Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-12-14
Alaska Requires Attention.

The territory of Alaska requires the
prompt and early attention of congress
The conditions now existing demand ma
terial changes in the laws relating to
the territory. The great influx of popu-
lation during the past summer and fall
and the prospect of still larger immi-
grafton in the spring will not permit us
TO longer neglect the extension of civil
authority within the territory or post
pone the establishment of a more thor
ough government.
A general system of public surveys has
not been extended to Alaska and all en-
tries thus far made i'm that district are
upon special surveys. The act of con-
gress extending to Alaska the mining
laws of the United States contained the
reservation that it should not be con-
strued to put in force the general land
laws of the country By an act approved
March 3. 1891, authority was given for
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 for a
military force in the territory of Alaska
for the protection of persons and prop
erty. Already a small force, consisting
of twenty-five men, with two officers. un-
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 its duty to follow up it's citizens
with the benefit of it's legal machinery.
i earnestly urge upon congress the estab-
lishment of a system of government with
such fiexibility will enable it to adj
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 most diff
cult and perhaps an impossible task. How
ever should these reports of the suffer-
ing of our fellow-citzens be further veri-
fed, every effort at any cost should be
made to carry them relief.
Yellow Fever n Menace.
The recent prevalence Of yellow fever
in a number of cities and towns through
out the South has resulted I'm much dis
turbance of commerce and demonstrated
the necessity of such amendments to OR
quarantine laws as will make the regula-
tons of the national quarantine autlori-
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 inyas-
ion Of epidemic diseases from foreign
countries and I'm 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 recommen-
dalton. 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-
tematc archaeological investigation
should be made. / therefore recommend
that congress authorize the appointment
of q 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 the Union Pacific.
The Union Pacific railway main line
was sold under the decree Of the United