Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1897-12-11
A WORD ABOUT ALASKA
That Territory Requires the Prompt
and Early Attention of
Congress.

The territory of Alaska requires the
prompt and early attention OF congress-
The conditions now eXisunE demaha ma .l
terial changes In the laws relating 10 the
territory. The great influx OF populatloh
during the past summer ana Ran ana the
prospect of a still larger Immigration IN
the spring will not permit us TO longer
neglect the extension of ctVtl authority
within the territory or postpone the es-
Establishment of more thorough govern
ment. -,
not vet been extended to Alaska and all
entries thus far made in That dlStrlct are
upon special surveys. me . aJI o1 i CUts
of the United States. contained the teStI-
walton that it should not be construed 10
put in force the general land laws OF me
Bv an act approved March 2, 1891 au-
thority was given for entry OF lands LOT
townsite purposes and also as Tor t4 S pu ar
thereafter occupied for purposes OF traue
and manufacture The purpose OF CON
gress as thus far expressed, mas Deth
that only such rights should apply to the
territory as should be specifically named.
1t will be seen how much remains to pe
done for that vast, feInotG anu Sec ~ aii
Using portion of our country. Speclal az
thorttv was given 10 the president py IN
act of congress, approved July "a, 1871
to divide that territory into two lanQ dlS-
tricts and to designate the boundaries
thereof and TO appoint registers ana re
ceiyers of said land offices and the presl-
dent was also authorized " HplICilit
surveyor general for the entire district,
Pursuant to this authority Il surveyor
general and receiver have been appointed
with offices at Sitka. If in the ensuing
wear the conditions justify II the addl-
tfonal land district authorized by law VIII
be established with an office at some
noint in the Yukon valley. No approprla-
lion however. was made for this purpose
and that is now necessary to be done 1or
the two land districts into which the ter
ritory is to be divided. .
7 concur with the secretary OF war IN
his suggestions as to the necessity OF
military force in the territory of Alaska
ertv. Already a small force, consisting
of IS men with two officers, under com
nand of Lieutenant Colonel Randall OF
the Eighth infantry, has been sent 10
St. Michaels to establish military post
AS il is to the interest of the govern
ment to encourage the deveioP 1l ~
settlement of the country, and us duly 10
follow up its citizens there with dement's
Of legal machinery, | earnestly urge upon
congress the establishment OF system
of government offices of such tleXibility
as will enable it to adjust itself to the
future areas of greatest popuiauon.
The startling, though possibly eXag8er-
atad reports from the Yukon river coun-
try of the probable shortage of food for
the large number of people who are win
tering there without the means of leaV-
ing the country, are confirmed in Such
measure as to justify bringing the mat
fer to the attention of congress. Access
to that country this winter can be had
only nv the passes from Dyea and Vicin-
ity which is a most difficult and perhaps
an impossible task. However, should
these reports of the suffering of our fell
low citizens be further verified. every Ell
fort al any cost should be made to carry
of