The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-26

Spac'al Dispatch to the Post-,n,eliconeer
PORT TOWNSEND, May a.-Although
the United States government pretends 10
forbid the importation of liquor into the
territory of Alaska and Incidentally pun
ishes and imprisons any person who sells
X for other than medicinal purposes, yet
the treasury department becomes the
actual agency by which the law is turn
ed into farce. The internal revenue Of
ficers. acting under the authority OF the
law. issue licenses 10 saloonkeepers in
Alaska to sell liquor and then the dis
trict attorney and marshal in the United
states district court prosecute and con-
Wet the Saioonkeepers for the very acts
which the government authorizes to be
done when issuing the licenses. Hardly
session of the grand jury convenes at
either Sitka or Juneau but dozen or two
licensed salocnkeepers are indicted and
fined for selling intoxicants.
The shipping of whisky into the terri
tory is unlawful. yet many of the saloons
receive fresh consignments of liquors on
the arrival of every steamer. Liquor Is
never entered on the vessels manifest.
and there is some doubt as TO whether
the company or officers operating the YES
sells are aware that they are the actual
smuSglers, or accessories after or before
the commission of the offenses.
II was only a few months ago that tho
scheme was partly exposed by the merest
accident The steamer Uma;ilia, while
lying alongside of Union wharf In this
city was discharging barrels of sugar
consigned to Juneau people One OF the
sings broke and smashed two or three
barrels of the sugar and out rolled
kegs Of whisky. The customs officers i'm
media,ely seized and contiscated large
quantity OF liquor That was one way or
smuggling liquor into the territory.
Another scheme which was put into ef-
feet last year and is now In vogue Is the
shipping of spirits 10 the Northwest terri
tory British possessions. in bond through
Alaska The law of that British province
rigidly stipulates that no liquor shall be
imported. ard consequently bond is given
to take II out OF the territory. The first
consignment went north In the early part
Of last year and was sent TO Fort Cudahy,
Northwest territory. which is four miles
from the Alaska boundary, on the Yukon
river. and consisted of 1900 gallons Of the
highest proof spirits. 1t passed through
Alaska under the guidance OF an inspector
OF customs detailed by the Sitka office and
whose expenses and salary were paid by
the owner OF the liquor At Fort Cudahy
the American bond was Cancelled. and the
importer executed another indemnity to
the Canadian government to take the same
goods ont of the territory within thirty
DAYS The American customs officer re-
turned 20 Sitka, and the liquor was
PROMPTLY taken across the line to the min
ing camps along the Yukon river and It's
tributaries. The liquor was diluted and
'doc.ored' so as to increase the bulk to
. 400 gallons, which was retailed at SIS n
gallon. The amount realized was s5o.Uo.
and the first cost and expense or transpor-
tation amounted 10 $4,000. which left a
profit of S4sc 600 for the smugglers.
Under similar methods two other ship
ments were made this year. The nrst was
on March 25 when 200 kegs of whisky were
shipped in bond TO j. Sullivan. Lake Ben
nett Northwest territory. and the other
was on April 81. to f. N. Stevens, Lake
I,inderrnau. British Columbia. and consist
ed OF seventy-seven packages OF spirits.
valued at s2447. The points OF destination
are only three or four miles from the
Alaska boundary. and are situated so SIS to
afford opportunities of selling liquors TO
miners and others passing through Alaska
en- route 10 the Yukon gold fields.
The Law ia being enforced III such lar
cicsi manner as to put premium on crime
and enhance the profits OF the violators- In
other words the ring IL able 10 crush out
any of the smaller offenders and perpetu-
ale a smuggling monopoly besides retail
ing the very worst quality or liquors 10
both miners and natives OF Alaska.