The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-26
Hearing From Alaska.

~ ONGRESS will have less chance to forget about
- Alaska during the coming session than hereto
fore. convention Of Alaskans was held in Seattle
this week. made up OF from Nome and
the Seward peninsula constituting the western dis
trct; from Valdez.and Fairbanks and the valleys Of
the Copper and the Tanana in the middle district,
and from Ketchikan, Juneau and other points in the
archipelago. This is probably the most representa-
tive body got together in, the interest Of
Alaskan affairs. x*:~@
The principal thing done was to select three
delegates Richard Ryan Of Nome, c. M. Johansen
of Fairbanks and Ex-Governor A. P. Swineford of
Ketchikan-to go to Washington and present the
claims of Alaska during the coming session of
congress- What this delegation is to work for and
what Alaska wants are set out In series of resolu-
tions adopted by this They provide for
revision of the mining laws so that the iniquious
power Of attorney shall be eliminated by which one
monopolize a whole mining district by filing on
adjacent claims in the name of friends. This has
been great handicap to Alaska and results in a
sort of dog-in-the policy which is seriously
delaying development Of the district It is desirable
not only to discontinue the exercise of the power
of attorney, but some means should be found by
which to undo the harm which it has done. The
recommendation Of the convention that cash
assessment Of $25 per on each claim be sub
stituted for the annual labor assessment of $1O0
required by law might help some, because the
$25 would actual outlay while the labor assess
ment is usually manipulated so as to be practically
farce l. 3.S>~. y
49, The convention wanted the $25 cash assessment
applied the construction and maintenance Of
wagon roads and trails; asked for an appropriation
Of million dollars for the building Of wagon roads
and trails; favored the application of the earnings
Of the cable and telegraph system to the extension
Of cable and land lines; approved the appointment
of United States commissioners to relieve federal
judges of their administrative duties; asked for
increase in the number Of judges, better lighthouse
SERVICE which would imply the exercise of more
common sense in the construction Of lighthouses and
beacons> than has been displayed heretofore; and
that the government make provision for the of
the Indians the natives Of the district having here
tofore been neglected by the government and being
for the most part in great Distress
These are the important recommendations of the
convention and they are all in order Alaska is
entitled to 'square deal,;' but hasn't had it. Il
is not only entitled to it matter Of justice tc
the people of the district but it will pay govern
.ment to devote some time and money to improving
the Of transportation and communication anc
in that way promoting the development of the grea
natural resources Of Alaska. The principal trouble
is that the people do not know what they have go
in that territory. It has not engaged the attention
Of their representatives in congress because thos
representatives have never understood what the re
sources Of the district are Some progress has beer
made recently toward acquainting the government
more and altogether the prospects, for Alaska ar
much improved by this Seattle conference
~. <sssas4@3 So
is hat in En- anC