Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-24
Conditions in Alaska.

New York, April 23.-Governcr Brady
of Alaska is in this city. For some days
he has been in Washington in the in
terests of the Alaskan bill, which he
hopes congress will pass this session. He
will return to Washington today. In the
course of a conversation had with him
at the Fifth Avenue hotel last night, Gov
ernor Brady said:
From present appearances the discov-
cry of gold in the Cape Nome district
promises to be one of the most important
finds in Alaska. AT first people We're
skeptical of the reports that gold exist
ed in that district in paying quantities,
but results nave proved that there We're
no grounds for doubt. At the end of the
season the value of gold produced was
50, 500, 600, one million having been taken
from the beach and the remainder from
the gulches. The finding of gold upon a
sea beach is something in gold mining
that is new 1t is believed that the de-
posits run out beneath the water, posi-
bly, even beyond the three-mile limit, SO
that it may come about that before long
we shall see the unique spectacle of gold
cause the more we know of It the more
valuable to the country it becomes.
I'VE wish to organize Alaska into a
territory, but it Is impossible for lis to do
SO until congress gives US adequate land
laws. We already have mining laws, and
there is no trouble about getting title to
a mine, but you cannot get a title for a
home, and therefore, those who wish to
make their homes in Alaska, have no in
centive to settle there, because they can
not obtain a title to their land. There are
many people who went to Alaska soon af-
ter its transfer who have continued to
live there wear after wear constantly
hoping they would get the wished-for tt
tie, but they are hoping yet. The want
of these lan laws has retarded the
growth of Alaska more than anything
else. For instance, Alaska would be glad
to receive the large number of immi-
I grants Who are coming from inlan to
this country. They are just the kind OF
pople. who would build up Alaska. They
would be at home in the climate there
and the resources they would have are
undoubtedly much better than those OF
Finland. Thosie people would soon be-
come prosperous. With no permanency
guaranteed to them. the people would be
unable to stand taxation to support a ter
ritorial form of government. Congress
imposes upon us the licensening systen
and tall the money hat has been derived
from that source has been turned into tbs
nited' States treasury without any pro.
VISION being made for any part of it be
iHS ueNoteu 10 any SpeclHc purposes lT
Alaska. Congress should provide liber-
allyifor the schools and If the suggested
bill is enacted, part of this money will HI
allowed to the municipalities organized
under the law"
being mined from steamships. The latest
news that has come out is that the
tundra is gold bearing sufficient,
rich to pay handsome returns.
But the main thing that is agitatine
us now is that we want to dc
something for Alaska. 1t is impossible
to get along without law courts for ont
thing. 1t is unfair to expect Genera
Randall, with a few troops. to keep II
order the $4,000 or $1,000 people who ar,
expected to go to Alaska during the com
ing season. The bill which is now befor,
the senate would give MS much needed
relief from the unsatisfactory state o
things which we now have to content
with. 1t would give us a civil code. I
congress should fail to give us thes,
laws and the courts, it would be a ALAN
ity, because fully 5000 people are report
ed to be already booked for Alaska b,
the transportation companies when tn,
season opens. Alaska has been kept il
? the background all these years, an,
something should be done for it now, be