The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-30

Is the aggrseveG remark called forth by
the publication in yesterday mornings
Post-Inteil.gszcer % the annual report Of
the secretary Of the interior on the needed
laws fer THAT territory. II was made n
this city by one Of the representative men
OF Alaska. and can be vouched for as
real expression OF Alaska opinion. SecTe-
tary Bliss tacitly admits the truth OF this
observation In his report. In all his rec
concentrations there is NOT a single line 70
suggest that his department had any in
formation as TO the needs OF Alaska be-
you'd that contained in tie report TO the
/ department Of Governor Brady, whose
| point Of view and though; is sim in the
narrow groove 10 which the career OF
missionary has habituaied them. AS an
instance of this we find In the report that
the prominent features are Sitha and the
| governor Sitka was once the Russian cap
itai OF the territory. but. under Aueri-
can rule has dwindled in Importance until
| all there IS there now. apart from the gov
ernment offices. is the Russian church and
| museum 10 interest me transient tourists.
| and the unlicensed saloons that sell them
| disguised "hootch" for American rye. The
| few inhabitants of S.tka live on the tour
| lists. the revenue cutters that are from
| time to time stationed there and the lit
| igants who are forced from long distances
| 20 attend eour, there. Yet the only appro-
| priation asked for any particular place
| in Alaska is Sitka.
| OF course Governor Brady has his home
| in Sitka. The report of the secretary Of
| the interior. based entirely upon that OF
| the governor. is all for Sitka. and makes
no mention of the growing Importance of
| Juneau, which has been steady for the
last decade, nor of the youngest and larg
| est town In all Alaska at the head of
| Lynn canal.
Skagway has now the largest legal bust
ness in the territory. Juneau comes next.
| and the two together give the United States
| district court probably four-ffths of the
| cases in the territory. Yet the govern
| ment at Washing ton on the say-so Of the
| Siika governor would continue the dead
| town by the cid Russian fort as the of
| fetal seat. compelling everyone who seeks
| JeSfNs, W "A4p Sihi'Ay NSSitNc ~ AtAS ga
Official document TO repair to Sitka. But
| few steamers touch at SItka. as there is
| no business there beyond the passenger
| traffic of those who have business with
| the government officials All this incon-
| venience and expense is to be continued
| because the governor of Sitka-which is a
| more appropriate title than governor of
1 Is; tie
| tinuance
| The secretary urgently recommends IAN
| appropriation of $4,000 for the erection OF
a penitentiary. and buildings for the ac-
| eommodat.on Of the officials 10 take the
| place Of the log buildings now used by the
| officials 1t may be conceded that the pen
| itentiary may as well be at Sitka as else
| where but not on the present Site as the
| governor of Sitka proposes Japonsky is
! land, just across the bay, has been desig-
mated by the government as a naval sta
| ton, and this would be an ideal site for
| the new penitent.ary. AS TO the new OFF,
cal buildings. why not place them at
| Skagway, which is now the metropolis of
| Alaska and the gateway through which
| all must come on legal or other business
| from the great territory of the United
| States beyond, now rapidly filling with
| population? OR even at Juneau. which is
| also more easy of access than Sitka to
| all Southeastern Alaska? Both these towns
are growing steadily and sodly. but the
| governor Of Sitka seems to have made no
mention of them in his report, and the
| secretary Of the interior therefore has no
| official knowledge of them.
| The other departments at Washington are
equally and wIlfuy ignorant OF the pro-
| gress of Alaska and her needs. While all
| the vessels landed at Skagway and Dyea
| had moi even practical dock within miles
| OF the town. all the mail matter had 10 be
carried to Dyea and then carried back 10
| Skagway, and Dyea was the SUPPORT Of
entry for customs duties. This is the sort
| Of thing that the governor OF Sltka would
| continue. He would have the whole gov
| eminent business centered at S:tka. The
| secretary OF the interior even recommends
| a, his suggestion. that The government APP
| proprlate 81 SEQ for the Indians 10 go TO
| SI,ka TO nave talk" with the governor
| why aia not the governor ask that all
| Americans forced 70 visit Stka on official
! business should have their expenses paid
| by 4. government appropriation? There
| would have been some reasonableness In
| that.
| Early in the coming session congress will
| probably pass the law 10 appoint two more
| judges In Alaska. one al Circle city and
ore at ST Michael, in addition 10 the pres
| ent judge ct Sitka. This measure is, a.
, are all the proposed laws for Alaska based
on ignorance Of the conditions 1t i de-
signed 10 remedy. The judges at ST. Nj
chael and at Circle City viii have about
a months work IN year, ard their ap-
poln;u1eut VIII n no way relieve the con
gested condition Of the Southeastern Alas
ka court. WHAT there should be Is n Judge
resident az Skagway or juneau. for the
Lynn canal district. and one at Sltka, who
should. when navigation opens. hold court
al all the places on the way 70 st Michael,
-.