The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-12-11
COOPERATION IN ALASKA.
Stores Are Owned and Managed by the
Natives.

Cooperative stores, owned and man
aged by natives, are fostered wherever
possible in Alaska by the United States
bureau of education, which has charge
of education for the natives of Alaska.
In this way the bureau helps the natives
protect themselves from those traders
who charge exhorbitant prices for food
and clothing and pay as little as pos
sible for native products. In the small
villages even legitimate marketing ex-
penses are heavy burden unless there
is some form Of cooperation.
These cooperative attempts have
been decided success. At Hydaburg, in
southeastern Alaska, where the United
States school teacher has general over7
sight of the cooperative stores, the
natives were able, after II months OF
business, to declare a cash dividend of
so per cent. and still have funds avail
able for the erection of larger store
building. The klawock Commercial
company, also under native management,
was able after months of existence to
erect new store building from its sur
plus. At klukwan also the natives have
organized a cooperative store.
Native stores have for several years
been in successful operation at Cape
Prince of Wales and on st. Lawrence
Island, where the natives buy food at
reasonable prices and are assured an
equitable exchange for their furs and
other products,
A more recent example of cooperation
is at Atka, remote island in the
Aleutian chain. Formerly rough lum-
Der cost $50 per thousand and shingles
So a thousand on this island, and cloth
ing and food supplies were correspond
ingly high. On the other hand, the
natives were poorly paid for their labor.
For each of the few blue fox skins the
natives could catch they received from
the trader goods averaging IS in value
Sold at public auction in Seattle, these
skins brought from $l7.l0 to S6650
each, according to quality. In April of
this year, with the help of Seattle mer-
chants and officers of the revenue cutter
service, cooperative company was or
ganized under the direction of the United
States public school teacher, and now
the natives are doing their own buying
and selling with considerable advantage
to themselves.
Eskimos on the shore of Boring sea
and the Arctic ocean have until recently
had to market through local traders.
Now many of them are sending by mail
packages of fox, lynx, mink, and hair
seal to the Alaska division of the bureau
Of education at Seattle, and the govern
ment officials sell the furs for the
natives at public auction to the highest
bidders.
Natives in Tatilek co-operated in salt
ing and exporting salmon during the |
past season, under the instruction of the |
ocal government teacher, with the re-
suit that they have not only netted 81, |
200 in cash, but have also put away |
10000 pounds of smoked salmon for
winter use.
Cooperation in Alaska has been aided |
by the policy of reserving tracts of land |
or the exclusive use of the natives. On
his land the natives build up their own
Industries, safe from the evil influence
If unprincipled white men. Hydaburg
S a reservation settlements; Klukwan
las recently obtained a similar reserya-
ion upon which to conduct its CO.
operative enterprises, and Klawock hopes
o secure reservation land in the near
uture.