The Cordova daily times., 1918-02-02
HOW NATIVES
 HELPED IN
 DEVELOPM PMENT.
(By Arthur H. Miller of the U. s.
 Bureau of Education)

When Uncle Sam bargained for the Territory of Alaska for the sum of $7,200,000 (whether by chance or fore. sight, we are unable to say) he pur- chased not only a rich but untamed wilderness of wealth in the form of an ocean full of fish, a vast domain stocked with valuable, but very wild fur-bearing animals, and included in the deal were twenty-five thousand Ma tives who could catch the fish and trap the foxes.
 These same Natives knew more about Alaska at the time of it's pur- chase than anyone else.
 Of just how much value the Alaska Native has been to the United States in the development of the Territory will never be known, and moreover, there are too few to care, and that credit may be given to whom credit is due, shall we not, in some measure at least, give the Native just consider alton, even at a time when we cannot always conveniently use him?
 In the earlier days, when trails could be traced only by keen instinct and an ardent hope that one would finally arrive if not tormented to death by mosquitoes, or if in winter frozen to death, white prospectors were greatly dependent upon the Ma tives, or take perilous chances, when undertaking to penetrate to the inter- ioT, then quite unknown to white men
 In 1885, when Lieutenant Allen un- de=took his expedition upon the Cop per river, this journey could not have been accomplished without the aid of Natives He enforced the enlistment Of a company of them to guide him, and assist the party to and on their return from the interior. His treat ment of them, however, administered even under the strictest discipline, so tempered by fairness and kindness, came as a pleasant surprise to the Natives, who had learned to judge all white men by the treatment received at the hands of the Russian traders, and though suspicious of All lens motives in the beginning, he won their confidence and respect. This was an important factor in establish ing friendly feeling among the Ma tives of the interior for the white men from the States.
 It is quite probable that every pros pector of the Alaskan wilderness has at one time or another depended upon the Natives as guides, or for shelter in times of extreme need, and when all the facts shall be known in not a few instances have the Natives shown the white men the way to mineralized lodges, that later have been developed by the white mans money, into mines now producing thousands of dollars, and no doubt played no small part in the early development. of mines now producing millions.
 What a vertiable pot of gold it has been worth to trade between the United States and Alaska that the Ma tive is a good trapper and fisherman, and at the same time very fond of alarm clocks, guns and snuff. In former years when practically all the furs were obtained by the Natives, the trader would get a stack of skins as high as the gun was long, for gun worth fifteen or twenty dollars. It takes from thirty to fifty skins piled one on top of the other to reach to the height of gun standing on end and of average length. Using this as a basis of computation, about how many millions of dollars worth of furs do you suppose were obtained for a few boat cargoes of trinkets and snuff?
 We have stated that the Native showed the white man the way into Alaska. He did more than this. He gave him many ideas as to modes of living suited to the country, enforced by it's rigid, memorable natural laws, which one in those days especially must guard against or perish.
 In the days when trails were few, and before road houses were establish ed, the Native was "wise" as to what to do in order the guard against the dangers of travel, and more than this, what not to do. Who would think of denying the Native credit for teach ing white men many life-saving devices contrived from the things at hand, in order to battle against this severe northern cline.
 Yes, it is true that the Natives of Alaska, without the knowledge of the principle of Archimedes, or knowing the hour of arrival of Halley's comet, knew enough to live in contentment in