St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-11-19
ALASKA ISN'T ELYSIUM,
But 1t Is a Pretty Fair Place TO
Live in.


WASHINGTON, Nov. IS. James
Sheakley. governor of Alaska, has sub
mltted his annual report to the Secre-
tary of the interior of the general con-
ditions of the territory. He says:
Notwithstanding the unfavorable
climatic conditions of the spring and
early summer months, many new enter
prises were entered upon and old ones
completed. The fisheries have been
successful, the mines have yielded
profitable returns, the population has
been largely augmented by immigra~
ton. and the people have enjoyed a sea-
son of unusual progress and prosperity.
''The civil officers have been yigiIant
and faithful in the discharge Of their
duties, and, in view of the extent of the
territory over which they exercise au-
thOrity and the absence of transporta.
ton and other facilities indispensable
for the execution of the law, crime is
less frequent and law and order quite as
well enforced as IN some OF the more
densely populated and highly civilized
communities.
1.-The building Of sawmills and the
manufacturing of lumber IN the terri
tory have revoluti0nized and improved
the manner of constructing habitations
in all of the villages.
"The lie aiding trait in the character
of the Alaska native is Initiative
ness. Being possessed of considerable
mechanical skill and willingness to
work, they purchase lumber and erect
modern houses. Some of them are
built i'll an Origidal style OF architecture
and painted in the colOrs of the barbaric
state, but are comfortable to live in and
indicate the progress they have made
toward civilization. They have also
much improved in the way of preparing
food and clothing. The impress of the
missionary is visible in all parts of
South eastern Alaska, and the Y deserve
the commendation of all for the good
they have accomplished among those
natives"
He estimates the population at
about $4,000. The Siberian reindeer
experiment, he thinks, will prove suc~
cesSful. Good progress is made in edu-
cation.
Considerable trouble has been ex-
Derienced in preventing the sale of in
toXicating liquors. He says that Alaska
has 1000 miles Of sea coast and 10000
miles. Of shore line, and the revenue
officers have serious difficulty in pre-
venting smuggling.
The patrol of Bering sea has not
prevented poaching. The governor
says:
Lieutenant Commander Drake, U.
S. N, in command of the u. S. s. Alba
tross, who came into the port of Sitka
Sept. 27, ten days from the sea islands,
reports that forty vessels were in Ber-
ing sea hunting fur seals during the
months of August and September, and
that they had taken on all average 1000
skins each. ~ per cent of which were
females. He also stated that but IL per
cent CT these vessels were Americans,
the others being mostly British"
''1t is obvious that if this destructive
marauding is allowed to continue it will
be but few years until the seal rook-
cries of Alaska will be entirely DESERT
ed, and the business of fur sealing will
have passed into history. The North
American Commercial company, lessees
OF the seal islands in Alaska, have com
piled with the conditions of the lease,
and the natives have no cause for com.
plaint."
Alaska, Gov. Sheakley says, is a great
fishing country. While the fur seal,
sea otter and other valuable sea aui-
hlaiS HdFO UCCH UECIOdSIUk, IOOu uSUSS
are ineXhausNDle. Goldfish, salmon and
| halibut are the most important, but
| there are nearly one hundred other
| kinds.
More government buildings are nee
essary for the accommodation of pub
| lie business. Mining is developing in
| Alaska and promises to be an impor-
| tant industry. Some veins of rich gold
! bearing quartz have been discovered
within t.7o years past, but most of the
mines which were first worked to sue
cessful development in Alaska were
mainly of low grade ores, where found
in lOdes of extensive dimensions. The
Alaska Treadwell Gold Mining COM
| pany in one year made q net profit of
| 600. This is the largest quartzmill
! in America, 1t having 240 stamps.