The morning call., 1894-11-19
EpoRT OF THE GOVERNOR.
Mining Becoming an Important
Industry.
NATIVES ARE vERYPRoGREssIvE
If the Extensive Poacf1ing Continues
in Boring Sea Seals viii =,
Become Extinct. -

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1S.-James Sheake-
ley, Governor Of Alaska. has submitted
his annual report to the Secretary of the
Interior of the general conditions of the
Territory. He says: -
Notwithstanding the unfayorabTe ell.
matte conditions of the spring and early :
summer months many new. enterprises .
were entered upon and old. ones COM:
pleted. The fisheries have been useful
ana the mines have yielded profitable re-
turns, the population has been largely
augmented by Immigration and the people
nave enjoyed season of progress and .
prosperity. -.
1.-THE civil officers have been .vigiIant
and faithful in the discharge Of their
du ties. and in view of the extent .of fhe
eerritory over which they exercise author.
lty and the absence of transpor.atinn- and; .
other facilities indispensable for the exc
cution Of law, crime is less frequent: and.
law and order quite as we'll enforced as in "
some Of the more densely populated and
highly civilized communities The build
ing of sawinlls and the manufacturing .:of
lumber lie the Territory have revolution
lied and improved the. manner Of con-
STRUGGLING ha6ilatOns in all of the villages.
The leading trait in the character 0fths =.
Alaska natives is imitatiyeneSs, and being
possessed. OF considerable mechanical skill :
and willing 10 work, they purchase.
lumber and erect modern houses. SOmeof
these are built an original STYLE of arctli-'
lecture and: painted In colors of bsrbaric
style, out ars comfortable to live In and
indicate the. progress they have made
toward civilization. The impress of the
missionaries is visible in all parts Of South
eastern Alaska, and they deserve the
COMMUNICATION of all for the good they
have accomplished" ~:
The Governor estimates the population {.
at about 80. 000 The Siberian reindeer ex-
pertinent. he thinks, will prove successful,
Good progress is made. in education. Con-
siderable trouble has been experienced III ;
preventing the sale of intoxicating liquors.
lie says that Alaska has 1000 miles of sea
coast and 5000 miles Of shore line, and the
revenue officers have serious difficulty ia:
preventing Smuggling. :. ~, n
The patrol of Rering Sea. has not pre-.
ven ted poaching. The Governor saws:
Lieutenant Commander Drake, u. S. Ma:
in command OF the U. S. S. Alb8tross, who
came into the port OF Sitka iSeptenf ber.27f
len days :fr1 IN Seal Islands, rep rts that
forty vessels were in Berlng Sea hunting
for seal during the months of August. and
September, and that they had taken on an
average 1000 skins each, ~ per cent OF
which were females. He also stated that
bu p per cent OF the vessels were AmeEi- =.
cans. the others being mostly British. !:
ut Is obvious il this destructive maIaud-
ing is allo we'd to continue 1t will be but :
few years until tie. seal rookeries Of
Alaska will be entirely deserted, and the
business of. fur sealing will have passed ,
into history. The North American Com;
msrcial 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 iaint 49,: r. -.
Alaska Governor Sheakeley says, is a
great fishing country. While the fur seal
and the otter ana other valuable sea
animals have been decreasing food >fisiiPs
are ineXhaustfble,- goldfish. salmon and
haElbut being the most Important. but
there are nearly 100 other kinds. !:
T More Government buildings are: Deces-*,
sary for the accom- mediation Of public
business: Mining is increasing in. Alaska
and promises to be permaHeni Industry.
Some veins of; rich g9ld-bear'ng quartz
have been discovered during the two years
past but most of the mines which were
first worked to: successful DEVELOPMENT jn
Alaska were mainly. Of the I0w-grade ores, ::
which are found. in lodes Of extensive d. :.
mansions. The Alaska Treadwelt Gold
Mining Company in one year made net
profits of S444,000. This company Owls
the biggest -auartzmill In America, it
having 80 stamps. = - - =.