The Alaska prospector., 1903-02-19

"S -. Ss"s"s lWy uHEINU their business last Friday morning. and after being highly compli- mented by Judge Wickersham for their efficient work were dis charged.
 The grand jury complimented the court officials for their faithful labors, and congratulate the people of this division of Alaska iA having officers who are interested in the npbuilding of this great osuatxy and who are endeavOring to serve the people the same as if elected by them to 1d1iee.
 The grand jury was in session ten days and indictments found against three persons. They in- yestigated a large number of other cases but could not secure sufficient testimony to warrant them in bringing in more true bills.
 They found the fishing laws continually being violated that intoxicating liquors are nsanu:ae- tured and sold to natives; that lawlessness and immortality exists in many places and that five mur- ders have been committed in South ern Alaska during the past fifteen years that have never been investi- gated.
 Thereport says that it is 10 fault or no failure ia the performance of their duty of any member or Silieisl of this court that these matters have never been investigated, As this is the first session of the pes ent court in Southern Alaska. No other judge ever held a session of court in Solthern Alaska at which grand jurors were called and no grand or petit jurors were eyer sub p9naed to serve on either jury while this portion of Alaska was in the first judicial district, the mat ters have not been investigated.
 Many of the crimes that have been committed occurred at the various eannery and fishing settle ments, and the grand jury reoOm- mended that U. $. commissioners and deputy marshals be appointed in the Kayak country, the lower end of Cook Inlet and at Hushagak and also that at tie latter place a deputy us. attorney he appointed
 The report states that the coast line of the Third Judicial division of Alaska is larger than that of any other district court in the United States being over 310O miles in extent. There are many settle ments along this coast line, in- cluding numerous villages, fishing stations and canneries and mining camps, many of which are remote from the regular line of steamer travel and communication with them is almost inaccessible the en- tire year. In the case of the towns and settlements on the northern side of the Alaska peninsula and those on Bristol hay there is nO regular steamers At all. This being the case, court officials are seriously inconvenienced in the performance of their duties, it being almost im- possible to get from place to place without long delays. Service of important papers are long delaye1l, criminals escape and justice is often defeated as the officials have no efficient means of transportation. The grand jury therefore recom- mends that the government place a revenue cutter or other vessel in Valdez bay to he subject to and at the disposal of the officers of this court.
 The grand jury examined the office of the U. s. commissioner at this place and found the records are in danger of fire or theft and recommend that fire-proof safe be furnished the commissioner at once. The jail was also examined and found to be an unfit place for pris- oners. The best was heinz done for them that could he possible Ondar the cireumsta meas h,t tlN0