The state herald., 1900-11-09
OFFICIAL REPORT
ABOUT CAPE NOME

Washington, Nov. 5.-Brigadier Gen
eral George NJ Randall. commanding
the Department of Alska, has sub
mitted his annual report. Much space
is devoted to conditions at Nome
which he found upon his arrival at q
critical stage. II was difficult TO oh
tain convictions by jury trial in tn,
United States commissioners offices
which cmboldened the lawless. Labor
organizations prevented men from
working for less than 81 an hour and
We're the cause of much destitution and
destruction of property.
Fully $1,000 people arrived mt Nome
in June. Claim jumping was the order
of the day. Many property owners
We're disposed TO defend their rights by
taking the law into their own hands.
The arrival of troops prevented serious
disorder. The military took charge,
thoroughly examined into all com
plants and where the rights of proper
ty could be determined. placed 1t In
the possession of lawful owners. Cap
tain w. a. Bethel, who acted as judge
advocate in these courts, is highly
praised by General Randall.
on the beach at Nome with machinery
at one time, and many declined to give
answers concerning the prospects for
gold, while others admitted they Were
taking out only from 81 to 81 day.
The beach was practically worked out
last year. The tundra is believed to
he rich, but II would require large cap
ital 10 produce results. There is n
large area of country which has not
been prospectcd. where gold can yet he
found. hut IL requires men OF expert
encc to develop such n country.
General Randall says II has been de
cidcd TO establish n permanent mill.
tary station on the island of st. MI.
chacl. He recommends the purchase OF
two stern-whecl river steamers for op-
crations ON the Yukon and that all
coal, forage and building material In
tended for Alaskan posts bc started
from Seattle not later than June 18th
and shipped In sailing vessels. for econ
omy. Also, that n cable he laid from
Seattle. via Juneau and Skagwny, To
Valdez. connecting with the telegraph
line now building over the nll.Amcri-
can route from Valdez 10 Port Egbert.
and down the Yukon river to Fort MI
chnel. When this line Is complete.
General Randall says. military head
quarters should he In southern Alaska,
or at Seattle.
lie recommends llfe,saving station
In the vicinity OF Nome. lie also rec.
ommends that lighthouses with fog
whistles be established In southeast
Alaska nj Cape Cox. Cape Clmmnnna
and Five Fingers: also n fog signal nj
Unimak pass. lie also recommends n
military reservation mt Dutch Harbor.
and coallng station. and thinks the
need may arise NJ some future time
for erecting fortihcations mt this place.
lie further says: Il recommend that
the government afford some relief Ia
the natives until such time ns they can
take care OF themselves"
Il am of opinion that II would lie n
mistake for the government to give
any aid In future To the venturcsomc
classes of white men who come "a
Alaska. Abou; 800 have been sent out
ON transports and other vessels this
year and many more viii bc sent be,
fore the close OF navigation. The con,
dltlons are now generally known
throughout the state and the eNpcc'
tniion of government mid Ia returning
to their homes In ease of failure has
without doubt been the most hopeful
prospect In view to considerable mum
her who have come 10 the country sine,
1897, aud especially In the recent rusl
10 Nome"