The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-08-14
HAVE ARRIVED AT ALASKA.
PROMINENT NEW HAVEN and
OTHER CONNECTICUT PEOPLE.

Valuable and Growing Territory.
stka, Alaska July 81, via Tacoma,
Aug. THE steamship Queen, which
has just arriven in port, brings these
visitors from Connecticut;
Francis M Bacon, M. D., and Mrs.
Bacon, New Haven.
Miss Emily Belts, New Haven.
Miss H. NJ. Chamberlain, New Ha-
ven,
Mr. and Mrs. William H, Giddings,
New Britain.
All these Connecticut people are tour
lists from Tacoma, and have visited the
glacial regions of Chilcat bay and Glac-
Ter bay. They are in the best of health,
and report thorough enjoyment of the
trip. They will remain in Sitka a few
days, and will then continue their jour
Z ney.
The more prominent and influential
citizens of Sitka, and Juneau as well,
are working for a better government
for the territory of Alaska, and appli-
cation will be made to the next con-
gress for additional privileges to those
now enjoyed by the inhabitants of this
northwest territory. The principal re-
quest which will be made is for rep
resentative in congress. This has new
er been allowed them, and it is thought
that the interests of the territory are
great enough, and the population dense
enough to warrant such privilege.
There will be an effort made to induce
the governor to petition for the rights,
and it is thought that such course
will be far more likely to obtain sat
isfactory results.
The national government has been
backward in granting any rights of civ
II government to Alaska since it's pur-
chase of Russia, and they have always
seemed to regard the territory as an
uninhabited peninsula with a handful
of Indians who should be protected by
a system of coast patrols. They were
reluctant to appoint a governor and
civil government for the territory, and
after the withdrawal of the national
troops there was long period during
which the residents of Alaska had no
protection whatever except what their
own strength of arms granted them
At first Alaska was established a
separate military department, with
General J. c. Davis commanding, and
with garrisons at Sitka, Fort Tongass,
Fort Wrangell, Kodiak, Fort St. Nichol-
as, and a detachment on the Pribiloff
islands. General Davis was succeeded
by eight officers, during which time
Alaska was made a part of the depart
ment of the Columbia, and on June IA,
1877, all the troops were withdrawn.
A short time after the natives had des-
troyed all the government property not
protected by the stockade and a
general massacre of all white inhabi-
tants was threatened Appeals We're
sent to Washington for aid but they
Were accorded a deaf ear Finally the
residents of the town of Sitka were
besieged in the old fur warehouse A
last plea for aid arrived at Victoria,
where H. B. M. ship Osprey, Captain
Holmes A'Court, was stationed. With
out waiting for orders Captain ACourt
at once proceeded to Sitka post haste,
and arrived at the ocean side of the
island of Baranoff just as a large war
party of natives was coming in from
Peril strait for a final attack. The
Osprey prevented an attack by the
natives, and remained in port until the
troubles ceased. The greater portion of
the foreign residents wanted to raise
the British flag, and pray for annexa-
ton to England, but they were prevent
ed by Michael Travers, Duke of Japon-
ski, an ex-sailor of the United States
navy. A revenue cutter and a man-of-
war were at once dispatched to the scene
of trouble by the United States govern
ment, and they were maintained there
until the establishment of a civil gov
eminent, which took place in 1884.
December 4, 1883, Senator Harrison
intoduced in congress bill to provide
civil government for Alaska, and it
was passed by both houses, with sever
al amendments, and was signed by the
president May II, 1884. The "Organic
Act" as it was called gave the territory
both civil and judicial privileges, and
the seat of government was temporari-
ly established at Sitka. At present
there is bitter rivalry between Sitka
and Juneau for the future capital
and the residents of the latter place
are so confident of ultimate victory
that they have named certain emf
nence which commands a fine view of
the city and harbor capitol Hill, !"
and they assert that the first legisla-
ture of Alaska will convene there.
The Harrison bill provided for gov
ernor with salary of $4,000 per an
mum, who should perform the duties
which generally belong to the chief
magistrate of a territory, and to make
an annual report to the president of his
official acts, of the condition of the
district with reference to its resources,
industries and population, and of the
administration of civil government
therein, the president having power to
confirm or annul any of his proceed
ings." A district court was provided,
with thescivil and criminal jurisdiction
of the United States district and circuit
courts, at least two terms to be held
each year, one at Sitka in May and the
other at Wrangell in November. A
marshal was appointed having the
general authority and powers of the
United States marshals, with the right
of appointing four deputies, to reside
respectively in the towns of Sitka
WrangelI Unalaska and Juneau, and to
perform the duties of constables under
the laws of Oregon. Four commission
~ 4,