The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-01

Edwin Engelstad, a miner from 81 Mi
chaeI Alaska. is in the city. He is inter
ested in The proposed legislation for Cape
Some, and is here 10 endeavor to protect
the interests OF the individual miners Of
that district IN speaking today OF the con
ditions in Alaska and the proposed legis~
lat'On. Mr.. Engelstad said
In the first place there is the greatest
difference imaginable between the condi-
tons existing in the southern region OF
Alaska and in the northwestern section of
the country. South of the Coast Range
there are large settlements Of permanent
residents with schools. churches. and other
institutions Of civilized countries North
OF tine range there is nothing but desc
late basin with here and there q small vii
lage and mining camp. The inhabitants
of this region are almost entirely gold
seekers who are in search OF a fortune with
which to return to their native country.
Those who strike il rich leave the region
as fast as they can. and almost the only
permanent jewellers are those who have not
been fortunate in their prospecting and are
still seeking for the precious metal.
This range OF mountains really divides
Alaska into two entirely different terrific
rieS. Governor Brady has his residence ia
southern regicu. and has only once crossed
the great divide between thai and the
! Yukon basin Then he only made a sum
mer trip. and remained but a few months.
! sun ne comes 10 Washington and seeks
Legislation for the benefit OF the whole OF
I Alaska. In regard TO the northern section
OF the country he can but speak from the
experiences of his brief summer trip into
that region. In fact al official trips have
been made in the summer. the winter
months being roo long and hard l know.
because I have lived and worked there
fCr eleven years.
When Z arrived ia this city l discoy-
cred hat all reports on the condition Of
! Alaska. as far as future legislation is con-
Ccrned. TO be extremely one-sided. The
strange conditions surrounding the estab-
! lishment OF placer mining laws. and the
power OF attorney in Alaska. thereby al
lowing the stalking OF placer claims. are
not mentioned in the proposed legislation.
/ am now speaking of the Lacey bill. now
/ before TIE House. extending in Alaska the
palcer- mining laws TO lands reserved IrOm
sale by previous act Of Congress IN
1NgE
Il see by the papers that Mr.. Lacey inn
plies that he Is representing the wishes
OF the miners OF the Klondike when he
proposes the passage OF this bill The min
ers Of northwestern Alaska would like to
I know who has asked Mr. Lacey to frame
1 bill regarding Cape Nome / state pos
luNely, being a miner from Cane Nome
that far any legislation for that dis
trict Is concerned the provision OF Com
missioner Hermann giving no privi-
leges 20 corporations is and viii be en-
urciy satisfactory 90 the miners of that
z hn in i'm il rsar
States property ir ought not to be licensed
To- any corporation or corporations Mr..
Lacey i'm his bill wants TO give privileges
To the corporations II is asserted that the
bin is formulated 20 protect the interests
of the miners. 10 takes only glance OF
"a practical miner TO see that the bill nails
fast this fact That one agent of a cOrpor-
alton can employ 100 men by contract.
and the entire beach will be legally OBJ
tanned
This bin leSalizes the stalking Of claims
by power Of attorney. whereby the agent
Of a corporation can secure the claim Of as
much land as is wished by the corporation
which he represents. What the miners
want is the privilege to dig where they
please on the Cape Nome beach. as was
done last summer. Then the miners who
had suffered through the winter Travelled
TO Cape Nome AMI dug for gold where they
pleased There was little or no trouble
between prospectOrs. the protection being
I the military police. The miners dug for
gold in the beach as one digs for clans.
/ and many destitute prospectOr was able
! 20 return 10 the Yukon with money to
support their families during the hard
/ winter following. This is what they want
/ 10 do next summer II the placer mining
/ laws are brought there. it would prevent
I all the poor men who have been stalking
on the beach from getting in a claim, and
/ the beach would be taken by from three
| 10 four hundred agents In two months a
| thousand destitute miners would be clam
Oring around and the military police would
have much trouble TO prevent riot and
blOodshed. II a law could be made pro
hibiting the stalking or obtaining Of placer
claims by agents or by power of attorney.
IL would settle the difficulty
1T is not just to the miners that a few
rich men should be allowed to take from
them their heritage These poor miners
cannot send delegation 10 Washington to
look out for their interests. but the richer
men come down and pretend to want legis
iation TO help the poor men. whereas they
are working for themselves and for corpo-
rations. It is the poorer class that. being
unable 70 leave the countr-- become the
fathers OF the future population Of Alaska