Valdez daily prospector., 1912-01-12


 tract immigration. Without the extension of the land laws, SO as to place lands in the market, and the laws to perfect titles and pro tect capital, development must be greatly retarded. Another great resource of this section is tim Der, which also needs the sane tion of law for it's development. Only recently company desiring to carry on this industry on a large scale has been driven from Alaska to British soil by reason Tor this want.
 Fourth. Resides these there are two other rcSources--lhe fur trade, which in this section is de- pendent on the native tribes: and the fisheries, capable of yielding immense wealth, but also needing Flaw for their fostering and their development.
 We do declare that by reason of these facts there exists d present and urgent necessity for a civil government for that portion of Alaska which embraces the min eral and timber belt of the terri tory, which, to be efficient for the
 full. discharge of the obligation lassumed in the treaty of secession anf the full enjoyment of Amer
 ican citizenship therein, should be complete.
 We do further declare that for the want of such government this section of Alaska has been Tor fourteen years a useless piece iof territory to the United States. while with it's development it's clviliZatiOn and value would be rapidly advanced. We, there fore, respectfully, but most earnestly insist that some such form of government be immediately pro- vided for and extended over it. And to this end, and as the pri- mary necessity in order to the proper understanding and relief Of our wants, we respectfully de mand the accrediting of the dele gate to be elected under the pro- cccding to be inauguratcd, as the legal and true representative of this people, and ask that he be accepted as such in and by the popular house of congress.
 We hold it tO be undcniablc that such representation is one of the assured priviIegcs of citi1 IZenship. It is especially neces- sary here in order 10 prevent the misrepresentation which Ob- structs the enjoyment of our oth- CT rights. It is accorded us by the letter of our general laws, and lis the essence of American lib crty and institutions.
 If it be objected that there has been no enabling act to aut thorizc such an election, we rely that the failure of congress to prescribe the manner in which we may ac- Guire possession of an admitted right should not be held to in validate our effort to possess it., made in compliance With the spir- ii of the law, in good faith, and by the best means at our diSpOS- La.l This would be to take ad- vantage of wrong in order to ! prrpri uatc it. and to deny not on- ! lT chartered privilege. but also
 he natural right of the people in absence of the forms of law, lo establish their will by o. iginai assertion.
 Wherefore, We pray that the fuil form Of our petition may be granted, and our delegate rccciv- cd as tn" legal representative of | this territory in the Forty congress of the United States. and ipcrmiltrd to advocate the lrgis- lat ion we so much need. Done in convention this iGth day of August, 1881, at the town ! of Harrisburg. Alaska.
 w. B. ROBERTSON, Jr., President.
 S. HALL YOUNG, Secretary. (SlEncd) J. D. Sagemillcr, T. A. Wilson, John Dix, Henry Bor- fen, R. D. Crittenden, w. J. Steph- ems. Edmond Bean, George Newell,
 M. P. Berry, Henry Zachcrt, II. F. Cutler, M. D. Ball, w. M. Ben Inett.