The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-01-19
PROGRESS OF ALASKA.
The Country Enjoying q Period OF
Unusual Prosperity.

The Country Enjoying q Period OF
Unusual Prosperity.
Pop~la&loa Materially Increased and All
Ginds Of Business In . flourishinS
CondIeiou-Facts About
the Natives.
James Sheakley, governor of Alaska,
lately submitted his annual report to
the secretary of the interior of the gen.
eral conditions 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
season of unusual progress and pros
perity. The civil officers have been
v4gilant and faithful in the discharge
of their duties, and in view of the ex-
tent of the territory over which they
exercise authority, and the absence of
transportation and other facilities in
dispensable for the execution of the
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 building of sawmills and the
manufacturing of lumber in the terri
tory has revolutionized and improved
the manner of constructing habitations
in all of the villages.
'SThe leading trait in the character
of the Alaska native is imitativeness,
being possessed of considerable me-
chanical skill and willing to work.
They purchase lumber and erect mod
ern houses. Some of them are built in
an original style of architecture and
painted in colors of barbaric state. but
are comfortable to live in and indicate
the progress they have made toward
civilization. They have also much i'm
proved in the way of preparing food
and clothing. The impress Of the mis-
sionary is visible in all parts of south
eastern Alaska, and they deserve the
commendation of all for the good they
have accomplished among these native
people"
He estimates the population at about
thirty-two thousand. The Siberian
reindeer experiment, he thinks, will
prove successful. Good progress is
made in education. Considerable
trouble has been experienced in pre-
venting the sale of intoxicating liquors.
He says that Alaska has four thousand
miles of sea coast and twenty thousand
miles of shore line, and the revenue
officers have serious difficulty in pre-
venting smuggling.
The patrol OF Behring sea has not
prevented poaching. The governor
says: Lieutenant Commander Drake,
U. S. N, in command of the United
States ship Albatross, who came into
the port Sitka September 81, ten days
from the seal islands, reports that forty
vessels were in Behring sea hunting fur
seal during the months of August and
September. and that they had taken on
an average OF one thousand skins each,
seventy-two per cent. of which were
females. He also stated that but
twelve per cent. of these vessels were
American, the others being mostly
British.
sit is obvious that If this destructive
marauding is allowed to continue it
will be but a few years until the seal
rookeries of Alaska will be entirely
deserted and the business of fur seal
ing will have passed into history. The
North American Commercial company,
lessees of the seal islands in Alaska,
have complied with the conditions of
the lease and the natives have no cause
for complaint"
Alaska, Gov. Shcakley says, is
great fishing country. While the. fur
seal, sea otter and other valuable sea
animals have been decreasing food
fishes are inexhaustible. Cod, salmon
and halibut are the most important,
but there are nearly one hundred other
kinds.
More government buildings are nec-
essary for the accommodation OF public
business Mining is developing in
Alaska and promises to be an impor-
tant industry. Some veins of rich
gold-bearing quartz have been di Cow
cred. Veins OF rich gold-bearing
quartz have been discovered within
two years past, but most of the mines
which were first worked to successful
in Alaska were mainly Of
ores, which are found in
lodes of extensive dimensions. The
Alaska Treadwel Gold Mining COM
pany in one year made net profit Of
four hundred and forty-four thousand
dollars. This is the largest quartz mill
in America, it having two hundred and