Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1897-12-10
Ala.La Reunirea Attention.


nection with our general system OF coast
defense.
AlssLa Requires Attention
The territory of Alaska REQUIRES inc
prompt and early attention or Confess
The conditions now existing demand ma
terial changes in the laws relatihs ~
the territory The great influx OF popu,
lation during the past summer anu la,'
and the prospect Of still larger n'iilli-
grafton In the spring Will not permit uS
to longer neglect the extension OIL CIV"
authority within the territory OF nos.'
pone the establishment Of more thor-
ough government.
A general system of public surveys mas
not been extended to Alaska and all en-
tries thus far made in that district are
upon special surveys. The act OF con-
gress extending to Alaska the mining
laws Of tho United States contained the
reservation that 1t should not be con-
strued to put In force the general lano
laws of the country. BY an act approved
March g. 1891. authority was given Tor
entry of lands for town site purposes
and also for the purchase of not exceed
ing 100 acres then or thereafter occupied
for purposes of trade and manufacture.
The purpose of congress as thus far ex-
pressed has been that only such rights
should apply to that territory as should
be specifically named.
Military Force Is Necessary.
I concur with the secretary Of war In
his suggestions as to the necessity Tor
military force In the territory Of Alaska
for the protection of persons and prop
! I o
of twenty-five men, with two officers, UNI
der command of Lieut.-Col Randall Of
the Sth infantry. has been sent to st.
Michael to establish military post. AS
it Is to the interest of the government
to encourage the settlement Of the coun-
try and it's duty to follow up its citizens
with the benefit of its legal machinery,
I earnestly urge upon congress the estab-
lishment of system Of government with
such flexibility as will enable It to ad-
just itself to the future areas Of great
est population. The startling, though
possibly exaggerated reports from the
Yukon river country of the probable
shortage of food for the large number
Of people who are wintering there with
out the means of leaving the country are
confirmed in such measure as to justify
bringing The matter TO the attention of
congress. Access to that country in win
ter can be had only by the passes from
Dyea and vicinity, which is a most diff
cult and perhaps an impossible task. How
ever. should these reports Of the suffer-
ing of our fellow-citizens be further veri-
fed, every effort at any cost should be
made to carry them relief.
Yellow Fever . Menace.
The recent prevalence Of yellow fever
in number of cities and towns through
out the South has resulted in much cls-
turbance Of commerce and demonstrated
the necessity Of such amendments to Our
quarantine laws as will make the regula-
lions Of the national quarantine authOri-
ties paramount. The secretary Of the
treasury, in the portion of his report re-
lating to the operation of the marine hos
pital service, calls attention to the de-
fects Of the present quarantine laws and
recommends amendments thereto which
will give the treasury department the
requisite authority to prevent the tnVas-
ion Of epidemic diseases from foreign
countries, and in times of emergency like
that Of the past summer will add to the
efficiency of the sanitary measures for
the protection Of the people and at the
same time prevent unnecessary restriction
of commerce. ] concur In his recommer-
dation. In further effort to prevent the
invasion Of the United States by yellow
fever the Importance Of the discovery of
the exact cause Of the disease, which up
to the present time has been undeter-
mined, is obvious, and to this end a sys-
tematic archaeological investigation
should be made. I therefore recommend
that congress authorize the appointment
Of commission by the president, to con-
sist of four expert psychologists. one to
be selected from the medical officers Of
the marine hospital service, one to be APP
pointed from civil life, one to be detailed
FROM the medical officers Of the army and
one from the medical officers OF the navy.
Sale Of tho Union Pacific.
The Union Pacific railway main line
was sold under the decree Of the United
States court for the district of Nebraska
OH the LIST and I'd Of November Of this
year. The amount due the government
consisted of the principal of the subsidy
bonds, S27,236,512, and the accrued interest
thereon, $31,211. 71l.75, making the total
$5S,44S, 223.75. The bid at the
sale covered the first mortgage lien and
the entire mortgage claim of the govern
ment, principal and interest. The sale of
tIlC SuDSNilHtV po1llOIl VI tIlc IAoIs-uS q
cifc line, upon which the government
holds a second mortgage lien. has been
postponed at the instance Of The govern
ment to December 16, 1897. The debt of
this division Of the Union Pacific railway
TO the government on November !. 1891
was the principal of the subsidy bonds
Sc, 500, 900, and the unpaid and accrued In
terest thereon St, 626 600. 50, making a total
of sl2, 929 $685.
The sale Of this road was originally ad-
vertised for November 4, but for the pur-
pose of securing the utmost public notice
of the event it was postponed until De-
cember 16, and a second advertisement OF
the sale was made. BY decree of the
court the upset price on the sale of the
Kansas Pacific will yield to the govern
ment the sum Of s2,5O0,O0O over all prior
liens, costs and charges. If no other or
better bid is made this sum is all that
the government will receive on it's claim
no information as to whether there will
be other bidders or better bid than the
minimum amount herein stated. The
question presented therefore is whether
the government shall, under the author
ity given it by the act of March 3, 1857.
purchase or redeem the road in the event
that a bid IS not made by private parties
covering the entire government claim.
How It Must Qualify.
To qualify the government to bid at the
sale will require a deposit of 100000, as
follows: In the government cause $500,
900 and in each of the first mortgage
causes 100000, and in the latter the de-
post must be in cash. Payment at the
sale is as follows: Upon the acceptance
of the bid, sum which the amount al
ready deposited shall equal Is per cent of
the bid; the balance in installments thir-
ty. forty and fifty days after the con-
firmation Of the sale. The lien on the
Kansas Pacific prior to that Of the gov
eminent on July 3d. 1897, principal and
interest, amounted to $7,2Sl.04S.11. This
government. therefore, should it become
the highest bidder, will have to pay the
amount Of the first mortgage lien.
believe that under the act Of 1857 It
has the authority to do this, and in alb
sence Of any action by congress, shall