The San Francisco call., 1897-07-30
WHISKY IN ALASKA.
The Creature Is Plenty in That Pro-
hibition Country Where Pro-
hibitlon Is a Failure.


There's a strong dash OF whisky in th'
story of the Yukon and OF all Alaska
Alaska is The biggest prohibition country
on the face of the globe, but the per capita
consum ption is not exceeded III many re
gIons reported upon. The United States
laws and the regulations of the Depart
ment of the Treasury rigidly prohibit the
entry and sale Of Intoxicating liquors fol-
any but 'sacramental, medicinal, me-
chanical and scientific purposes" and
whisky is about as plentiful as anywhere
else on earth.
Alaska affords an interesting illustra-
ton of how easy it is to enforce prohi BIZ
tion in a ne " and a mining country. The
law is apparently little more than q fret
ful thing that annoys some people now
and then.
Uncle Sam does not prohibit the liquor
traffic On account OF the inroads OF the
placer miners al all. It's on account of
the Indians. a gallon of whisky can
work more woe and deviltry in an Indian
camp than most any place else. When
the act of May II, 1884. esta ablishing the
ghost of a Territorial Government for
ALASKA was passed, il ntained in section
IA the following:
land the importation, manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors in said
district, except for medicinal mechanical
and scientific purposes, is hereby prohib-
tied under the penalties which are pro-
Yided in section 1865 of the Revised Stat
utes for the wrongful Importation of dis
TILED spirits. And the President shall
make such regulations as are necessary to
carry out the provisions OF this section"
This is all OF the statute law on the sub
ject. The Treasury Department on May
4. 1887, promulgated regulations which in
cIuded the following:
IN intoxicating liquors shall be landed
at any por. or place in the Territory OF
Alaska without permit from the chief
officer OF the customs at such port or
place, to be issued on evidence sarisfac-
tory to such officer that the liquors are
imported and are TO be used solely for sac
ramental, medicinal, mechanical or scien-
tihc purposes.
This order prohibited the entry and sale
of breech- loading rifles and ammunition
other than for a citizens personal use
that the Indians might not be armed and
get up more Indian wars.
Six months ago this prohibition was re-
moved. Before that time if a man went
from here TO Alaska he could not take a
rifle with him without g permit from the
Collector of Customs here. Now rifles a.
well as other firearms may be freely sold.
March y, 1892, the liquor regulations
were modified "ior rne purpose of more ef-'
fectually carrying out the law of Con-
gress." The law had never been howling
success in that paradise for whisky snug
glers, and somehow or other human
nature and its ways kept saloons going in
open violation of the law. These latest
regulations, which are the existing ones
for all Alaska, may seem humorous to
some people.
The existing regulations relating to
the sale of Intoxicating liquors shall be
strictly enforced"
Liquors may be sold only for medicinal,
mechanical and scientific purposes, by such
persons as secure permit from the Gov
ernor OF Alaska, after having made oath
that liquors Will not be sold or furnished
TO any person not known personally TO the
vender, or to any minor or intoxica ted
person, or to be drunk on the premises
Sales for medicinal purposes may
be made only on the prescription
of a reputable practicing ply ysician,
stating the kind and quantiiy OF
liquor necessary to be used by the
patient. The vender swears that he will
report monthly TO the Governor his sales
and the persons sold to. Hemust give a
bond OF $500 to observe the regulations.
But whisky is plenty in Alaska. Most
of it is smuggled in. 1t goes from the
Sound, from Honolulu, from this port
and elsewhere. Cheap whisky is hidden
in boxes, packages, as canned fruit, and
in all sorts of ways that ingenuity can de-
wise 10 elude customs officers, and in this
way it gets there on nearly every vessel
that strikes the coast. 1t just appears
there ana is not very hard to get.
The Excelsior. which sailed for st.
Michaels day before yesterday, afforded an
illustration of this business The crew
had smuggled about fifty gallons into the