The Cordova daily times., 1922-12-16


 various kinds brought back by these expeditions aroused the avarice of Russian and Siberian traders, and the next half century witnessed a number of expeditions, both large and small, mainly launched for gain, but incidentally resulting in the exploration of considerable portion of the southern coast line from Attu Island to Prince William Sound. Real colonization work, how ever, was not undertaken until 1783, when Gregor Ivanovich Shelikof, ."the father and founder of Russian colon ies in America" established set clement on Kodiak Island.
 The land thus discovered and in which colonization work had begun was much greater in extent and was far richer in resources than any of those who then sat in state at St. Petersburg realized. The lapse of a century and half has not re- suited in any clearer conception of conditions on the part of many who are responsible for it's development and progress, the only difference being that the seat of government has been removed from St. Peters burg to Washington. The country discovered comprised an area of approximately 6OO,0OO square miles, one-fifth the size of the United States, and extending 1,400 miles in north and south line and 2,5O0 miles from east to west. Its coast line measures 25,000 miles, this be- ing considerably greater than the combined Atlantic and Pacific Coast line of the United States. The eli mate ranges all the way from tenn perate to frigid. Waters were un- charted Storms were prevalent in many parts of the coast region ex- cept during the summer months. The native population was widely scat tered and uhcivilized. The seat of government of Russia was 10000 miles from the local capitol, which was established at Sitka. The vast Siberian wastes intervened. Under such conditions, the work accom- r,1i h1y tho D,Ic cio ic in short of marvellous and is in strik ing contrast to the first quarter century of American control.
 Previous to the coming of the Rus sians, we may conjecture only con corning education in Alaska. That there was more or less attention given to this subject, as it the case with all aboriginal peoples, is doubt less true. The accumulated knowl edge of the race affecting such mat ters as it's traditional glory, the pro- vision of food and shelter, the prac- tice of the native arts and the ob- servance of laws and customs re- garding marriage, religion and the general conduct of the individual in his relation to society as a whole were, without doubt, transmitted from one generation to another by means of an informal and yet more or less definite system of education.
 Russian Education
 As result of the temporary set dement's founded by the pioneer fur traders and explorers on the Aleu- tian Islands and the relations exist ing between them and the native population, the number of children of mixed blood gradually increased until the need for formal education became apparent. Consequently Shelikoff established the first school in Alaska at Three Saints (Kodiak) in 1785, and himself instructed the children in his own language, in arithmetic and the precepts of Chris tianity" History of Alaska, Ban croft, Page 706)
 There is no record as to the length of time this school was in operation although, it probably was in session intermittenly until the death of Shelikof, which occurred in 1795. It was reopened for short term on June 19, 1796, by Father Juvenal, who, on the first day, re- ported an attendance of eleven boys and several grown men. Other schol- ars were enrolled from day to day and there was every evidence that the school would be a decided sue. cess when it's life was cut short through the transfer of Juvenal to Iliamna station on the order of the Bishop of Irkutsk.
 The work of Juvenal mentioned above, and that of Father German, who at about this time opened a