The Meeker herald., 1900-11-10
OFFICIAL REPORT
ABOUT CAPE NOME

WhsnHKtOu, NOV. O.-bTlBAUleE 0eu-
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. 1t was difficult to OBJ
thin convictions by jury trial in the
United States commissioner Offices,
which emboldened the lawless. Labor
organizations prevented men from
working for less than 81 an hour and
were the cause of mucn restitution and
destruction Of property.
Fully 1900 people arrived at Nome
in June. Claim jumping was the order
Of the day. Many property owners
were 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 II 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.
There were about 500 men working
on the beach Mt 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 SO a day.
The beach was practically worked out
last year. The tundra Is believed to
be rich, but 1t would require large cap
ital to produce results. There is a
large area Of country which has not
been prOspected, where gold can yet be
found, but 1t requires men of expert
ence to develop such a country.
General Randall says 1t has been de-
cided to establish II permanent mill
tary station on the island of st. Mi
chnel. He recommends the purchase of
two stern-wheel river steamers for op-
erations on the Yukon and that all
coal, forage and building material in
tended for Alaskan posts be started
from Seattle not later than June 18th
and shipped in sailing vessels, for econ
omy. Also, that cable be laid from
Seattle, via Juneau and Skagway, to
Valdez, connecting with the telegraph
line now building over the all-Ameri-
can route from Valdez to Port Egbert,
and down the Yukon river to Fort MI
chacl. When this line is complete,
General Randall says, military head
quarters should be in southern Alaska,
or at Seattle.
He recommends n life-saving station
in the vicinity of Nome. He also rec
ommends TINT lighthouses with fog
whistles be established in southeast
Alaska at Cape Cox. Cape Cimmanna
and Five Fingers: also fog signal at
Unimak pass. He also recommends a
military reservation at Dutch Harbor,
and n coaling station, and thinks the
need may arise at some future time
for erecting Notifications Mt this place.
He further says: Il recommend that
the government afford some relief to
the natives until such time rs they can
take care Of themselves
II am Of opinion that 1t would be a
mistake for the government to give
any aid In future to the yenturesome
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 be-
fore the close of navigation. The con-
ditions are now generally known
throughout the state and the expec-
tation Of government aid in returning
to their homes in case Of failure has
without doubt been the most Hopeful
prospect In view to n considerable num-
Der who have come to the country since
1897, and especially in the recent rush
to Nome"