Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-04
GOV. BRADY'S REPORT
WHAT rs NEEDED FOR THE DE-
VELoPMENT OF ALASKA
New Land Laws to Attract Settlers
Delegate in Congress Wanted-Oppo-
sition to Territorial Government.

John G. Brady governor of Aleska. in his
latest annual report to the Secretary of
the Interior thus recapitulates the needs of
that country:
we want the land laws overhauled and
put in shape as they are in Washington
and Oregon, and, besides, a donation claims
law, to run for five years; delegate to
look after the interests of the district in
Washington; commissioner of fisheries
with vessel, helpers, etc. a commissioner
of mines similar to the minister of mines
in British Columbia, our near neighbor: a
commission appointed to examine into the
condition of the natives of Alaska who
are to report to Congress with recommended
tons; license law inquired into and amend
ed; encouragement given to those who are
undertaking to furnish means of transpor-
tation: that Alaska shall be made light
house district and furnished with a tender
to do the work, and We want the means TO
show what we can do at st. Louis. All
these matters demand the attention and Sc
rious consideration of Congress"
New Land Laws Needed.
Regarding the necessity for passing land
laws for Alaska to attract settlers there
Governor Brady says:
Fifty thousand of our people from Mime
sofa and the Dakotas have gone of late into
Manitoba. Home seekers trains are run
in sections on the great trunk lines People
are pouring into Washington, Oregon and
California. There is longer a western
frontier of unoccupied domain for the set
tier. The prosperous years of good crops
in Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa. Nebraska
Kansas and Missouri have set free a Young
generation who wish to get farther west
where they shall have greater opportunities
They are our own people, brought up in
our own schools and churches they under
stand and love our institutions; they are
the best people on earth to pour into a new
country and maintain all that our flag
stands for. Behold Oklahoma, Can such
things be accomplished in Alaska? Yea,
verify. There can be no doubt that there is
a tide of immigrants ready to turn toward
this northwest frontier if Congress will but
clear the way by passing at it's next ses-
sion generous laws for the acquisition of
title to grazing and agricultural lands This
can be done by a donation act'
Delegate in Congress.
1T was confidently expected that Con-
gress at it's last session would pass a law
allowing Alaska delegate. The bill, as
unanimously reported by the committee on
territories of the House, failed to get :,
hearing. The Senate committee on terri
tories had 4 bill of its own which was
read twice and referred back to them
where it was Kept. No one can tell Why.
THE great majority Of the people here
think that Alaska should be represented hy
such an officer. We know that he will have
no vote and will therefore seldom be invited
to logrolling; that he Will sit at the foot
OF the committee table and will not often
be allowed to open his mouth on the floor
Nevertheless, people want their accredited
representative there. He can persist lin
bringing measures for Alaska's welfare he
fore the committees, look after the interests
OF her citizens before the departments, and
occasionally enlighteD the House when if.
has Alaskan matters before it. Surely there
is no valid reason why action on this mat
ter should any longer be refused or de-
layed.'
Form of Government
Gov. Brady is opposed to territorial,
| form of government for Alaska. He says:
Alaska as it is now governed entails the
least possible expense upon the people re-
siding here. The majority of the people
here understand this quite WE'LL and are not
mady clamoring for a change at present
We Know that whatever rights Congress
sees proper to extend to us are Just az
Se.lf-a under the pPeveylt district tnas4y