Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-10-25
ALASKA.
Report of Gov. John G. Brady
for the Fiscal Year.
Estimated Population at Present 30,-
900 Natives and 10000 Whites.
The Heiplessness of the Settlers to Gain
Titles to Their Homes-The Gold Excite
ment-The Annual Report of the
Chief of the Ordnance Bureau.

WASHINGTON, Oct 23.-The report of
John &. Brady, governor of Alaska,
for the past fiscal year has been sub
mitted to the secretary of the interior.
1t estimates the present population at
600 natives and 10000 whites; pre-
diets that with reindeer transportation
mails can be sent all over Alaska dur
ing the winter, and recommends that
500, 900 be appropriated for govern
ment buildings and 100000 for schools.
1t says nothing has SO retarded
Alaska's substantial growth as the
helplessness of settlers to obtain
titles to their homes on account of the
failure of congress to extend the gen
eral land laws and urges congress to
create commission of five, one sena-
tor, one representative and three bona
fide Alaska residents to codify laws for
Alaska. The secretary of the treasury
is urged to confine the hunting of sea
offers to the natives, for, ''If the white
man is not shut off at once the Aleuts
will have to be cared for by the gov
ernment." Reviewing gold operations,
Gov, Brady says:
"Shipload after shipload of gold
seekers and their freight has been
rushed to the extreme limit of salt
water navigation lynn canaD, and
there they have been literally dumped
upon the beach, some above high water
and many below, as they learned
to their sorrow when the water COW
cred them as they slept. The gold
seekers have had terrible time,
but they are brave and started
out to endure hardships. AS a class
they rank far above the average man
hood of the country. Sllaguay is being
built up rapidly. Lumber is in demand,
and lots are selling as high as S1,5OO.
Americans are anxious to secure a
route to the Yukon which shall be en-
tirely upon United States territory.
Different parties are now out, and
are carefully examining the mount
aims between Yakutat and Cook
inlet. This is the third season of the
work in Cook inlet. The excitement
over the Klondike has drawn many
away from that district; nevertheless,
the output of gold this year will be no
mean sum. The possibilities of the
whole region bordering upon this in
let and upon Prince William sound will
draw crowds of adventurers in the near
future"
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23.-The annual
report of Capt. Charles O'Neil, chief of
the naval ordnance bureau, shows that
a large amount of work has been done
by this branch of the naval establish
ment during the past year. Out of 1856
great guns authorized by congress, the
bureau up to date has finished $50 and
has 100 in process of manufacture. No
change has been made in the system of
naval gun construction during the
year, nor is any recommended by Capt.
O'Neil, who points to the fact that the
guna in use have given entire satisfac-
ton.
The conversion of the ordinary six
inch guns into rapid fire guns has be-
gun, eight have been completed and 10
1Gore arc in process Of conversion. AS
it viii require six months time to con-
vert each lot Of dozen guns at the
gun factory the bureau recommends
very strongly that The work of con-
ycrting al Of these siX-inch guns be
pushed with expedition and therefore
submits a special estimate of $50. 900
fOr the expenses thereof. For supply
ing batteries for ordinary cruisers an
urgent estimate of $50O,GO0 is sub
aittcd.
The bureau has made change in the
ball for the small rihe--the six mill
meter gun-and instead of using a
steel jacketed ball, one clad in timed
copper is used. This change Prolongs
the life of the gun from 5000 to 10, 600
rounds.
The report contains an interesting
chapter on the use of high explosives
in naval guns, and of experiments
made with shells on armor plates, the
general tendency of the latter being to
show that the effect of shell explosions
on the surface of plates is very local
and much less than is generally sup
posed. Under the head of armor Capt
O'Neil says that the government car
purchase armor more cheaply than il
can manufacture it, and regards
the making of armor as proper ad
junct of general commercial stee
, plant. Foreign practice is said to con
! firm this view and even should the de
partment acquire plant of its own
the chances are, the report says, that i
! would be at a great cost and that i
would lie idle large part of the tim,
: and suffer deterioration, and that thu
operating of it when needed would NOR,
than offset any advantages gained b!
such ownership. In concluding his re
port, Capt. O'Neil recommends that tn,
government own and operate smoke
less powder factory.
; WASHINGTON, Oct. 23.-The presiden
gave public reception Friday after
noon at which large number of call
ers paid their respects to him in tn
east room. Among them were Mis-
Cossio Cisneros, the escaped Cubal
| girl She was accompanied by Mr.. an
, Mrs. Karl Becker and Mrs. John A
Logan. Mrs. Logan introduced tn
, party and President Mckinley shool
hands with them but, as is tue usua
custom at these public receptions, sat