L.E.C.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

BUREAU OF EDUCATION,
ALASKA DIVISION,

Washington, D. C., June 1, 1904.

Lieut. G. T. Emmons, U.S.N.,
Princeton, N. J.

My dear Lieutenant:

I greatly regret that I was out of the city when you called last week, but am very glad that you have been detailed to examine into the condition of the native population of Alaska. Send me a list of questions which will call out the information you wish, and I will embody them in a circular letter which I will send them.

The Alaska Teachers and Missionaries

When you are North, consider the advisability of recommending that the government take such action as will prevent the establishing of salmon canneries on the Kuskokwim and Yukon Rivers. As you know, those are large streams from which the natives secure their living and canneries established upon those streams will soon deplete the fish supply; also consider the advisability of recommending such legislation as will prevent canneries from being established on any of the streams north of Bering Straits. To the Eskimo of Arctic Alaska, where naturally food supplies are so scarce, the source of supply should not be diminished for commercial uses.

This Office will during the present year, place a school building and teachers' residence, in each of the following native villages: Deering, Ikagmute, Nulato, Fort Yukon, Eagle, Ougavig, Bethel, Quinhaha, Carmel, Kenai, Klukwan, Killisnoo, Douglas, Kaake, Klinquan and Hadley, Jackson, Klawack, Shakan, Sitka and Haines, Kotzebue, Cape Prince of Wales, and St. Michael. Wainwright, Barrow, Hope, Copper Center and Baites.

Copy.

Valdez, Alaska.

31 July, 1904.

The President of the United States,
Washington, D.C.

Mr. President:

I feel it my duty to call your attention to the de-
plorable condition of the Copper River Indians of Alaska. They
are little removed from starvation and unless government aid is
given to them immediately, many will succumb during the coming
winter.

These people are of Athapascan stock, they number
hardly more than two hundred and fifty (250) souls, and live
in scattered bands along the Copper River, inside of the Coast
Mountains, for a distance of some two hundred odd miles. They
are a primitive, simple, kindly folk, who have ever held out the
hand of friendship to the white man, and in return they have be
been deceived and imposed upon to the limit of endurance.

Up to 1898, when the mineral wealth of this section
attracted thousands of prospectors they had been able to main-
tain themselves fairly well, with moose, caribou, bear and smal-
ler game, and the summer run of salmon, but with the burning
over of great areas of forest, the continuous noise of the pack
train, indiscriminate shooting, etc., the larger game animals
have entirely disappeared, or have been driven to the hunting
grounds of more distant tribes, and the salmon, never over abun-

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dant, have through the constant fishing of the several canneries along the coast, become still more difficult to procure. So aside from an insufficient quantity of fish, rabbit and ptarmigan form the only available food supply today, and through some unexplained natural cause the former, which constitute the greatest dependence, increase in numbers to a maximum every seven years and then decrease until practically none are to be found.

These people are very anxious and willing to work in any possible field for any wage, but there is no employment for them, and their present condition is truly pitiable.

This has been an exceptional season throughout Alaska, cloudy, cold, wet weather has prevailed, and a large proportion of their salmon catch will prove a loss, owing to the lack of sunshine and dry weather to cure the fish.

With a limited expenditure on the part of the Government and the proper means, in the course of a few years these people could be made self-supporting, and a most valuable population for a rich country which must in time be opened up, both for mining and agricultural purposes, but just now these people must be carried through the coming winter and spring, or many will undoubtedly starve for want of the commonest necessities.

At Copper Centre the Rev. Clevenger has established a mission station and with the most limited means at his command he is doing all in his power, but only government assistance can give these people what is needed to bridge over the coming six months.