Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-01-25
ALASKAN GOLDFIELDS.
Strong Efforts Made For Per-
manent Government.
PRESENT LAND LAWS INADEQUATE.

PRESENT LAND LAWS INADEQUATE.
EnterprisinG aud Brnipy Men who
Make Their Home In Land of Snow.
Concerning n Totem Polc-subma-
rine Nnvigntion Difficulties.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 Special. j
There must be quite an intelligent and
enterprising lot of people up in Alaska,
judging from the character of men
who are here urging legislation to meet
the needs Of that rapidly developing
territory. And they know all about
this country, too, most of them being
familiar with sections thousands of
miles apart. ! heard them talking to
the territorial committees of congress,
sometimes discussing features of south.
eastern Alaska. down in the region OF
Juneau, and then telling about the
needs of the towns and mining camps
on the Yukon river and the coast of
the frozen ocean. These Alaska men
had well defined ideas of what they
wanted, told the committees what they
needed in the way OF courts and court
officers. and why certain officers were
needed. They pointed out the difficult
ties their new country had to undergo
because of inadequate land laws and
made suggestions in such n way as to
carry conviction to the minds of the
men who heard them. What seemed
most striking was the fact that these
representatives, whether residents of
mild southeastern Alaska or the colder
regions where the northern goldfclds
are located. have gone there to make
homes and are seeking laws for per-
manent government. The general idea
has always been that men 90 to Alaska
to remain for short time until they
can make stake" and then they in
tend to come back to the States"
But these vigorous bright and brany
men were as deeply interested in
Alaska, which was home" to them, as
any resident Of n state could be in his
native or adopted land
Totem Pole.
The delegations in congress from the
Pacific coast states have been devOting
considerable time to a certain totem
pole. Now totem. whether pole or
some other relic. is of more importance
to the Indians than anything else. This
particular totem that has disturbed the
peace of the Pacific coast delegations
was picked up in Alaska by party Of
excursionists and brought back and
set up in the city of Seattle, Wash.
These excursiouists found it in de-
serted Indian village and. with the
usual idea of sightseers took 1t with
them as mennonite. Now. the village
was deserted but temporarily. The In
dians were off on hunting expedition,
and when they returned and found
that their sacred totem pole had been
taken away they were very much dis
turbed; so were the people of Alaska.
The law-rude, it may be, but still suffi-
cient-took hold of the ma tier and in
dicted every excursionist in the party.
These are federal indictments, and the
strong arm of Uncle Sam reaches ev-
erywhere. The excursionists may be
compelled to visit Alaska as prisoners
to answer the charges In the indict-
ment an appeal was taken to the Pa
ctic coast delegations. Senators and
representatives have besieged the de-
partment Of justice trying to have the
indictments quashed. But the depart
ment here can only refer the matter
back to the district attorney of Alaska.
No one yet knows what the result will
be, but senators and representatives
from the Pacific coast are convinced
that none of these excursionists will
again monkey" with an Alaskan to-
TEN.
Under the Waters.
They are going to have a trial of the
Holland submarine boat in the Poto-
mac river The naval committee of
congress has been invited to attend it.
There is some speculation as to wheth-
err any of the congressman will be
willing to go inside of the boat when
the test is made. All kinds of sug-
gestions are being made as to the pos
sibility of the boat diving into and be-
coming fast in the mud at the bottom
of the river. 1t Is said to be so dan
gerous that insurance companies can
eel policies on men who go into it be-
cause of the hazardous nature of the
undertaking. These may be stories
told to brighten some of our brave con-
Gressmen, but they are told neverthe-
less. One Of the incidents related of
former trip was in regard to visitor
who did not know much about subma-
rine navigation. The weight of every
man who goes on board the new craft
is ascertained. Each man is placed
on stool which cannot be moved, and
the weights are equally distributed
about the boat This division must be
exact or the boat would not sink even
ly. One heavyweight, forgetting or not
understanding his instructions, became
interested in the machinery In the
stern of the boat and moved over to
have clearer look, with the result
that the bow of the boat went up, and
the whole craft soon shot to the sur
face. Had the man gone forward in
stead of backward the submarine trip
might have been much deeper than
intended.