The Washington times., 1902-10-29
President Decides to Have
His Huge Gift Adorn
Walls of.the State Dining
room.
Trophy of the Hunt Brought
Thousands of Miles, Ac-
ccmpanied by Party of
Residents of the Territory.

The head of giant Alaska moose
handsomely mounted upon an enormous
oak shield, was given TO President Roose-
welt yesterday by a delegation of citizens
from that distant Territory of the United
States. 1t was intended to give the tro-
ply to the President on Monday. his
birthday. but delays in transit prevented
President Roosevelt was taken CON-
pletely by surprise when the enormous
head was carried into the temporary
White House by corps of expressmen.
So large was the trophy that it would
not go through the single doorways, AMI
had to be taken into the Cabinet room
and through the folding doors separating
the main apartments on the first floor.
The President was so delighted with the
moose head that he ordered ii to be
given the place of honor in the decora-
tions of the state dining room in the
White House.
The trophy is probably the largest
specimen of head and antlers ever Sc
cured in Alaska, where big game
abounds
Antlers Measure Over Six Feet.
The antlers measure over six feet
across and each consists of thirteen
prongs. The distance from tip to muz-
zle to where the neck is mounted on the
oak shield is four feet and a half The
neck at that part is about two feet thick
and three and half feet from upper to
lower side.
The moose was killed two years ago
at a point eighteen miles from Valdez.
Alaska, by Government surveyor. The
shot which brought the animal down
was from a thirty-caliber rife,
small gun for killing big game. The
head was taken to Seattle, distance of
1.500 miles, and there mounted. Alto
gether the head has been carried 5000
miles to the Presidents mansion.
The shield, bearing the moose head,
is inscribed.
ITO Theodore Roosevelt, from the citi-
gems OF Alaska, IN token of their esteem
and in recognition of his friendship"
Representative Wooten of Texas, who
has Just returned from ten weeks trip
to Alaska. gave the trophy to the Presi-
dent in behalf Of the residents of the
Territory. He introduced. F. C. Helm.
Mrs. F. C. Helm. V. T. HoggaN Robert
Blei. NJ. r. ROLAND, Capt. J. j. Healy
and r. McNair, all of Alaska, living at
Nome, Valdez and other newly-settled
towns.
Party Cordially Received.
The members of the party were cor
daily received by the President, who
expressed his interest in Alaska and his
appreciation of their thoughtfulness in
coming thousands of miles to give him
the moose head in person.
The President was shown specimens
OF gold, copper, cinnabar, and other min
erals taken from Alaskan diggings. The
visitors explained that the specimens
were not brought from the diggings as
mere curiosities. but as evidence of the
need of more liberal land and mining
laws to enable this natural wealth to be
taken out by prospectors.
After hearing a statement of the pres
ent conditions, the President, in the
visitors presence. dictated to Secretary |
Cortelyou a memorandum regarding a |
which he intends max |
ing in his annual message to Congress. |
urging better legislation for Alaska.
Needs of the Territory. i
The disadvantages under which citi-
zens of Alaska labor we're described by
wooten. He pointed out
the fact that there are only two roads
into Alaska, one by way of Dutch Har-
Dor and St. Michaers, up the Yukon
River. which is very long. tedious and
expensive route, and the other from
Skngway to White Horse. and down the
Yukon River to Dawson. from which
point Americans are compelled to pay
tariff In order to get supplies into their
own country.
1t was also shown to the President
that there are no adequate laws for
obtaining title to land in Alaska. and
The actual settler is compelled to rely
apon laws passed for Territories entire
y dissimilar In all respects. Mr.. Woo
len also said that the vast fishing Indus
.ries OF Alaska are unprotected. and the
as well as the country it
,eif. is being yearly robbed by the Fish
trust on the Pacific Coast
4r. Wooten contanded that Alaska
>ede lax mo- h..
nal settler an adequate homestead with