The San Francisco call., 1899-03-18
ALASKANS WILL
Be ENUMERATED
Plans for a Complete
Census.
TWO DISTRICTS LAID OUT
MEN FAMILIAR WITH THE TER
RIToRY TO BE CHOSEN.
It Is Thought That the Population
in the New Gold Lands
Has Been Vastly
Increased.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


Call Headquarters, wellington Hotel,
Washington, March II.
Preliminary arrangements for taking
a complete census of Alaska are now
under way. and work will begin as soon
as the spring season there opens. A
complete census of Alaska has never
been taken, and since the discovery Of
gold there the population has greatly
increased. 1t is thought that when the
enumeration is completed the number
of Uncle Sans subjects living in his
Alaskan possessions will be a matter
of surprise to the public. Heretofore
no systematic effort has been made to
secure the exact number of native pop
ulation, the figures being based mainly
on the number of residents Of the vii
lagos and towns, but in this instance
special attention will be paid to secur
ing a correct enumeration of the natives
Of the country. The proposed census
will not only show the number of In
habitants. but their nationality, Ian
guage spoken and the number of years
they have resided in the country.
Mr.. Wines, in speaking of the matter
to-day, said that the census bureau
would select two intelligent and ener-
getic men who are natives of Alaska,
or are at least familiar with the geo
graphical and domestic conditions of
the country, as chiefs of the two census
divisions in which Alaska has been df-
vided These two men, said Mr.. Wines,
will be relied upon to select their as
sistants. A plan will be suggested to
the two chiefs of the divisions, however,
that in the selection of their co-WorkerS
they endeaVor to choose men residing
in the different sections of the country.
For instance, in the enumeration OF the
inhabitants of the Klondike gold fields
a man who has spent some time in that
Immediate part of the country ana
knows its people should be taken for
the work So, with the assistants be-
ing confined to their respective local1-
ties it is proposed to wage quick ana
aggressive summer campaign, and
by the opening of the winter season II
is hoped that each and every inhaoltant
of that country will be properly regis
tered on the census rolls
Mr.. Dunham, chief of the labor bu-
reau of Alaska, and Mr.. 1Vey, Collector
of Customs for that country, spent the
greater part of the day In conference
with Frederick NJ. Wines. assistant di-
rector of the twelfth census, discussing
the means of performing the work or
enumeration Both of these gentlemen
have spent several years IN Alaska, ana
are thoroughly familiar with the most
desirable metnou OF ldhlnS the CENSUS
there.
Wines stated to-day that the sug-
gestions offered by these two gentle
men would be followed out as far as
was practicable. 1t is thought that
twenty-fiye men will be a sufficient
force for carrying on the work. These
men will be selected from persons who
are now residents of Alaska and know
the country and the habits of the peo-
ple Taking the Alaskan census WILL
according to the statement of Ivey and
Dunham. be attended with great difti-
Guilty The country is very sparsely
settled and its inhabitants. especially
in the interior, are rowing class.
on account of the severe climate the
work will necessarily be confined TO the
summer months The enumeration Will
commence about the latter part OF April
and II is hoped will be completed oY
the middle of September. Alaska Will
he divided into two census districts, and
twelve enumerators, under the direc-
tion of a chief. will be assigned to each
eection The first division will be
known as the Yukon district, ana Will
embrace all the territory adjacent 70
that river and it's tributaries. In this
district will also be included the AHlerl-
can side of the Klondikel gold nelos.
The second district will be known as
the Kuskokimim Division, ana VIII IN
cIude that section of Alaska through
which this river flows and all parts
1ving south of it. The Aleutlan lslands
viii also be embraced in this division.