The herald., 1898-11-25
operation of new transcontinental trunk
line from Kansas CITY to San DIEGO.

operations of a new transcontinental trunk
line from Kansas City to San Diego. >.
Secretary Bliss, summing up the report Oh
Gov. Brady of Alaska, calls attention to the
difficulty OF preventing the smuggling OF
hquor into Alaska, it being impossible TO
enforce present regulations without fleet
of revenue cutters and steam Launches 10
patrol the tortuous channels OF soutneast
Alaskan waters.
Smuggling prevails and saloons are open
in all of the towns and mining camps. Inc
governor reports consensus OF OPINION ia
favor of stringent high license law whicn
would tend to stamp out smuggling anu
liouor selling to the natives. The appilca'
ton to Alaska of the liquors laws now IN
force in the District of Columbia with sew
eral minor notifications is urged as meeting
a majority approval. The governor believes
that Alaska should and could pay revenue
into the United States treasury.
Under a high license law he estimates
that the liquor traffic would yield an annual
revenue of not less than 100000; tax OF
a few cents per case on salmon would pro-
duce from $4,000 to $4,000; 10 cents ton
on wharfage collected during the past year
would have yielded 100000.
lie recommends, however, that any sys-
tenn of taxation for the territory be defer
red until land laws shall have been pro-
vided.
Many sections of Alaska, it is shown, are
suitable for agricultural purposes, and with
proper care cattle can be raised in the mild
er districts.
The fur seal are doomed to extinction un-
less all pelagic sealing can be stopped. Inc
branding of female seals has proved sue
cess. The brands render the pelts vaueless
and show that the United States has prop
erty right to the animal. The raising of blue
foxes is becoming an important industry.
The hunting of the sea otter has been so un-
remtting that few are now left. The gov
ernor recommends that the killing OF them
be prohibited for long time.
Representation in congress for the citi-
zens of Alaska is strongly urged.
The past year has been one of great prog
ress in mining operations. Many Americans
who located claims in the Northwest Terri
tory have abandoned them and have set
tied on the Alaskan side of the international
boundary line where a new town Eagle City,
has sprung up. There has been great de-
pvelopment in quartz mining in Southeast
Alaska, and along the coast as far as I'm
alaska. Coal has been discovered near the
Upper Yukon, the Tanana and on Prince
William sound Public buildings at Sitka
are urgently needed for the accommodation
of the officials 1t is recommended that
congress appropriate $4,000 for the erec-
ton of penitentiary and other buildings.
An appropriation of 100000 for the educa-
ton of children in Alaska is earnestly rec.
commended.
Attention is called to the fact that the
rapid increase of the number of vessels ply
ing in Alaskan waters necessitates the erec-
ton of many lighthouses. Other recommend
ations include monthly service between
Sitka and Unalaska; cable connection be-
tween the United States and Alaska; en-
argement of administrative authority and
extension of the land laws to at least the
settled portions. The other territorial re-
ports all claim material progress and urge
immediate recognition as states.
PENSIONS AGAIN
Assistant Secretary of the Interior Web
ster Davis, in bis annual report says the
l22,68l appeals from the pension buerau
and 626 motions for reconsideration filed
during the year make up number unprece.
dented in any one year or two years in the
history of the board of appeals. The pro-
portionate increase still continues and on
October lst last, there were 1920 such ap-
peals and motions pending and Secretary
Bliss concurs in Assistant Secretary Davis
recommendations for providing for three
additional members of this board and for
additional legislation.