend the government schools The
two chiefs of police receive fifteen dol
lars per month each, the nineteen pri-
Yates receive ten dollars each.
According to the census of 1890,
Alaska had population of 4,29S white
people, of whom AS were women and
girls, and an Indian population of 23,-
531. Gov. Sheakley believes that the
Indians are slowly decreasing in num-
Der, especially on the seacoast where
they come in contact with the whites.
On the western coast the want Of
proper food supply is the cause of the
decrease, but is predicted that the ex-
pertinent of breeding domesticated
reindeer in Alaska will soon furnish
both snstenance and clothing.
Education in the territory is increas-
ing. The United States supports four
teen day schools and fifteen mission
schools, while the Greek Church of
Russia provides for six more.
In this connection Gov. Sheakley
says: 1.-THE natives of Alaska, unlike
the North American Indian, don't re-
cede before the march of civilization,
but rather follows in the wake of the
white man. Wherever there is center
of white population in Alaska, near by
will be found the greater number Of
Alaskan natives. The tendency OF
these people is to abandon a nomadic
life, and seek employment in the mines
and mills by which they can earn a
living with certainty, have white
mans food and enjoy some of the com
forts of civilized man. In whatever
position or occupation the Alaskan
native may be, he is always to bt
found self-supporting, receiving moth
ing from the government of the Unitei
/ States, and wants nothing but fail
treatment from the local authorities.
II earnestly recommend an increas,
in the appropriation for the education
| of the children in Alaska
Efforts to suppress the liquor traffi
in Alaska have met with little success
Liquors are imported, landed and solt
without stint in every white settle
ment. Within the past year the col
lector of customs for the territory ha
seized and forfeited 776 gallons o
whisky and brandy, 462 separate bot
ties of whisky and II pounds of opium
all smuggled.
Gov. Sheakley says that the law pre-
hibiting the importations, manufactur
| and sale of intoxicating liquors il
| Alaska should be attended in such
manner rs to enlist at least q portiol
of the people of Alaska in snpport O
the court and the civil officers in thei
efforts to enforce its provisions.