Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-11-09
OFFICIAL REPORT
ABOUT CAPE NOME


crui George NJ. Randall. commanding
I'll. Department Of Aiskn. has sub.
mittc,i his annual report. Much space
IL devoted to conditions mt Nome.
which he found upon his arrival at n
critical stage. I, was difficult TO oil.
tain convictions 10y jury trial In the
tnite-i States commissioners offices.
which cinboi,lcnci the iawl.--. Labor
organizations prevented men from
workin. for less than 81 mn hour and
wcr. I'll. cause Of nucn dcsiitution and
destruction OF property.
Fully 1900 people arrived n, Nome
In June. Claim Jumping was the order
OF the day. Many property owners
were disposed to defend their rights 10y
taking the law Into their own hands.
The arrival NJ troops prevented serious
disorder. The military took charge.
thoroughly examined into NIL CON.
plants nnd where the rights OF propcr-
~ could h- determined. placed II In
tile possession OF lawful owners. Cap.
tain ". \. Bethel. who acted n Judge
advocate In these courts. l. highly
praised 10y General Randall.
There were about - men working
on the beach nj Nome with machinery
Mt one time. AMI many declined to- give
answers concerning the prospects FOR
gold. while others admitted they We're
taking out only from 81 To 81; u day.
The i-ach WIS practically worked out
last year. The tundra l. believed 10
bc rich. but Il would require large cap.
itnl to produce results. There IL u
large area of country which has not
been prnspccici. where gold can yet he
found. bu, II requires men OF expert.
cncc to develop such u country.
General Randall says II has been de.
ciicd to establish u permanent mill.
tnry station on the island Of 81. Nj.
chncl. lie recommends the purchase of
two stcr1-whccl river steamers FOR or.
crations on the Yukon aud that all
coal. forage and building material In.
tended Tor Alaskan posts hc started
from Seattle not later than June 18th
and shipped in sailing vessels. FOR econ.
omy. Also. that a cable he laid from
Seattle. via Juneau and Skngway. To
Valdez, connecting with the telegraph
line now building over the nll.Amcri.
can route from Valdez to Port Ecbcri.
and down the Yukon river TO Fort Nj.
chael. When this line IL complete,
General Randall says. military head.
quarters should be In southern Alaska.
or at Seattle.
He recommends n lifc.saving station
in the vicinity of Nome. He also rec.
ommends that lighthouses with fog
whistles he established In southeast
Alaska at Cape Cox. Cape Cimmnnnn
and Five Fingers: also u fog signal Mt
rnlmnk pass. lie also recommends a
military reservation nj Dutch Harbor,
and n conling station. and thinks the
need may arise Mt some future time
for erecting Qualifications at this place.
lie further says: IL recommend that
the government afford some relief to
the natives until such time rs they can
take care OF themselves"
81 am Of opinion that it would he n
mistake for the government To give
any aid In future to the venturesomc
classes of white men who come to
Alaska. About 800 have been sent out
on transports and other vessels this
year and many more will be sent he
fore the close OF navigation. The con.
ditions are now generally known
throughout the state and the eNpec-
tation of government aid In returning
to their homes in ease of failure has
without doubt been the most hopeful
prospect in view 10 n considerable mum.
Der who have come TO the country since
1897. and especially in the recent rush
TO Nome"