The evening times., 1900-01-08

! IN official order establishing the Military
| Department Of Alaska was issued by Presi-
dent Mckinley through the War Depart
ment today. Col. George NJ. Randall. who
( is at present in command Of the Eighth
/ United States Infantry, in Cuba. is ap-
| pointed TO command the new department
| He IS now on his way home from Cuba. ard
/ is expected to arrive here January 10. The
/ force Of troops in the territory Is 10 be tre-
/ bled. and it is probable that some action
/ by Congress will be secured for the ap-
| poihtment Of more Federal judges, there
now being only two in the whole Territory
The order establishing the department is as
J follows:
The President has created a Military
! Department consisting OF the Territory OF
/ Alaska and assigned Colonel George NJ
Randall. Eighth United states Infantry. to
command it, Colonel Randall is on duty
/ with his regiment in Cuba, but will report
! here en- route to Alaska on Monday Janu-
airy l5'
This action was expected. as it was an
bounced at the last Cabinet meeting that
! the trC Dps in Alaska would be increased in
/ numbe.. The President is greatly inter
I ested in the future Of Alaska. and has had
/ the question before the Cabinet for some
I time. a bill Will also be Introduced IN
Congress calling for an increase in the ju-
J dietary OF Alaska. At present there are
| only Two United States judges and as many
/ nsIsnals IN the Territory. and they have
! beer unable to attend TO the large amount
! Of work before them. The places for hold
\ ing court are widely scattered. and the Of
{ icials have 20 travel thousands ot miles
! over almost impeneIrablc trails and down
/ rivers where they run the risk Cf beinS
! drowned
/ The Secretary OF Agriculture mas also
! recommended that more attention be paid
! 20 tae agricultural resources Of Alaska. and
! "a corps Of experts from that department
/ viii ue sent 20 Alaska ia the spring.
/ There are only four companies Jf troops
! j. Alaska at present Companies + and
I r Of IN, Seventh Infantry are stationed at
] Fort c.bbou and Company l. Of the Sew
I enth li'sntry is a. Fort Egbert and Com
pauy J. a. the Twenty ninth Infantry Is
I at SIar ESy- Two companies viii be sent
D 20 -aFe Nome I'm the spring and five or six
/ more companies VIII be sent 20 various
/ points throughout the Territory.
/ he following record OF Colonel Randall
! is Eiy-a by the War Department.
COL. George NJ. Randall was born IN Ohio
ara entered the service as a private IN the
! FJurth Pennsylvania Infantry. April 90
I 1861. dnG rose 10 be a lieutenant colonel
I OF the volunteers June I. 1865. He was
Z appointed 10 the regular service. October
- 1861. and rose by regular promotion
; ohe colonel on August s. 1895. He was
t brevetted for gallant service in the battle
I Of Autiefam. again brevetted Tor gallant
/ service ia front OF Petersburg and for
gallant service In the attack or Fort Sted-
I MAN, Va, and was again breve-ted for gal
fart services against the Indians in Ari-
/ z0ug.
! Colonel Randall was engaged during the
civil var iu the sicge OF Yorktown Gaines
| Mil. Malvern Hin, Bull Run. Anyietam.
1 Fredericksburg. the WILDERNESS. SpottsyI-
vanla Court House Cold Harbor Weldon
Railroad. Poplar Grove Church HatCher's
( Run. Fort Stedman. and Petersburg. Va
| He has had a widely extended and distia-
. Sujshed service on the frontier. He had
The special confidence Of General Crook for
his tact and courageous management Of the
I Indians
Colonel Randall was sent 10 Alaska and
I was In command of Fort St Michael at
The outbreak OF the war with Spain. He
was appointed a briCadier general Of vol
I unteers aud returned from Alaska bur dfd
I not reach this country Ia time to partici-
I pate in the active service in Cuba or the
I Philippine Islands He was assigned TO
I the command Of The Third Division Of the
Second Army Corps AID when the yolun-
/ teers were mustered out he commanded
his own regiment In Cuba. where he is
now on duty