Evening star., 1895-10-24
Where Old Glory Floats Over the
Arctic Circle.
REMARKS BY THE GOVERNOR
The Seals and the Natives Fast
Disappearing.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINES

Governor Sheakley of Alaska In his an
nual report does not confine himself aito-
gether to dry details of his office, but tells
in an interesting narrative all about the Dig
territory over which he presides. Inc gov
ernor's report, aside from description Oh
Alaska, is very interesting, as ne treats OF
topics that are of considerable moment
but during the summer he took trip on
the revenue cutter Rush. with Captain
Hooper, and he sends to the Interior De-
partment some of his observations. In
fact, 1t was while on this trip to the Pribl-
loft Island that he had an opportunity to
gather the information concerning the de-
struction of seals that he reports to the
government.
The governor says that people may De
able to realize the extent Of Alaska when
they know that they can sail for 1900 miles
directly west of Sitka and yet are Wlthn
the borders of Alaska.
The Greek Church.
1t appears from the governors account
that the Alaskan villages have few white
settlers, as the Americans are denominated,
and some Russians. but a majority of them
are Indians of the Aleut tribe or race. In
nearly every one of these villages there is
a Greek church and q priest of that faith.
One of the Places Kodiak, was settled by
the Russians back in 11S9. and the nrst
Greek church in America was estabnshed
there more than one hundred years ago,
and still exists. In some of these villages
the Protestants have established missions
and churches.
At these villages the Alaska Commercial
Company has headquarters. and there are
also headquarters for other fur companies
of less Importance, and which do not have
leases for taking the fur seals
The names of the different villages visited
hNyt ha Il
Karluk, Sand Point, Unga, Belkofsky, In
alaska, and the seal islands of st. George
and st. Paul.
Unalaska, on an island of the same name,
is one of the most important points in the
summer season in Alaska. 1t is occupied
by number of government officers, and Is
the headquarters for the Alaska CONNER
cial Company. From this point the COM
pany ships its goods to the Aleutian ISL
ands, and to many points in Bering sea
and to the Yukon mining districts. Whal-
ing ships call at that place on their way to
and from the arctic. Sealing and fishing
schooners rendezvous there, and 1t is the
headquarters for government vessels pa
trolling Bering sea. The governor was
there on the Fourth of July, and four
revenue cutters -patrolling Bering
assembled there gave an old-time Fourth of
July celebration, which the governor says
was very patriotic lesson to the natives.
Grafton, the reading of the Declaration of
Independence, besides the boat races and
sports that usually accompany country
Fourth of July.
ley stopped at number of Indian villages.
He found these people on the islands living
almost entirely upon fish and such little
stuff as they could buy from the traders in
exchange for the furs they were able to
procure. The principal fur animal Is the
sea otter, and these are rapidly disappear
ing. These Indians have little fuel. de-
pending upon driftwood, grass and the oil
says their condition will soon be deplorable.
On account of the lack of food and other
necessaries the race is diminishing year by
year.
A Strange Volcano.
'Along the Alaskan peninsula and the
Aleutian Islands for a thousand miles"
says the governor, can be seen the semi
active volcanoes emitting blue and white
smoke, which in the night assumes bril-
liant and interesting appearance. Eleven
years ago the Island of Bogiloff, situated in
Bering sea, near the Islands of Four Noun
tains, came suddenly out of the water and
arose to the height of thousand feet, but
being composed of lava and ashes it has
crumbled away until its present elevation
is about three hundred feet. We sailed
close by and saw hot lava seething in a
washing sea. An immense number of sea
lions were collected in an estuary, probably
On account of the warmth they found there
The ships crew fired cannon ball into
their midst, hitting none, but they all
sought safety in the sea-"
The agents of the Alaska Commercial
Company, the officers of the government
and others are located on the islands of ST.
George and st. Paul, which are the seal
rcCkeries. 1t was from these islands that
the governor made the observations that
convince him that the seal herd is rapidly
disappearing. The families of the men,
who are obliged to stay on these islands,
are with them, and the governor dned
there, expressing his surprise that away
out on this verge of civilization all the SUBJ
stantials, and luxuries as well. We're found
which would appear on the tables of those
who live in the center Of cultivated society.
"A roast IF seal meat was prepared es-
pecially for us, and 1 enjoyed it, he adds.
Aside from the seal industry the salmon
catching and canning is an important busi-
ness in Alaska. There are several fine sal
mon streams, which are being worked with
a great deal of profit
Mining Plants.
But it appears from the report of Gov.
Shealkley that mining will in time supplant
and surpass all other branches. He de-
scribes one plant on Unga Island, which is
now producing $4,000 in gold every month.
Besides there is the rich mining district of
the Yukon river. 1t is supposed that there
are now about 1900 white men in the
Yukon mines. The governor thinks the
Yukon district will be second only to the
gold fields of California in production when
they are properly worked. AT present gold
mining in the Yukon districts is carried on
under great difficulties. The seasons are
short and the ground is perpetually frozen.
The earth must be thawed by fire before it
can be mined The winters are long and
the mines are far distant from supplies.
These mines are a thousand miles from
Sitka. They can be reached only by going
over the mountain pass on foot and by
floating down the river In canoe, and then
only during half of the year. At present
the mining country Is under government
of its own, as were the mining camps of
California, Montana and other western
states, before civilization had advanced and
established regular forms of government.
The governor says, however, that the
miners do not let criminals escape or go
unpunished.
A kipling Story.