Iditarod pioneer., 1915-03-13

Protestant Episcopal diocese of the Yukon, arrived in Flat last Saturday morning, after journey by dog team which took hlm through the Lake Minchumina district and the headwaters of the kuskokwlm river coming by way of Takotna. He held serv- ices in the Moose hall at Flat on Sunday | afternoon and in the evening preached at the A. B. hall in lditarod He returned to Flat on Monday morning last, and left that city for Tanana on Tuesday morning, Disease Carries Off Natives The noted churchman, mountain climber and author, in speaking of his journey, stated that it took him through one of the best game countries in Alaska, and one that seemed to be the least known. The broad valley of the upper kuskokWlm, he reports, cont aims but a sparse native population, dis case having worked havoc among the vii lages during the past few years. He states that there are but few children left among the aborgines, diphtherla and measles cpl denies having done their deadly work to such an extent that practically all the chll- dren have perished Last year, he says, fourteen children in one village died of diph- theria in one night. An epidemic of measles during the previous year had played havoc with the adult population, scores of them dying from this disease.
 Hunters Paradise
 Archdeacon Stuck says that the country traversed by him teens with game, and that the natives are in a prosperous condition. Every native household is well supplied with moose meat which is plentiful, and the lakes and streams of the country are fairly alive with fish. The entire country from the kaiyuh range to the foothills ot the Alaska range is a verltable hunters paradise, and is seldom visited by white men.
 koyukuk Region Prosperous
 The archdeacon's travels during the past winter have taken him well up into the Arctic circle, the koyukuk country having been visited by him and considerable time spent there by him. He reports that the residents of that section are fairly prosper ous Mining is carried on in somewhat des- ultorv fashion, but everyone seems to be doing fairly well. The center of popula- ton seems to have moved from Wlseman to the Wild river country, where consider able good ground was worked during the past season.
 Law Enforcement
 Speaking of law enforcement in Interior Alaska, matter which has been the sub ject of much controversy between the arch deacon and some of the officials and press of Alaska. Mir Stuck says that there IS more hopeful Outlook. Conditions at Fort Yukon. which aroused the ire of the church man, have been greatly improved, and the officials there are making a sincere effort to enforce the law and to protect the na- tive population.
 One thing that Mir Stuck says would greatly assist the enforcement of law in Alaska would be a salaried magistracy. lie says that it is difficult to get efficient and conscientious men to accept the commls- sonerships in the outlying precincts and to devote the necessary time and attention to official duties while relying for compensa- ton on the meager fees allowed,
 Savaqes Not Dangerous
 Archdeacon Stuck met the man Foster, who was reported in the Fairbanks news papers to have been murdered by natives in the kantishna country He says that the reports of murders by Alaska natives should be thoroughly investigated before any credence is placed in them, as they are the most harmless people lmaglnable, o1 amiable disposition, and not likely to resort to violence even under great proVocauon Speaking of the disappearance Of Bob Lagin, a well-known pro>pector and trap per on the headWaters of the kuskokWlm, who was believed to have been murdered by Indians, he says that this theory IS gen erelly discredited by men with whom he spoke. He says that the belief Is prevalent that Lagin met death by accident, probably by becoming lost and freezing to death.
 The Hospital Mudde
 One of the objects of the archdcacon's visit here was to look into hospital mat ters which he found to be in a most un- satisfactory condition. The hospital build ing at Iditarod was built by popular sub scription under the auspices of the Eps- copal church and the title is vested in the bishop of the diocese, Rt. Rev. P. I. Rowe, in trust From what Archdeacon Stuck could learn while here this IS prac- tlcallv all of the hospital property which is now held by the church authorities, own ership of the equipment and furnishings having been through litigation ot various kinds transferred to other parties. It IS likely that some public announcement of the church's position in the matter Will be made after Archdeacon Stuck has conferred with Bishop Rowe whom he IS to meet soon at Tanana The archdeacon will rec ommend that the title to the ldltarod hos pital property be transferred to the munlcl- pality of Idtarod at an early date.
 The archdeacon expressed much regret at the unfortunate outcome of the hospital en- terprise. which started out with every prom, ise of being credit to the community ana to the church under whose supervlslon It was at first conducted. He stated that 1t had been demonstrated that it was an lm- possibility for the church to exercise proper supervision over institutions of this nature situated at such inaccessible places as ldlt- arod.
 Resents One Critics Harsh Words
 Archdeacon Stuck was questioned regard ing the controversy brought about by the recent publication of letter in the New York Evening Post from his pen, and of recent published answers to 1t by tommis- sioner E. Coke Hill of Ruby and G' Ellis Gardner assistant district attorney at feir- banks and submitted the following reply to his critics:
 "To the Editor of The Iditarod Pioneer:
 ttr :,,.4 ,oo, bo lotterS of MT, COke