The Butler weekly times., 1895-06-06
PROGRESS OF ALASKA.
The Country Enjoying a Period Of
Unusual Prosperity.
Population Materially Increased and All
Ainds of business in a fIourfshing
Condition-Facts About
the Natives.

James Sheakley, governor of Alaska,
lately submitted his annual report to
the secretary of the interior of the ~en-
eral conditions of the TERRITORY He
SAYS:
Notwithstanding the unfavorable
climatic conditions Of the spring and
early summer months many new enter
prises We're entered upon and old ones
completed. The fisheries have been
successful, the mines have Welded
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
vigilant 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 well enforced as in
some of the more densely populated
and highly civilized communities
manufacturing of lumber in the terri
tory has revolutionized and improved
the manner of constructing habitations
in all of the villages.
The leading trait in the character
of the Alaska native is imitativeness
being possessed of considerab BILE me
chanical skill and willing to work.
1 ,-.I
ern houses. Some of them are built il
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 fooC
and clothing. The impress of the mis-
sionary is visible in all parts Of south
eastern Alaska, and they deserve the
communication of all for the good they
have accomplished among these native
people
He estimates the population at abou
thirtytwo thousand. The Siberian
reindeer experiment, he thinks, viii
prove successful. Good progress j:
made in education. Considerablt
trouble has been experienced in pre-
venting the sale of Intoxicating liquors
| He saws that Alaska has four thousant
miles of sea coast and twenty Thousand
miles of shore line, and the revenu,
officers have serious difficulty in pre-
venting Smuggling.
The patrol Of Behring sea has no
prevented poaching. The governo
SAYS: Lieutenant Commander Drake
L. :. n, in command of the Unite,
States ship Albatross. who came int
the port Sitka September 2T, ten day
from the seal islands. reports that fort,
vessels We're in Behring sea hunting fu
seal during the months of August AM
September, and that they had taken ol
an average of one thousand skins each
seyenty-two per cent. of which wcr
females. He also stated that bu
twelve per cent of these vessels wer
British.
1T is obvious that if this destructiv
marauding Is allowed to continue
will be but a few years until the sea
roollerics of Alaska will he cntirel
deserted and the business of fur sea,
ing viii have passed into history. Th
North American Commercial company
lessees Of the seal islands in AlaSk;
have complied with the conditions c
the lease and the natives have no cau>
for complaint"
Alaska, Gov. Shcal1ley says. is
great fishing country. While the fu
seal, sea otter ana other valuable Sc
animals have been decreasing foo
fishes are ineyhau~tible. Cod, >alrno
f and haIibut are the most i.nportan
but there are nearly one hundred otl1e
kinds.
More govcrntaol> = buildings are ne,
: eSsary for the accommodation of publ
, business. Mining : developing i
Alaska and promises to Ire an impo
? tant industry. Some veins OF ric
: goid-bearing quartz have been Iii co
cred. Veins of rich roldbearin
quartz have been discovered with
= two years past. but most Of the min,
, which were first worked to Successfl
development in Alaska We're mainly
low-grade ores. which are found
lodes OF extensive dimensions II
Alaska Trcauwcu Cold Mining COZ
: panE in one year made = net profit
z four hundred and forty-four thousar
2 dollars. This sthe largest quartz mi
: in Anerica It having two hundred a.