The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-06
The People Decline to Adopt Any
Plan for Municipal Government.
CAPTAIN RICHARDSON'S EFFORTS
To Establish Police aud Sanitary Ar
rangemcuts Meet with Disfavor.
Advent of United States Troops
There is Not Popular.

for publication to-day report from Cap
tain W. y. Richardson, Eighth Infantry,
commanding the fort al Circle City.
Alaska upon conditions existing along
the Yukon.
CAPTAIN Richardson says that upon his
arrival at Circle City in September last
he found that among certain elements OF
The town that advent OF United States
troops was looked upon with disfavor.
He at once endeavored TO overcome II
among the better classes by separating
the latter from the more lawless element
and By the initiation OF a sentiment In
the community favorable to the estab-
lishment OF some simple !orm Of town
government or administration suitable TO
the needs OF the place.
In pursuance of this policy he requested
the citizens and others having business
interests I'm the town 20 meet him on NO
vember Is, 1898. for the purpose OF con-
sdering the subject Of protection against
fire and for the discussion of other mat
ters pertaining to the general welfare OF
the community. As a result OF this meet
ing a board Of fire commissioners was
appointed with authority TO prepare ana
nublish a fire ordinance and levy contrl-
buttons for the purchase OF necessary
apparatus.
TOO MUCH LAW.
At a second meeting. one week later,
committee of three citizens was appoint
ed to prepare and submit a plan by whlcn
sufficient money could be raised In the
community TO provide for the expense
Of certain sanitary measures-such as
opening drains and removing garbage;
also. for the care OF destitute citizens.
This plan was submitted to third
meeting on January 9TH. Al this meeting
the town turned out i'm force ana by
decided majority voted 20 reject not ohiN
tho nlan submitted but all other plans
which might have for ther OBJECT ''e
establishment Of any form or phase OF
town government whatsoever Oile VI INC
opposition remarked.
"The people of the town already nave
too much law and government
The renort states that Circle CITY IL
fairly representative OF the whole YUKON
Valley in this respect IL may DE par
tally explained on the ground that
scarcely anyone now there expects TO
remain longer than few months. Or AT
most. two or three years
The only general regulations issued 30
far by Captain Richardson IN the com
munitv were upon the subject OF saioohs
and carrying concealed weapons. lie mas
given strict orders and taken the neces-
sarv steps TO enforce them against the
sale and delivery under any pre'ehoe
whatsoever OF liquor 10 natives
C,ntair richardson stated that he ex-
,ac,ed no might nave TO prescribe In ad-
d,tion some general regulations upon
sanitation and police when the sprlhk
onans lie saws that he established
,,s,rol of a corporal and two enlisted men
Ia tho town on October 9th last ana nv
subsequently increased the NUMBER UNI,
II now consists Of one non-commlssioheu
officer and six men. The work OF tue
nstrol he saws. has been satisfactory
md 80 far as he can judge. acceptable
IN all the better element Of the TOWN.
COURTS UPHELD
lie saws that the commissioners '"u''
which has been established az thCie NY
has maintained itself with dlshl'S' anu
that the law has been Wen aonn'''is'e.. ~
,.t,,i, tho limits Of it's authority. In the
few cases where he mas round II
sor,. "a make arrests to quell disorder the
o,,iIt,, narties have been turned over TO
Inc commissioners Court for punishment
only one serious affair. he says. has oc-
CURED Of late. namely, the robbery ana
atteupted murder of on the morning OF
december 2ith, referred to in a previous
report. &. &.
In a report from the lower river 1t Is
la that Lieutenant McManus returned
from Rampant on February SIN ana
t,o,,sbt renorts from St Michael. Lieu
tenant NcNanus reported that quiet pre-
vailed along the river at that time. sup
niles are reported az being plentiful. ana
there we're but few cass OF restitution.
All the command at Rampant was report
ed to be in good health and well-housed.
At the time that Captain Richardson
sent his report in no mail had been re-
ceived over the ice from the states. Local
mail and delayed letters from the outside
were received from Dawson in November
and December. He understood that the
first mail that was sent through early
I'm the season was lost. Captain Richard
son saws that the service on the river
from Circle City to ST. Michael IS work
ing satisfactorily. He calls attention to
the advantages OF crosscountry route
from Circle City to Cooks Inlet, or some
other point on the coast. He says the
difficulty seems to lie in the up-river and
lake country, which Is only safe Tar
travel during two or three months OF the
closed season. whereas the overland
route could be used the whole time the
river is closed.
MUST KEEP THE SABBATH.
On November 18th Captain Richardson
issued an order to the commanding officer
OF the United States troops stationed at
Circle city. wherein he stated that he
deemed 1t consistent and proper and for
the good name Of the community that a
reasonable observance be paid to the Sab
bath. He directed that saloons. dance
halls and gambling places between the
hours Of A. NJ and p. NJ OF that
day that all games be suspended. and
also the sale or disposal OF drinks OF every
kind under any pretence. He orders all
such places to be closed as far as practi-
cable between the hours named but with
the window shades or blinds up All per
sons are cautioned against carrying con
cealed weapons. and are notified that the
order respecting the same will be strictly
enforced in the community
In addition TO the foregoing report.
ng-Secretary-ofWar Meiklejohn made
public a report from First-Lieutenant +.
8. Walker Eighth Infantry. commanding
Fort st. Michael. Alaska.
Lieutenant Walker states that his pres
ent quarters are ample. but that bathing
facilities and other conveniences are lack
ing: that the store houses are very much
crowded and great Inconvenience results
therefrom and urgently requests that the
garrison be maintained at Sc. Micheal.
From what he can learn from the bust
ness men there they all want the troops
located there. They desire them not only
because they afford protection. but be-
cause difficulties are more quickly and
less extensively arranged. and they seem