Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-05
CONDITIONS IN AL ASKA
REPORT OF GEN. RANDALL COM
HANDING DEPARTMENT.
Military Prevented Disorder and
the Natives.

the Natives.
Brigadier General George NJ. Randall,
commanding the Department of Alaska,
under date of September 20 at st. Michael,
has submitted his annual report great
deal of the report is devoted to conditions
at Nome. which he found upon his ar
rival at a critical stage 1t difficult
to obtain convictions by jury trial in the
United States commissioners court, which
emboldened the lawless. Labor organlZa-
| tons prevented men from working for less
than 81 an hour, and were the cause OF
much restitution and want and destruction
of property.
Fully 1900 people arrived at Nome in
June Claim jumping was the order of
the day. Nearly every one seemed to think
he had divine right to take possession OF
claim or town lot wherever found Many
property owners were disposed to defend
their rights by taking the law in their
own hand. The arrival of troops pre-
vented bloodshed and serious disorder. On
the request Of the chamber of commerce,
the military took charge, thoroughly ex-
amined into all complaints, and where the
rights of property could be determlned
placed it in the possession of the lawful
owner. Captain w. A. Bethel, VINO ac!eo
as Judge advocate in these cases, is Lghly
praised by General Randall.
The sanitary conditions were placed I'M
der the charge of Major E. Ebert. sur
geon who has heretofore reported upon
| conditions. The energetic efforts OF the
| military improved these conditions during
| the summer.
Mining Operations.
There were about 800 men working on
the beach at Nome with machinery at one
4 fn answers
| concerning the prospects for gold, While
others admitted they were taking out only
| from 81 to IS a day. The beach was prac-
| tically worked out last year. The tundra
is believed to be rich, but it would re-
| ouire large capital to produce results.
There is a large area of country Whlch mas
not been prospected, where gold can YET
be found, but 1t requires men Oh expert
ence to develop such a country; Ienei a.
Randall discussed the various points Wnere
mining operatons have been in progress
most of which have come to the knowledge
of the public in reports from Alaska
He says it has been decided 10 est fu,a,a
a permanent military post on the lsiallu
of St. Michael. He recommends the Pur-
chase of two stern-wheel river steamers rs
for operations on the Yukon, ana tnat an
coal forage and building material lnIenueu
for sskan posts be started from Seattle
not la ter than June 13 and shipped IN SAL
ing vessels for economy. Also tnat s Gapie
be laid from Seattle via Juneau ana Skas-
way to Valdez, connecting with the tele-
graph line now building over the all-Amerl,
can route from Valdez to Port Esoert' ana
down the Yukon river to Fort Micnaei.
When this line is completed, General ran,
dali says, the military headquarters should
be in southern Alaska, or at Seattle.
He recommends a life-saving station IN
the vicinity of Nome. as the tales OF deatn
by drowning on the shores of Boring sea
are appalling, and there is no knowledge
of how many lives were lost lie also rec
ommends that light houses with fog WINS
ties be established in southeast Alaska at
the following places: Cape Fox, near the
southern boundary of the territory: cape
Command entrance from the north into
Congas Narrows; Five Fingers, in Frederick
sound also fog signal at Unimak Pass
He also recommends n military reservation
at Dutch Harbor, and coallng station,
and thinks that the need may arise at some
future time for erecting 1ortlHcatioHS al
this place.
The Natives of Alaska.
General Randall devotes considerable
space to the natives of Alaska, and says
the Esouimau has been unnoticed by those
he has befrended and has been allowed to
die for the lack of proper care and food.
For years he has extended his hospitality
to adventurous white men. and his hut has
been the shelter for shipwrecked sailor and
frost-bitten miner. From all points, Cape
York. Port Clarence, Topek, Golofin bay,
Yukon river, and elsewhere, reports have
been received of sickness. starvation and
mortality great mat it promised to wipe
out almost the entire race. Lieutenant T.
H. Jarvis of the United States revenue
service reporte,. these facts to General Ran
dali, and the tug Meteor was placed at his
disposal for relief work, and about hum
dred destitute natives cared for at Nome.
The revenue cutter Bear has been distribut-
ing supplies to the destitute natives, while
others in the vicinity of Fort ST. Michael
have been cared for by the commanding
officer of that post. The work of Lieutenant
Jarvis is highly commanded by General
Randall
In closing this particular feature of his
report, General Randall says:
"In many parts of the United States pro-
vision has been made for the Indian Reser-
yationS have been set apart for him, and
food and clothing supplied. In Alaska 1t
was not necessary heretofore to do much,
but the great rush of white men that fol-
lowed the discoveries of gold has complete
ly changed everything. The game and fur
bearing animals have about disappeared.
and the natives means of sustenance are
gone.
II therefore recommend that the govern
ment afford some relief to the natives until
such time as they can take care of them
Selves
Mistake to Aid White Men.
General Randall also has the following to
say regarding relief to white men who ven
ture into Alaska:
II am of the opinion that 1t would be
mistake for the government to give any
general aid in future to the venturesome
classes of white men who come to Alaska.
About three hundred have been sent out on
transport and other vessels this year, and
many more will be sent before the close OF
navigation. The conditions are now gener-
ally known throughout the states. and the
expectation of government aid In returning
to their homes in cases of failure has with
out doubt been the most hopeful prospect
in view to i considerable number who have
come to the country since 1897, and es-