The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-01-22
SOLVES LIVING COST
United States Fosters Co-0pera-
tive Stores in Alaska.
Bureau Of Education at Washington
Helps Natives of North Country
Protect Themselves From
Excrbtant Traders.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS stores,
owned and managed by natives, are
fostered wherever possible in Alaska
by the United States bureau of educa-
ton, which has charge of education for
the natives OF Alaska. In this way the
bureau helps the natives protect them
selves from those traders who charge
exorbitant prices for food and clothing
and pay as little as possible for native
products. III the small villages even
legitimate marketing expenses are
heavy burden unless there is some
form OF cooperation.
These cooperative attempts have
been a decided success. At Hydaburg,
in southeastern Alaska, where the
United States school teacher has gen,
eral oversight OF the cooperative
stores, the natives We're able. after II
months of business, to declare cash
dividend of so per cent. and still have
funds available for the erection OF a
larger store building. The Klawock
Commercial company, also under ma
tive management, was able after nine
months of existence to erect a new
store building from its surplus. AT
Klukwan also the natives have organ
ICED 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 on
an equitable exchange for their furs
and other products.
A more recent example of co-opera-
ton is at Atka, q remote island in the
Aleutian chain. Formerly rough lum-
Der cost $50 per thousand and shingles
SIS thousand on this island, and
clothing and food supplies were CORE
spondingly 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 re-
ceived from the trader goods averag-
ing SIS in value. Sold at public auction
in Seattle, these skins brought from
$17.10 to S66.50 each. according to
quality. In April of this year, with the
help of Seattle merchants and officers
of the revenue cutter service, a coop
erative company was organized under,
the direction of the United States pub
lie school teacher, and now the natives
are doing their own buying and sell
ing with considerable advantage to
themselves.
Eskimos on the shore of Boring sea
and the Arctic ocean have until re-
Gently had to market through local
traders. Now many of them are send
ing by mail packages OF fox. lynx.
mink and hair seal TO the Alaska di-
vision of the bureau OF education at
Seattle, and the government officials
sell the furs for the natives at public
auction to the highest bidders.
Natives in Tatitlek co-operated in
sailing and exporting salmon during
the past season, under the instruction
of the local government teacher, with
the result that they have not only net
ted $1,000 in cash, but have also put
away $4,000 pounds OF smoked salmon
for winter use.
Cooperation In Alaska has been aid
ed by the policy of reserving tracts OF
land for the exclusive use Of the ma
tives. On this land the natives build
up their own industries, safe from the
evil influence Of unprincipled white
men. Hydaburg is a reservation settle
ment: Klukwan has recently obtained
similar reservation upon which to
conduct It's cooperative enterprises