Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-03
OUR ARCTIC COLONY
Capt. Richardson Describes Condi-
tions at Circle City.
QUIET PREVAILS ALONG TIE YUKON
Mail Route to Cooks Inlet Rec
commended.
AT FORT ST. ICHAEL

Acting Secretary of War Meikejohn gave
out for publication today report from
Capt. w. P Richardson, Sth Infantry, COM
manding the post at Circle City, Alaska.
upon the conditions existing along the Yu-
kon. Also a brief report from First Lieu
tenant l.. 5. Walker, Sth Infantry, in COM
mand at Fort st. Michael. Alaska.
Captain Richardson says that upon his
arrival at Circle City in September last he
found that among certain elements of the
town the advent of United States troops
was looked upon with dsfavor He at once
endeavOred to overcome it among the bet
ter classes by separating the latter from the
more iawless element and by the initiation
of sentiment in the community favorable
to the establishment of some simple form
of town government or administration suit
able to the needs of the place.
Meeting Of Citizens.
In pursuance of this policy he requested
the citizens and others having business in
terests in the town to meet him Novem-
Der -, 1898, for the purpose of considering
the subject of protection against fire and
for the discussion of other matters pertain
ing to the general welfare of the commun-
ity. As a result of this meeting board of
fire commissioners was appointed, with au-
thority to prepare and publish a fire ordi-
nance and levy contributions for the pur-
chase of necessary apparatus.
AT a second meeting, one week later,
committee of three citizens was appointed
10 prepare and submit plan by which suf-
ficient money could be raised in the
munity to provide for the expense of GER
tain 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 T.
At this meeting the town turned out in
force and decided by majority vote to re-
Ject not only the plan submitted, but all
other plans which might have for their OBJ.
Jeet tho establishment OF any form or phase
OF town government whatsoever One of
the opposition remarked: The people of
the town already have too much law and
government"
The report states that Circle City is
fairly representative of the whole Yukon
valley in this respect Captain Richardson
says II may be partially explained on the
ground that scarcel. any one now there
expects to remain longer than a few
months or at most two or three years
The only general regulations issued so far
by Capt Richardson in the community are
upon the subject of saloons and the carry
ing Of concealed weapons. He has given
strict orders and taken the necessary steps
to enforce them against the sale and deliy-
cry under any pretense whatsoever Of
liquor to natives.
Order Well Maintained.
Capt Richardson states that he may
have TO prescribe, in addition, some general
regulations upon sanitation and police when
the spring opens. He says that he estab-
ilshed a patrol of a corporal and two en-
listed men in the town October last and
he subsequently increased the number. I'M
I'll II now consists of one non-COmmissioned
offcer and six men. The work of the pa
troll, he says. has been satisfactory, and so
lar as he can judge, acceptable to all the
better element of the town.
He further says that the commissioners
court which has been established at Circle
CITY has maintained itself with dignity and
that the law has been well administered
within the limits of its authority In the
few cases where he has found it necessary
to make arrests to quell disorder the guilty
parties have been turned over to the com
mlssioners' court for punishment. Only one
serious affair, he says has occurred of late
namely, the robbery and attempted murder
OF man on the morning of December o.
referred to in a previous report.
Supplies Plentiful.
Capt. Richardson says that Lieut. Nc
Manus returned from Rampant on February
s and brought reports from st. MichaeSs
The lieutenant reported that quiet prevail
ed along tie river at that time. Supplies
were reported as being plentiful, and there
were but few cases of restitution All the
command at Rampant was reported to be
in good health and well housed.
At the time that Capt Richardson sent
his report In no mail had been received over
the ice from the United States. Local mail
and delayed letters from the outside were
received from Dawson in November and
December. He understood that the first
season was lost. Capt. Richardson says
that the service on the river from Circle
City to St Michael is working satisfac-
torily. He calls attention to the advan-