The herald., 1894-11-20
ALASKAN AFFA1ks.
dovernor sh.sk,.,.. Report on th. os'

~
dition Of ths Territory.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 james Shesk"
ley, governor OF Alaska, has submitted
his annual report to the secretary of the
interior. on the general conditions Of
the territory. lie Gays:
Notwithstanding the unlavorable eli
matte conditions OF the spring and early
summer months, msny new enterprises
were entered upon and old ones com.
pleted. The fisheries have been ueeiul
and have yielded profitable returns.
The population has largely been aug
mented by immigration. and the people
have en- JOY cd season OF progress and
prosperity.
"Ths civil officers have been vigilant
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 tranrporta-
tion aud other facilities indispensable
for the execution OF law, crime is less
frequent and law and order quite as we'll
enforced ss in some OF the more densely
populated and highly civilized comm IT,
mites. The building OF saw mills and
the manufacturing of lumber in the ter
the manner Of constructing habitations
in all OF the villages.
"The leading trait in the character of
the Alaska natives is imitativeness.
Being possessed of considerable me.
chanical skill and willing to work. they
purchase the lumber and erect modern
houses. Some OF them are built in an
original style OF architecture and
painted in colors OF bsrbarfc state, but
are comfortable to live in and indicate
the progress they have made toward
civilization.
"The impress of the missionary 10
viaib,e in all parts of Southeastern
Alaska, and they deserve tho commend
alton OF all for the good they have &C.
complshed.
He estimates the population at about
80 600. The Siberian reindeer expert
ment, he thinks, will prove successful.
Good progress is made In education.
Considerable trouble has been expert.
enced in preventing the sale OF intoxi-
eating liquors. He says that Alaska
has 1000 miles of sea coast and 5000
miles OF shore line. and the revenue
officers have serious difficulty In pre-.
venting smuggling.
The patrol OF Bering sea has not pre-
vented poaching. The governor says:
Lieutenant Commander Drake, u.
S. N, in command of the United States
steamship Albstross. who came into the
port Of Sitka September 9th, ten dsys
from the Seal isisnds. reports that 40
vessels we're in Bsribg sea hunting for
fur seal during the months of August
and September. and that they had taken
on an average OF 1000 skins each, 70 Per
cent OF which were females. He also
stated that but IL per cent OF the vessels
were Americans, the others being mostly
British.
1T is obvious that il this destructive
marauding lie allowed to continue. it will
be but a very few years until the seal
rookeries OF Alaska will be entirely de-
serted and the business OF fur.sealing
will have passed into history.
"The North American Commercial
company. lessees OF the Seal islands in
Alaska, have complied with the con-
ditions OF the lease and the natives have
no cause for complaint"
Alaska. Governor Sheakley says. 10 q
great fishing country. While the fur
seal and other valuable sea animals
have been decreasing. food fishes are in
exhaustible, codfish, salmon and hall
but being the most important, but there
are nearly 100 other kinds. More gov
ernment buildings are necessary for the
accommodation OF public business.
Mining is profitable in Alaska. and
promises to be a permanent industry.
Some veins of rich gold-bearing quartz
have been discovered during the two
years past. but most OF the mines which
ware Il rat WOrk ed to auccee aful davalons
ment in Alaska were mainly OF the low
grade ores, which are found in lodes Of
extensive dimensions.
The Alaska Tresdwell Gold Mining
comr any In one year made net profits Of
$444.O00. This 10 the bi9gsst quartz
mill in America, It having $40 stamps.