The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-07

az 49, ,brse In commission and four un-
a. Authorization, and also that seVeral
tornedo boats be authorized In conhec-
ron with our general system OF coast
defense.
alaska REQUIRES ATTENTION
The territory OF Alaska requires inc
prompt and early attention Of congress,
The conditions now existing demand
material changes In the laws relating
to the territory, The great ln'lnN OF
popuation during the past summer ana
fan ana the prospect Of a stHl larger
immigration In the sprlns WIN NOT psr,
nit as 10 longer neglect the extension
OF civil authority within the tslFWotS
or postpone the establishment Oh nloVu
thorough government ,..,
general system OF public surveys
has not yet been extended 70 A!asAA aHu
All entries thus far made in that DIS
trlet are upon special surveys me ACT
Of congress extending 10 Alaska the
mining laws of the United states eau,
toned the reservation that II should
not be construed to put IN force tne
general land laws Of the country ny
act approved March 3, 1891, authurlly
was given for entry OF iand loV toNh
site purposes and also for the purchase
of not exceeding 100 acres then OF thels-
after occupied for purposes OF 'raue
and manufacture. The purpose Of con-
gress, as thus far expressed, has Deem
that only such rights should apply TO
that territory as should be .speclhcalIy
named
1t will be seen how much remains 10
be done for that vast and remote ana
yet promising portion OF our country.
Special authority was given to the f'fes-
Ident by the act of congress approved
July "a, 1897, TO divide that territory
into two land districts and 10 deslG-
nate the boundaries thereof and to APP
point registrars and surveyors OF saia
land oinCes, and the President was also
authorized to appoint Il surveyor gem
era for the entire district. Pursuant
Is this authority. surveyor seRefal
and receiver have been appointed, with
offices at Sitka, II In the ensuing year
the conditions justify II, the additional
land district authorized by law VIII DC
established with an office at some point
In the Yukon valley, No appropra-
tion, however, was made for the par
pose, and that Is now necessary to be
done for the two land districts INTO
WHICH lHt ltlllhblN 10 w w VIZ
concur with the secretary of war in
his suggestions as to the necessityltor
military force in the territory OF
Alaska for the protection Of persons and
property. Already a small force con-
slsting of twenty-five men, with Two
officers, unuer command OF Lieut. Col.
Randall, of the Eighth infantry, has
been sent to st. Michael to establish
military post.
AS 1t Is to the interest OF the govern
ment to encourage the development aud
settlement of the country and It's duty
to follow up Its citizens there with the
benefits of legal machinery. ! earnestly
urge upon congress the establishment
of system OF government With such
fiexlbllity as Will enable II to adjust
itself to the future areas OF greatest
population.
The startling though possibly eSag-
gerated reports from the Yukon river
country Of the probable shortage of food
for the large number OF people who are
winterlng there without the means OF
leaving the country are confirmed In
such measure astO Justify bringing the
matter to the attention Of congress.
Access 10 that country In winter can be
had only by the passes from Dyea and
vicinity. which Is q most difficult and
perhaps an impossible task, However,
should these reports of the suffering OF
our fellow citizens be further verified,
every effort at any cost should be made
to carry them relief
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
For number OF years past 1t has
been apparent that the conditions un-
der which the five civilized tribes We're
established in the Indian territory un-
der treaty provisions with the United
States, with the right of self govern
ment, and the exclusion of all white
persons from within their borders, have
undergone so complete Il change as to
render the continuance of the system
thus inaugurated practically Impossible.
The total number of the Ave civilized
tribes, as shown by the last census, Is
i5,igi, and this number has not mate
rally increased; while the white popu-
iatton Is estimated at from 100000 to
100000, which by permission of the In
dian government has settled In the ter
ritOry. The present area Of the Indian
territory contains %, G9i .5Gi acres, much
OF which Is very fertile land The
United States citizens residing In the
territory, most OF whom have gone
there by invitation or with the consent
OF the tribal authorities have made
permanent homes for themselves. Nu-
merous towns have been built In which
from 500 to 5000 white people now re-
side Valuable residences and business
houses have been erected in many of
them. Large business enterprises are
Ia, - ne
are employed, and yet these people, who
have invested their capital in the de-
velopment of the productive resources
Of the country, are without title to the
land they occupy and have no voice
whatever in the government either OF
the nation or tribes, Thousands of
their children who were born within
the territory are of school age, but the
doors of the schools Of the nation are
shut against them and what education
they get IL by private contribution.
No provision for the protection Of the
lie or property OF these white citizens
is made by the tribal governments and
touris.
The secretary OF the interior reports
that leading Indians have absorbed
great tracts OF land to the exclusion of
the common people, and government by
IN indian aristocracy has been prac-
ticnlly established, to the dctrlment OF
the people II has been found Impes-
sible for the United States to keep its
citizens out Of the territory and the ex-
ecutorV conditions contained In the
treaties with these nations have for
the most part become impossible Of cx.
ccution Nor has II been possible for
the tribal governments 10 secure to
each individual Indian his full enjoy
ment In common with other Indians of
the common property of the nations
Friends OF the Indians have long be-