'^tfnjTK
 
 BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS, 
 
 WASHINGTON, U, S. A. 
 JOSEPH F". STvlITH, Director. 
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 HANDBOOK No. 84. AUGUST, 1897. 
 
 6 6 6 9 9
 
 
 OIlasB 3../.1..9.S .... look Sb^ic.I
 
 ret
 
 
 BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS, 
 
 WASHINGTON, U. S. A. 
 JOSEPH P. SMITH, Director. 
 
 ALASKA. ' 
 
 HANDBOOK No. 84. AUGUST, 1897
 
 t: Li 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 The following compilation was prepared as part of the chapter 
 on the United States for the Commercial Directory of the Ameri- 
 So can Republics to be issued by the Bureau of the American 
 •* Republics during the current year. It is printed separately in 
 oc this form in response to the quickened interest in Alaska result- 
 » ing from the recent discoveries of gold in the Klondike region 
 2: and the great demand for fresh and reliable information concern- 
 ^ ing that Territory. 
 
 ^hj^^^C^ Uoi-^^t-*-*-^^^^ 
 
 'Director of the Bureau of the American Republics. 
 Washington, D. C, August lo, iSgy.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 I. Location, area, and population 7-1 1 
 
 II. Indian tribes of Alaska 12-14 
 
 III. Geography and topography 15-24 
 
 IV. Climate 25-29 
 
 V. Towns and trading posts 30-34 
 
 VI. Forests of Alaska — Varieties of timber 35-37 
 
 VII. Agricultural resources 3S-42 
 
 VIII. The fur-seal and other fisheries 43-74 
 
 IX. Mineral resources — The Klondike gold region 75-124 
 
 X. Commerce — Transportation facilities — Proposed railroad 125-12S 
 
 XI. Territorial government 129-130 
 
 Index 131-133 
 
 Map of Alaska Frontispiece 
 
 5
 
 ALAS KA. 
 
 I. 
 
 Location, Area, and Population. 
 
 The Territory of Alaska, lying in the extreme northwestern 
 corner of the North American Continent, on the Bering Sea and 
 North Pacific, comprises an area of about 577,390 statute square 
 miles, with a seacoast of 26,000 miles, or nearly two and one-half 
 times the seacoast of the balance of the United States. The 
 Territory was acquired by purchase by the United States from 
 Russia, and the boundaries, as laid down in the treaty of cession 
 of March 30, 1867, are: Commencing from the southernmost 
 point of the island called Prince of Wales Island, which point 
 lies in the parallel of 54 degrees 40 minutes north latitude, and 
 between the 131st and the 133d degree of west longitude 
 (meridian of Greenwich), the said line shall ascend to the north 
 along the channel called Portland Channel as far as the point of 
 the continent where it strikes the 56th degree of north latitude; 
 from this last-mentioned point, the line of demarcation shall fol- 
 low the summit of the mountains situated parallel to the coast 
 as far as the point of intersection of the 141st degree of west 
 longitude (of the same meridian) ; and finally, from the said point 
 of intersection, the said meridian line of the 141st degree, in its 
 prolongation as far as the Frozen Ocean. 
 
 7
 
 8 ALASKA. 
 
 IV, With reference to the Hne of demarcation laid down in the 
 preceding article, it is understood — 
 
 1st. That the island called Prince of Wales Island shall 
 belong wholly to Russia (now, by this cession, to the United 
 States). 
 
 2d. That whenever the summit of the mountains which extend 
 in a direction parallel to the coast from the 56th degree of north 
 latitude to the point of intersection of the 141st degree of west 
 longitude shall prove to be at the distance of more than ten 
 marine leagues from the ocean, the limit between the British 
 possessions and the line of coast which is to belong to Russia as 
 above mentioned (that is to say, the limit to the possessions ceded 
 by this convention) shall be formed by a line parallel to the 
 winding of the coast, and which shall never exceed the distance 
 of ten marine leagues therefrom. 
 
 The western limits, within which the territories and dominion 
 conveyed are contained, passes through a point in Bering Straits 
 on the parallel of 65 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, at its 
 intersection by the meridian which passes midway between the 
 islands of Krusenstern, or Ignalook, and the island of Ratmanoff, 
 or Noonarbook, and proceeds due north, without limitation, into 
 the same Frozen Ocean. The same western limit, beginning at 
 the same initial point, proceeds thence in a course nearly south- 
 west through Bering's Straits and Bering's Sea, so as to pass mid- 
 way between the northwest point of the Island of St. Lawrence 
 and the southeast point of Cape Choukotski, to the meridian of 
 172 west longitude; thence, from the intersection of that merid- 
 ian, in a southwesterly direction, so as to pass midway between 
 the island of Attou and the Copper Island of the Kormandorski 
 couplet or group in the North Pacific Ocean, to the meridian ot 
 193 degrees west longitude, so as to include in the territory con- 
 veyed the whole of the Aleutian islands east of that meridian. 
 
 The treaty ceding to the United States the territory of Russian
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 America, as it was then called, was concluded March 30, 1867. 
 The sum of $7,000,000 was originally agreed upon; but when it 
 was understood that there was a fur company and also an ice 
 company enjoying monopolies under the existing government, it 
 was thought best that these should be extinguished; and the 
 United States added $200,000 to the purchase money, in consid- 
 eration of which the Russian Government formally declared the 
 cession of the territory to be free of all incumbrances. 
 
 Although there is no record of official correspondence on the 
 matter, the eastern boundary line appears to have been the subject 
 of informal consultation between the United States and Great 
 Britain soon after the territory was annexed. In his annual mes- 
 sage to Congress, December 2, 1872, President Grant recom- 
 mended the appointment of a joint commission to determine the 
 line; but no action upon the matter was taken by Congress. On 
 May 17, 1886, President Cleveland transmitted to Congress 
 copies of correspondence on the question between Secretary 
 Bayard and Minister Phelps, and recommended the appropriation 
 of $100,000 for making a preliminary survey of the frontier terri- 
 tory. During the winter of 1887-88, informal conferences were 
 held in Washington between Prof W. H. Dall, of the United 
 States Geological Survey, and Dr. George M. Dawson, both 
 authorities on the Territory of Alaska, but the conferences led to 
 no result. On August 20, 1895, Lord Gough inquired of Secre- 
 tary Olney if a joint surveyor could not be appointed to act with 
 Mr. William Ogilvie, who was then about to survey the intersec- 
 tion of the one hundred and forty-first meridian and the Yukon 
 River. The Acting Secretary of State asked if the proposed 
 survey could not be delayed until Congress had had an opportunity 
 to consider the question. This suggestion was transmitted to the 
 Canadian government, which answered that the season was so fiir 
 advanced that it would not be possible to communicate with Mr. 
 Ogilvie before the next summer, when a considerable portion of
 
 lO ALASKA. 
 
 the one hundred and forty-first meridian would already be marked 
 on the ground. An extract from a letter by Secretary Olney, 
 dated March 1 1, 1896, was as follows: 
 
 "So far as the recent and existing surveys on either side have 
 progressed, they exhibit a close coincidence of results. At one 
 point, as I am informed, the difference between Mr. Ogilvie's loca- 
 tion and that made by the United States Coast and Geodetic Sur- 
 vey is only about 6 feet 7 inches. In another point the difference 
 is in the neighborhood of 500 or 600 feet, and at other points even 
 closer coincidence than this latter is expected when the compari- 
 son of calculations shall have been worked out." 
 
 Mr. Olney proposed that the two Governments should agree 
 upon certain points of the one hundred and forty-first meridian 
 at the intersection of the principal streams, locating the same at 
 points midway between the determinations of the Coast and Geo- 
 detic Survey and of Mr. Ogilvie, and providing for the junction 
 of the points so located by convenient joint surveys, as occasion 
 should require, until the entire line should be established. This 
 would supply a permanent line which for international purposes 
 would be coincident with the one hundred and forty-fifth meridian, 
 stipulated under existing treaties, and would require no further 
 immediate arrangement than the dispatch of a joint surveying 
 party to set up monuments at the points defined, with perhaps the 
 survey of a traverse line connecting the monuments on the Yukon 
 and Forty Mile Creek, and farther south if necessary. 
 
 The Canadian government agreed to this proposition, and the 
 convention is now pending before the Senate of the United 
 States. 
 
 POPULATION. 
 
 No definite idea of the population was obtained until the cen- 
 sus of 1890. In 1868, in a report by Maj. Gen. H. W. Halleck, 
 the number given was 82,400. In the same year Rev. Vincent
 
 ALASKA. 1 1 
 
 Collyer, in his report to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 
 added i 1,900 Thlinket Indians to the number given by General 
 Halleck, making 94,300, while Ivan Petroff, Special Agent for the 
 Tenth Census (1880), states the population as 33,426. The cen- 
 sus of 1890, which is the first detailed statement, fixes the number 
 at 32,052, which is made up of 4,298 white, 23,531 Indians, 
 2,288 Mongolians, and 1,935 mixed blood.
 
 II. 
 
 Indian Tribes of Alaska. 
 
 For some years after the cession of Alaska to the United States, 
 there was trouble among the Indian tribes, and a man-of-war 
 was stationed in Sitka Harbor. There has been no recent dis- 
 turbance. The natives of Alaska, according to Mr. Petroff, are 
 divided into four principal families: The Eskimo or Innuit, the 
 Aleut (Oonagan), the Thlinket, and the Athabaskan (or Tinneh). 
 There are numerous subdivisions. The Eskimos occupy almost 
 the whole coast line of Alaska west of the one hundred and forty- 
 fifth meridian. The Aleuts inhabit parts of Aliaska Peninsula, 
 the Shumagin Islands, and the Aleutian chain. The Athabaskans 
 include a large number of tribes generally classed as "North 
 American Indians," extending from the mouth of the Mackenzie 
 River in the north to the borders of Mexico in the south. The 
 northern tribes extend west nearly to Bering Sea, touching the 
 coast only in the northern part of Cook Inlet. At every other 
 point they are separated from the ocean by a belt of Eskimo. 
 The Thlinket inhabit the coast and islands from the intersection 
 of the one hundred and forty-first meridian to the southern bound- 
 ary of Alaska. Detailed descriptions of the tribes are given in 
 PetrofF's Population, Industries, and Resources of Alaska; by 
 Dall, in "Alaska and its Resources," and by Lieutenant Schwatka 
 (Military Reconnoissance in Alaska). 
 
 The report of Governor Knapp for 1892 says: The Athabas- 
 cans and Eskimos have come less under the influences of contact 
 with white people than the other tribes, and therefore retain more
 
 ALASKA. 1 ">j 
 
 of their original customs and peculiarities. They occupy the in- 
 terior and the coast of the Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea. The 
 Eskimos are a comparatively gentle and inoffensive people, living 
 mostly upon fish, walrus, u^hale, and other game to be found near 
 the shores and in the water, though they also make long excursions 
 into the interior, hunting reindeer, moose, and other large animals. 
 The interior Indians (Athabascans) live mostly by hunting and 
 fishing in the rivers. A few mission stations along the coast and 
 on the Yukon River have had a little influence upon a very small 
 number of the people. The mining camps on the upper Yukon 
 have also come in contact with the natives to some extent in the 
 way of trade, but they have not in any large degree acted as civ- 
 ilizing agencies. It is said the natives of the upper Yukon region 
 have been very little demoralized by the use of intoxicating liquor, 
 perhaps on account of the difficulty of packing it across the divide. 
 Mr. Chapman, of Anvik, writes that "liquor has not troubled the 
 natives speaking the group of dialects found around Anvik; but 
 almost everywhere else in the Yukon country it has made more or 
 less trouble." The dialects referred to arise from the interrelations 
 of Eskimos and Athabascans at the point of contact. The Eskimos 
 and interior Indians find it necessary to exercise the utmost of their 
 energies and of their ingenuity to secure a bare subsistence, and 
 their ideas have not risen much above the level of animal existence. 
 Physically, they are strong and comparatively healthy; mentally, 
 they lack vigor; morally, they substitute expediency for right. 
 They are comparatively honest, because it is the best policy to be 
 so. They see no moral quality in abstaining from the use of 
 intoxicating liquors, tobacco, or other hurtful things, or in restraints 
 in the relations of the sexes. 
 
 Except as their ideas are modified by relations and intercourse 
 with white people, they have no religion, unless certain indefinite 
 superstitions having no connection with any idea of a supreme 
 spiritual being can be called religion.
 
 H 
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 The Aleuts have become thoroughly Russianized. They talk 
 Russian, belong to the Russian Orthodox Church, shade off into 
 Russian blood, features, and complexion, and affect Russian ideas. 
 They are rapidly fading away. Their physical condition is far 
 from being satisfactory, and their moral condition is worse. They 
 are an easy-going, gentle, and kindly disposed people, somewhat 
 lacking in force of character. They secure a comfortable living 
 with their sea-otter hunting and fishing, and have little forethought 
 as to the future. 
 
 The Thlingkets, Tsimpseans, and Hydas live in southeastern 
 Alaska and are very similar in character and habits, though their 
 languages are different. Their contact with white people has very 
 much modified them in many respects, and many of them now 
 converse freely in the English language, while a few^ of them read 
 and write.
 
 III. 
 
 Geography and Topography. 
 
 Alaska may be conveniently divided, says Special Agent Ivan 
 Petroff, in his report on the Population, Industries, and Resources 
 of Alaska, 1884, into six geographical sections: 
 
 1, The southeastern, containing 29,980 square miles, and com- 
 prising the coast from Mount St. Elias in the north, to Portland 
 Canal, in latitude 54° 40' in the south, together with the islands of 
 the Alexander Archipelago between Cross Sound and Cape Fox. 
 This region differs from the bulk of Alaska, resembling British 
 Columbia and the adjoining islands. It is densely wooded and 
 exceedingly mountainous in its formation, the coast is deeply 
 indented with bays and fiords, and for two-thirds of its length is 
 sheltered by the islands of the archipelago. Coal has been dis- 
 covered on many of the islands and on the mainland, but no 
 practical use has thus far been made of the discoveries. Discov- 
 eries of gold-bearing quartz were made on Baranof Island, but 
 the ledges are not worked. Gold was also discovered on the 
 peninsula between Taku and Chilkat inlets and on Douglas 
 Island. The natives are chiefly engaged in the fur trade and 
 fisheries. There are numerous glaciers, and the mountains range 
 from 2,000 feet in height to 18,100 (Mount St. Elias). The chief 
 river is the Stikine (see "River system"). 
 
 2. The Kadiak division, containing 14,610 square miles, com- 
 prises the south coast of the Aliaska Peninsula down to Zakharof 
 Bay, with the adjacent islands, the Kadiak group. Cook Inlet, the 
 Kenai Peninsula, and Prince William Sound. This country is 
 
 15
 
 l6 ALASKA, 
 
 also very mountainous. Steep ridges and peaks rise to the height 
 ot sometimes 12,000 teet, intersected by glaciers. Coal has been 
 tound on the peninsula opposite Kadiak Island, and coal and gold 
 on Cook Inlet. The principal rivers are the Shushitna and the 
 Copper. 
 
 3. The Aleutian division contains 14,610 square miles, and 
 comprises the western part of the Aliaska Peninsula and the chain 
 of islands from the Shumagin group in the east to Attu in the 
 west, including the Pribilof Islands. The islands appear to be a 
 continuation of the main Alaskan range of mountain groups. 
 There are many volcanic peaks, and slight shocks of earthquake 
 are common. The entire division is treeless, dwarfed specimens 
 of creeping willow being the nearest approach to timber found. 
 Grass grows in abundance. 
 
 4. The Kuskokwim division contains 1 14,975 square miles, and 
 is bounded on the north by the Yukon division and on the east 
 by the mountain range between the Kuskokwim and Tanana rivers. 
 The head waters ot this river have not been explored, but the 
 ground on the shores is low and marshy. The interior of Alaska 
 is less elevated, and contains extensive plains. The country is 
 poor in natural products, although salmon abounds in the river. 
 
 5. The Yukon division contains 176,715 square miles, and 
 comprises the valley of the Yukon River, as far as it lies within 
 our boundaries, with its tributaries. The division is bounded by 
 the Arctic division on the north, the one hundred and forty-fifth 
 meridian on the east, and Bering Sea on the west. The southern 
 boundary lies along a line indicating the water shed between the 
 Yukon and the Kuskokwim, Sushitna, and Copper rivers. This 
 section, as well as the Kuskokwim division, are more fully described 
 under the heading "River system." 
 
 6. The Arctic division covers 125,245 square miles, and com- 
 prises that portion of the continent between the one hundred and 
 forty-fifth meridian on the east and Bering Strait on the west, the
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 17 
 
 Yukon district on the south and the Arctic Ocean on the north. 
 This division, situated ahiiost entirely above the Arctic Circle, is 
 known only from observations made on the seacoast. The vast 
 interior, consisting probably of frozen moors and low ranges of 
 hills, intersected here and there by shallow streams, remains almost 
 entirely unknown. The Meade, Ikpikpung, and Colville rivers 
 empty into the Arctic Ocean, and the Selawik (flowing through 
 Selawik Lake), the Noatak, and the Kowak empty into Kotze- 
 bue Sound. The natives report the existence of settlements on 
 all these rivers except the Colville, whose head waters no white 
 man has ever visited. The coast settlements between Cape 
 Prince of Wales and Point Barrow are visited annually by many 
 schooners and ships engaged in whaling, hunting, and trading, and 
 the inhabitants are better accustomed to white men than the 
 natives of any other regions of Alaska. They carry on an exten- 
 sive traffic with the natives of the Arctic coasts of Alaska and 
 Asia. Kotzebue Sound is by far the best harbor in this section 
 of the Arctic Ocean. 
 
 RIVER SYSTEM. 
 
 One of the characteristics of Alaska is the network of rivers 
 that covers its surface, and that serves as the most available means 
 of transportation. In the Sitkan district, says Mr. Petroff, land 
 travel is simply impracticable. Nobody goes on a road; savages 
 and whites all travel by water. In the more northern regions "the 
 country, outside of the mountains, is a great expanse of bog, 
 lakes, large and small, with thousands of channels between them." 
 By ascending Lynn Channel, the head waters of the Yukon can be 
 reached by the Chilkoot, the Chilkat, or the White passes; the 
 Copper and Tanana rivers, the Copper and Sushitna, the Tanana 
 and White, the Sushitna and Kuskokwim are connected by trails. 
 There is a trail of 6 miles between branches of the Yukon and Kus- 
 kokwim.^ In the Alaska peninsula, there is a route from Bristol 
 
 1 According to the map in Nansen's " Farthest North." 
 No. 86 2
 
 l8 ALASKA. 
 
 Bay to Shelikof Strait, via \\ alker Lake and the Naknek River. 
 Speaking of this region, Mr. Dall (Alaska and its Resources, 
 1870, p. 273) says: "The country between and at the bases of 
 the high mountains, which form the prolongation of the Alaskan 
 range in the peninsula, is very low and marshy. In many places, 
 large lakes are found, emptying into the sea by rivers on either 
 side, and it is said that in some places a passage can be made in 
 canoes from one shore to the other, hardly lifting the canoe out of 
 water during the journey." 
 
 The Yukon can be reached from Norton Sound via the Una- 
 laklik and Autokakat rivers (or via the Kaltag), the usual route 
 of travelers from St. Michaels. The Yukon also connects, via 
 the Koyukuk, with Kotzebue Sound. The statement is made by 
 natives that there are routes of travel between the northern tribu- 
 taries of the Yukon or the Noatak and the rivers that empty 
 direct into the Arctic Ocean. 
 
 Beginning on the south, the Stikine is the first river of large 
 size, although it lies within Alaskan territory, only 30 miles in an 
 air line from its mouth. It empties into Dry Strait, near Wran- 
 gell Island. The river has become well known on account of the 
 gold diggings on its banks, all of which are in British territory. 
 It is over 250 miles in length, and is navigable only by boats, 
 except during the spring freshets. The North Fork (about 40 
 miles long) rises on the east side of the Bald Mountains, near the 
 headwaters of the Yukon. A small stream called the Taku flows 
 into Glacier Arm of St. Stephens Strait. The Chilkat, a much 
 larger river, enters the northern extremity of Lynn Channel. 1 he 
 general direction of this river is from the north. The Indians 
 ascend it against a rapid current in twenty days, when they make 
 a portage by several lakes to the Lewis River, a tributary of the 
 Yukon. 
 
 The mouth of the Copper River lies in latitude 60° 17' and 
 longitude 145° 20'. The delta is 30 miles long by 4 or 5 wide,
 
 ALASKA, IQ 
 
 and the principal mouth is at the northwest. This river, with its 
 tributary the Chittyna, was explored in 1885 by Lieutenant Allen 
 (Reconnoissance in Alaska, Senate Ex. Doc. 125, Forty-ninth 
 Congress, second session). He followed the Copper River for 
 some 389 miles, and says that it drains, approximately, 25,000 
 square miles. By way of the Slana River and Lake Suslota, the 
 Tanana, a tributary of the Yukon, can be reached. Lieutenant 
 Allen says (pp. 69-7 1 ) : 
 
 To find two rivers of the magnitude of the Tanana and Copper heading so 
 near each other as almost to have intersecting tributaries, and to be so entirely 
 different in their characteristics, 1 consider one of the most interesting discov- 
 eries of the expedition. . . . The pass over the Alaskan range, Lake Suslota, 
 is probably the best locality that will permit communication between the Yukon 
 Basin and the Copper River country, and would doubtless be used should the 
 minerals of the latter region prove of sufficient importance. The possibility 
 of the ascent of the Copper with provisions can hardly be entertained, unless 
 it be made with sleds during the winter. 
 
 The Sushitna River empties into Cook Inlet. This river is 
 said to connect both with the Tanana and the Kuskokwim by 
 trails. \\ est of Augustin Island is a small stream by which, 
 through the mountain gorges, portage is made to Lake Iliamna. 
 This lake, says Mr, Dall, is supposed to be rather shallow, and is 
 known to be over 80 miles long and about 24 broad— fully half" 
 as large as Lake Ontario. At Fort Alexandra is the mouth of 
 the Nushagak, said to be 150 miles in length, and to connect by 
 means of lakes and rivers with the Kuskokwim. This is the 
 second largest river in Alaska, In his report on the Territory, 
 Mr. Petroff says: 
 
 The length of the main artery of this division is not known, the head waters 
 of the Kuskokwim having thus far been untouched by the explorer or trader. ' 
 We have the statements of natives to the effect that the upper Kuskokwim River 
 flows sluggishly through a vast plateau or valley, the current acquiring its impe- 
 tus only a short distance above the village of Napaimute. From this point 
 down to the trading station of Kalmakovsky and to the southern end of the 
 portage route between this river and the Yukon, the banks are high and gravelly
 
 20 ALASKA. 
 
 and chains of mountains seem to run parallel with its course on either side. 
 This section of the Kuskokwim Valley is but thinly populated, though appar- 
 ently the natural advantages are far greater than on the corresponding section 
 of the Yukon. The soil is of better quality and is sufficiently drained to permit 
 of a more luxuriant growth of forest trees, shrubs, and herbs. 
 
 Such indications of minerals as have been found here are the most promising 
 of those in any portion of western Alaska, consisting of well-defined veins of 
 cinnabar, antimony, and silver-bearing quartz. 
 
 Game and fur-bearing animals do not abound in this section of the river val- 
 ley, as it is an old hunting ground, and has been drained by constant traffic for 
 more than half a century. The principal business of the traders at Kalma- 
 kovsky is derived from the almost unknown head waters of the river, where the 
 beaver, marten, and fox are still plentiful. 
 
 The people of the lower Kuskokwim, adds Mr. PetrofF, live from 
 the abundant supply of salmon. Over 4,000 people lay in the 
 winter supply for themselves and for their dogs during a few 
 months of summer. The fish is dried in a wasteful manner, and 
 with better methods four times the number could be provided for. 
 This section of the country teems with population. The estuary 
 of the river is capacious, and the tides have a surprising velocity 
 and an enormous rise and fall. 
 
 THE YUKON REGION. 
 
 The following descriptions are also taken from Mr. Petroffs 
 report : 
 
 The people of the United States will not be quick to realize that the volume 
 of water in an x'\laskan river is greater than that discharged by the mighty Mis- 
 sissippi; but it is entirely within the bounds of honest statement to say that 
 the Yukon River, the vast deltoid mouth of which opens into Norton Sound of 
 Bering Sea, discharges every hour one-third more water than the "Father of 
 Waters." There is room for some very important measurements in this con- 
 nection, which I hope will soon be made. Entering the mouth, or rather any 
 one of the mouths, of this large river, we are impressed first by the exceeding 
 shallowness of the sea 50 miles out from it, varying in depth from 2 to 3 fathoms ; 
 and, second, by the mournful, desolate appearance of the country itself, which 
 is scarcely above the level of the tide, and which is covered with a monotonous
 
 ALASKA. 2 1 
 
 cloak of scrubby willows and rank grasses. The banks, wherever they are 
 lifted above the reddish current, are continually undermined and washed away 
 by the flood, and so sudden and precipitate are these landslides at times that 
 traders and natives have barely escaped with their lives. For loo miles up, 
 through an intricate labyrinth of tides, blind and misleading channels, sloughs, 
 and swamps, we pass through the same drearv, desolate region, until the higher 
 ground is first reached at Kusilvak, and until the bluffs at Andreievsky and at 
 Chatinakh give evidence of the fact that all the land in Alaska is not under 
 water. It is watered, however, here, there, and everywhere, and impresses one 
 with the idea of a vast inland sea, which impression holds good even as far up 
 the river as 700 or 800 miles, where there are many points, even far in the 
 interior, at which this river spans a breadth of 20 miles from shore to shore. 
 As we advance toward its source we are not surprised, when we view the character 
 of the country through which it rolls, at the vast quantity of water in its chan- 
 nel. It would seem as though the land itself, drained by the river on either 
 side within Alaska, were a sponge, into which all rain and moisture fi-om the 
 heavens and melting snow are absorbed, never finding their release by evapora- 
 tion, but conserved to drain, by myriads and myriads of rivulets, the great 
 watery highway of the Yukon. I noticed a striking evidence of the peculiar 
 nonconductive properties of the tundra mosses, or swale, last summer in pass- 
 ing through many of the thousand and one lakes and lakelets peculiar to that 
 region, where the ice had bound up the moss and overhanging water growth at 
 the edges of the lakes. In the breaking up and thawing out of summer that ice 
 failed to melt, and the renewed growth of the season of vegetation, reaching 
 out in turn from this icy border, will again prevent thawing, and so on until 
 shallow pools and flats are changed into fixed masses of ice hidden from view. 
 
 The Yukon is formed by the junction of the Lewis and Pelly 
 rivers. Mr. Wilson, in his "Guide to the Yukon Gold Fields," 
 published at Seattle, 1895, gives the length of the Yukon as 2,044 
 miles, and says that it is navigable the entire distance for tlat- 
 bottom boats with a capacity of from 400 to 500 tons. 
 
 The White River, a portion of whose waters flows through 
 Alaskan territory, empties into the Yukon on British territory. 
 Forty Mile Creek, Birch and Beaver creeks join the river between 
 Fort Yukon and Dawson, a British town. The following descrip- 
 tion of the topography of the Yukon River below Fort Yukon 
 (966 miles from mouth) is quoted by Mr. Petroff from the
 
 22 ALASKA. 
 
 account of Capt. C. W. Raymond, United States Army (see 
 Alaska, its Population, Industries, and Resources, pp. 89-90): 
 
 Fort Yukon is situated in latitude 66° 33' 47" and longitude 145° 17' 47", at 
 a point where the Yukon receives the waters of the Rat or Porcupine River, a 
 large tributary emptying on the right bank and flowing from its headwaters in 
 a general direction a little south ot west. From Fort Yukon to the mouth of 
 the Chetaut River, a distance of about 200 miles, the river has a general direc- 
 tion about west-southwest, the country on both sides of the stream being low 
 and level, usually consisting of sand or gravel. The average width of that 
 portion of the river is about three-quarters of a mile, but in some places, meas- 
 ured across its numerous islands, it widens out to 5 or 6 miles. The current 
 through all its passages is extremely rapid, and in many places the deepest chan- 
 nel does not carry more than 3 feet of water. Vegetation on the banks and 
 islands is principally small willow and poplar, with occasional groves of spruce 
 and birch. 
 
 From the mouth of the Chetaut River, however, the Yukon rapidly changes 
 its character; the islands disappear, the banks rise into hills, and the stream 
 gradually narrows into one channel, deep and rapid, until it finally rushes with 
 great velocity through the Rampart range of hills. The bluffs composing this 
 range rise abruptly from the water's edge, and are composed principally of a 
 hard, greenish rock, though slate is occasionally observed, and at the principal 
 rapids a ledge of granite crosses the river. Most of the hills are covered with 
 groves of spruce and birch, but the trees are all small, and in many places they 
 lie for some distance scattered in every direction, showing the small depth to 
 which their roots descend in the frozen ground and the great force of the pre- 
 vailing winds. From the Chetaut River to the Rampart rapids, a distance of 
 some 60 miles, the Yukon flows in a direction nearly northwest, and averages 
 about two-thirds of a mile in width, which decreases at the rapids to about 150 
 yards. The tributaries emptying into this section are also chiefly from the 
 north and small in volume. The first native village met after descending from 
 Fort Yukon is situated just below the rapids. From here to Nulato, a distance 
 of some 240 miles, the river has a general direction about west by south. 
 There are, however, many bends, although they are less sudden and numerous 
 than in other portions of the river. After leaving the Rampart range the river 
 widens again and diminishes in velocity. The right bank is generally hilly and 
 abrupt, and on the left, though the shore is generally low or flat, the hills and 
 bluffs occasionally approach the water's edge. The average width of the chan- 
 nel is about three-quarters of a mile, but occasionally groups of low islands 
 cause a widening of the river. About 50 miles below the Nuklukaiet station, a
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 23 
 
 range of mountains appears on the right bank. This is a succession of well- 
 defined peaks and ridges, describing a beautiful curve of many miles, with its 
 concavity toward the river and its flanks resting upon the water's edge. All 
 this bank is well timbered with spruce, poplar, and birch. 
 
 The principal northern tributaries of the river are the Koyakuk, 
 the Porcupine, the Melozikat, and the Tozikakat. The Koyakuk 
 was ascended by Lieutenant Allen for 532 miles from its mouth. 
 He says that at that point, although there had been several large 
 tributaries, the volume of water in the river had not apparently 
 diminished. He estimates that the Koyakuk drains 55,000 
 square miles. 
 
 The Tanana empties into the Yukon on the south "about 30 
 miles below the Ramparts and near the great trading ground 
 called Nuklukaiet, where the Indians are accustomed to congregate 
 in the spring and meet the white traders." From the place where 
 Lieutenant Allen reached the Tanana on his trip from the Cop- 
 per River to the junction of the Tanana with the Yukon was 546 
 miles. The river, says Lieutenant Allen, drains 45,000 square 
 miles. Owing to its violent rapids, it is dangerous to navigation. 
 Continuing the description of the Yukon, Mr. Petroff says: 
 
 From Nulato, situated some i;o miles south of the mission, to Andreafski 
 the distance is about 350 miles, and the river has the following approximate 
 directions: From Nulato to Anvik, south-southwest; from Anvik to the upper 
 entrance of Shageluk Slough, south-southeast; from the upper entrance of the 
 slough to the great bend, southwest ; from the great bend to Andreafski, west by 
 south. It is difficult to convey an idea of this portion of the river, as its numer- 
 ous windings, its hundreds of islands, its bars and shoals, ever changing and 
 shifting, baffle the traveler in his search for a navigable channel. Generally 
 speaking, the right bank is high, exhibiting many bluffs of sand and rock much 
 eroded by the ice torrents of the spring. The ice sometimes undermines the 
 high banks to a distance of 20 or 30 feet, and the trees standing on the project- 
 ing tops of the banks are loosened by the action of frost and water and pre- 
 cipitated into the stream beneath, and thus the river goes on widening and 
 shoaling, and floating immense quantities of driftwood down to the sea. Some- 
 times the right bank rises into high hills, but the left bank is generally low and 
 level; here and there, however, a few isolated hills are seen standing back a
 
 24 ALASKA. 
 
 mile or two from the water, and for nearly the whole distance a range of distant 
 mountains parallel to the left shore is visible. In these mountains, lie the upper 
 branches of the great river Kuskokwim. 
 
 Sandstone and slate continue throughout this portion of the Yukon Val- 
 ley. . . . There are few tributaries of importance in this section of the river, 
 but there are many small streams. The Takaiak joins the river some 50 miles 
 below Nulato, and the Anvik about 110 miles lower down. The latter has 
 steep banks and swift waters. About 130 miles below Nulato the Yukon sepa- 
 rates into two branches, the main stream pursuing a southerly course, and the 
 lesser branch, running at first a little south of east, makes finally a great bend to 
 the south and west and enters the main river again about 60 miles below the 
 point of separation. This lesser branch is called Chageluk Slough, and into it, 
 a few miles from its entrance, empties the Chageluk or Innoko River. A little 
 below Andreievsky the Yukon bends abruptly to the north and runs about north- 
 west to the sea. The three principal outlets of the great river are the Aphoon 
 or upper, the Kwikpak or middle, and the Kusilvak or lower mouth. The 
 Aphoon outlet is about 40 miles in length and has an average width of perhaps 
 one-third of a mile. 
 
 During the brief summer, adds Mr. PetrotF, tlie whole popula- 
 tion flocks to the river, attracted by the myriads of salmon. The 
 banks are lined with summer villages and camps of fishermen, 
 who build their basket traps far out into the eddies and bends of 
 the stream and lay up their store of dried fish, or "yukala," for the 
 long arctic winter. The traveler on the river during this busy 
 season would form an entirely erroneous idea of the density of the 
 population. The surrounding country is drained. Were he to 
 make a brief excursion into the almost impenetrable forests and 
 over the hills and mountains, he would quickly perceive that 
 along the river alone exist the conditions necessary to sustain life 
 throughout the year. The small rivulets of the interior and the 
 vast swampy plains covered with snow for seven or eight months 
 of the year are only visited by the trapper and hunter when the 
 skins of the marten, mink, and muskrat are in their prime. 
 Where the mountains are higher, along the upper courses of the 
 Yukon and the Tanana, game is more abundant and the inhabitants 
 are less dependent upon the river and its fish.
 
 IV. 
 
 Climate. 
 
 Mr. Dall (Alaska and Its Resources, p. 285) says that the mild 
 climate of the southern portion of Alaska is due to the Japanese 
 current, which splits on the eastern end of the Aleutian chain, the 
 smaller portion passing north to Bering Strait and preventing the 
 flow of ice southward, and the other portion sweeping south of the 
 islands, bringing a warm, moist atmosphere, which is responsible 
 for the remarkable rainfall. " To fully appreciate," says Mr. Pet- 
 roff, "how much moisture in the form of fog and rain settles upon 
 the land, one can not do better than to take a walk through one of 
 the narrow valleys to the summit of a lofty peak. He will step 
 upon what appeared from a distance to be a firm greensward, and 
 will sink to his waist in a shaking, tremulous bog." 
 
 A report prepared by Chief Willis L. Moore, of the United 
 States Weather Bureau, on the climate of Alaska, is as follows: 
 
 The general conception of Alaskan climate is largely due to those who go 
 down to the sea in ships, and this is not strange when we consider the vast 
 extent of shore line — over 26,000 miles — possessed by that Territory. The 
 climates of the coast and the interior are unlike in many respects, and the dif- 
 ferences are intensified in this, as perhaps in few other countries, by exceptional 
 phvsical conditions. The natural contrast between land and sea is here tre- 
 mendously increased by the current of warm water that impinges on the coast 
 of British Columbia, one branch flowing northward toward Sitka and thence 
 westward to the Kadiak and Shumagin Islands. 
 
 The fringe of islands that separates the mainland from the Pacific Ocean 
 from Dixon Sound northward, and also a strip of the mainland for possibly 
 20 miles back from the sea, following the sweep of the coast, as it curves to 
 the northwestward, to the western extremity of Alaska, form a distinct climate 
 
 25
 
 26 ALASKA, 
 
 division, which mav be termed temperate Alaska. The temperature rarelv falls 
 to zero; winter does not set in until December i, and by the last of May the 
 snow has disappeared except on the mountains. The mean winter temperature 
 of Sitka is 32.5 degrees, but little less than that of Washington, D. C. While 
 Sitka is fully exposed to the sea influence, places farther inland, but not over 
 the coast range of mountains, as Killisnoo and Juneau, have also mild tempera- 
 tures throughout the winter months. The temperature changes from month to 
 month in temperate Alaska are small, not exceeding 25 degrees from midwinter 
 to midsummer. The average temperature of July, the warmest month of sum- 
 mer, rarely reaches 55 degrees, and the highest temperature of a single day 
 seldom reaches 75 degrees. 
 
 The rainfall of temperate Alaska is notorious the world over, not only as 
 regards the quantity that falls, but also as to the manner of its falling, viz, in long 
 and incessant rains and drizzles. Cloud and fog naturally abound, there being 
 on an average but sixty-six clear days in the year. 
 
 Alaska is a land of striking contrasts, both in climate as well as topography. 
 When the sun shines the atmosphere is remarkably clear ; the scenic effects are 
 magnificent; all nature seems to be in holiday attire. But the scene may change 
 very quickly; the sky becomes overcast; the winds increase in force; rain 
 begins to fall; the evergreens sigh ominously, and utter desolation and loneli- 
 ness prevail. 
 
 North of the Aleutian Islands the coast climate becomes more rigorous in 
 winter, but in summer the difference is much less marked. Thus, at St. Michaels, 
 a short distance north of the mouth of the Yukon, the mean summer tempera- 
 ture is 50 degrees, but 4 degrees cooler than Sitka. The mean summer tem- 
 perature of Point Barrow, the most northerly point in the United States, is 
 36.8 degrees, but four-tenths of a degree less than the temperature of the air 
 flowing across the summit of Pikes Peak, Colo. 
 
 The rainfall of the coast region north of the Yukon Delta is small, diminishing 
 to less than ten inches within the arctic circle. 
 
 The climate of the interior, including in that designation practically all of the 
 country except a narrow fringe of coastal margin and the territory before 
 referred to as temperate Alaska, is one of extreme rigor in winter, with a brief, 
 but relatively hot, summer, especially when the sky is free from clouds. 
 
 In the Klondike region in midwinter, the sun rises from 9.30 to 10 a. m., and 
 sets from 2 to 3 p. m., the total length of daylight being about four hours. 
 Remembering that the sun rises but a few degrees above the horizon, and that 
 it is wholly obscured on a great many days, the character of the winter months 
 may easily be imagined. 
 
 We are indebted to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey for a series 
 of six months' observations on the Yukon, not far from the site of the present
 
 ALASKA. 27 
 
 gold discoveries. The observations were made with standard instruments, and 
 are wholly reliable. The mean temperature of the months October, 1889, to 
 April, 1890, both inclusive, are as follows: October, 33 degrees; November, 8 
 degrees; December, 11 degrees below zero; January, 17 degrees below zero; 
 February, 15 degrees below zero; March, 6 degrees above zero; April, 20 
 degrees above. The daily mean temperature fell and remained below the freez- 
 ing point (32) from November 4, 1889, to April 21, 1890, thus giving 168 days 
 as the length of the closed season of 1889-90, assuming the outdoor operations 
 are controlled by temperature only. 
 
 The lowest temperatures registered during the winter were: 32 degrees below 
 zero in November, 47 below in December, 59 below in January, 55 below in 
 February, 45 below in March, 26 below in April. 
 
 The greatest continuous cold occurred in February, 1890, when the dailv 
 mean for five consecutive days was 47 degrees below zero. The weather mod- 
 erated slightly about the 1st of March, but the temperature still remained below 
 the freezing point. Generally cloudy weather prevailed, there being but three 
 consecutive days in any month with clear weather during the whole winter. 
 Snow fell on about one-third of the days in winter, and a less number in the 
 early spring and late tall months. 
 
 Greater cold than that here noted has been experienced in the United States 
 for a very short time, but never has it continued so very cold for so long a time. 
 In the interior of Alaska, the winter sets in as early as September, when snow- 
 storms may be expected in the mountains and passes. Headway during one of 
 these storms is impossible, and the traveler who is overtaken by one of them is 
 indeed fortunate if he escapes with his life. Snowstorms of great severity may 
 occur in any month from September to May, inclusive. 
 
 The changes of temperature from winter to summer are rapid, owing to the 
 great increase in the length of the day. In May the sun rises at about 3 a. m. 
 and sets about 9 p. m. In June it rises about 1.30 in the morning and sets at 
 10.30, giving about twenty hours of daylight, and diffuse twilight the remainder 
 of the time. 
 
 The mean summer temperature of the interior doubtless ranges between 60 
 and 70 degrees, according to elevation, being highest in the middle and lower 
 Yukon valleys. 
 
 Speaking of the temperature of St, Michael's and vicinity, 
 Mr. Petroff quotes from Mr. E. W. Nelson's report (1880) to 
 the Chief Signal Officer: 
 
 During the past four years, the first mush-ice has begun to form in the bavs 
 from the 15th to the 18th of October, and the bays have been frozen over so
 
 28 ALASKA. 
 
 as to bear a man from the 25th to the 28th ot" October, with the exception of 
 the vear 1878, when a strong wind took the ice out, and it did not freeze again 
 until the 10th of November. Up to the 15th of October, vessels could enter 
 here without danger of meeting ice. In the spring, much more uncertainty 
 exists, as to a great extent the date of open water depends upon what the 
 prevailing winds may be. Long-continued north winds, following a severe 
 winter, as in 1880, may keep the ice barrier in until the 20th of June, and it 
 has even remained until nearly the 1st ot July; but these late dates are excep- 
 tional. As a rule, the ice will be thoroughly broken up and a strong vessel 
 mav enter Norton Sound through the ice by the 10th of June. Between the 
 20th of June and the 1st of July may be called safe dates for any vessel except 
 in an unusual season, as during a large part of June fine weather prevails. 
 
 As in most other places under high latitudes, there is no long gradation from 
 season to season, but instead we have two well-marked periods — a long winter 
 of about seven months, extending from October until well into May, and five 
 months of summer. The winter is by far the best, as there are long periods of 
 beautifully clear days, which are welcomed in spite of the usually accompanying 
 intense cold. The summer is rendered very disagreeable by a large number of 
 cold, misty rains, and the low overhanging stratum, which appears to shut 
 down all about like a leaden covering. 
 
 As a natural result of these climatic conditions, the warm 
 weather brings swarms of mosquitoes. Mr. Petroif says (speaking 
 especially of the Kuskokwim region, although the same complaint 
 is made by travelers in other sections): 
 
 . There is a feature in this country which, though insignificant on paper, is to the 
 traveler the most terrible and poignant infliction he can be called upon to bear in a 
 new land. I refer to the clouds of bloodthirsty mosquitoes, accompanied by a 
 vindictive ally in the shape of a small poisonous black fly, under the stress of 
 whose persecution the strongest man with the firmest will must either feel 
 depressed or succumb to low fever. They hold their carnival of human tor- 
 ment from the first growing of spring vegetation in May until it is withered by 
 frosts late in September. Breeding here as they do in the vast network of slough 
 and swamp, they are able to rally around and to infest the wake and the prog- 
 ress of the explorer beyond all adequate description, and language is simply 
 unable to portray the misery and annoyance accompanying their presence. It 
 v/ill naturally be asked. How do the natives bear this ? They, too, are annoyed 
 and suffer, but it should be borne in mind that their bodies are annointed with 
 rancid oil ; and certain ammoniacal vapors, peculiar to their garments from
 
 ALASKA. 29 
 
 constant wear, have a repellant power which even the mosquitoes, bloodthirsty 
 and cruel as they are, are hardly equal to meet. When traveling, the natives 
 are, however, glad enough to seize upon any piece of mosquito net, no matter 
 how small, and usually they have to wrap cloths or skins about their heads and 
 wear mittens in midsummer. The traveler who exposes his bare eyes or face 
 here loses his natural appearance ; his eyelids swell up and close, and his face 
 becomes one mass of lumps and fiery pimples. Mosquitoes torture the Indian 
 dogs to df^ath, especially if one of these animals, by mange or otherwise, loses 
 an inconsiderable portion of its thick hairy covering, and even drive the bear 
 and the deer into the water.
 
 Towns and Trading Posts. 
 
 The capital of the Territory is Sitka, located in 57° N., 135° 
 17' W., on a low strip of land on the west of Baranof Island. 
 Mount Edgecumbe, an extinct volcano of 8,000 feet, opposite the 
 town, is the landmark of the port. There is an industrial school, 
 and the population was 1,190 in 1890. Salmon fishing and cur- 
 ing is the chief industry. Steamers ply once a month between 
 Sitka and Portland, Oreg. The harbor is small but commodious. 
 Mean temperature (forty-three years), January, 31.4°; August, 5'5.9°. 
 Annual rainfall (thirty years), 84.06 inches. Senator Charles 
 Sumner of Massachusetts called attention to the fact that the 
 winter of Sitka is milder than that of many European capitals — 
 Berlin, Copenhagen, Berne, Stuttgart, Vienna, or Turin. Mr. 
 Dall (p. 255) says that the shortest distance from San Francisco 
 Harbor to Sitka is 1,296 miles. By the inner passage, between 
 the archipelago and the coast of British Columbia and Alaska, the 
 distance is 1,647 miles; large sailing vessels have to go outside. 
 Juneau (population 1,253, census of 1890) is located near the 
 Lynn Channel, by which there are trails to the Yukon. Mr. 
 Wilson (Guide to the Yukon Gold F'ieUls) says that the year 1895 
 witnessed a great improvement in the town, and Juneau is to-day 
 a progressive city with fine buildings, wharves, electric lights, 
 waterworks, hotels, etc. 
 
 Wrangell, on the northern part of the island of the same name, 
 is about 10 miles from the mouth of the Stikine, and is the point 
 of departure for traders and miners penetrating into the interior by 
 30
 
 ALASKA. 31 
 
 way of that river. The regular mail steamer trom Portland touches 
 here both on the outward and return trips. There are 316 inhabi- 
 tants. 
 
 Douglas City, on Douglas Island, near Juneau, has a popula- 
 tion of 402. This is the location of the Treadwell gold mine, 
 with, it is said, the largest quartz mill in the world. Yakutat 
 (population 308) is on Yakutat Bay. Nuchek is situated on 
 Hinchinbrook Island, 432 miles by sea from Sitka, and 50 miles 
 from the mouth of the Copper River. It was formerly an impor- 
 tant trading post, but much of the commerce has been transferred. 
 
 In regard to the Kenai peninsula, Mr. Petrolf says: 
 
 Two of the trading stations are located at English Bay and Seldovia. Three 
 more stations, consisting each of two rival stores, are located at Kenai (Redoute 
 St. Nicholas), on the river Kinik, and the village of Toyonok, or West Foreland. 
 
 The central point of all this region is Kenai, once the site of the earliest 
 permanent settlement on the inlet, the remnants of which can still be seen. A 
 Russian missionary is located here, and a new church is nearly completed. At 
 the time of the transfer of the Territory, Kenai was still a fortified place, with a 
 high stockade and octagonal bastions at the salient points. Both stockade and 
 bastions, with their primitive armament of i^-pound falconets, have disappeared 
 since then, but a number of new buildings have sprung up, and a thrifty colony 
 of Creoles has taken to the cultivation of potatoes and turnips on a larger scale 
 than had ever been attempted before. Perhaps lo or 12 acres are planted here 
 now, and several of the families keep cattle. Some of the choicest salmon of 
 the Territory is salted here and is barreled and shipped to San Francisco. 
 The hunting grounds in the immediate vicinity do not yield their former abun- 
 dance of valuable furs, but the presence of the missionary establishment causes 
 a concentration of natives from all parts of the inlet at least once a year and 
 brings considerable trade to this old station. It was on the river Kaknu, or 
 Kenai, that the Russian mining engineer Doroshin reported the existence of sur- 
 face gold in paying quantities. After laboring with a numerous party in the 
 mountains for two seasons, at great expense to the Russian-American Company, 
 he returned with a few ounces of the precious metal, but he could present no 
 inducement to the corporation to proceed any further in this enterprise. Since 
 that time American prospectors have passed years in this region following up 
 the Russian's tracks, but not one of them has thus far found gold enough to 
 warrant him to work the find. In former years Kenai was also the site ot a
 
 32 ALASKA. 
 
 large brickyard, the only establishment of the kind in the colony, from which all 
 stations and settlements were supplied with the material for the old-fashioned 
 Russian ovens or heaters. 
 
 About 30 miles down the coast from Kenai, there is another settlement deserv- 
 ing at least a passing notice. A number of "colonial citizens," or superan- 
 nuated employees of the old Russian company, were ordered to settle some fifty 
 or sixty years ago at Ninilchik, and their descendants live there still. Each 
 family has quite a large garden patch of turnips and potatoes, yielding enough to 
 allow the owners to dispose of a large surplus to traders and fishermen. They 
 have quite a herd of cattle, and the women actually make butter; but they are 
 not sufficiently advanced in farming lore to construct or use a churn, and the 
 butter is made in a very laborious manner by shaking the cream in bottles. 
 They also raise pigs and keep poultry, but on account of the hogs running on 
 the seashore, digging clams and feeding upon kelp, and the chickens scratching 
 among fish bones and other offal, both their poultry and their pork are fishy to 
 such an extent as to be made unpalatable. 
 
 In the vicinity of Anchor Point, on Kuchekmak Gulf, and on Graham's or 
 English Harbor, extensive coal veins appear along the bluffs and come to the 
 surface. The Russian-American Company, jointly with a San Francisco firm, 
 worked here for years to develop the mines and obtain a product good enough 
 for the use of steamers and engines, but after sinking a large capital the enter- 
 prise was abandoned before the transfer of the Territory took place. A few 
 remnants of the extensive buildings erected in connection with these mining 
 operations still remain on the north shore of English Bay. 
 
 St. Paul, on the northern part of Kadiak Island, does a large 
 fur trade. There are a number of salmon canneries on the is- 
 land, employing in 1890, according to Longman's Gazetteer (p. 
 764), 1,100 hands, Karluk (population, 1,123) is said to have 
 the largest cannery in the world. Kadiak (495), Alitak (420), 
 and Afognak (409) are other villages on the island. 
 
 On the Aleutian Islands, there are many settlements. The one 
 on Ounga Island has a population of about 200, according to Mr. 
 Petroff. Belkowsky, on the southern end of the Aliaska Penin- 
 sula, has 300 inhabitants. Near Protassof (100 inhabitants) there 
 are warm sulphur springs and ponds. Iliuliuk, on Unalaska 
 Island, is a point of considerable commercial importance, having 
 a church, custom-house, trading establishments, wharves, etc. Ni-
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 33 
 
 kolsky, on the south of Unimak Island, has 127 inhabitants; it 
 was formerly much larger. Nazan, on Atkha Island, has a popu- 
 lation of 230, described by Mr. Petroff as thrifty and prosperous. 
 St. Paul, on the Pribilof Islands, had in 1882 a population o^' 
 298. The Amukhta (172° longitude) and the Unimak (160° 
 longitude) are the two safe passes between the islands. 
 
 St. Michaels, on Norton Sound, is one of the most important 
 localities on the coast. It is a trading post, says Mr. Petroff, where 
 rival firms have established their depots for the Yukon River and 
 Arctic trade. The station keepers come down from the interior 
 to the coast at the end of June or 1st of July, and each receives 
 his allotment of goods to take back with him in sailboats and 
 bidars during the few months when navigation on the river is not 
 impeded by ice. The vessels supplying this depot can seldom 
 approach the post before the end of June, on account of large 
 bodies of drifting ice that beset the waters of Norton Sound and 
 the straits between St. Lawrence Island and the Yukon delta. 
 St. Michaels is the usual landing place for the Yukon Valley. 
 Travelers follow a trail across the country, and reach Yukon some 
 392 miles from its mouth. Lieutenant Allen says that the distance 
 from St. Michaels to the mouth of the Unalaklik River is 55 
 miles by coast. He ascended the river 14 miles to a village called 
 Ulukuk, and followed the trail some 32 miles to the Autokakat 
 River. A descent of this stream for 3 miles brought him to 
 the Yukon. 
 
 Port Clarence, on the bay of the same name, is the place where 
 whalers wait for their tenders before proceeding through the straits. 
 The harbor is excellent. There is a reindeer farm here, and the 
 population numbers 485. Point Hope (population 301), Cape 
 Lisburne, Icy Cape, and Point Barrow are the most important 
 points on the northern coast. 
 
 Nulato and Nuklakayet are trading posts on the Yukon River, 
 the former being 467 miles from the sea, according to Lieutenant 
 ifo. 86 3
 
 34 
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 Allen, and Nuklakayet 201 miles farther. Fort Yukon (about 
 300 miles distant from Nuklakayet) was formerly a trading post. 
 Lieutenant Schwatka says it was abandoned about 1880 as not 
 rem-unerative, and Fort Reliance and Belle Isle were established. 
 Both of these have since been abandoned. At Fort Yukon, the 
 river is said to be 7 miles wide. 
 
 Circle City, between Fort Yukon and Belle Isle, had a popu- 
 lation in 1896 of 1,150. (Report on Introduction of Domestic 
 Reindeer into Alaska, by Sheldon Jackson, D. D., Senate Doc. 
 No. 49, Fifty-fourth Congress, second session.) Missions have 
 been established and hospitals proposed. There are some 40 
 white women in the district.
 
 VI. 
 
 Forests of Alaska — Varieties of Timber. 
 
 Speaking of the resources of Alaska, Mr. Petroffsays: 
 
 The timber of Alaska extends over a much larger area than a great many 
 surmise. It clothes the steep hills and mountain sides, and chokes up the 
 valleys of the Alexander archipelago and the contiguous mainland; it stretches, 
 less dense but still abundant, along that inhospitable reach of territory which 
 extends from the head of Cross Sound to the Kenai Peninsula, where, reaching 
 down to the westward and southwestward as far as the eastern half of Kadiak 
 Island, and thence across Shelikof Strait, it is found on the mainland and on 
 the peninsula bordering on the same latitude ; but it is confined to the interior 
 opposite Kadiak, not coming down to the coast as far eastward as Cape Douglas. 
 Here, however, it impinges on the coast or Cook Inlet, reaching down to the 
 shores and extending around to the Kenai Peninsula. From the interior of 
 the peninsula, above referred to, the timber line over the whole ot the interior 
 of the great area of Alaska will be found to follow the coast line, at varying 
 distances of from loo to 150 miles from the seaboard, until that section of 
 Alaska north of the Yukon mouth is reached, where a portion of the coast 
 of Norton Sound is directly bordered by timber as far north as Cape Denbigh. 
 From this point to the eastward and northeastward, a line may be drawn just 
 above the Yukon and its immediate tributaries as the northern limit of timber 
 of any considerable extent. 
 
 The trees, adds Mr. PetrofF, are mostly evergreen, the spruce 
 family preponderating to an overwhelming extent. Boards ot the 
 spruce are not adapted for nice finishing work in building, or in 
 cabinet ware, or, indeed, in anything that requires a finish; for 
 under the influence of slight degrees of heat, it sweats, exuding 
 minute globules of gum or resin, sticky and difficult to remove. 
 The white birch is found throughout the region that supports the 
 spruce — scattered or in small bodies — chiefly along the water 
 courses. The alder and willow are found on all the low lands, 
 reaching far beyond the northern and western limit of the spruce. 
 
 35
 
 ^6 ALASKA. 
 
 A poplar, resembling our cottonwood, attaining great size under 
 favorable circumstances, is also found in nearly all the timbered 
 sections of Alaska south of the Arctic Circle. To the westward 
 of the one hundred and forty-first meridian, no timber grows at an 
 altitude higher than 1,000 feet above the sea level. A slightly 
 curved line, beginning at the intersection of the coast hills of the 
 east shore of Norton Sound with the Unalaklik River, pass- 
 ing across the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, the mouth of the 
 Nushagak, across the Alaska Peninsula, and impinging upon the 
 North Pacific in the vicinity of Orlova Bay, on Kadiak Island, 
 vvill serve as the western limit of spruce forest in Alaska. 
 
 With reference to quality, continues Mr. Petroff, the trees may 
 be divided as follows: 
 
 1. Yellow Cedar [Ciipressus nutkanensis). — This is one of the most valua- 
 ble woods on the Pacific Coast, combining a fine, close texture, with great 
 hardness, durability, and a peculiar but pleasant odor. The Russians named it 
 "dushnik" (scented wood) on account of the last-named quality. In the 
 immediate vicinity of Sitka, on Baranof and adjoining islands, this tree was 
 nearly exterminated by the Russians, but on the Kehk Archipelago (Koo 
 Island), and on Prince of Wales Island and a few others of the Alexander 
 Archipelago, near the British Columbian frontier, considerable bodies of it can 
 still be found, and beyond the line, in the Nass and Skeena River valleys, it is 
 also abundant. 
 
 2. Sitka spruce [Abies sitkensis). — This is the universal forest tree of Alaska, 
 and is found of gigantic size on the islands of the Alexander Archipelago and on 
 the shores of Prince William Sound. Its medium growth it appears to attain 
 in the valleys of the Yukon and the Kuskokwim, while on the east side of Cook 
 Inlet and on the more northern uplands, it is quite stunted and dwarfed. The 
 Sitka spruce is most closely connected with the various requirements of all 
 Alaskan natives in their domestic economy, as its timber is used in the construc- 
 tion of nearly every dwelling throughout the country, and even those tribes which 
 inhabit barren coasts far removed from the limits of coniferous trees are sup- 
 plied with it through means of freshets and ocean currents. The sappy outer 
 portion of the wood furnishes splinters and torches that light up during the long 
 months of winter the dark dwellings of interior tribes of Tinneh stock, who 
 know not the oil lamp of their Innuit neighbors. The same material is also 
 used for sledge runners on loose but crisp-frozen snow, over which iron or steel 
 would drag with difficulty, as over deep, coarse sand. The Thlinket and the
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 37 
 
 Hyda fashion their buoyant and graceful canoes, both large and small, from 
 spruce logs, and split from them also the huge planks used in the construction of 
 their houses. The lumber manufactured from the Sitka spruce is much less 
 durable than the yellow cedar, very knotty, and consequently not adapted for 
 shipbuilding. 
 
 3. Hemlock {^Abies mertensiana). — Though this tree generally exceeds the 
 spruce in size, it is of rare occurrence, much less valuable as timber, but well 
 adapted for fuel. 
 
 Balsam fir [Abies canadensis). — This tree is found only in small, scattered 
 bodies, and is of little value as timber, but the natives use its bark for tanning 
 and for other purposes. 
 
 5. Scrub pine (Pinus contorta). — The scrub pine is found throughout the 
 interior of Alaska in small, scattered bodies up to the highest latitudes, but it is 
 of no value as timber. 
 
 Thus it will be seen that the forests of Alaska are altogether coniferous, as the 
 small bodies of birch and the alder and willow thickets on the lower Yukon and 
 Kuskokwim rivers can scarcely be considered to come under this head. Aside 
 from the yellow cedar, which is rare, the timber wealth of Alaska consists of the 
 Sitka spruce, which is not only abundant and large (trees of from 3 to 4 feet in 
 diameter being quite common in southeastern Alaska and Prince William Sound), 
 but also generally accessible. 
 
 To give even an approximate estimate of the area of timbered lands in Alaska 
 is at present impossible, in view of our incomplete knowledge of the extent of 
 mountain ranges, which, though falling within the timber limits, must be deducted 
 from the superficial area of forest covering. 
 
 A few small sawmills of exceedingly limited capacity have been erected at 
 various points in southeastern Alaska, to supply the local demand of trading 
 posts and mining camps, but finished building lumber is still largely imported even 
 into this heavily timbered region. In all western Alaska, but one small sawmill 
 is known to exist, which is on Wood Island, St. Paul Harbor, Kadiak. This 
 mill was first set up to supply sawdust for packing ice, but since the collapse oi 
 that industry, its operations have been spasmodic and not worth mentioning. 
 Lumber from Puget Sound and British Columbian mills is shipped to nearlv 
 all ports in western Alaska for the use of whites and halt-breeds, while the 
 natives in their more remote settlements obtain planks and boards by the very 
 laborious process of splitting logs with iron or ivory wedges. On the treeless 
 isles of the Shumagin and Aleutian groups, as well as in the southern settlements 
 of the Alaska peninsula, even firewood is imported from more favored sections 
 of the Territory and commands high prices. 
 
 The driftwood washed upon the shores of Bering Sea and the Arctic is of 
 very little value as building material and can not be worked into lumber.
 
 i 
 
 VII. 
 
 Agricultural Resources. 
 
 In regard to the agricultural resources of Alaska, Mr. Petroflf 
 says that it has been settled by patient experiments that cereal 
 crops can not be grown. Nor can the fruit trees and small fruits 
 of the United States be cultivated with success, unless it be the 
 strawberry and the cranberry. He continues: 
 
 Taking up the subject of the vegetable garden, it is found that there are 
 localities in Alaska where for the last eighty years, or even more, up to the 
 present date good potatoes have been raised, though I should say, perhaps, that 
 the raising of these tubers is not a certain success year after year, except at one 
 or two points within the Alexander Archipelago, namely, at the mouth of the 
 Stakhin River, at Fort Wrangel, and on Prince of Wales Island. The potato 
 grounds of Alaska, however, can with due care and diligence be made to furnish 
 in the Alexander Archipelago, in Cook Inlet, at Kadiak Island and islets con- 
 tiguous, and at Bristol Bay a positive source of food supply to the inhabitants. 
 It is not generally known that on Afognak Island there are nearly lOO acres of 
 land, dug up in patches here and there, which are planted by the inhabitants and 
 from which they gather an annual harvest of potatoes and turnips; but there 
 are no fields spread out, squared up, and plowed anywhere in Alaska. The 
 little openings in the forest or the cleared sides of a gently sloping declivity in 
 sheltered situations are taken up by the people, who turn out with rude spades, 
 of their own manufacture principally, for the purpose of subjugating and over- 
 turning the sod. Many of the gardens, noticeably those at the Kadiak village, 
 are close by the settlement, while others are at some distance. 
 
 The potato crop at Kadiak in 1880 was a total failure, and this happens at 
 intervals of from four to six years. The winter preceding the planting in 1880 
 was an unusually cold and protracted one, and the season, short at the best, 
 was cut off by unwonted early frosts during September and the latter part of 
 August. The usual growing season, however, opens early in June, from the 1st 
 38
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 39 
 
 to the loth, and the potatoes are planted in May, coming up and growing 
 freely until October, when they are harvested. This growth of potatoes, fairly 
 established and well derined, presents the only firm and tangible evidence of 
 agricultural capacity within the limits of Alaska. The turnip grows and flour- 
 ishes wherever the potato succeeds. 
 
 Mr. Petroff says, in conclusion, that although Alaska will not 
 support any considerable number of people as agriculturists, it is 
 apparent that the existence of those who live in the Territory can 
 be improved by better attention to the development of the 
 resources latent in the soil in certain localities. The people are 
 disinclined to labor in this direction, preferring the profits of hunt- 
 ing. It will be found that points located by the Russians eighty 
 years ago as most suitable for gardening are the best to-day. 
 
 Captain Beardslee, United States Navy, speaking of the agricul- 
 tural conditions in the vicinity of Sitka, says (Reports on Affairs 
 in Alaska, Senate Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-seventh Congress, first 
 session, p. 125) : 
 
 Whether it be due to the change of climate through the clearing away of 
 many acres of forest or to improved methods I can not say, but for several 
 years past excellent vegetables, such as potatoes, cabbages, etc., have been 
 raised yearly in the neighborhood of Sitka and Wrangel. Near Sitka there 
 are a large number of plots under cultivation. I have seen, two seasons in 
 succession, lettuce of several varieties, cabbages a yard across before they began 
 to head, and 8 to 10 inches in diameter headed; cauliflower weighing from lo 
 to 15 pounds, early rose and peachblow potatoes ranging from 3 to 30 ounces 
 each, and each hill yielding over half a bucket full; turnips of very large size, 
 and cress, radishes, etc., in profusion; green pease of excellent quality, and beds 
 bordered by gooseberries and currant bushes, producing loads of fruit. My 
 lettuce bed kept me supplied from June to September. 
 
 As to the character of the country in the Yuk jn region, ]\Ir. Dall 
 (Alaska and its Resources, p. 433) says that it '-^aries from rolling 
 and somewhat rocky hills to broad and marshy plains, extending 
 for miles on either side of the river. The underlying rocks in 
 great part are Azoic, being conglomerate, syenite- and quartzite. 
 The south shore of Norton Sound and portions of the Kadiak
 
 40 ALASKA. 
 
 Peninsula are basalt and lava. There is on the northeast shore of 
 Norton Sound an abundance of sandstone and clay beds containing 
 lignite. Sandstone is also abundant on the Yukon, alternating w ith 
 the Azoic rocks. The superincumbent soil differs in different 
 places. In some localities, it is clayey, and in such situations is quite 
 frequently covered with sphagnum, which always impoverishes the 
 soil immediately beneath it. In others, it is light and sandy, and 
 over a large extent of country it is the richest alluvial, composed of 
 very fine sand, mud, and vegetable matter, brought down by the 
 river and forming deposits of indefinite depth. * * * y^g 
 soil is usually frozen at a depth of 3 or 4 feet in ordinary situa- 
 tions. In colder ones, it remains icy to within 18 inches of the 
 surface. This layer of frozen soil is 6 or 8 feet thick. Below that 
 depth, the soil is destitute of ice, except in very unusual situations. 
 Lieutenant Allen (Report on Expedition to Alaska, 1885) 
 says: 
 
 I believe that lettuce, radishes, turnips, beans, peas, potatoes, carrots, and 
 possibly buckwheat and barley, can be raised in favored localities on the middle 
 and upper Yukon and Tanana. The climatic conditions of the coast do not 
 prevail here; there is not as much humidity. . . . The summers, though short, 
 are very hot. The sun is almost continually above the horizon, and the ther- 
 mometer has been known to read 112° and 115° F. Although the soil usually 
 remains frozen the year round at a depth of 1 or 2 feet below the surface, 
 this would not necessarily interfere with agricultural pursuits. By cultivation 
 and proper drainage, the distance of the ice bed below the surface would be 
 considerably increased. 
 
 CATTLE. 
 
 With reference to cattle and other live stock, Mr. Petroff says: 
 
 There have been repeated attempts to raise stock cattje, sheep, and hogs m 
 large herds within the borders of Alaska. The subject is one in which the 
 Russians first naturally took a deep interest, for they were fond of good living 
 and were as desirous as any people could be to have the best of beef or mutton 
 and the sweetest pork on their tables. They brought over hardy selections 
 from the Siberian stock, placing the cattle at almost every point of importance 
 for trial. The result, after years of patient and persistent attention, was that
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 41 
 
 the herds on Kadiak Island throve the best and becaine of real serv^ice in assist- 
 ing to maintain the settlement. Here there is a very fine ranging ground for 
 pasture, and in the summer there is the greatest abundance of nutritious grasses, 
 but when the storms of October, freighted with snow, accompanied by cold and 
 piercing gales, arrive and hold their own until the following May, the sleek, fat 
 herd of September becomes very much worn and emaciated. It has given its 
 owner an undue amount of trouble to shelter and feed. Hay, however, suitable 
 for cattle, or at least to keep cattle alive, can be cut in almost any quantities 
 desired for that purpose, but the stress of weather alone, even with abundance 
 of this feed, depresses as it were and enfeebles the vitality of the stock, so that 
 the herds on Kadiak Island have never increased to anvthing approximating a 
 stock grower's drove, rarely exceeding 15 or 20 head at the most. Notable 
 examples of small flocks of sheep which have been brought uj) since the trans- 
 fer and turned out at Unalaska, Unga, and elsewhere have done well. The 
 mutton of the Alaskan sheep when it is rolling in its own fat, as it were, is 
 pronounced by epicures to be very fine ; but the severe winters, which are not 
 so cold as protracted — when the weather is so violent that the animals have to 
 huddle for weeks in some dark, low shelter, cause a sweating or heating of their 
 wool, which is detached and falls off — -greatly enfeebling and emaciating them 
 by spring. The practice of the traders at some places now is to bring beef cattle 
 up in the spring from San Francisco, turn them out into the grazing grounds on 
 the Aleutian Islands, Kadiak, and even to the north, where they speedily round 
 out and flesh up into the very finest beeves by the middle or end of October, 
 when they are slaughtered. 
 
 Horses, according to Mr. Petroff, have been kept on Wood 
 Island, Kadiak Harbor, for years. A field of 12 acres of oats is 
 regularly sown for their use. The oats grow and frequently head, 
 but never ripen ; the planters cut the green crop for haying pur- 
 poses. Mules and horses have no economic value, there being 
 little service for them on land. 
 
 REINDEER. 
 
 Dr. Jackson (Report on Introduction of Domestic Reindeer 
 into Alaska, 1896), says that the vast territory of central and arc- 
 tic Alaska, unfitted for agriculture or cattle raising, is abundantly 
 supplied with long, fibrous white moss, the natural food of the 
 reindeer. Taking the statistics of Norway and Sweden as a guide.
 
 42 ALASKA. 
 
 arctic and subarctic Alaska can support 9,000,000 reindeer, fur- 
 nishing a supply ot food, clothing, and means of transportation to 
 a population of a quarter of a million. Providence has adapted 
 the reindeer, continues Dr. Jackson, to the peculiar conditions of 
 arctic life, and it furnishes the possibilities of large and increasing 
 commercial industries. The flesh is considered a great delicacy, 
 whether fresh or cured. The untanned skin makes the best cloth- 
 ing for the climate of Alaska, and when tanned is the best leather 
 for the bookbinder, upholsterer, and glove maker. The hair is in 
 great demand, by reason of its wonderful buoyancy, in the con- 
 struction of life-saving apparatus. The horns and hoofs make the 
 best glue known to commerce. With Alaska stocked with this 
 valuable animal, enterprises would be developed amounting to 
 millions of dollars annually. 
 
 Reindeer will also be found very useful in transportation. Dogs 
 have been used for this purpose, but they are slow and must be 
 burdened with the food for their own maintenance. Provisions and 
 freight brought from the south and landed in Alaska are with 
 great difficulty transported to the mining regions. During the 
 winter of 1895-96, Dr. Jackson says, mongrel Indian dogs cost 
 $100 to $200 each for transportation purposes, and the freight 
 charges ranged from 1 5 to 20 cents per pound. Trained reindeer 
 make in a day two or three times the distance covered by a dog 
 team, and at the end of the journey, can be turned loose to gather 
 their support from the moss always accessible to them. One 
 drawback to their introduction appears to be a disease which 
 attacks the hoof, due to the damp soil. There are now five herds 
 in Alaska, one at Cape Prince of Wales, one at Cape Nome, two 
 at Golovin Bay, and the central Government herd at the Teller 
 reindeer station. Port Clarence, including 1,175 head.
 
 VIII. 
 
 The Fur Seal and Other Fisheries. 
 
 Mr. James C. Carter, in his oral argument on behalf of the 
 United States, before the Tribunal of Arbitration, at Paris, 1893, 
 gives the following concise sketch of the fur-seal controversy: 
 " During most of the eighteenth century, as all are aware, the 
 efforts and ambitions of various European powers were directed 
 toward the taking possession, the settlement, and the coloniza- 
 tion of the temperate and tropical parts, of the American Con- 
 tinent. In those efforts, Russia seems to have taken a compara- 
 tively small part, if any part at all. Her enterprise and ambi- 
 tion were attracted to these northern seas, seas which border upon 
 the coasts which in part she already possessed, the Siberian coast 
 of Bering Sea. From that, coast explorations were made by 
 enterprising navigators belonging to that nation, until the whole 
 of Bering Sea was discovered, and the coasts on all its sides 
 explored. The Aleutian Islands, forming its southern boundary, 
 were discovered and explored, and a part of what is called the 
 Northwest Coast of the American Continent, south of the Alaskan 
 Peninsula and reaching south as far as the fifty-fourth or fiftieth 
 degree of north latitude, was also explored by Russian naviga- 
 tors, and establishments were formed upon it in certain places. 
 The great object of Russia in these enterprises and explorations 
 was to reap for herself the sole profit and the sole benefit which 
 could be derived from these remote and icebound regions; namely, 
 that of the fur-bearing animals which inhabited them and which 
 were gathered by the native inhabitants. To obtain for herself 
 
 43
 
 44 ALASKA. 
 
 the benefit of those animals and of the trade with the natives 
 wh^ were engaged in gathering them that constituted the main 
 object of the original enterprises prosecuted by Russian naviga- 
 tors. They had at a very early period discovered what we call 
 the Commander Islands on the western side of the Bering Sea, 
 which were then, as they are now, one of the principal resorts 
 and breeding places of the fur seals. They were carrying on a 
 very large, or a considerable, industry in connection with those 
 animals upon those islands. 
 
 Prior to the year 1787, one of their navigators, Captain Pribilof, 
 had observed very numerous bodies of fur seals making their way 
 northward through the passes of the Aleutian chain. Whither 
 they were going he knew not, but, from his knowledge of the habits 
 of the seals in the region of the Commander Islands, he could not 
 but suppose that there was, somewhere north of the Aleutian chain 
 in the Bering Sea, another great breeding place and resort for these 
 animals. He therefore expended much labor in endeavoring to 
 discover these resorts, and in the year 1786, I think, on one of his 
 voyages, he suddenly found himself in the presence of that tre- 
 mendous roar — a roar almost like that of Niagara, it is said — 
 which proceeds from the countless multitudes of animals upon the 
 islands. He knew then that the object for which he was seeking 
 had been obtained; and waiting until the fog had lifted, he dis- 
 covered before him the islands to which his name was afterwards 
 given. That was in 1786. Immediately following that discov- 
 ery many Russians, sometimes individually and sometimes asso- 
 ciated in companies, resorted to those islands, which were uninhab- 
 ited, and made large captures of seals from them. The mode 
 of taking them was by an indiscriminate slaughter of males and 
 females; and of course, it was not long before the disastrous 
 effects of that method became apparent. They were greatly 
 reduced in numbers, and at one or more times, seemed to be upon 
 the point almost of commercial extermination. By degrees.
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 45 
 
 those engaged in this pursuit learned what the laws of nature 
 were in respect to the preservation of such a race of animals. 
 
 They learned that they were highly polygamous in their nature, 
 and that a certain draft could be taken from the superfluous 
 males without sensibly depreciating the enormous numbers of 
 the herd. Learning those facts, they gradually established an 
 industry upon the islands, removed a considerable number of the 
 population of one or more of the Aleutian Islands, and kept them 
 permanently there for the purpose of guarding the seals upon the 
 islands and taking, at the time suitable for that purpose, such a 
 number of superfluous males as the knowledge they had acquired 
 taught them could be safely taken. 
 
 Finally, the system which they established grew step by step 
 more regular and precise; and sometime — 1 think I may say in 
 the neighborhood of 1845 — ^^^7 ^-^^ adopted a regular system 
 
 vhich absolutely forbade the slaughter of females and confined 
 the taking to young males under certain ages and to a certain 
 annual number. Under that reasonable system, conforming to 
 natural laws, the existence ot the herd was perpetuated and its 
 numbers even largely increased; so that at the time when it 
 passed into the possession of the United States, I think I may 
 say it was true that the numbers ot the herd were then equal 
 to, if not greater, than ever had been known since the islands 
 were first discovered. A similar system had been pursued by 
 the Russians with similar etfect upon the Commander Islands, 
 possessions of their own on the western side of the Bering Sea. 
 
 The advantage of these results, so beneficial to Russia, so bene- 
 ficial to mankind, may be more easily perceived by comparing 
 them with the results which have flowed from the discovery of 
 other homes of the fur seal in other seas. It is well known that 
 south of the equator and near the southern extremity of the South 
 American continent, there were other islands, Masafuera, Juan 
 Fernandez, Falkland Islands, and other places w^here there were
 
 46 ALASKA. 
 
 seals in almost equal multitudes. They were on uninhabited 
 islands. They were in places where no protection could be 
 extended against the capture of them. They were in places where 
 no system of regulations limiting drafts which might be made 
 upon them could be established, and the consequence was that in 
 a few short years, they were practically exterminated from every 
 one of such haunts and have remained ever since practically, in a 
 commercial point of view, exterminated, except in some few places 
 over which the authority of some power has been exercised, and 
 where regulations have been adopted more or less resembling 
 those adopted upon the Pribilof Islands, and by which means the 
 race has to a certain extent, although comparatively small, been 
 preserved. 
 
 That was the condition of things when these islands passed into 
 the possession of the United States under the treaty, between 
 that Government and Russia, of 1867. At first, upon the acqui- 
 sition by the United States Government, its authority was not 
 immediately established and, consequently, this herd of seals 
 was exposed to the indiscriminate ravages of individuals who 
 might be tempted thither by their hope of gaining a profit; and 
 the result was that in the first year, something like 240,000 seals 
 were taken, and although some discrimination was attempted and 
 an effort was made to confine the taking, as far as possible, to males 
 only, yet those efforts were not in every respect successful. That 
 great draft thus irregularly and indiscriminately made upon them 
 had undoubtedly a very unfavorable effect; but <the following 
 year, the United States succeeded in establishing its authority and 
 at once readopted the system which had been up to that time pur- 
 sued by Russia and which had been followed by such advantageous 
 results. 
 
 In addition to that, and for the purpose of further insuring the 
 preservation of the herd, the United States Government resorted 
 to national legislation. Laws were passed, the first of them as
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 47 
 
 early as the year 1870, designed to protect the seal and other fur- 
 bearing animals in Bering Sea and the other possessions recently 
 acquired from Russia. At a later period, this statute, with others 
 that had been subsequently passed, was revised, I think in the 
 year 1873, when a general revision of the statutes of the United 
 States was made. They were revised and made more stringent. 
 It was made a criminal offense to kill any female seal; and the 
 taking of any seals at all, except in pursuance of the authority of 
 the United States and under such regulations as it might adopt, 
 was made a criminal offense. Any vessel engaged in the taking 
 of female seals in the waters of Alaska, according to the phrase 
 used in the statute, was made liable to seizure and confiscation; 
 and in this way, it was hoped and expected that the fur seals would 
 be preserved in the future as completely as they had been in the 
 past, and that this herd would continue to be still as productive as 
 before, and if possible, made more productive. That system thus 
 initiated by the United States in the year 1870 produced the 
 same result as had followed the regulations established by Russia. 
 The United States Government was enabled, even, to take a larger 
 draft than Russia had prior to that time, made upon the herd. 
 Russia had limited herself at an early period to the taking of 
 somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 seals annually, not solely, 
 perhaps, for the reason that no more could be safely taken from 
 the herd, but also for the reason, as I gather from the evidence, 
 that at that time, the demand for seals was not so great as to justify 
 the putting of a larger number of skins upon the market. 
 
 At a later period of the occupation by Russia, her drafts were 
 increased. At the time when the occupation was transferred to 
 the United States, I think they amounted to somewhere between 
 50,000 and 70,000 annually. The United States, as I say, took 
 100,000 from the beginning, and continued to make those annual 
 drafts of 100,000 down to the year 1890. That is a period of 
 something like nineteen years. The taking of this number of
 
 ^8 ALASKA, 
 
 100,000 did not, at first, appear to lead to any diminution in the 
 numbers ot the herd; and it was only in the year 1890, or a few 
 years prior to that time, that a diminution in the numbers of the 
 herd was first observed. This diminution was at that time attrib- 
 uted to causes of which I shall presently say something. 
 
 Such was the industry established by the United States. It 
 was a very beneficial industry — beneficial, in the first instance, to 
 herself. She had adopted the practice of leasing these islands 
 upon long terms — twenty years — to a private corporation; and 
 those leases contained an obligation to pay a large annual sum in 
 the shape of a revenue tax and a gross sum of some $60,000 as 
 rent. In addition to that, the lessees were required by the terms 
 of the lease to pay to the United States Government a certain 
 sum upon every seal captured by them, which, of course, resulted 
 in the enjoyment by the United States of a still larger revenue. 
 It was beneficial to the lessees, for it is to be supposed, and such 
 is the fact, that they were enabled to make a profit notwith- 
 standing the large sums they WTre compelled to pay to the 
 United States Government upon the seal skins secured by them. 
 But while it was profitable to the United States and profitable to 
 the lessees, I may say — and this is what at all times I wish to 
 impress upon this Tribunal — it was still more important and 
 beneficial to the world at large. The fur seal is one of the boun- 
 ties of Providence, bestowed, as all the bounties of Providence 
 are, upon mankind in general, not for the benefit of this partic- 
 ular nation or that particular nation, but for the benefit of all; 
 and all the benefit, of course, which mankind can get from that 
 blessing is to secure the annual taking, use, and enjoyment of 
 the increase of the animal. That is all they can obtain from it. 
 If they seek to obtain more, it is an abuse of the blessing, involv- 
 ing destruction — necessary destruction — and they soon deprive 
 themselves of the benefit altogether. 
 
 This, therefore, was the benefit to mankind which was made pos-
 
 ALASKA. 4c) 
 
 sible, and which was enjoyed by mankind by this particular mode 
 of dealing with the fur seals which had been established and carried 
 on upon the Pribilof Islands. Mankind received the benefit of 
 the entire annual increase, and at the same time, the stock was per- 
 petually preserved and kept from any sort of peril; and in that 
 benefit the citizens of the United States enjoyed, of course, no 
 advantage over the rest of the world. The whole product of the 
 herd was contributed at once to commerce, and throuijh the 
 instrumentality of commerce was carried all over the world to 
 those who desired the sealskins, and those who desired sealskins, 
 wherever they might be on the face of the globe, and whatever 
 nation they might inhabit, got them upon the same terms upon 
 which the citizens of the United States enjoyed them. This con- 
 tribution of the annual product to the purposes of commerce, to 
 be dealt with as commerce deals with one of its subjects, of course 
 amounted substantially to a putting it up at auction, and it was 
 awarded to the highest bidder, wherever he might dwell. 
 
 The effect of this was, also, as we shall have occasion to see in 
 the course of this discussion, to build up and maintain an impor- 
 tant industry in Great Britain. It was there that the sealskins 
 were manufactured and prepared for sale in the market, and thou- 
 sands of people were engaged in that industry, many more, indeed, 
 than were engaged in the industry of gathering the seals upon the 
 Pribilof Islands. That particular benefit was secured to Great 
 Britain in consequence of this industry. 
 
 In the few years preceding 1890, the Government of the United 
 States was made aware of a peril to the industry which had thus 
 been established and which it was in the enjoyment of, a peril to 
 the preservation of this race of seals, a peril not proceeding from 
 what may be called natural causes, such as the killing by whales 
 and other animals which prey upon the seals in the water, but a 
 peril proceeding from the hand of man. It was found that the 
 practice of pelagic sealing, which had for many years, and indeed 
 ifo. 86 i
 
 50 
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 from the earliest knowledge of these regions, been carried on to a 
 very limited extent by the Indians who inhabited the coasts for 
 the purpose of obtaining food for themselves and skins for their 
 clothing, and which had made a limited draft upon the herds in 
 that way — it was found that this practice was beginning to be 
 extended so as to be carried on by whites, and in large vessels 
 capable of proceeding long distances from the shore, of encounter- 
 ing the roughest weather, and of carrying boats and boatmen and 
 hunters, armed with every appliance for taking and slaughtering 
 the seals upon their passage through the seas. That practice 
 began, I think, in the year 1876, but at first, its extent was small. 
 The vessels were fitted out mostly from a port in British Colum- 
 bia, and confined their enterprise to the North Pacific Ocean, not 
 entering Bering Sea at all; and their drafts upon the seals even in 
 the North Pacific Ocean were at first extremely small, only a 
 few thousands each year. But the business was found to be a 
 profitable one, and, of course, as its profit was perceived, more and 
 more were tempted to engage in it, and a larger and larger invest- 
 ment of capital was made in it. More and more vessels prose- 
 cuted the fishery in the North Pacific Ocean, and in 1883, ^o^the 
 first time, a vessel ventured to enter Bering Sea. 
 
 The learned arbitrators will perceive that up to this time, during 
 the whole of the Russian and the whole of the American occupa- 
 tion of these islands, there had been no such thing as pelagic 
 sealing, except in the insignificant way already mentioned by the 
 Indians. Those two nations had enjoyed the full benefit of this 
 property, the full benefit of these herds of seals, in as complete a 
 degree as if they had been recognized as the sole proprietors of 
 them, and as if a title in them, not only while they were ashore 
 and upon the breeding islands, but while they were absent upon 
 their migrations, had been recognized in them during that whole 
 period, or as if there had been some regulation among the nations 
 absolutely prohibiting all pelagic sealing. Up to the period
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 51 
 
 when pelagic sealing began to be extended, those advantages were 
 exclusively enjoyed by Russia and the United States; and at 
 first, as I have said, this pelagic sealing did not extend into Bering 
 Sea, but was carried on in the North Pacific Ocean, and south 
 and east of the Aleutian chain. 
 
 Why Bering Sea was thus carefully abstained from it may per- 
 haps be difficult at the present time altogether to say. It may be 
 for the reason that it was farther off, more difficult to reach. It 
 may be for the reason that the pelagic sealers did not at first sup- 
 pose that they had a right to enter Bering Sea and take the seals 
 there, for it was well known that during the whole of the Russian 
 occupation Russia did assert for herself an exclusive right to all 
 the products of that region of the globe; and it was also, of 
 course, well known to all Governments, and to these pelagic 
 sealers, that the United States had, when they acceded to the 
 sovereignty over these islands, asserted a similar right, and made 
 the practice of pelagic sealing, in Bering Sea at least — perhaps 
 farther, but in Bering Sea at least — a criminal offense under their 
 law. But from whatever cause, it was not until the year 1883 
 that any pelagic sealers ventured into Bering Sea. During that 
 year, a single vessel did enter there, took a large catch, was very 
 successful, and was not called to any account; and this successful 
 experiment was, of course, followed during the succeeding years 
 by many repetitions of the same enterprise. 
 
 The extent to which pelagic sealing was thus carried on in 
 Bering Sea, its probable consequences upon the herds which made 
 their homes upon the Pribilof Islands, was not at first appreciated 
 either by the United States or by the lessees of the islands. There 
 was no means by which they could easily find out how many ves- 
 sels made such excursions, and they did not at first seem to sup- 
 pose that their interests were particularly threatened by it. Con- 
 sequently, for the first two or three years, no notice seems to have 
 been taken of these enterprises by the Government of the United
 
 J2 ALASKA. 
 
 States, although it had laws made against them. But in 1886, 
 this practice of" taking seals at sea became so largely extended that 
 it excited apprehensions for the safety of the herd, and it was per- 
 haps thought at that time that there was already observable in the 
 condition of the herd some damaging, destructive consequence of 
 that pursuit of" them by sea. 
 
 The attention of the United States having been called to the 
 practice, that Government determined to prevent it, and the first 
 method to which it resorted was an enforcement of the laws upon 
 her statute book which prohibited the practice, and subjected all 
 vessels engaged in it to seizure and confiscation. Instructions 
 were accordingly given to the cruisers of the United States to sup- 
 press the practice and to enforce those laws. The result was that 
 in the year 1886, three British vessels and some American vessels 
 were taken while engaged in the pursuit illegally under the laws 
 of the United States. They were carried in and condemned." 
 [See Fur Seal Arbitration Proceedings, Vol. XII, pp. 6-11.] 
 
 These seizures, after much diplomatic correspondence, led to 
 the final adoption of a treaty between the United States and 
 Great Britain, which was signed at Washington, February 29, 
 1892, the text of which is as follows: 
 
 The United States of America and Her Majesty the Queen of the United 
 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, being desirous to provide for an amica- 
 ble settlement of the questions which have arisen between their respective 
 governments concerning the jurisdictional rights of the United States in the 
 waters of Bering Sea, and concerning also the preservation of the fur seal in, 
 or habitually resorting to, the said sea, and the rights of the citizens and sub- 
 jects of either country as regards the taking of fur seal in, or habitually resort- 
 ing to, the said waters, have resolved to submit to arbitration the questions 
 involved, and to the end of concluding a convention for that purpose have 
 appointed as their respective plenipotentiaries : 
 
 The President of the United States of America, James G. Blaine, Secretary 
 of State of the United States ; and 
 
 Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire-
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 5:3 
 
 land. Sir Julian Pauncefote, G. C. M. G., K. C. B., Her Majesty's envoy 
 extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the United States ; 
 
 Who, after hav^ing communicated to each other their respective full powers, 
 which were found to be in due and proper form, have agreed to and concluded 
 the following articles : 
 
 Article I. . 
 
 The questions which have arisen between the Government of the United 
 States and the Government of Her Britannic Majesty concerning the juris- 
 dictional rights of the United States in the waters of Bering Sea, and con- 
 cerning also the preservation of the fur seal in, or habitually resorting to, the 
 said sea, and the rights of the citizens and subjects of either countrv as regards 
 the taking of fur seal in, or habitually resorting to, the said waters, shall be 
 submitted to a tribunal of arbitration, to be composed of seven arbitrators, 
 who shall be appointed in the following manner, that is to say : Two shall be 
 named by the President of the United States; two shall be named by Her Brit- 
 annic Majesty; His Excellency the President of the French Republic shall be 
 jointlv requested by the High Contracting Parties to name one; His Majesty 
 the Ring of Italy shall be so requested to name one; and His Majesty the King 
 of Sweden and Norway shall be so requested to name one. The seven arbi- 
 trators to be so named shall be jurists ot distinguished reputation in their 
 respective countries; and the selecting powers shall be requested to choose, if 
 possible, jurists who are acquainted with the English language. 
 
 In case of the death, absence, or incapacity to serve of any or either of the 
 said arbitrators, or in the event of any or either of the said arbitrators omitting 
 or declining or ceasing to act as such, the President of the United States, or Her 
 Britannic Majesty, or His Excellency the President of the French Republic, or 
 His Majesty the King of Italy, or His Majesty the King of Sweden and Nor- 
 wav, as the case may be, shall name, or shall be requested to name forthwith 
 another person to act as arbitrator in the place and stead of the arbitrator 
 originally named by such head of a State. 
 
 And in the event of the refusal or omission for two months after receipt of 
 the joint request from the High Contracting Parties of His Excellency the Pres- 
 ident of the French Republic, or His Majesty the-King of Italy, or His Majesty 
 the King of Sweden and Norwav, to name an arbitrator, either to fill the orig- 
 inal appointment or to fill a vacancy as above provided, then in such case the 
 appointment shall be made or the vacancy shall be filled in such manner as the 
 High Contracting Parties shall agree.
 
 54 ALASKA. 
 
 Article II. 
 
 The arbitrators shall meet at Paris within twenty days after the delivery of 
 the counter cases mentioned in Article IV, and shall proceed impartially and 
 carefully to examine and decide the questions that have been or shall be laid 
 before them as herein provided on the part of the Governments of the United 
 States and Her Britannic Majesty respectively. All questions considered by the 
 tribunal, including the final decision, shall be determined by a majority of all 
 the arbitrators. 
 
 Each of the High Contracting Parties shall also name one person to attend 
 the tribunal as its agent to represent it generally in all matters connected with 
 the arbitration. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 The printed case of each of the two parties, accompanied by the documents, 
 the official correspondence, and other evidence on which each relies, shall be 
 delivered in duplicate to each of the arbitrators and to the agent oi the other 
 party as soon as mav be after the appointment of the members of the tribunal, 
 but within a period not exceeding four months from the date of the exchange 
 of the ratifications of this treaty. 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 Within three months after the delivery on both sides of the printed case, 
 either partv mav, in like manner deliver in duplicate to each of the said arbi- 
 trators, and to the agent of the other party, a counter case, and additional 
 documents, correspondence, and evidence, in reply to the case, documents, 
 correspondence, and evidence so presented by the other party. 
 
 If, however, in consequence of the distance of the place from which the evi- 
 dence to be presented is to be procured, either party shall, within thirty days 
 after the receipt by its agent of the case of the other party, give notice to the 
 other party that it requires additional time for the delivery of such counter 
 case, documents, correspondence and evidence, such additional time so indicated, 
 but not exceeding sixty days beyond the three months in this article provided, 
 shall be allowed. 
 
 If in the case submitted to the arbitrators either party shall have specified or 
 alluded to any report or document in its own exclusive possession, without 
 annexing a copy, such party shall be bound, if the other party thinks proper to 
 apply for it, to furnish that party with a copy thereof; and either party may 
 call upon the other, through the arbitrators, to produce the originals or certified 
 copies of any papers adduced as evidence, giving in each instance notice thereof
 
 ALASKA. 55 
 
 within thirty davs after delivery of the case; and the original or copy so 
 requested shall be delivered as soon as may he and within a period not exceed- 
 ing forty days after receipt of notice. 
 
 Article V. 
 
 It shall be the duty of the agent of each party, within one month after the 
 expiration of the time limited for the delivery of the counter case on both sides, 
 to deliver in duplicate to each of the said arbitrators and to the agent of the 
 other party a printed argument showing the points and referring to the evidence 
 upon which his Government relies, and either party may also support the same 
 before the arbitrators bv oral argument of counsel ; and the arbitrators may, if 
 they desire further elucidation with regard to any point, require a written or 
 printed statement or argument, or oral argument by counsel, upon it; but in 
 such case the other partv shall be entitled to reply either orallv or in writing, as 
 the case may be. 
 
 Article VI. 
 
 In deciding the matters submitted to the arbitrators, it is agreed that the fol- 
 lowing five points shall be submitted to them, in order that their award shall 
 embrace a distinct decision upon each of said five points, to wit: 
 
 1. What exclusive jurisdiction in the sea now known as the Bering Sea, and 
 what exclusive rights in the seal fisheries therein, did Russia assert and exercise 
 prior and up to the time of the cession of Alaska to the United States.? 
 
 2. How far were these claims of jurisdiction as to the seal fisheries recognized 
 and conceded by Great Britain.? 
 
 3. Was the body of water now known as the Bering Sea included in the 
 phrase "Pacific Ocean," as used in the treaty of 1825 between Great Britain 
 and Russia; and what rights, if any, in the Bering Sea were held and exclu- 
 sively exercised by Russia after said treaty ? 
 
 4. Did not all the rights of Russia as to jurisdiction, and as to the seal fish- 
 eries in Bering Sea east of the water boundary, in the treaty between the 
 United States and Russia of the 30th March, 1867, pass unimpaired to the 
 United States under that treaty.? 
 
 5. Has the United States any right, and if so, what right of protection or 
 property in the fur seals frequenting the islands of the United States in Bering 
 Sea when such seals are found outside the ordinary 3-mile limit. 
 
 Article VII. 
 
 If the determination of the foregoing questions as to the exclusive jurisdiction 
 of the United States shall leave the subject in such position that the concurrence 
 of Great Britain is necessary to the establishment of regulations for the proper
 
 56 ALASKA. 
 
 protection and preservation of the fur seal in, or liabitually resorting to, the 
 Bering Sea, the arbitrators shall then determine what concurrent regulations 
 outside the jurisdictional limits of the -espective Governments are necessary, 
 and over what waters such regulations should extend, and to aid them in that 
 determination the report of a joint commission to be appointed by the respec- 
 tive Governments shall be laid before them, with such other evidence as either 
 Government may submit. 
 
 The High Contracting Paties furthermore agree to cooperate in securing the 
 adhesion of other powers to such regulations. 
 
 Article VIII. 
 
 The High Contracting Parties having found themselves unable to agree upon 
 a reference which shall include the question of the liability of each for the 
 injuries alleged to have been sustained by the other, or by its citizens, in con- 
 nection with the claims presented and urged by it; and, being solicitous that 
 this subordinate question should not interrupt or longer delay the submission 
 and determination of the main questions, do agree that either may submit to 
 the arbitrators any question of fact involved in said claim and ask for a finding 
 thereon, the question of the liability of either Government upon the facts 
 found to be the subject of f\irther negotiation. 
 
 Article IX. 
 
 The High Contracting Parties having agreed to appoint two commissioners 
 on the part of each Government to make the joint investigation and report con- 
 templated in the preceding Article VII, and to include the terms of the said 
 agreement in the present convention, to the end that the joint and several 
 reports and recommendations of said commissioners may be in due form sub- 
 mitted to the arbitrators should the contingency therefor arise, the said 
 agreement is accordingly herein included as follows: 
 
 Each Government shall appoint two commissioners to investigate conjointly 
 with the commissioners of the other Government all the facts having relation to 
 seal life in Bering Sea, and the measures necessary for its proper protection and 
 preservation. 
 
 The four commissioners shall, so far as they mav be able to agree, make a joint 
 report to each of the two Governments, and they shall also report, either jointly 
 or severally, to each Government on any points upon which they may be unable 
 to agree. 
 
 These reports shall not be made public until they shall be submitted to the 
 arbitrators, or it shall appear that the contingency of their being used by the 
 arbitrators can not arise.
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 Article X. 
 
 57 
 
 Each Government shall pay the expenses of its members of the joint com- 
 mission in the investigation referred to in the preceding article. 
 
 Article XI. 
 
 The decision of the tribunal shall, if possible, be made within three months 
 from the close of the argument on both sides. 
 
 It shall be made in writing and dated, and shall be signed by the arbitrators 
 who mav assent to it. 
 
 The decision shall be in duplicate, one copy whereof shall be delivered to the 
 agent of the United States for his Government, and the other copy shall be 
 delivered to the agent of Great Britain for his Government. 
 
 Article XII. 
 
 Each Government shall pay its own agent and provide for the proper remu- 
 neration of the counsel employed by it and of the arbitrators appointed by it, 
 and for the expense of preparing and submitting its case to the tribunal. All 
 other expenses connected with the Arbitration shall be defrayed by the two 
 Governments in equal moieties. 
 
 Article XIII. 
 
 The arbitrators shall keep an accurate record of their proceedings and may 
 appoint and employ the necessary officers to assist them. 
 
 Article XIV. 
 
 The High Contracting Parties engage to consider the result of the proceed- 
 ings of the tribunal of arbitration as a full, perfect, and final settlement ot all 
 the questions referred to the arbitrators. 
 
 Article XV. 
 
 The present treaty shall be duly ratified by the President of the United States 
 of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by 
 Her Britannic Majesty; and the ratification shall be exchanged either at Wash- 
 ington or at London within six months from the date hereof, or earlier if possible. 
 In faith whereof, we, the respective plenipotentiaries, have signed this treaty 
 and have hereunto affixed our seals. 
 
 Done in duplicate at Washington the 29th day of February, 1892. 
 
 James G. Blaine. [seal.] 
 
 Julian Pauncefote. [seal.]
 
 58 ALASKA. 
 
 The arbitrators under this treaty, Hon. John M. Harlan and 
 Hon. John T. Morgan, representing the United States; Baron 
 Alphonse de Courcel, arbitrator named by France; the Right 
 Hon. Lord Hannen and Sir John Thompson, representing Great 
 Britain; Marquis E. Visconti Venosta, arbitrator named by Italy, 
 and Mr. Gregers Gram, arbitrator named by vSweden and Norway, 
 met at Paris on February 23, 1893, ^"^ were in session until 
 August 15, 1893. ^^^ following award was the result of their 
 labors : 
 
 AWARD OF THE TRIBUNAL OF ARBITRATION CONSTITUTED UNDER THE TREATY CON- 
 CLUDED AT WASHINGTON, THE 29TH OF FEBRUARY, l8g2, BETWEEN THE UNITED 
 STATES OF AMERICA AND HER MAJESTY THE yUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF 
 GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. 
 
 Whereas by a treaty between the United States of America and Great Brit- 
 ain, signed at Washington, P'ebruary 29, 1892, the ratifications ot which by the 
 Governments of the two countries were exchanged at London on May the 7th, 
 1892, it was, amongst other things, agreed and concluded that the questions 
 which had arisen between the Government of the United States of America and 
 the Government of Her Britannic Majesty concerning the jurisdictional rights 
 of the United States in the waters of Bering's Sea, and concerning also the 
 preservation of the fur-seal in or habitually resorting to the said sea, and the 
 rights of the citizens and subjects of either country as regards the taking of fur- 
 seals in or habitually resorting to the said waters, should be submitted to a tri- 
 bunal of arbitration to be composed of seven arbitrators, who should be appointed 
 in the following manner, that is to say: two should be named by the President 
 of the United States; two should be named by Her Britannic Majesty; His 
 Excellency the President of the French Republic should be jointly requested by 
 the High Contracting Parties to name one ; His Majesty the King of Italy 
 should be so requested to name one; His Majesty the King of Sweden and 
 Norway should be so requested to name one; the seven arbritrators to be so 
 named should be jurists of distinguished reputation in their respective countries, 
 and the selecting powers should be requested to choose, if possible, jurists who 
 are acquainted with the English language ; 
 
 And whereas it was further agreed by Article H of the said treaty that the 
 arbitrators should meet at Paris within twenty days after the delivery of the 
 cuunter cases mentioned in Article IV, and should proceed impartially and care- 
 f'liiy to examine and decide the questions which had been or should be laid before
 
 ALASKA. 5:9 
 
 them as in the said treaty provided on the part of the Governments of the United 
 States and ot Her Britannic Majesty respectively, and that all questions con- 
 sidered bv the tribunal, including the final decision, should be determined by a 
 majority of all the arbitrators; 
 
 And whereas by Article VI ot the said treaty, it was further provided as fol- 
 lows : " In deciding the matters submitted to the said arbitrators, it is agreed 
 that the following five points shall be submitted to them in order that their 
 award shall embrace a distinct decision upon each ot said five points, to wit: 
 
 " 1. What exclusive jurisdiction in the sea now known as the Bering's Sea, 
 and what exclusive rights in the seal fisheries therein, did Russia assert and exer- 
 cise prior and up to the time of the cession of Alaska to the United States ? 
 
 " 2. How far were these claims ot jurisdiction as to the seal fisheries recog- 
 nized and conceded by Great Britain ? 
 
 " 3. Was the body of water now known as the Bering's Sea included in the 
 phrase Pacific Ocean, as used in the treaty of 1825 between Great Britain and 
 Russia; and what rights, if any, in the Bering's Sea were held and exclusively 
 exercised by Russia after said treaty ? 
 
 "4. Did not all the rights of Russia as to jurisdiction and as to the seal fish- 
 eries in Bering's Sea east of the water boundary, in the treaty between the United 
 States and Russia of the 30th of March, 1867, pass unimpaired to the United 
 States under that treaty? 
 
 " 5. Has the United States any right, and it so, what right, of protection or 
 property in the fur-seals frequenting the islands of the United States in Bering 
 Sea when such seals are found outside the ordinary three-mile limit?" 
 
 And whereas by Article VII of the said treaty it was further agreed, as follows 
 
 "If the determination of the foregoing questions as to the exclusive jurisdic- 
 tion of the United States shall leave the subject in such position that the con- 
 currence of Great Britain is necessary to the establishment of regulations for 
 the proper protection and preservation of the fur seal in, or habitually resorting 
 to, the Bering Sea, the arbitrators shall then determine what concurrent regula- 
 tions, outside the jurisdictional limits of the respective Governments, are neces- 
 sary, and over what waters such regulations should extend ; 
 
 " The High Contracting Parties furthermore agree to cooperate in securing 
 the adhesion of other powers to such regulations;" 
 
 And whereas, by Article VIII of the said treaty, after reciting that the High 
 Contracting parties had found themselves unable to agree upon a reference which 
 should include the question of the liability of each tor the injuries alleged to have 
 been sustained by the other, or by its citizens, in connection with the claims 
 presented and urged by it, and that " they were solicitous that this subordinate
 
 6o ALASKA. 
 
 question should not interrupt or longer delay the submission and determination 
 of the main questions", the High Contracting Parties agreed that "either of 
 them might submit to the arbitrators any question of fact involved in said claims 
 and ask for a finding thereon, the question of the liability of either Government 
 upon the facts found, to be the subject of further negociation ; " 
 
 And whereas, the President of the United States of America named the 
 Honourable John M. Harlan, justice of the Supreme Court of the United 
 States, and the Honourable John T. Morgan, Senator of the United States, to 
 be two of the said arbitrators, and Her Britannic Majesty nam. ' the Right 
 Honourable Lord Hannen and the Honourable Sir John Thompson, Minister 
 of Justice and Attorney General for Canada, to be two of the said arbitrators, 
 and His Excellency the President of the French Republic named the Baron de 
 Courcel, Senator, Ambassador of France, to be one of the said arbitrators, and 
 His Majesty the King of Italy named the Marquis Emilio Visconti Venosta, 
 former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senator of the Kingdom of Italy, 
 to be one of the said arbitrators, and His Majesty the King of Sweden and 
 Norway named Mr. Gregers Gram, Minister of State, to be one of the said 
 arbitrators; 
 
 And whereas we, the said arbitrators, so named and appointed, having taker 
 upon ourselves the burden of the said arbitration, and having duly met ai 
 Paris, proceeded impartially and carefully to examine and decide all the ques- 
 tions submitted to us, the said arbitrators, under the said treaty, or laid before 
 us as provided in the said treaty on the part of the Governments of Her Bri- 
 tannic Majesty and the United States, respectively; 
 
 Now we, the said arbitrators, having impartially and carefully examined the 
 said questions, do in like manner by this our award decide and determine the 
 said questions in manner following; that is to say, we decide and determine as 
 to' the five points mentioned in Article VI as to which our award is to embrace 
 a distinct decision upon each of them : 
 
 As to the first of the said five points, we, the said Baron de Courcel, Mr. 
 Justice Harlan, Lord Hannen, Sir John Thompson, Marquis Visconti Venosta, 
 and Mr. Gregers Gram, being a majority of the said arbitrators, do decide and 
 determine as follows: 
 
 By the ukase of 1821, Russia claimed jurisdiction in the sea now known as 
 the Bering's Sea, to the extent of 100 Italian miles from the coasts and islands 
 belonging to her, but in the course of the negociations which led to the conclu- 
 sion of the treaties of 1824 with the United States and of 1825 with Great 
 Britain, Russia admitted that her jurisdiction in the said sea should be restricted 
 to the reach of cannon shot from shore, and it appears that, from that time up
 
 ALASKA. 61 
 
 to the time of cession of Alaska co the United States, Russia never asserted 
 in fact or exercised any exclusive jurisdiction in Bering's Sea or any exclusive 
 rights in the seal fisheries therein beyond the ordinary limit of territorial waters. 
 
 As to the second of the said five points, we, the said Baron de Courcel, Mr. 
 Justice Harlan, Lord Hannen, Sir John Thompson, Marquis Visconti Venosta, 
 and Mr. Gregers Gram, being a majority of the said arbitrators, do decide and 
 determine that Great Britain did not recognize or concede any claim, upon the 
 part of Russia, to exclusive jurisdiction as to the seal fisheries in Bering Sea, 
 outside of ordinary territorial waters. 
 
 As to the third ot the said five points, as to so much thereof as requires us 
 to decide whether the body of water now known as the Bering Sea was included 
 in the phrase "Pacific Ocean" as used in the treaty of 1825 between Great 
 Britain and Russia, we, the said arbitrators, do unanimously decide and deter- 
 mine that the body of water now known as the Bering Sea was included in the 
 phrase " Pacific Ocean " as used in the said treaty. 
 
 And as to so much ot the said third point as requires us to decide what 
 rights, if any, in the Bering Sea were held and exclusively exercised by Russia 
 after the said treaty of 1825, we, the said Baron de Courcel, Mr. Justice Har- 
 lan, Lord Hannen, Sir John Thompson, Marquis Visconti Venosta, and Mr. 
 Gregers Gram, being a majority of the said arbitrators, do decide and deter- 
 mine that no exclusive rights of jurisdiction in Bering Sea, and no exclusive 
 rights as to the seal fisheries therein, were held or exercised by Russia outside 
 of ordinary territorial waters after the treaty of 1825. 
 
 As to the fourth of the said five points, we, the said arbitrators, do unani- 
 mously decide and determine that all the rights of Russia as to jurisdiction and 
 as to the seal fisheries in Bering Sea, east of the water boundary, in the treaty 
 between the United States and Russia of the 30th March, 1867, did pass unim- 
 paired to the United States under the said treaty. 
 
 As to the fifth of the said five points, we, the said Baron dc Courcel, Lord 
 Hannen, Sir John Thompson, Marquis Visconti Venosta, and NL Gregers 
 Gram being a majority of the said arbitrators, do decide and determine that 
 the United States has not any right of protection or property in the fur seals 
 frequenting the islands of the United States in Bering Sea, when such seals are 
 found outside the ordinary three-mile limit. 
 
 And whereas the aforesaid determination of the foregoing questions as to the 
 exclusive jurisdiction of the United States mentioned in Article VI leaves the 
 subject in such a position that the concurrence of Great Britain is necessary to 
 the establishment of regulations for the proper protection and preservation of 
 the fur seal in or habitually resorting to the Bering Sea, the tribunal having
 
 62 ALASKA. 
 
 decided by a majority as to eacli article of the following regulations, we, the 
 said Baron De Courcel, Lord Hannen, Marquis Visconti Venosta, and Mr. 
 Gregers Gram, assenting to the whole of the nine articles of the following 
 regulations, and being a majority of the said arbitrators, do decide and deter- 
 mine in the mode provided by the treaty, that the following concurrent regulations 
 outside the jurisciictional limits of the respective Governments are necessary and 
 that thev should extend over the waters hereinafter mentioned, that is to say: 
 
 Article I. 
 
 The Governments of the United States and of Great Britain shall forbid 
 their citizens and subjects, respectively, to kill, capture, or pursue at any time 
 and in any manner whatever, the animals commonly called tur seals, within a 
 zone of sixty miles around the Pribilof Islands, inclusive of the territorial waters. 
 
 The miles mentioned in the preceding paragraph are geographical miles, ot 
 sixty to a degree of latitude. 
 
 Article 2. 
 
 The two Governments shall forbid their citizens and subjects, respectively, to 
 kill, capture, or pursue, in any manner whatever, during the season extending 
 each year from the 1st of May to the 31st of July, both inclusive, the fur seals 
 on the high sea, in the part of the Pacific Ocean, inclusive of the Bering Sea, 
 which is situated to the north of the thirty-fifth degree of north latitude and 
 eastward of the one hundred and eightieth degree ot longitude from Greenwich 
 till it strikes the water boundary described in article 1 of the treaty of 1867 
 between the United States and Russia, and following that line up to Bering Straits. 
 
 Article 3. 
 
 During the period of time and in the waters in which the fur-seal fishing is 
 allowed, only sailing vessels shall be permitted to carry on or take part in tur- 
 seal fishing operations. They will, however, be at liberty to avail themselves 
 of the use of such canoes or undecked boats, propelled by paddles, oars, or sails, 
 as are in common use as fishing boats. 
 
 Article 4. 
 
 Each sailing vessel authorised to fish for tur seals must be provided with a 
 special license issued for that purpose by its Government and shall be required 
 to carry a distinguishing flag to be prescribed by its Government.
 
 ALASKA. 63 
 
 Article 5. 
 
 The masters of the vessels engaged in tur-seal fishing shall enter accurately 
 in their official log book the date and place of each fur-seal fishing operation, 
 and also the number and sex of the seals captured upon each day. These 
 entries shall be communicated by each of the two Governments to the other at 
 the end of each fishing season. 
 
 Article 6. 
 
 The use of nets, fire arms, and explosives shall be forbidden in the fur-seal 
 fishing. This restriction shall not apply to shotguns when such fishing takes 
 place outside of Bering Sea, during the season when it may be lawfullv carried on. 
 
 Article 7. 
 
 The two Governments shall take measures to control the fitness of the men 
 authorized to engage in fur-seal fishing; these men shall have been proved fit to 
 handle with sufficient skill the weapons by means of which this fishing may be 
 carried on. 
 
 Article 8. 
 
 The regulations contained in the preceding articles shall not apply to Indians 
 dwelling on the coasts of the territory of the United States or of Great Britain 
 and carrying on fur-seal fishing in canoes or undecked boats not transported by 
 or used in connection with other vessels and propelled wholly by paddles, oars, 
 or sails and manned by not more than five persons each in the way hitherto 
 practised by the Indians, provided such Indians are not in the employment of 
 other persons, and provided that, when so hunting in canoes or undecked boats, 
 they shall not hunt fur seals outside of territorial waters under contract for the 
 delivery of the-skins to any person. 
 
 This exemption shall not be construed to affect the municipal law of either 
 county, nor shall it extend to the waters of Bering Sea or the waters of the 
 Aleutian Passes. 
 
 Nothing herein contained is intended to interfere with the emplovment of 
 Indians as hunters or otherwise in connection with fur-sealing vessels as 
 heretofore. 
 
 Article 9. 
 
 The concurrent regulations hereby determined with a view to the protection 
 and preservation of the fur seals shall remain in force until they have been, in 
 whole or in part, abolished or modified bv common agreement between the 
 Governments of the United States and of Great Britain.
 
 64 ALASKA. 
 
 The said concurrent regulations shall be submitted every five years to a new 
 examination, so as to enable both interested Governments to consider whether, 
 in the light of past experience, there is occasion for any modification thereof 
 
 And whereas the Government of Her Britannic Majesty did submit to the 
 Tribunal of Arbitration by Article VIII of the said treaty certain questions of 
 fact involved in the claims referred to in the said Article VIII, and did also 
 submit to us, the said tribunal, a statement of the said facts, as follows, that 
 is to say: 
 
 " Findings of fact proposed by the Agent of Great Britain and agreed to as 
 proved by the Agent for the United States, and submitted to the Tribunal of 
 Arbitration for its consideration. 
 
 " 1. That the several searches and seizures, whether of ships or goods, and 
 the several arrests of masters and crews, respectively mentioned in the Schedule 
 to the British Case, pages 1 to 60, inclusive, were made by the authority of the 
 United States Government. The questions as to the value of the said vessels 
 or their contents, or either of them, and the question as to whether the vessels 
 mentioned in the Schedule to the British Case, or any of them, were wholly or 
 in part the actual property of citizens of the United States, have been with- 
 drawn from and have not been considered by the tribunal, it being understood 
 that it is open to the United States to raise these questions, or any of them, if 
 they think fit, in any future negotiations as to the liability of the United States 
 Government to pay the amounts mentioned in the Schedule to the British Case; 
 
 "2. That the seizures aforesaid, with the exception of the "Pathfinder" 
 seized at Neah Bay, were made in Bering Sea at the distances from shore men- 
 tioned in the Schedule annexed hereto marked C; 
 
 " 3. That the said several searches and seizures of vessels were made by 
 public armed vessels of the United States, the commanders of which had, at 
 the several times when they were made, from the Executive Department of the 
 Government of the United States, instructions, a copy of one of which is 
 annexed hereto, marked A, and that the others were, in all substantial respects, 
 the same; that in all the instances in which proceedings were had in the district 
 courts of the United States resulting in condemnation, such proceedings were 
 begun by the filing of libels, a copy of one of which is annexed hereto, marked 
 B, and that the libels in the other proceedings were in all substantial respects 
 the same; that the alleged acts or offences for which said several searches and 
 seizures were made were in each case done or committed in Bering, Sea at the 
 distances from shore aforesaid; and that in each case in which sentence of con- 
 demnation was passed, except in those cases when the vessels were released after
 
 ALASKA. 65 
 
 condemnation, the seizure was adopted by the Government of the United 
 States, and in those cases in which the vessels were released the seizure was 
 made by the authoritv ot the United States ; that the said Hnes and imprison- 
 ments were for alleged breaches of the municipal laws of the United States, 
 which alleged breaches were wholly committed in Bering Sea at the distances 
 from the shore aforesaid ; 
 
 "4. Tliat the several orders mentioned in the Schedule annexed hereto and 
 marked C, warning vessels to leave or not to enter Bering Sea, were made by 
 public armed vessels of the United States the commanders of which had, at the 
 several times when they were given, like instructions as mentioned in finding 3, 
 and that the vessels so warned were engaged in sealing or prosecuting voyages 
 for that purpose, and that such action was adopted by the Government of the 
 United States ; 
 
 " 5. That the district courts ot the United States in which anv proceedings 
 were had or taken for the purpose of condemning any vessel seized as mentioned 
 in the Schedule to the Case of Great Britain, pages 1 to 60, inclusive, had all 
 the jurisdiction and powers ot courts of admiralty, including the prize jurisdic- 
 tion, but that in each case the sentence pronounced by the court was based 
 upon the grounds set forth in the libel. 
 
 "Annex A. 
 
 "Treasury Department, Office of the Secretary, 
 
 " IJ'^uhington, April 2/, 18S6. 
 
 "Sir: Referring to Department letter ot this date, directing you to proceed 
 with the revenue steamer Bear, under your command, to the seal islands, etc., 
 you are hereby clothed with full power to entorce the law contained in the pro- 
 visions of section 1956 of the United States Revised Statutes, and directed to 
 seize all vessels and arrest and deliver to the proper authorities any or all per- 
 sons whom vou may detect violating the law referred to, after due notice shall 
 have been given. 
 
 "You will also seize any liquors or firearms attempted to be introduced into 
 the country without proper permit, under the provisions of section 19155 of the 
 Revised Statutes, and the proclamation of the President dated 4th February, 1870. 
 
 " Respectfully, yours, 
 
 " Signed : C. S. Fairchild, 
 
 "Acting SdcrL'tcirY. 
 " Captain M. A. Healy, 
 
 Commanding revenue steamer Bear, San Francisco, Calijorma. 
 Xo. 86 5
 
 66 ALASKA. 
 
 " xAnnex B. 
 
 " ///. the. district court of tlu; United States for the District of Alaska. 
 
 "August special term, 1886. 
 
 " To the Honourable Lafayette Dawson, 
 
 Judge of said District Court: 
 
 " The libel of information of M. D. Ball, attorney for the United States for the 
 District of Alaska, who prosecutes on behalf of said United States, and being 
 present here in court in his proper person, in the name and on behalf of the said 
 United States, against the schooner Thornton, her tackle, apparel, boats, cargo, 
 and furniture, and against all persons intervening for their interest therein, in a 
 cause of forfeiture, alleges and informs as follows : 
 
 "That Charles A. Abbev, an officer in the Revenue-Marine Service of the 
 United States, and on special duty in the waters of the district of Alaska, here- 
 tofore, to wit, on the 1st day of August, 1886, within the limits of Alaska Ter- 
 ritory, and in the waters thereof, and within the civil and judicial district of 
 Alaska, to wit, within the waters of that portion of Bering Sea belonging to the 
 said district, on waters navigable from the sea by vessels of 10 or more tons bur- 
 den, seized the ship or vessel commonly called a schooner, the Thornton, her 
 tackle, apparel, boats, cargo, and furniture, being the property of some person 
 or persons to the said attorney unknown, as forfeited to the United States, for 
 the following causes: 
 
 "That the said vessel or schooner was found engaged in killing fur seal within 
 the limits of Alaska Territory, and in the waters thereof, in violation of section 
 1956 of the Revised Statutes of the United States. 
 
 "x'\nd the said attorney saith that all and singular the premises are and were 
 true, and within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of this court, and that 
 by reason thereof, and by force of the statutes of the United States in such cases 
 made and provided, the aforementioned and described schooner or vessel, being a 
 vessel of over 20 tons burden, her tackle, apparel, boats, cargo, and furniture 
 became and are forfeited to the use of the said United States, and that said 
 schooner is now within the district aforesaid. 
 
 " Wherefore the said attorney prays the usual process and monition of this 
 honourable court issue in this behalf, and that all persons interested in the before- 
 mentioned and described schooner or vessel may be cited in general and special 
 to answer the premises, and all due proceedings being had, that the said schooner 
 or vessel, her tackle, apparel, boats, cargo, and furniture may, for the cause 
 aforesaid, and others appearing, be condemned by the definite sentence and
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 67 
 
 decree of this honourable court, as forfeited to the use of the said United States, 
 according to the form of the statute of the said United States in such cases 
 made and provided. 
 
 "Signed: M. D. Ball, 
 " United States District Attorney for the District of Alaska. 
 
 Annex C. 
 
 "The following table shows the names ot the British sealing vessels seized or 
 warned by United States revenue cruizers 1886-1890, and the approximate 
 distance from land when seized. The distances assigned in the cases of the 
 Carolena, Thornton, and Onward are on the authority of U. S. Naval Com- 
 mander Abbey (see Fiftieth Congress, second session, Senate Executive Docu- 
 ment No. 106, pp. 20, 30, 40). The distances assigned in the cases of the 
 Anna Beck, W. P. Sayzuard, Dolphin, and Grace are on the authority of Cap- 
 tain Shepard, U. S. R. M. (Blue Book, United States, No. 2, 1890, pp. 80-82; 
 see Appendix, Vol. III)." 
 
 Name of vessel. 
 
 Carolena . 
 Thornton . 
 Onward . . 
 Favourite. 
 
 Anna Beck . . . . 
 W. P. Sayward. 
 
 Dolphin 
 
 Grace 
 
 Alfred Adams. . 
 
 Ada 
 
 Triumph 
 
 Black Diamond 
 
 Lily 
 
 Ariel 
 
 Kate ... . 
 Minnie . . . 
 Pathfinder 
 
 Date of seizure. 
 
 Aug. I, 1886 
 
 do 
 
 Aug. 2, 1886 
 . ..do 
 
 Julv 2, 1887 
 "tul'v 9,1887 
 "julV 12, 1887 
 
 July 17, 1887 
 Aug. 10, 1887 
 Aug. 25, 1887 
 Aug. 4, 1887 
 
 luanita July 31, 1889 
 
 "Pathfinder July 29, 1889 
 
 Triumph July 11, 1889 
 
 ...do 
 
 Aug. 6, 1889 
 July 30, 1889 
 
 Aug. 13, 1889 
 July 15, 1889 
 iVIar. 27, 1890 
 
 Approximate distance from land 
 when seized. 
 
 75 miles , 
 
 70 miles , 
 
 IT5 miles , 
 
 Warned by Corwin in about 
 
 same position as Onward. 
 
 66 miles 
 
 59 miles 
 
 40 miles 
 
 96 miles 
 
 62 miles 
 
 15 miles 
 
 Warned by Rush not to enter 
 
 Bering Sea. 
 
 66 miles 
 
 50 miles 
 
 Ordered out of Bering Sea by 
 
 Rush. (?) As to position when 
 
 warned. 
 
 35 miles 
 
 66 miles 
 
 Ordered out of Bering Sea bv 
 
 Rush. 
 
 do 
 
 65 miles 
 
 Seized in Neah Bava 
 
 United States 
 
 ve.ssel making 
 
 seizure. 
 
 Corwin. 
 Corwin. 
 Corwin. 
 
 Rush. 
 Rush. 
 Rush. 
 Rush. 
 Rush. 
 Bear. 
 
 Rush. 
 Rush. 
 
 Rush. 
 Rush. 
 
 Rush. 
 Corwin. 
 
 a Neah Bay is in the State of Washington, and the Pathfindey was seized there on charges 
 made against her iu the Bering Sea in the previous year. She was released two days later.
 
 68 ALASKA. 
 
 And whereas the Government of Her Britannic Majesty did ask the said 
 arbitrators to find the said facts as set forth in the said statement, and whereas 
 the agent and counsel tor the United States Government thereupon in our 
 presence informed us that the said statement of facts was sustained by the 
 evidence, and that they had agreed with the agent and counsel for Her Britannic 
 Majesty that we, the arbitrators, if we should think fit so to do, might find the 
 said statement of facts to be true. 
 
 Now, we, the said arbitrators, do unanimously find the facts as set forth in 
 the said statement to be true. 
 
 And whereas each and everv question which has been considered by the tri- 
 bunal has been determined by a majority of all the arbitrators; 
 
 Now, we. Baron de Courcel, Lord Hannen, Mr. Justice Harlan, Sir John 
 Thompson, Senator Morgan, the Marquis Visconti Venosta, and Mr. Gregers 
 Gram, the respective minorities not withdrawing their votes, do declare this to 
 be the final decision and award in writing of this tribunal in accordance with 
 the treaty. 
 
 Made in duplicate at Paris and signed by us the fifteenth dav of August, in 
 the year 1893. 
 
 And we do certify this English version thereof to be true and accurate. 
 
 Alph. de Courcel. 
 John M. Harlan. 
 John T. Morgan. 
 Hannen. 
 
 Jno. S. D. Thompson. 
 Visconti Venosta. 
 G. Gram. 
 
 Since 1893, efforts have been made by the United States tor 
 the further prevention of pelagic sealing and the protection of the 
 fur-seal fisheries. With this end in view, Hon. John W. Foster 
 was sent as agent to England to secure the adoption of a modus 
 Vivendi prohibiting all sealing until a final disposition of the ques- 
 tion can be had and a treaty can be entered into establishing 
 further regulations for the government of the fisheries. At this 
 writing, no otficial data of the results of this mission can be had, 
 the agent not having as yet submitted his report. 
 
 As a further result of the arbitration of 1893, '^ convention was 
 concluded between the United States and Great Britain February
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 69 
 
 8, 1896, for the settlement of the claims of British subjects, grow- 
 ing out of the seizures of British vessels in Bering Sea from 1886 
 to 1892, which provided for the appointment of two commission- 
 ers, and it necessary, an umpire. This commission was to sit at 
 \ ictoria, British Columbia, and San Francisco, Cal. Sessions 
 have been held in both places, but as yet, the results of their 
 labors have not been made public. 
 
 SALMON, COD, HERRING, ETC. 
 
 In his report for the hscal year 1891, Governor Knapp, of 
 Alaska, says: 
 
 Among the resources of Alaska are the products of the sea. The native 
 population have alvvavs obtained much of their food supply from the waters, 
 and in a less degree their clothing and manv of the conveniences of life. Their 
 winter supply of food is still largely made up of dried fish, seaweed, and fish 
 eggs, while fresh fish are eaten at all seasons of the year, not only by the natives, 
 but by all classes of people, and the abundance of this product insures the most 
 thriftless with a ready means of subsistence. 
 
 Salmon fishing is by far the largest and most important industry. Thirty- 
 seven canneries and seven or more salting establishments are reported as in 
 operation in 1890. The aggregate pack of the canneries was 688,332 cases of 
 4 dozen i-pound cans, falling a little short of the pack of 1889. The amount 
 of salted salmon was about 7,300 barrels, a little more than the year previous. 
 These salmon fisheries represent a capital of about ^4,250,000, and they give 
 employment to about 2,000 white laborers, 2,500 Chinamen, and 1,000 natives, 
 and require in their business, for transportation and their work, about 100 steam 
 vessels and 500 fishing boats. The white and Chinese laborers do not usually 
 remain in the Territory after the season is over. Below is given a comparative 
 statement of the canned product since 1883, viz: 
 
 Year. 
 
 Total pack. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Total pack. 
 
 1883 . 
 
 Cases. 
 36, 000 
 45. 000 
 74, 800 
 120, 700 
 190, 000 
 
 18SS 
 
 Cases. 
 
 439. 293 
 702, 993 
 688, 332 
 
 1884 
 
 18S9 
 
 1885 
 
 i8qo 
 
 1886 . 
 
 Total 
 
 1887 
 
 2. 297, iiS 
 

 
 70 
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 Allowing the average value of salmon during these years to have been $4.50 
 per case, we have a total valuation of $10,337,03 1 for this one export since the 
 industry took this form in Alaska. Add to this sum the value of the salted 
 salmon exported, and the amount used in the Territory, if that were possible, 
 and the grand total would surprise those who have not given the subject a study. 
 
 The report for 1895' of Mr. Joseph Murray, special agent to 
 inspect the fisheries in Alaska, says that during the year, nearly 
 7,000,000 cases, of 48 pounds to the case, were packed, and the 
 total value of the salmon canned was over $2,000,000. 
 
 The species of salmon found in Alaska in quantities sufficient 
 to constitute an economic resource are the red, the king, the silver, 
 the humpback, the dog, the steelhead, and the Dolly Varden varie- 
 ties. By an act of Congress, approved March 2, 1889, the erection 
 of dams, barricades, or other obstructions in Alaska streams to pre- 
 vent the ascent of salmon was prohibited, under penalty of not less 
 than $250 per day. A letter from Secretary Carlisle, dated Feb- 
 ruary 19, 1896, called the attention of Congress to the fact that 
 the law tailed to meet the exigencies of the situation. On June 
 9, 1896, the following act was approved: 
 
 Be H enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives oj the United 
 States of America in Congress assembled, That the Act approved March 
 second, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, and entitled "An Act to provide for 
 the protection of the salmon fisheries of Alaska," is hereby amended and reen- 
 acted as follows : 
 
 "That the erection of dams, barricades, fish wheels, fences, or any such fixed 
 or stationary obstructions in any part of the rivers or streams of Alaska, or to 
 fish for or catch salmon or salmon trout in any manner or by any means with 
 the purpose or result of preventing or impeding the ascent of salmon to their 
 spawning ground, is declared to be unlawful, and the Secretary ©f the Treasury 
 is hereby authorized and directed to remove such obstructions and to establish 
 and enforce such regulations and surveillance as may be necessary to insure 
 that this prohibition and all other provisions of law relating to the salmon 
 fisheries of Alaska are strictly complied with. 
 
 "Sec. 2. That it shall be unlawful to fish, catch, or kill any salmon of any 
 variety, except with rod or spear, above the tide waters of any of the creeks 
 or rivers of less than five hundred feet width in the Territory of Alaska, except 
 only for purposes of propagation, or to lay or set any drift net, set net, trap,
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 71 
 
 pound net, or seine for any purpose across the tide waters of any river or stream 
 for a distance of more than one-third of the width of such river, stream, or 
 channel, or lay or set any seine or net within one hundred yards of any other 
 net or seine which is being laid or set in said stream or channel, or to take, kill, 
 or fish for salmon in any manner or by any means in any of the waters of the 
 Territory of Alaska, either in the streams or tide waters, except Cook Inlet, 
 Prince William Sound, Bering Sea, and the waters tributary thereto, from mid- 
 night on Friday ot each week until six o'clock antemeridian ot the Sunday fol- 
 lowing; or to fish tor or catch or kill in any manner or by any appliances, 
 except by rod or spear, any salmon in any stream of less than one hundred 
 yards in width in the said Territory of Alaska between the hours ot six o'clock 
 in the evening and six o'clock in the morning of the following dav of each and 
 every day of the week. 
 
 "Sec. 3. That the Secretary of the Treasury may, at his discretion, set aside 
 any streams as spawning grounds, in which no fishing will be permitted; and 
 when, in his judgment, the results of fishing operations on any stream indicate 
 that the number of salmon taken is larger than the capacity of the stream to 
 produce, he is authorized to establish weekly close seasons, to limit the dura- 
 tion of the fishing season, or to prohibit fishing entirely for one year or more, 
 so as to permit salmon to increase : Provided, however. That such power shall 
 be exercised only after all persons interested shall have been given a hearing, of 
 which hearing due notice must be given by publication: And provided Jurther, 
 That it shall have been ascertained that the persons engaged in catching salmon 
 do not maintain fish hatcheries of sufficient magnitude to keep such streams 
 fully stocked. 
 
 "Sec. 4. That to enforce the provisions of law herein, and such regulations 
 as the Secretary of the Treasury may establish in pursuance thereof, he is 
 authorized and directed to appoint one inspector of fisheries, at a salary of one 
 thousand eight hundred dollars per annum, and two assistant inspectors, at 
 a salary of one thousand six hundred dollars each per annum, and he will 
 annually submit to Congress estimates to cover the salaries and actual traveling 
 expenses of the officers hereby authorized and for such other expenditures as 
 may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the law herein. 
 
 "Sec. 5. That any person violating the provisions of this Act or the regula- 
 tions established in pursuance thereof shall, upon conviction thereof, be pun- 
 ished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or imprisonment at hard 
 labor for a term of ninety days, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the dis- 
 cretion of the court; and, further, in case of the violation of any of the provi- 
 sions of section one of this Act and conviction thereof a further fine of two 
 hundred and fifty dollars per diem will be imposed tor each day that the obstruc- 
 tion or obstructions therein are maintained."
 
 72 
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 The report of the commission created by this law was made in 
 November, 1896. They found that many of the smaller streams 
 which formerly produced red salmon had been reduced to such a 
 condition as to render their use unprofitable. Under the new hiw, 
 the inspection would be more thorough, and probably more effect- 
 ive. The report said that the pack for 1896 exceeded that for 
 1895, amounting to 96^,450 cases and 9,314 barrels. The num- 
 ber of persons employed was estimated at 5,600, and about 
 $130,000 had been paid in wages by the packing companies. 
 There are two hatcheries, one at Karluk, where 5, 500,000 eggs 
 have been secured, and the other at Etholine Island, with a prod- 
 uct of over 2,000,000 eggs. 
 
 WHALES. 
 
 "The whaling business," says Mr. Lyman E. Knapp, Governor 
 of x^laska, in his report for 1892, " in which forty-eight vessels are 
 engaged, resulted in a catch for 1891 of 12,228 barrels of oil, 
 186,250 pounds of bone, and 1,000 pounds of ivory. The total 
 value was $1,218,293. Below is a comparative statement of the 
 amount of oil, bone, and ivory taken during the last eighteen years : 
 
 1891. 
 1890. 
 18S9. 
 1S88. 
 18S7. 
 18S6. 
 1885. 
 1884. 
 1883. 
 1882. 
 1881. 
 
 Bart-eh. 
 12,228 
 14, 890 
 12,834 
 15.774 
 31.714 
 37. 260 
 24. S44 
 
 20, 373 
 12,300 
 
 21, 100 
 21, SOO 
 
 1880 ! 23, 200 
 
 1879. 
 1878. 
 1877. 
 IS76. 
 1875. 
 1874. 
 
 Total. 18 vears 
 
 17, 400 
 g, 000 
 
 13, 900 
 2, 800 
 
 16, 300 
 
 10, 000 
 
 318,917 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 186,250 
 231, 232 
 231,981 
 
 303. 587 
 564, 802 
 
 304. 530 
 451.038 
 295, 700 
 160, 200 
 316, 600 
 354. 500 
 339, 000 
 127, 000 
 
 73. 300 
 
 139, 600 
 
 8,800 
 
 157,000 
 
 86, 000 
 
 4.931,950 
 
 Ivorj'. 
 
 Pounds. 
 I, 000 
 4,150 
 I, 506 
 
 1. 55<^ 
 875 
 
 2, 850 
 
 6, 5'"'4 
 5.421 
 
 23, 100 
 17, Soo 
 15.400 
 15.300 
 32, 900 
 30, 000 
 74, 000 
 
 7, 000 
 25, 400 
 
 7, 000 
 
 272, 4ro
 
 ALASKA. 73 
 
 CODFISH. 
 
 The next important fishing industry in Alaska is the codfish 
 business, carried on by two San Francisco firms at the Shumagin 
 Ishmds, and in the Bering Sea. The catch of 1890 amounted to 
 a total of 1,138,000 fish, of the value of $569,000. Since the 
 beginning ot the codfishing business in this Territory in 1865, 
 the total number of fish taken is 25,723,300, of the value of 
 $12,861,650. The first four years, the business did not come near 
 to its present proportions. 
 
 A hasty survey has given an idea of the extent of the banks, 
 but there is much yet to be done to properly define their limits 
 and determine their character. Portlock Bank, extending north- 
 easterly from Kadiak, has an immense area; Shumagin Bank, 
 south ot the .Shumagin group ot islands, has an area of about 
 4,400 square miles; Albatross Bank, off the southeastern side of 
 Kadiak, has an area of 2,900 square miles; Slime Bank, north 
 of Unimak Island, in Bering Sea, covers an area ot 1,445 square 
 miles, embracing depths trom 20 to 50 fathoms; Baird Bank 
 stretches along the north coast ot Alaska Peninsula 230 miles, 
 with an average width ot 40 miles, covering an area of 9,200 
 square miles. The depths range trom 15 to 50 fathoms, with a 
 bottom ot fine gray sand. 
 
 HERRING. 
 
 The business of the Alaska Oil and Guano Company, at Kil- 
 lisnoo, Carl .Spuhn, president and manager, gives employment to 
 45 white men, 50 Indians, and a tew Chinamen. Their principal 
 business is fishing and the manufacture ot oil antl fish tertiUzer, 
 though they also have a trading post. Their capital stock is 
 $75,000. They have a fishing fleet of 3 steamers, 4 scows, and 
 2 small boats. The product ot their fictory in 1891 was larger 
 than in 1 890, being 300,000 gallons ot oil instead ot 157,000 
 reported the previous year. They also put up 700 barrels of salt 
 salmon and manufactured 800 tons of guano. The value of the 
 product was not less than $1 14,000. The oil is worth about 30 
 cents per gallon and the guano about $30 per ton.
 
 74 ALASKA. 
 
 The fish used for the manufacture of oil is the herring, which is 
 very abundant, very rich in oil, and finely flavored. It is much 
 used as a food-fish and also as bait in taking halibut and other 
 large fish. It is caught by the natives for their own use with a 
 stick, toward the end oi which are inserted several sharpened 
 spikes. They dip the stick in the water, catch one or more herring, 
 and with one motion land the fish in the canoe, and thrust the 
 stick in the water again. In this way, they take immense quanti- 
 ties in a short time. These fish appear in the still waters of bays 
 and inlets by the million, at different places, and at different seasons 
 of the year, from August to February. 
 
 OTHER FISH. 
 
 Halibut aboimds throughout central, southern, and western 
 Alaska, and can be taken at any time during the year. They vary 
 in siy.e from 15 to 250 pounds each; those weighing from 50 to 
 
 75 pounds being preferred. It is not uncommon, says Governor 
 Knapp, of Alaska, for Sitka Indians to visit .Silver Bay or the 
 vicinity of Mount Edgecombe and return the following day with 
 nearly a ton of these fish. Whitefish, losh, and graylings are found 
 in large quantities in the Yukon, and afford more food for the natives 
 than the salmon. Black bass are abundant in southeastern 
 Alaska, and trout and pike inhabit almost all the rivers. 
 
 The following tables, showing the extent of the fisheries of the 
 Territory, are taken from the report of the United States Com- 
 missioner of Fish and l^isheries, tor 1893: 
 
 Vessels and outfit. 
 
 Boats 
 
 Apparatus : 
 
 Seines 
 
 Gill nets 
 
 Pound nets. . . 
 
 Lines 
 
 Guns 
 
 Shore property . . . 
 Cash capital 
 
 Total 
 
 Value. 
 
 $494. 400 
 
 63.575 
 
 27, 025 
 
 28, 750 
 
 13, 200 
 
 4.050 
 
 503 
 
 720, 650 
 
 1, 257,500 
 
 2, 609, 650
 
 IX 
 
 Mineral Resources — The Klondike Gold Region. 
 
 Gold, silver, copper, lead, and iron are found in Alaska. Mr. 
 Wilson says (Guide to the Yukon Gold Fields) that ever since 
 the Territory was discovered, the Indians have shown much native 
 copper, and mountains of the ore are said to exist in the Copper 
 River region. This section is so little known, however, that 
 much time must elapse before it will become accessible. Large 
 beds of iron and coal are known to exist in many parts of" Alaska, 
 especially in the Yukon. 
 
 Prof. J. Edward Spurr, of the United States Geological Sur- 
 vey, says that all gold in Alaska is alloyed with a small amount 
 of silver; and pure native silver is frequently found. The pro- 
 duction of silver in 1896 was valued at $45,798. There was a 
 good yield of platinum in the Yukon district. 
 
 Governor Knapp of Alaska, in his report for 1892, says that 
 mining districts had been organized in the vicinity of Sitka, on 
 Douglas Island, on Cook Inlet (where $120,000 worth of gold was 
 produced in 1896), on Portage Bay, on Kadiak Island, and in the 
 Yukon Valley. The Treadwell Mining Company, on Douglas 
 Island, has a very large quartz mill with 240 stamps. The vein 
 is 400 feet in width, carrying free gold and auriferous pyrites, and 
 outcrops on a steep hillside. The ore is of such very low grade 
 that were it not for the peculiarly advantageous situation of the 
 mine, which reduces cost to a minimum, it could hardly be worked 
 at a profit. The report of Governor Sheakley for 1894 says that 
 
 75
 
 76 ALASKA. 
 
 during the year 240,000 tons of ore were treated, yielding $768,000, 
 or $3.20 per ton. The quantity of ore, he adds, appears to be 
 inexhaustible. The cost of mining and milling was $1.35 per 
 ton; net profit $444,000. A Mexican mine on the adjoining 
 claim runs 60 stamps with about the same results. 
 
 In a report made by Professor Spurr to the Lhiited States 
 Geological Survey, 1897, the statement is made that the first dis- 
 coveries in the Yukon district were made in 1'885, on Stewart 
 River, Cassiar Bar, and Lewis River. In the following year, gold 
 was found on Forty Mile Creek, and its tributaries, Glacier Creek, 
 Davis Creek, Poker Creek, etc., were prospected with good re- 
 sults for several years. Miller Creek (on British territory) was 
 opened for mining in 1892. Birch Creek, with its various 
 branches, was discovered in 1893, ^^^^ Circle City was founded. 
 In 1890, the Director of the United States Mint estimated the pro- 
 duction of the Yukon placers as $50,000; in 1891, this amount 
 doubled; in 1893, the product of the Alaskan creeks was given as 
 $198,000; in 1894 it reached $409,000; and in 1895, $709,000 
 was the amount estimated for the Yukon district, and $69,689 tor 
 outside creeks. In this year, P^agle Creek, a tributary of Birch 
 Creek, was discovered. The condition of the Forty Mile district in 
 the summer of 1896 was not as encouraging as formerly, owing 
 to the six weeks' drought, which prevented the water from running 
 the sluices, and caused enforced idleness. The Birch Creek region, 
 on the other hand, was flourishing. At this time, discoveries were 
 made on the Klondike River (about 20 miles from POrty Mile 
 Creek). Placers on Hunker Creek, Indian Creek, and Bonanza 
 Creek, the principal branch of the Klondike, gave good returns. 
 On Bonanza Creek, $1,000 was taken out in August and Septem- 
 ber, 1896, and 400 claims were located up to January, 1897. 
 Gulches and creeks showing good prospects are spread over 700 
 square miles. The mining population in the Yukon region was 
 estimated, in 1896, at about 1,700; and the gold production for
 
 ALASKA. yy 
 
 that year, including United States and British territory, is esti- 
 mated at $1,400,000. 
 Professor Spurr says: 
 
 The Yukon districts lie in a hroad belt, of gold-producing rocks, having a 
 considerable width and extending in a general east and west direction for sev- 
 eral hundred miles. Throughout this belt, occur quartz veins which carry gold, 
 but so far as yet found out, the ore is of low grade, and a large proportion of 
 the veins have been so broken by movements in the rocks that they can not be 
 followed. For this reason, the mines in the bed rock can not be worked, except 
 on a large scale with improved machinery, and even such operations are impos- 
 sible until the general conditions of the country in reference to transportation 
 and supplies are improved.- 
 
 Through the gold-bearing rocks, the streams have cut deep gullies and can- 
 yons, and in their beds the gold which was contained in the rocks which have 
 been worn away is concentrated, so that from a large amount of very low-grade 
 rock there may be formed in places a gravel sufficiently rich in gold to repay 
 washing. All the mining which is done in this country, therefore, consists in 
 j the washing out of these gravels. 
 
 In each gulch, prospectors are at liberty to stake out claims not already taken, 
 the size of the claims being determined by vote of all the miners in each gulch, 
 according to the richness of the gravel. The usual length of a claim is about 
 500 feet along the stream and the total width of the gulch bed, which is ordi- 
 narily narrow. When a prospector has thus staked out his claim, it is recorded 
 by one of the miners, who is elected by his fellows in each gulch for that pur- 
 pose, and this secures him sufficient title. The miners' laws are practically the 
 entire government in these districts, for the remoteness prevents any systematic 
 communication being carried on with the United States. All questions and 
 disputes are settled by miners' meetings, and the question in dispute is put to 
 popular vote. 
 
 In prospecting, the elementary method of panning is used to discover the 
 presence of gold in gravel, but after a claim is staked and systematic work 
 begun, long sluice boxes are built of boards, the miners being obliged to fell the 
 trees themselves and saw out the lumber with whipsaws, a very laborious kind 
 of work. The depth of gravel in the bottom of the gulches varies from a foot 
 up to 20 or 30 feet, and when it is deeper than the latter figure, it can not be 
 worked. 
 
 ' IThe upper part of the gravel is barren, and the pav dirt lies directlv upon 
 
 / the rock beneath, and is generally very thin. To get at this pav dirt all the 
 
 upper gravel must be shoveled oft", and this preliminary work often requires an
 
 78 ALASKA, 
 
 entire season, even in a very small claim. When the gravel is deeper than a 
 certain amount, say 10 feet, the task of removing it becomes formidable. In 
 this case, the pay dirt can sometimes be got at in the winter season, when the 
 gravel is frozen hard, by sinking shafts through the gravel and drifting along 
 the pay dirt. 
 
 The wages paid, says Professor vSpiirr, are from $10 to $12 a 
 day; in winter, $5 to $8 for a six-hour day. The cost of Hving 
 is very high, owing to the difficulty of transporting provisions, 
 etc., and the great distances to be covered. 
 
 Prospecting in this country, says Mr. Wilson (Guide to Yukon 
 Gold Fields), is very difficult owing to the character of the surface, 
 the general formation being soft, the hills having been worn 
 smooth by glacial action, which left a layer of drift over the whole 
 country to a depth of from ^ to 1 5 feet. This is frozen the whole 
 year, with the exception ot a tew inches on the surface. The 
 method of prospecting is usually carried on by sinking a number 
 of holes to bed rock across the bed ot the creek, or cross cutting 
 it by a tunnel and testing the dirt every few feet by panning, 
 thus locating the pay streak. After a creek has been prospected, 
 the glacial drift must be removed. The trees and roots are taken 
 away and a stream of water turned on, which, with the help of the 
 sun, in time bares the pay streak. The course ot the water is 
 then turned along the hillside, a dam built and sluice boxes 
 erected. These are made with corrugated bottoms, which catch 
 and retain the gold. They are given a grade regulated by the 
 coarseness ot the gold; it the gold is fine, the grade is slight; it 
 coarse, a greater pitch can be given, which is preferable, as more 
 dirt can be handled. The lack of water in these gulches proves 
 a great hindrance in many cases. The seasons are dry, and only 
 the glacial drip of the hills can be depended upon. 
 
 A method lately adopted by which mining can be done in 
 v/inter has proved profitable, besides doing away with the long 
 period of idleness. This is called burning, and is done by drifting.
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 79 
 
 melting away the frost by fire and taking out only the pay dirt, 
 leaving the glacial drift and surface intact. The pay dirt thus 
 removed is easily washed in the spring when water is plenty. 
 
 ROUTES TO THE KLONDIKE. 
 
 The Klondike region can be reached by St. Michaels and a 
 voyage up the Yukon, which is perhaps the most comfortable but 
 longest route. The current of the river is so swift that the trip up 
 is necessarily slow. Boats from San Francisco, touching at 
 Seattle, Victoria, and Unalaska, connect at St. Michaels Island with 
 the river steamers. In the Guide to the Yukon Gold Fields, 
 Mr. Wilson gives the following rates for the river boats, which he 
 says accommodate about loo passengers. 
 
 From Forty Mile Post to St. Michaels, first class, $50; second 
 class, $30. The through trip to San Francisco costs, he says, 
 from $150 to $175. After leaving the steamer, says the same 
 authority, packs are carried by Indians and dogs in summer, and 
 in winter are conveyed by sleds. The cost of freighting in sum- 
 mer is $30 per 100 pounds for a distance of 60 miles; in winter, 
 $10 to $13 per 100 pounds. The dogs haul large loads and can 
 cover long distances. 
 
 A more direct but more fatiguing route is from Lynn Channel 
 to the Lewis River by way of several lakes. There is the Chil- 
 kat Pass (long and less used than formerly), the White, and the 
 Chilkoot. The terminus of the White Pass is some 85 miles 
 north of Juneau, and ocean steamers can run up to the landing at 
 all times. The pass lies through a box canyon, and is compara- 
 tively easy. Mr. Wilson considers this the best pass, and says the 
 trail would not exceed 32 miles in length, and would strike W^indv 
 arm of Tagish Lake, or Taku arm, coming in farther up the lake. 
 This part of the lake is accessible to Lake Bennett, and the pass 
 could be used as a mail route any month of the year. The
 
 8o ALASKA. 
 
 Chilkoot Puss is the one most used by miners. Steamers ply from 
 Juneau to Uyea, a distance of loo miles and the head of steam- 
 ship navigation. The charge is $10 tor one man and outfit. Mr. 
 Wilson's description of the route is summarized as follows: 
 
 /it Dvea, the actual journey begins. If the trip is made by sleighs, the parties 
 usually do their own work; but if the snow and ice have left the canyon, the 
 outfit will have to be packed to Lake Lindeman. Indian packers charge $14 
 per 100 pounds; the distance is about 24 miles. Canoes can be used for about 
 6 miles up the Dvea River; then the trail, steep and precipitous, leads up the 
 canvon to the summit, 15 miles distant and 3,500 feet above tidewater. From 
 the summit, there is a sheer descent of 500 feet to the bed of Crater Lake. 
 The water has cut a small canvon down the mountain side which should be fol- 
 lowed to Lake Lindeman (24 miles from Dyea Inlet). Here a ratt should be 
 made with a deck of small poles a foot above the body, which prevents the 
 waves from wetting the outfit. The latter should be protected by water-tight 
 sacks, either of oilskin or canvas. A short portage of three-fourths of a mile 
 (the fall being about 20 feet) leads to Lake Bennett. The stream connecting 
 the two lakes is crooked and rockv, making it unsafe for a boat. Lake Linde- 
 man is about 6 miles along, and opens up from May 15 to June 10. After 
 reaching Lake Bennett, the journey may be continued by ratt, or by ascending a 
 small river which enters the head of the lake from the west, a distance of one mile; 
 good boDt timber may be found. The only timber used in the construction of 
 boats is spruce or Norway pine. Lake Bennett is some 26 miles long; Caribou 
 Crossing leads to Tagish Lake. Navigation on these two lakes is sometimes 
 interrupted bv the high winds. A wide, sluggish river leads to Lake Marsh, 20 
 miles long. The river from here to the canyon has about a 3-mile current. 
 Just above the canyon, quantities of salmon are found. The canyon proper is 
 five-eighths of a mile in length, but the distance to portage is about a mile, and 
 that run by the boats is three-fourths of a mile. The average width of the 
 canyon is loo feet, and the water is very deep. There is little danger in passing 
 the canyon, if the steersman does not lose his head. The water in the center is 
 4 feet higher than at the walls, and if the boat is kept under control it will remain 
 on this crest, and so avoid striking the walls. The boat should be strong, and 
 the cargo well protected from the water. It takes two minutes and twenty sec- 
 onds to pass through the canyon. Two miles below, White Horse Rapids arc 
 reached. It is practically impossible to pass these, and portage must be resorted 
 to. This part of the river can never be made navigable for steamers. A tram- 
 way could be easilv built here, and operated by the power from the falls. 
 
 About 15 miles from the rapids, the Tahkeena River joins the Lewis. This
 
 ALASKA. 81 
 
 is the inland waterway used in connection with the Chilkat Pass, which is long 
 (125 miles) and less used by miners or Indians. The Tahkeena is easily navi- 
 gable. A steamer could ascend it perhaps 70 miles. Lake Labarge is 12 
 miles below the Tahkeena. This lake is 3 1 miles long and is often very rough. 
 After leaving it, the current of the river increases to 5 or 6 miles an hour. The 
 course is very crooked and the bed is filled with bowlders, which might make it 
 dangerous for river steamers, especially on the down trip. The Hootalinqua, 
 Big Salmon, and Little Salmon rivers enter the Lewis within the next hundred 
 miles, the first two showing signs of gold. Fifty-three miles below the Little 
 Salmon is the Five Fingers Rapid, which can be run with a good boat with com- 
 parative ease. The channel to the right should be followed. Rink Rapids are 
 6 miles below Five Fingers, and the east shore should be followed closely. Old 
 Fort Selkirk is 55 miles from Five Fingers, and just below the confluence of the 
 Pelly and Lewis rivers. Here the Yukon begins, and soon broadens to a mile 
 in width. Ninety-six miles below, the White River enters from the west. 
 This is a large stream, extremely muddy. It probably flows over volcanic 
 deposits. Eighty miles farther on is the mouth of Sixty Mile Creek, where 
 there is a trading post and sawmill, and where a number of miners annually 
 winter. Thirty miles below, Indian Creek enters the Yukon, and 20 miles 
 from Indian Creek is the mouth of the Klondike. Some 20 miles beyond is the 
 mouth of Forty Mile Creek. There is a trading post at its outlet, and Dawson 
 is near the mouth of the Klondike River. Circle City is 140 miles from Forty 
 Mile Post, and Dawson is 676 miles from Juneau. 
 
 The act of Congress approved July 4, 1866, relating to min- 
 eral lands and mining in the United States, says: 
 
 All valuable mineral deposits in lands belonging to the United States, both 
 surveyed and unsurveyed, are hereby- declared to be free and open to explora- 
 tion and purchase, and lands in which these are found to occupation and 
 purchase, by citizens of the United States and by those who have declared an 
 intention to become such, under the rules prescribed by law and according to 
 local customs or rules of miners in the several mining districts, so far as the 
 same are applicable and not inconsistent with the laws of the United States. 
 
 The act of Congress approved May 17, 1884, providing for 
 civil government for Alaska, has this language as to mines and 
 mining privileges: 
 
 The laws of the United States relating to mining claims and rights incidental 
 thereto shall, on and after the passage of this act, be in full force and effect in 
 ^o. 86 6
 
 82 ALASKA. 
 
 said district of Alaska, subject to such regulations as may be made by the Sec- 
 retary of the Interior and approved by the President. * * * Parties who 
 have located mines or mining privileges therein, under the United States law 
 applicable to the public domain, or have occupied or improved or exercised acts 
 of ownership over such claims, shall not be disturbed therein, but shall be 
 allowed to perfect title by payment so provided for. 
 
 Commissioner Hermann says that the patenting of mineral 
 lands in Alaska has been going on since 1884. 
 
 UNITED STATES MINING LAWS. 
 
 As the mining laws of the United States apply to Alaska, they 
 are printed here in full : 
 
 united states mining laws and regulations thereunder.* 
 
 Department of the Interior, 
 
 General Land Office, 
 
 December 10, i8gi. 
 Gentlemen: Your attention is invited to the Revised Statutes of the United 
 States and the amendments thereto in regard to 
 
 MINING LAWS AND MINING RESOURCES. 
 Title xxxu, Chapter 6. 
 
 Section 2318. In all cases lands valuable for minerals shall be reserved from 
 sale, except as otherwise expressly directed by law. 
 
 Sec. 2319. All valuable mineral deposits in lands belonging to the United 
 States, both surveyed and unsurveyed, are hereby declared to be free and open 
 to exploration and purchase, and the lands in which they are found to occupa- 
 tion and purchase, by citizens of the United States and those who have declared 
 their intention to become such, under regulations prescribed by law, and accord- 
 ing to the local customs or rules of miners in the several mining districts, so far 
 as the same are applicable and not inconsistent with the laws of the United 
 States. 
 
 Sec. 2320. Mining-claims upon veins or lodes of quartz or other rock in place 
 bearing gold, silver, cinnabar, lead, tin, copper, or other valuable deposits, here- 
 
 * Department of the Interior, General Land Office, Washington, May i6, 1893. — 
 This circular is reissued for the information and benefit of those concerned. — S. W. 
 Lamoreux, Commissioner.
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 83 
 
 tofore located, shall be governed as to length along the vein or lode by the cus- 
 toms, regulations, and laws in force at the date of their location. A mining- 
 claim located after the tenth day of May, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, 
 whether located by one or more persons, may equal, but shall not exceed, one 
 thousand five hundred feet in length along the vein or lode; but no location of 
 a mining-claim shall be made until the discovery of the vein or lode within the 
 limits of the claim located. No claim shall extend more than three hundred feet 
 on each side of the middle of the vein at the surface, nor shall any claim be 
 limited by any mining regulation to less than twenty-five feet on each side of the 
 middle of the vein at the surface, except where adverse rights existing on the 
 tenth dav of May, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, render such limitation 
 necessarv. The end-lines of each claim shall be parallel to each other. 
 
 Sec. 2321. Proof of citizenship, under this chapter, may consist, in the case 
 of an individual, of his own affidavit thereof; in the case of an association of 
 persons unincorporated, of the affidavit of their authorized agent, made on his 
 own knowledge, or upon information and belief; and in the case of a corpora- 
 tion organized under the laws of the United States, or of any State or Terri- 
 tory thereof, by the filing of a certified copy of their charter or certificate ot 
 incorporation. 
 
 Sec. 2322. The locators of all mining locations heretofore made or which 
 shall hereafter be made, on any mineral vein, lode, or ledge, situated on the pub- 
 lic domain, their heirs and assigns, where no adverse claim exists on the tenth 
 day of May, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, so long as they comply with 
 the laws of the United States, and with State, Territorial, and local regulations 
 not in conflict with the laws of the United States governing their possessory title, 
 shall have the exclusive right of possession and enjoyment of all the surface 
 included within the lines of their locations, and of all veins, lodes, and ledges 
 throughout their entire depth, the top or apex of which lies inside of such surface- 
 •lines extended downward vertically, although such veins, lodes, or ledges may 
 so far depart from a perpendicular in their course downward as to extend out- 
 side the vertical side-lines of such surface locations. But their right of posses- 
 sion to such outside parts of such veins or ledges shall be confined to such 
 portions thereof as lie between vertical planes drawn downward as above 
 described, through the end-lines of their locations, so continued in their own 
 direction that such planes will intersect such exterior parts of such veins or 
 ledges. And nothing in this section shall authorize the locator or possessor ot 
 a vein or lode which extends in its downward course beyond the vertical lines 
 of his claim to enter upon the surface of a claim owned or possessed by another. 
 
 Sec. 2323. Where a tunnel is run for the development of a vein or lode, or 
 for the discovery of mines, the owners of such tunnel shall have the right of
 
 84 ALASKA. 
 
 possession of all veins or lodes within three thousand feet from the face of such 
 tunnel on the line thereof, not previously known to exist, discovered in such 
 tunnel, to the same extent as if discovered from the surface; and locations on 
 the line of such tunnel of veins or lodes not appearing on the surface, made by 
 other parties after the commencement of the tunnel, and while the same is being 
 prosecuted with reasonable diligence, shall be invalid; but failure to prosecute 
 the work on the tunnel for six months shall be considered as an abandonment 
 of the right to all undiscovered veins on the line of such tunnel. 
 
 Sec. 2324. The miners of each mining-district may make regulations not in 
 conflict with the laws of the United States, or with the laws of the State or 
 Territory in which the district is situated, governing the location, manner of 
 recording, amount of work necessary to hold possession of a mining-claim, sub- 
 ject to the following requirements : The location must be distinctly marked on 
 the ground so that its boundaries can be readily traced. All records of mining- 
 claims hereafter made shall contain the name or names of the locators, the date 
 of the location, and such a description of the claim or claims located by refer- 
 ence to some natural object or permanent monument as will identify the claim. 
 On each claim located after the tenth day of May, eighteen hundred and sev- 
 enty-two, and until a patent has been issued therefor, not less than one hundred 
 dollars' worth of labor shall be performed or improvements made during each 
 year. On all claims located prior to the tenth day of May, eighteen hundred 
 and seventy-two, ten dollars' worth of labor shall be performed or improve- 
 ments made by the tenth day of June, eighteen hundred and seventy-four, and 
 each year thereafter, for each one hundred feet in length along the vein until a 
 patent has been issued therefor ; but where such claims are held in common, 
 such expenditure may be made upon any one claim ; and upon a failure to com- 
 ply with these conditions, the claim or mine upon which such failure occurred 
 shall be open to relocation in the same manner as if no location of the same 
 had ever been made, provided that the original locators, their heirs, assigns, or 
 legal representatives, have not resumed work upon the claim after failure and 
 before such location. Upon the failure of any one of several co-owners to con- 
 tribute his proportion of the expenditures required hereby, the co-owners who 
 have performed the labor or made the improvements may, at the expiration of 
 the year, give such delinquent co-owner personal notice in writing or notice by 
 publication in the newspaper published nearest the claim, for at least once a 
 week for ninety days, and if at the expiration of ninety days after such notice 
 in writing or by publication such delinquent should fail or refuse to contribute 
 his proportion of the expenditure required by this section, his interest in the 
 claim shall become the property of his co-owners who have made the required 
 expenditures.
 
 ALASKA. 85 
 
 Sec. 2325. A patent for any land claimed and located for valuable deposits 
 may be obtained in the following manner: Any person, association, or cor- 
 poration authorized to locate a claim under this chapter, having claimed and 
 located a piece of land for such purposes, who has, or have, complied with the 
 terms of this chapter, may file in the proper land-office an application for a 
 patent, under oath, showing such compliance, together with a plat and field- 
 notes of the claim or claims in common, made by or under the direction of the 
 United States Surveyor-General, showing accurately the boundaries of the claim 
 or claims, which shall be distinctly marked by monuments on the ground, and 
 shall post a copy of such plat, together with a notice of such application for a 
 patent, in a conspicuous place on the land embraced in such plat previous to the 
 filing of the application for a patent, and shall file an affidavit of at least two 
 persons that such notice has been duly posted, and shall file a copy of the notice 
 in such land-office, and shall thereupon be entitled to a patent for the land, in 
 the manner following: The register of the land-office, upon the filing of such 
 application, plat, field-notes, notices, and affidavits, shall publish a notice that 
 such application has been made, for the period of sixty days, in a newspaper to 
 be by him designated as published. nearest to such claim; and he shall also post 
 such notice in his office for the same period. The claimant at the time of filing 
 this application, or at any time thereafter, within the sixty days of publication, 
 shall file with the register a certificate of the United States Surveyor-General that 
 five hundred dollars' worth of labor has been expended or improvements made 
 upon the claim by himself or grantors; that the plat is correct, with such further 
 description by such reference to natural objects or permanent monuments as shall 
 identify the claim, and furnish an accurate description, to be incorporated in 
 the patent. At the expiration of the sixty days of publication, the claimant shall 
 file his affidavit, showing that the plat and notice have been posted in a con- 
 spicuous place on the claim during such period of publication. If no adverse 
 claim shall have been filed with the register and the receiver of the proper land- 
 office at the expiration of the sixty days of publication, it shall be assumed that 
 the applicant is entitled to a patent, upon the payment to the proper officer of 
 five dollars per acre, and that no adverse claim exists ; and thereafter no objec- 
 tion from third parties to the issuance of a patent shall be heard, except it be 
 shown that the applicant has failed to comply with the terms of this chapter. 
 
 Sec. 2326. Where an adverse claim is filed during the period of publication, 
 it shall be upon oath of the person or persons making the same, and shall show 
 the nature, boundaries, and extent of such adverse claim, and all proceedings, 
 except the publication of notice and making and filing of the affidavit thereof, 
 shall be stayed until the controversy shall have been settled or decided by a 
 court of competent jurisdiction, or the adverse claim waived. It shall be the
 
 86 ALASKA. 
 
 duty of" the adverse claimant, within thirty days after filing his claim, to com- 
 mence proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction, to determine the ques- 
 tion of the right of possession, and prosecute the same with reasonable diligence 
 to final judgment; and a failure so to do shall be a waiver of his adverse claim. 
 After such judgment shall have been rendered, the party entitled to the posses- 
 sion of the claim, or any portion thereof, may, without giving further notice, 
 file a certified copy of the judgment-roll with the register of the land-office, 
 together with the certificate of the surveyor-general that the requisite amount 
 of labor has been expended or improvements made thereon, and the description 
 required in other cases, and shall pay to the receiver five dollars per acre for 
 his claim, together with the proper fees, whereupon the whole proceedings and 
 the judgment-roll shall be certified by the register to the Commissioner of the 
 General Land Office, and a patent shall issue thereon for the claim, or such 
 portion thereof as the applicant shall appear, from the decision of the court, to 
 rightly possess. If it appears from the decision of the court that several parties 
 are entitled to separate and different portions of the claim, each party may pay 
 for his portion of the claim with the proper fees, and file the certificate and 
 description by the surveyor-general, whereupon the register shall certify the pro- 
 ceedings and judgment-roll to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, as 
 in the preceding case, and patents shall issue to the several parties according to 
 their respective rights. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent 
 the alienation of a title conveyed by a patent for a mining-claim to any person 
 whatever. 
 
 Sec. 2327. The description of vein or lode claims, upon surveyed lands, shall 
 designate the location of the claim with reference to the lines of the public 
 surveys, but need not conform therewith; but where a patent shall be issued for 
 claims upon unsurveyed lands, the surveyor-general, in extending the surveys, 
 shall adjust the same to the boundaries of such patented claim, according to the 
 plat or description thereof, but so as in no case to interfere with or change the 
 location of any such patented claim. 
 
 Sec. 2328. Applications for patents for mining-claims under former laws now 
 pending may be prosecuted to a final decision in the General Land Office; but 
 in such cases where adverse rights are not affected thereby, patents may issue in 
 pursuance of the provisions of this chapter; and all patents for mining-claims 
 upon veins or lodes heretofore issued shall convey all the rights and privileges 
 conferred by this chapter where no adverse rights existed on the tenth day of 
 May, eighteen hundred and seventy-two. 
 
 Sec. 2329. Claims usually called "placers," including all forms of deposit, 
 excepting veins of quartz, or other rock in place, shall be subject to entry and
 
 ALASKA. 87 
 
 patent, under like circumstances and conditions, and upon similar proceedings, 
 as are provided for vein or lode claims ; but where the lands have been pre- 
 viously surveyed by the United States, the entry in its exterior limits shall 
 conform to the legal subdivisions of the public lands. 
 
 Sec. 2330. Legal subdivisions of forty acres may be subdivided into ten-acre 
 tracts; and two or more persons, or associations of persons, having contiguous 
 claims of any size, although such claims may be less than ten acres each, may 
 make joint entry thereof; but no location of a placer-claim, made after the 
 ninth day of July, eighteen hundred and seventy, shall exceed one hundred and 
 sixty acres for any one person or association of persons, which location shall 
 conform to the United States surveys; and nothing in this section contained 
 shall defeat or impair any bona fide pre-emption or homestead claim upon agri- 
 cultural lands, or authorize the sale of the improvements of ariy' bona fide settler 
 to any purchaser. 
 
 Sec. 2331. Where placer-claims are upon surveyed lands, and conform to 
 legal subdivisions, no further survey or plat shall be required, and all placer- 
 mining claims located after the tenth day of May, eighteen hundred and seventy- 
 two, shall conform as near as practicable with the United States svstem of 
 public-land surveys, and the rectangular subdivisions of such surveys, and no 
 such location shall include more than twenty acres for each individual claimant; 
 but where placer-claims can not be conformed to legal subdivisions, survev and 
 plat shall be made as on unsurveyed lands; and where by the segregation of 
 mineral lands in any legal subdivision a quantity of agricultural land less than 
 forty acres remains, such fractional portion of agricultural land may be entered 
 by any partv qualified by law, for homestead or pre-emption purposes. 
 
 Sec. 2332. Where such person or association, they and their grantors, have 
 held and worked their claims for a period equal to the time prescribed by the 
 statute of limitations for mining-claims of the State or Territory where the same 
 may be situated, evidence ot such possession and working ot the claims for such 
 period shall be sufficient to establish a right to a patent thereto under this chapter, 
 in the absence ot any adverse claim; but nothing in this chapter shall be deemed 
 to impair any lien which may have attached in any way whatever to anv mining- 
 claim or property thereto attached prior to the issuance of a patent. 
 
 Sec. 2333. Where the same person, association, or corporation is in possession 
 of a placer-claim, and also a vein or lode included within the boundaries thereof, 
 application shall be made for a patent for the placer-claim, with the statement 
 that it includes such vein or lode, and in such case a patent shall issue for the 
 placer-claim, subject to the provisions of this chapter, including such vein or 
 lode, upon the payment of five dollars per acre for such vein or lode claim, and
 
 88 
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 twenty-five feet of surface on each side thereof. The remainder of the placer- 
 claim, or any placer-claim not embracing any vein or lode-claim, shall be paid 
 for at the rate ot two dollars and fifty cents per acre, together with all costs of 
 proceedings; and where a vein or lode, such as is described in section twenty- 
 three hundred and twenty, is known to exist within the boundaries of a placer- 
 claim, an application for a patent for such placer-claim which does not include 
 an application for the vein or lode claim shall be construed as a conclusive 
 declaration that the claimant of the placer-claim has no right of possession of 
 the vein or lode claim; but where the existence of a vein or lode in a placer- 
 claim is not known, a patent for the placer-claim shall convey all valuable mineral 
 and other deposits within the boundaries thereof 
 
 Sec. 2334. The surveyor-general of the United States may appoint in each 
 land-district containing mineral lands as many competent surveyors as shall 
 apply for appointment to survey mining-claims. The expenses of the survey 
 of vein or lode claims, and the survey and subdivision of placer-claims into 
 smaller quantities than one hundred and sixty acres, together with the cost of 
 publications of notices, shall be paid by the applicants, and they shall be at 
 liberty to obtain the same at the most reasonable rates, and they shall also be 
 at liberty to employ any United States deputy surveyor to make the survey. 
 The Commissioner of the General Land Office shall also have power to estab- 
 lish the maximum charges tor surveys and publication of notices under this 
 chapter; and, in case of excessive charges for publication, he may designate any 
 newspaper published in a land-district where mines are situated for the publication 
 of mining-notices in such district, and fix the rates to be charged by such paper; 
 and, to the end that the Commissioner may be fully informed on the subject, 
 each applicant shall file with the register a sworn statement of all charges and 
 fees paid by such applicant for publication and surveys, together with all fees 
 and money paid the register and the receiver of the land-office, which statement 
 shall be transmitted, with the other papers in the case, to the Commissioner of 
 the General Land Office,. 
 
 Sec. 2335. All affidavits required to be made under this chapter may be veri- 
 fied before any officer authorized to administer oaths within the land-district 
 where the claims may be situated, and all testimony and proofs may be taken 
 before any such officer, and, when duly certified by the officer taking the same, 
 shall have the same force and effect as if taken before the register and receiver 
 of the land-office. In cases of contest as to the mineral or agricultural charac- 
 ter of land, the testimony and proofs may be taken as herein provided on per- 
 sonal notice of at least ten days to the opposing party; or if such party cannot 
 be found, then by publication of at least once a week for thirty days in a news- 
 paper, to be designated by the register of the land-office as published nearest to
 
 ALASKA. 89 
 
 the location of such land ; and the register shall require proof that such notice 
 lias been given. 
 
 Sec. 2336. Where two or more veins intersect or cross each other, priority 
 of title shall govern, and such prior location shall be entitled to all ore or min- 
 eral contained within the space oi intersection ; but the subsequent location 
 shall have the right of wav through the space of intersection for the purposes of 
 the convenient working of the mine. And where two or more veins unite, the 
 oldest or prior location shall take the vein below the point of union, including 
 all the space of intersection. 
 
 Sec. 2337. Where non-mineral land not contiguous to the vein or lode is 
 used or occupied by the proprietor of such vein or lode for mining or milling pur- 
 poses, such non-adjacent surface-ground may be embraced and included in an 
 application for a patent for such vein or lode, and the same may be patented there- 
 with, subject to the same preliminary requirements as to survey and notice as are 
 applicable to veins or lodes ; but no location hereafter made of such non-adjacent 
 land shall exceed five acres, and payment for the same must be made at the same 
 rate as fixed by this chapter for the superficies of the lode. The owner of a 
 quartz-mill or reduction works, not owning a mine in connection therewith, may 
 also receive a patent for his mill-site, as provided in this section. 
 
 Sec. 2338. As a condition of sale, in the absence of necessary legislation by 
 Congress, the local legislature of any State or Territory may provide rules for 
 working mines, involving easements, drainage, and other necessary means to 
 their complete development; and those conditions shall be fully expressed in 
 the patent. 
 
 Sec. 2339. Whenever, by priority of possession, rights to the use of water 
 for mining, agricultural, manufacturing, or other purposes, have vested and 
 accrued, and the same are recognized and acknowledged by the local customs, 
 laws, and the decisions of courts, the possessors and owners of such vested rights 
 shall be maintained and protected in the same; and the right of way for the 
 construction of ditches and canals for the purposes herein specified is acknowl- 
 edged and confirmed; but whenever any person, in the construction of any ditch 
 or canal, injures or damages the possession of any settler on the public domain, 
 the party committing such injury or damage shall be liable to the party injured 
 for such injury or damage. 
 
 Sec. 2340. All patents granted, or pre-emption or homesteads allowed, shall 
 be subject to any vested and accrued water-rights, or rights to ditches and reser- 
 voirs used in connection with such water-rights, as may have been acquired 
 under or recognized by the preceding section. 
 
 Sec. 2341. Wherever, upon the lands heretofore designated as mineral lands, 
 which have been excluded from survey and sale, there have been homesteads
 
 go ALASKA. 
 
 made by citizens of the United States, or persons who have declared their 
 intention to become citizens, which homesteads have been made, improved, and 
 used for agricultural purposes, and upon which there have been no valuable 
 mines of gold, silver, cinnabar, or copper discovered, and which are properlv 
 agricultural lands, the settlers or owners of such homesteads shall have a right 
 of pre-emption thereto, and shall be entitled to purchase the same at the price 
 of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and in quantity not to exceed one 
 hundred and sixty acres; or they may avail themselves of the provisions of 
 chapter five of this title, relating to "Homesteads." 
 
 Sec. 2342. Upon the survey of the lands described in the preceding section, 
 the Secretary ot the Interior may designate and set apart such portions of the 
 same as are clearly agricultural lands, which lands shall thereafter be subject to 
 pre-emption and sale as other public lands, and be subject to all the laws and 
 regulations applicable to the same. 
 
 Sec. 2343. The President is authorized to establish additional land-districts, 
 and to appoint the necessary officers under existing laws, wherever he may deem 
 the same necessary for the public convenience in executing the provisions or 
 this chapter. 
 
 Sec. 2344. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to impair, in 
 any way, rights or interests in mining property acquired under existing laws ; 
 nor to affect the provisions of the act entitled "An act granting to A. Sutro the 
 right of way and other privileges to aid in the construction of a draining and 
 exploring tunnel to the Comstock lode, in the State of Nevada," approved July 
 twenty-five, eighteen hundred and sixty-six. 
 
 Sec. 2345. The provisions of the preceding sections of this chapter shall not 
 apply to the mineral lands situated in the States of Michigan, Wisconsin, and 
 Minnesota, which are declared tree and open to exploration and purchase, 
 according to legal subdivisions, in like manner as before the tenth dav of May, 
 eighteen hundred and seventy-two. And any bona fide entries of such lands 
 within the States named since the tenth of May, eighteen hundred and seventy- 
 two, may be patented without reference to any of the foregoing provisions of 
 this chapter. Such lands shall be offered for public sale in the same manner, at 
 the same minimum price, and under the same rights of pre-emption as other 
 public lands. 
 
 Sec. 2346. No act passed at the first session of the thirty-eighth Congress, 
 granting lands to States or corporations to aid in the construction of roads or 
 for other purposes, or to extend the time of grants made prior to the thirtieth 
 day of January, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, shall be so construed as to 
 embrace mineral lands, which in all cases are reserved exclusively to the United 
 States, unless otherwise specially provided in the act or acts making the grant.
 
 ALASKA. gi 
 
 REPEAL PROVISIONS. 
 
 ITLE LXXIV. 
 
 Sec. 5595. The foregoing seventy-three titles embrace the statutes of the 
 United States general and permanent in their nature, in force on the 1st day of 
 December, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, as revised and con- 
 solidated by commissioners appointed under an act of Congress, and the same 
 shall be designated and cited as The Revised Statutes ot the United States. 
 
 Sec. 5596. All acts of Congress passed prior to said first dav of December, 
 o le thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, any portion of which is embraced 
 in any section of said revision, are hereby repealed, and the section applicable 
 thereto shall be in force in lieu thereof; all parts of such acts not contained in 
 such revision, having been repealed or superseded by subsequent acts, or not 
 being general and permanent in their nature : Proinded, That the incorporation 
 into such revision of any general and permanent provision, taken from an act 
 making appropriations, or from an act containing other provisions of a private, 
 local or temporary character, shall not repeal, or in any way affect anv appro- 
 priation, or any provision of a private, local, or temporary character, contained 
 in anv of said acts, but the same shall remain in force; and all acts of Congress 
 passed prior to said last-named day no part of which are embraced in said revis- 
 ion, shall not be affected or changed by its enactment. 
 
 Sec. 5597. The repeal of the several acts embraced in said revision, shall not 
 affect any act done, or any right accruing or accrued, or any suit or proceeding 
 had or commenced in any civil cause before the said repeal, but all rights and 
 liabilities under said acts shall continue, and may be enforced in the same man- 
 ner, as if said repeal had not been made; nor shall said repeal, in any manner 
 affect the right to any office, or change the term or tenure thereof. 
 
 Sec. 5598. All offenses committed, and all penalties or forfeitures incurred 
 under any statute embraced in said revision prior to said repeal, may be prose- 
 cuted and punished in the same manner and with the same effect, as if said repeal 
 had not been made. 
 
 Sec. 5599. All acts of limitation, whether applicable to civil causes and pro- 
 ceedings, or to the prosecution of offenses, or for the recovery of penalties or 
 forfeitures, embraced in said revision and covered by said repeal, shall not be 
 affected thereby, but all suits, proceedings or prosecutions, whether civil or crim- 
 inal, for causes arising, or acts done or committed prior to said repeal, may be 
 commenced and prosecuted within the same time as if said repeal had not been 
 made. 
 
 Sec. 5600. The arrangement and classification of the several sections of the
 
 92 ALASKA. 
 
 revision have been made for the purpose of a more convenient and orderly 
 arrangement of the same, and therefore no inference or presumption of a legis- 
 lative construction is to be drawn by reason of the Title, under which any par- 
 ticular section is placed. 
 
 Sec. 5601. The enactment of the said revision is not to affect or repeal any 
 act of Congress passed since the first day of December, one thousand eight hun- 
 dred and seventy-three, and all acts passed since that date are to have full effect 
 as if passed after the enactment of this revision, and so far as such acts vary 
 from, or conflict with any provision contained in said revision, they are to have 
 effect as subsequent statutes, and as repealing any portion of the revision incon- 
 sistent therewith. 
 
 Approved, June 22, 1874. 
 
 AN ACT to amend the act entitled "An act to promote the c'evelopment of the mining resources 
 of the United States," passed May tenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 
 of America in Congress assembled, That the provisions of the fifth section of 
 the act entitled "An act to promote the development of the mining resources of 
 the United States," passed May tenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, 
 which requires expenditures of labor and improvements on claims located prior 
 to the passage of said act, are hereby so amended that the time for the first 
 annual expenditure on claims located prior to the passage of said act shall be 
 extended to the first day of January, eighteen hundred and seventy-five. 
 
 Approved, June 6, 1874 (18 Stat., 61). 
 
 AN ACT to amend section two thousand three hundred and twenty-four of the Revised Statutes, 
 relating to the development of the mining resources of the United States. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 
 of America in Congress assembled, That section two thousand three hundred 
 and twenty-four of the Revised Statutes be, and the same is hereby amended so 
 that where a person or company has or may run a tunnel for the purpose of 
 developing a lode or lodes, owned by said person or company, the money so 
 expended in said tunnel shall be taken and considered as expended on said lode 
 or lodes, whether located prior to or since the passage of said act, and such 
 person or company shall not be required to perform work on the surface of said 
 lode or lodes in order to hold the same as required by said act. 
 
 Approved February 11, 1875 (18 Stat., 315).
 
 ALASKA. 93 
 
 AN ACT to exclude the States of Missouri and Kansas from the provisions of the act of Congress 
 entitled "An act to promote the development of the mining resources of the United States," 
 approved May tenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 
 of America in Congress assembled, That within the States of Missouri and 
 Kansas deposits of coal, iron, lead, or other mineral be, and they are hereby, 
 excluded from the operation of the act entitled "An act to promote the develop- 
 ment of the mining resources of the United States," approved May tenth, eight- 
 een hundred and seventy-two, and all lands in said States shall be subject to 
 disposal as agricultural lands. 
 
 Approved May 5, 1876 (19 Stat., 52). 
 
 AN ACT authorizing the citizens of Colorado, Nevada, and the Territories to fell and remove tim- 
 ber on the public domain for mining and domestic purposes. 
 
 Be it enacted bv the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 
 of America in Congress assembled. That all citizens of the United States and 
 other persons, bona fide residents of the State of Colorado or Nevada, or either 
 of the Territories of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Dakota, Idaho, 
 or Montana, and all other mineral districts of the United States, shall be and 
 are hereby, authorized and permitted to fell and remove, for building, agricul- 
 tural, mining, or other domestic purposes, any timber or other trees growing or 
 being on the public lands, said lands being mineral, and not subject to entry 
 under existing laws of the United States, except for mineral entry, in either of 
 said States, Territories, or districts of which such citizens or persons may be at 
 the time bona fide residents, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secre- 
 tary of the Interior may prescribe for the protection of the timber and of the 
 undergrowth growing upon such lands, and for other purposes : Provided, The 
 provisions of this act shall not extend to railroad corporations. 
 
 Sec. 2. That it shall be the duty of the register and the receiver of any local 
 land-office in whose district any mineral land may be situated to ascertain from 
 time to time whether any timber is being cut or used upon any such lands, 
 except for the purposes authorized by this act, within their respective land dis- 
 tricts; and, if so, they shall immediately notify the Commissioner of the General 
 Land Office of that fact; and all necessary expenses incurred in making such 
 proper examinations shall be paid and allowed such register and receiver in 
 making up their next quarterly accounts. 
 
 Sec. 3. Any person or persons who shall violate the provisions of this act, or 
 any rules and regulations in pursuance thereof made by the Secretary of the
 
 94 
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 Interior, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall 
 be fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, and to which mav be 
 added imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months. 
 Approved June 3, 1878 (20 Stat., 88). 
 
 AN ACT to amend sections twenty-three hundred and twenty-four and twenty-three hundred and 
 twenty-five of the Revised Statutes of the United States concerning mineral lands. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 
 of America in Congress assembled. That section twenty-three hundred and 
 twenty-five of the Revised Statutes of the United States be amended bv adding 
 thereto the following words : ^^ Provided, That where the claimant for a patent 
 is not a resident of or within the land-district wherein the vein, lode, ledge, or 
 deposit sought to be patented is located, the application for patent and the 
 affidavits required to be made in this section by the claimant for such patent 
 may be made by his, her, or its authorized agent, where said agent is conversant 
 with the facts sought to be established by such affidavits : And provided. That 
 this section shall apply to all applications now pending for patents to mineral 
 lands." 
 
 Sec. 2. That section twenty-three hundred and twenty-four of the Revised 
 Statutes of the United States be amended by adding the following words : 
 ^* Provided, That the period within which the work required to be done annu- 
 ally on all unpatented mineral claims shall commence on the first day of January 
 succeeding the date of location of such claim, and this section shall apply to all 
 claims located since the tenth day of May, anno Domini eignteen hundred and 
 seventv-two." 
 
 Approved January 22, 1880 (21 Stat., 61). 
 
 AN ACT to amend section twentj'-three hundred and twenty-six of the Revised Statutes relating 
 to suits at law affecting the title to mining-claims. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 States of America in Congress assembled. That if, in any action brought pur- 
 suant to section twenty-three hundred and twenty-six of the Revised Statutes, 
 title to the ground in controversy shall not be established by either party, the 
 jury shall so find, and judgment shall be entered according to the verdict. In 
 such case costs shall not be allowed to either party, and the claimant shall not 
 proceed in the land-office or be entitled to a patent for the ground in contro- 
 versy until he shall have perfected his title. 
 
 Approved March 3, 1881 (21 Stat., 505).
 
 ALASKA. 95 
 
 AN ACT to amend section twenty-three hundred and twenty-six of the Revised Statutes, in 
 regard to mineral lauds, and for other purposes. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 States of America in Congress assembled: That the adverse claim required by 
 section twenty-three hundred and twenty-six of the Revised Statutes may be 
 verified by the oath of any duly authorized agent or attorney-in-fact of the 
 adverse claimant cognizant of the facts stated; and the adverse claimant, if 
 residing or at the time being beyond the limits of the district wherein the claim 
 is situated, may make oath to the adverse claim before the clerk of any court of 
 record of the United States or the State or Territory where the adverse claim- 
 ant may then be, or before any notary public of such State or Territory. 
 
 Sec. 2. That applicants for mineral patents, if residing beyond the limits of 
 the district wherein the claim is situated, may make any oath or affidavit required 
 for proof of citizenship before the clerk of any court of record, or before any 
 notary public of any State or Territory. 
 
 Approved April 26, 1882. (22 Stat., 49.) 
 
 AN ACT to exclude the public lands in Alabama from the operation of the laws relating to mineral 
 
 lands. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 
 of America in Congress assembled. That within the State of Alabama all public 
 lands, whether mineral or otherwise, shall be subject to disposal only as agricultural 
 lands: Provided, however. That all lands which have heretofore been reported 
 to the General Land Office as containing coal and iron shall first be offered at 
 public sale: And provided further. That any bona fide entry under the provi- 
 sions of the homestead law of lands within said State heretofore made may be 
 patented without reference to an act approved May tenth, eighteen hundred and 
 seventy-two, entitled, "An act to promote the development of the mining 
 resources of the United States," in cases where the persons making application 
 for such patents have in all other respects complied with the homestead law 
 relating thereto. 
 
 Approved, March 3, 1883. (22 Stat., 487.) 
 
 AN ACT providing a civil government for Alaska. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 
 of America in Congress Assembled, ******* 
 
 Sec 8. That the said district of Alaska is hereby created a land district, and 
 a United States land office for said district is hereby located at Sitka. The
 
 96 ALASKA. 
 
 commissioner provided for by this act to reside at Sitka shall be ex officio register 
 of said land office, and the clerk provided for by this act shall be ex officio receiver 
 of public moneys and the marshal provided for by this act shall be ex officio 
 surveyor-general of said district and the laws of the United States relating to 
 mining claims, and the rights incident thereto, shall, from and after the passage 
 of this act, be in full force and effect in said district, under the administration 
 thereof herein provided for, subject to such regulations as may be made by the 
 Secretary of the Interior, approved by the President: Provided, That the 
 Indians or other persons in said district shall not be disturbed in the possession 
 of any lands actually in their use or occupation or now claimed by them, but the 
 terms under which such persons may acquire title to such lands is reserved for 
 future legislation by Congress: And provided further , That parties who have 
 located mines or mineral privileges therein under the laws of the United States 
 applicable to the public domain, or who have occupied and improved or exer- 
 cised acts of ownership over such claims, shall not be disturbed therein, but shall 
 be allowed to perfect their title to such claims by payment as aforesaid: And 
 provided also, That the land not exceeding six hundred and forty acres at any 
 station now occupied as missionary stations among the Indian tribes in said 
 section, with the improvements thereon erected by or for such societies, shall be 
 continued in the occupancy of the several religious societies to which said mis- 
 sionary stations respectively belong until action by Congress. But nothing 
 contained in this act shall be construed to put in force in said district the general 
 land laws of the United States. 
 
 * * ■ * * 4: * * 
 
 Approved May 17, 1884. (23 Stat., 24.) 
 
 AN ACT making appropriations for sundrj' ci\nl expenses of the Government for the fiscal year 
 ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, and for other purposes. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 
 of America in Congress assembled, ***** 
 
 No person who shall, after the passage of this act, enter upon any of the 
 public lands with a view to occupation, entry, or settlement under any of the land 
 laws shall be permitted to acquire title to more than three hundred and twenty 
 acres in the aggregate, under all of said laws, but this limitation shall not operate 
 to curtail the right of any person who has heretofore made entry or settlement 
 on the public lands, or whose occupation, entry, or settlement is validated by 
 this act: Provided, That in all patents for lands hereafter taken up under any 
 of the land laws of the United States or on entries or claims validated by this
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 97 
 
 act, west of the one hundredth meridian it shall be expressed that there is 
 reserv'ed from the lands in said patent described a right of wav thereon for 
 ditches or canals constructed by the authority of the United States. * * * 
 Approved August 30, 1890. (26 Stat., 371.) 
 
 AN ACT to repeal timber-culture laws, and for other purposes. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 States of America in Congress assembled, * =h * * * * 
 
 Sec. 16. That townsite entries may be made by incorporated towns and cities 
 on the mineral lands of the United States, but no title shall be acquired by such 
 towns or cities to any vein of gold, silver, cinnabar, copper, or lead, or to any 
 valid mining claim or possession held under existing law. When mineral veins 
 are possessed within the limits of an incorporated town or city, and such pos- 
 session is recognized by local authority or by the laws of the United States, the 
 title to town lots shall be subject to such recognized possession and the necessary 
 use thereof and when entry has been made or patent issued for such townsites 
 to such incorporated town or city, the possessor of such mineral vein may enter 
 and receive patent for such mineral vein, and the surface ground appertaining 
 thereto: Provided, That no entry shall be made by such mineral-vein claimant 
 for surface ground where the owner or occupier of the surface ground shall have 
 had possession of the same before the inception of the title of the mineral-vein 
 applicant. 
 
 Sec. I 7. That reservoir sites located or selected and to be located and selected 
 under the provisions of "An act making appropriations for sundrv civil expenses 
 of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred 
 and eighty-nine, and for other purposes," and amendments thereto, shall be 
 restricted to and shall contain only so much land as is actually necessary for the 
 construction and maintenance of reservoirs, excluding so far as practicable lands 
 occupied by actual settlers at the date of the location of said reservoirs, and that 
 the provisions of "An act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of 
 the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and 
 ninety-one, and for other purposes," which reads as follows, viz: "No person 
 who shall after the passage of this act enter upon any of the public lands with a 
 view to occupation, entry, or settlement under any of the land laws shall be per- 
 mitted to acquire title to more than three hundred and twenty acres in the 
 aggregate under all said laws," shall be construed to include in the maximum 
 amount of lands the title to which is permitted to be acquired by one person 
 i^-Q. 80 7
 
 98 ALASKA. 
 
 only agricultural lands and not include lands entered or sought to be entered 
 under mineral land laws. 
 
 ^ :(: ^ :)< 4: H^ 4: 
 
 Approved, March t,, 1891. (26 Stat., 1095.) 
 
 MINERAL LANDS OPEN TO EXPLORATION, OCCUPATION, AND PURCHASE. 
 
 1. It will he perceived that by the foregoing provisions ot law the mineral 
 lands in the public domain, surveyed or unsurveyed, are open to exploration, 
 occupation, and purchase by all citizens of the United States and all those who 
 have declared their intentions to become such. 
 
 STATUS OK LODE-CLAIMS LOCATED PRIOR TO MAV 1 O, 1872. 
 
 2. Bv an examination ot the several sections ot the Revised Statutes it will 
 be seen that the status of lode-claims locax^ed previous to the loth May, 1872, 
 is not changed with regard to their extent along the lode or width of surface. 
 
 3. Mining rights acquired under such previous locations are, however, enlarged 
 by such Revised Statutes in the following respect, viz : The locators of all such 
 previouslv taken veins or lodes, their heirs and assigns, so long as they comply 
 with the laws of Congress and with State, Territorial, or local regulations 
 not in conflict therewith, governing mining claims, are invested with the exclu- 
 sive possessory right of all the surface included within the lines of their loca- 
 tions, and of all veins, lodes, or ledges throughout their entire depth, the top 
 or apex of which lies inside of such surface lines extended downward vertically, 
 although such veins, lodes, or ledges mav so far depart from a perpendicular in 
 their course downward as to extend outside the vertical side-lines of such loca- 
 tions at the surface, it being expressly provided, however, that the right ot pos- 
 session to such outside parts of said veins or ledges shall be confined to such 
 portions thereof as lie between vertical planes drawn downward, as aforesaid, 
 through the end lines of their locations so continued in their own direction that 
 such planes will intersect such exterior parts of such veins, lodes, or ledges; no 
 right being granted, however, to the claimant of such outside portion of a vein 
 or ledge to enter upon the surface location of another claimant. 
 
 4. It is to be distinctly understood, however, that the law limits the possess- 
 ory right to veins, lodes, or ledges, other than the one named in the original 
 location, to such as were not adversely claimed on May 10, i8j2, and that 
 where such other vein or ledge was so adversely claimed at that date, the right 
 of the partv so adverselv claiming is in no wav impaired by the provisions ot 
 the Revised Statutes. 
 
 5. In order to hold the possessory title to a mining claim located prior to 
 May 10, 1872, and for which a patent has not been issued^ the law requires that
 
 ALASKA. 99 
 
 ten dollars shall be expended annually in labor or improvements on each claim 
 of one hundred J^eet on the course of the vein or lode until a patent shall have 
 been issued therefor; but where a number of such claims are held in common 
 upon the same vein or lode, the aggregate expenditure that would be necessary 
 to hold all the claims, at the rate oi ten dollars per hundred feet, may be made 
 upon any one claim; a failure to comply with this requirement in any one year 
 subjecting the claim upon which such failure occurred to relocation by other 
 parties, the same as if no previous location thereof had ever been made, unless 
 the claimants under the original location shall have resumed work thereon after 
 such failure and before such relocation. The first annual expenditure upon 
 claims oi this class should have been performed subsequent to May lo, 1872, 
 and prior to January 1, 1875. From and after January 1, 1875, the required 
 amount must be expended annually until patent issues. By decision of the 
 honorable Secretary of the Interior, dated March 4, 1879, such annual expendi- 
 tures are not required subsequent to entry, the date of issuing the patent certifi- 
 cate being the date contemplated by statute. 
 
 6. Upon the failure of any one of several co-owners of a vein, lode, or ledge, 
 which has not been entered, to contribute his proportion of the expenditures 
 necessary to hold the claim or claims so held in ownership in common, the co- 
 owners, who have performed the labor or made the improvements as required 
 by said Revised Statutes, may, at the expiration of the year, give such delin- 
 quent co-owner personal notice in writing, or notice by publication in the news- 
 paper published nearest the claim for at least once a week for ninety days; and 
 if upon the expiration of ninety days after such notice in writing, or upon the 
 expiration of one hundred and eighty days after the first newspaper publication 
 of notice, the delinquent co-owner shall have failed to contribute his proportion 
 to meet such expenditures or improvements, his interest in the claim by law 
 passes to his co-owners who have made the expenditures or improvements as 
 aforesaid. Where a claimant alleges ownership of a forfeited interest under the 
 foregoing provision, the sworn statement of the publisher as to the facts of pub- 
 lication, giving dates and a printed copy of the notice published, should be fur- 
 nished, and the claimant must swear that the delinquent co-owner failed to 
 contribute his proper proportion within the period fixed by the statute. 
 
 PATENTS FOR VEINS OR LODES HERETOFORE ISSUED. 
 
 7. Rights under patents for veins or lodes heretofore granted under previous 
 legislation of Congress are enlarged by the Revised Statutes so as to invest the 
 patentee, his heirs or assigns, with title to all veins, lodes, or ledges throughout 
 their entire depth, the top or apex of which lies within the end and side bound- 
 ary lines of his claim on the surface, as patented, extended downward vertically^
 
 lOO ALASKA. 
 
 although such veins, lodes, or ledges may so far depart from a perpendicular in 
 their course downward as to extend outside the vertical side-lines of the claim 
 at the surface. The right of possession to such outside parts of such veins or 
 ledges to be confined to such portions thereof as lie between vertical planes 
 drawn downward through the end lines of the claims at the surface, so con- 
 tinued in their own direction that such planes will intersect such exterior parts 
 of such veins or ledges; it being expressly provided, however, that all veins, 
 lodes, or ledges, the top or apex of which lies inside such surface locations, 
 other than the one named in the patent, which were adversely claimed on the 
 lOth May, 18^2, are excluded from such conveyance by patent. 
 
 8. Applications for patents for mining-claims pending at the date of the act 
 of May 10, 1872, may be prosecuted to final decision in the General Land 
 Office, and where no adverse rights are affected thereby, patents will be issued 
 in pursuance of the provisions of the Revised Statutes. 
 
 MANNER OF LOCATING CLAIMS ON VEINS OR LODES AFTER MAY 1 0, 1872. 
 
 9. From and after the loth May, 1872, any person who is a citizen of the 
 United States, or who has declared his intention to become a citizen, may locate, 
 record, and hold a mining claim of fifteen hundred linear feet along the course 
 of any mineral vein or lode subject to location; or an association of persons, 
 severally qualified as above, may make joint location of such claim oi ffteen 
 hundred feet, but in no event can a location of a vein or lode made subsequent 
 to May 10, 1872, exceed fifteen hundred feet along the course thereof, whatever 
 may be the number of persons composing the association. 
 
 10. With regard to the extent of surface-ground adjoining a vein or lode, and 
 claimed for the convenient working thereof, the Revised Statutes provide that 
 the lateral extent of locations of veins or lodes made after May 10, 1872, shall 
 in no case exceed three hundred feet on each side of the middle of the vein at 
 the surface, and that no such surface rights shall be limited by any mining regu- 
 lations to less than twenty-five feet on each side of the middle of the vein at 
 the surface, except where adverse rights existing on the 10th May, 1872, may 
 render such limitation necessary ; the end-lines of such claims to be in all cases 
 parallel to each other. Said lateral measurements cannot extend beyond three 
 hundred feet on either side of the middle of the vein at the surface, or such 
 distance as is allowed by local laws. For example: 400 feet cannot be taken on 
 one side and 200 feet on the other. If, however, 300 feet on each side are 
 allowed, and by reason of prior claims but 100 feet can be taken on one side, the 
 locator will not be restricted to less than 300 feet on the other side; and when 
 the locator does not determine by exploration zvhere the middle of the vein at 
 the surface is, his discovery shaft must be assumed to mark such point.
 
 ALASKA. 101 
 
 11. Bv the foregoing it will be perceived that no lode-claim located after the 
 loth May, 1872, can exceed a parallelogram fifteen hundred feet in length by 
 six hundred feet in width, but whether surface-ground of that width can be taken, 
 depends upon the local regulations or State or Territorial laws in force in the 
 several mining districts; and that no such local regulations or State or Territo- 
 rial laws shall limit a vein or lode claim to less than fifteen hundred feet along 
 the course thereof, whether the location is made by one or more persons, nor 
 can surface rights be limited to less than fifty feet in width, unless adverse claims 
 existing on the 10th day of May, 1872, render such lateral limitation necessary. 
 
 12. It is provided by the Revised Statutes that the miners of each district 
 may make rules and regulations not in conflict with the laws of the United 
 States, or ot the State or Territory in which such districts are respectively sit- 
 uated, governing the location, manner of recording, and amount of work neces- 
 sary to hold possession of a claim. They likewise require that the location 
 shall be so distinctly marked on the ground that its boundaries may be readily 
 traced. This is a very important matter, and locators cannot exercise too much 
 care in defining their locations at the outset, inasmuch as the law requires that 
 all records of mining locations made subsequent to May 10, 1872, shall contain 
 the name or names of the locators, the date of the location, and such a descrip- 
 tion of the claim or claims located, by reference to some natural object or 
 permanent monument, as will identify the claim. 
 
 13. The statutes provide that no lode-claim shall be recorded until after the 
 discovery of a vein or lode within the limits of the claim located, the object of 
 which provision is evidently to prevent the appropriation of presumed mineral 
 ground for speculative purposes to the exclusion of bona fide prospectors, before 
 sufficient work has been done to determine whether a vein or lode really exists. 
 
 14. The claimant should, therefore, prior to locating his claim, unless the 
 vein'can be traced upon the surface, sink a shaft, or run a tunnel or drift, to a 
 sufficient depth therein to discover and develop a mineral-bearing vein, lode, or 
 crevice; should determine, if possible, the general course of such vein in either 
 direction from the point of discovery, by which direction he will be governed in 
 marking the boundaries of his claim on the surface. His location notice should 
 give the course and distance as nearly as practicable from the discovery-shaft on 
 the claim, to some permanent, well-known points or objects, such, for instance, 
 as stone monuments, blazed trees, the confluence of streams, point of intersec- 
 tion of well-known gulches, ravines, or roads, prominent buttes, hills, etc., 
 which may be in the immediate vicinity, and which will serve to perpetuate and 
 fix the locus of the claim and render it susceptible of identification from the 
 description thereof given in the record of locations in the district, and should 
 be duly recorded.
 
 102 ALASKA. 
 
 15. In addition to the foregoing data, the claimant should state the names of 
 adjoining claims, or, if none adjoin, the relative positions of the nearest claims; 
 should drive a post or erect a monument of stones at each corner of his surface- 
 ground, and at the point of discovery or discovery shaft should fix a post, stake, 
 or board, upon which should be designated the name of the lode, the name or 
 names of the locators, the number of feet claimed, and in which direction from 
 the point of discovery ; it being essential that the location notice filed for record, 
 in addition to the foregoing description should state whether the entire claim 
 of fifteen hundred feet is taken on one side of the point of discovery, or whether 
 it is partly upon one and partly upon the other side thereof, and in the latter 
 case, how many feet are claimed upon each side of such discovery-point. 
 
 16. Within a reasonable time, say twenty days after the location shall have 
 been marked on the ground, or such time as is allowed by the local laws, notice 
 thereof, accurately describing the claim in manner aforesaid, should be filed for 
 record with the proper recorder of the district, who will thereupon issue the 
 usual certificate of location. 
 
 17. In order to hold the possessory right to a location made since May 10, 
 1872, not less than one hundred dollars' worth of labor must be performed, or 
 improvements made thereon annually until entry shall have been made. Under 
 the provisions of the act of Congress approved January 22, 1880, the first 
 annual expenditure becomes due and must be performed during the calendar 
 year succeeding that in which the location was made. Expenditure made or 
 labor performed prior to the first day of January succeeding the date of loca- 
 tion will not be considered as a part of, or applied upon the first annual expend- 
 iture required by law. Failure to make the expenditure or perform the labor 
 required will subject the claim to relocation by any other party having the 
 necessary qualifications, unless the original locator, his heirs, assigns, or legal 
 representatives have resumed work thereon after such failure and before such 
 relocation. 
 
 18. The expenditures required upon mining-claims mav be made from the 
 surface or in running a tunnel for the development of such claims, the act of 
 February 1 1, 1875, providmg that where a person or company has, or may, run 
 a tunnel for the purpose of developing a lode or lodes owned by said person or 
 company, the money so expended in said tunnel shall be taken and considered 
 as expended on said lode or lodes, and such person or company shall not be 
 required to perform work on the surface of said lode or lodes in order to hold 
 the same. o 
 
 19. The importance of attending to these details in the matter of location, 
 labor, and expenditure will be the more readily perceived when it is understood 
 that a failure to give the subject proper attention may invalidate the claim.
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 TUNNEL RIGHTS. 
 
 io3 
 
 20. Section 2323 provides that where a tunnel is run for the development of 
 a vein or lode, or for the discovery of mines, the owners of such tunnels shall 
 have the right of possession of all veins or lodes within three thousand feet from 
 the face of such tunnel on the line thereof, not oreviously known to exist, dis- 
 covered in such tunnel, to the same extent as if discovered from the surface; 
 and locations on the line of such tunnel or veins or lodes not appearing on the 
 surface, made by other parties after the commencement of the tunnel, and while 
 the same is being prosecuted with reasonable diligence, shall be invalid; but 
 failure to prosecute the work on the tunnel for six months shall be considered 
 as an abandonment ot the right to all undiscovered veins or lodes on the line of 
 said tunnel. 
 
 The effect of this is simply to give the proprietors of a mining tunnel run in 
 good faith the possessory right to fifteen hundred feet of any blind lodes cut, dis- 
 covered, or intersected by such tunnel, which were not previously known to 
 exist, within three thousand feet from the face or point of commencement of 
 such tunnel, and to prohibit other parties, after the commencement of the tun- 
 nel, from prospecting for and making locations of lodes on the line thereof and 
 within said distance of three thousand feet, unless such lodes appear upon the 
 surface or were previously known to exist. 
 
 22. The term "face," as used in said section, is construed and held to mean 
 the first working-face formed in the tunnel, and to signify the point at which the 
 tunnel actually enters cover; it being from this point that the three thousand 
 feet are to be counted, upon which prospecting is prohibited as aforesaid. 
 
 23. To avail themselves of the benefits of this provision 0/ law, the proprie- 
 tors of a mining tunnel will be required, at the time they enter cover as afore- 
 said, to give proper notice of their tunnel location by erecting a substantial 
 post, board, or monument at the face or point of commencement thereof, upon 
 which should be posted a good and sufficient notice, giving the names of the 
 parties or company claiming the tunnel-right; the actual or proposed course or 
 direction of the tunnel; the height and width thereof, and the course and dis- 
 tance from such face or point of commencement to some permanent well-known 
 objects in the vicinity by which to fix and determine the locus in manner here- 
 tofore set forth applicable to locations of veins or lodes, and at the time of 
 posting such notice they shall, in order that miners or prospectors may be 
 enabled to determine whether or not they are within the lines of the tunnel, 
 establish the boundary lines thereof, by stakes or monuments placed along such 
 lines at proper intervals, to the terminus of the three thousand feet from the 
 face or point of commencement of the tunnel, and the lines so marked will
 
 104 ALASKA. 
 
 define and govern as to the specific boundaries within which prospecting tor 
 lodes not previously known to exist is prohibited while work on the tunnel is 
 being prosecuted with reasonable diligence. 
 
 24. At the time of posting notice and marking out the lines of the tunnel as 
 aforesaid, a full and correct copy of such notice of location defining the tunnel 
 claim must be filed tor record with the mining recorder of the district, to which 
 notice must be attached the sworn statement or declaration of the owners, claim- 
 ants, or projectors of such tunnel, setting forth the facts in the case; stating the 
 amount expended by themselves and their predecessors in interest in prosecuting 
 work thereon; the extent of the work performed, and that it is bona Jide their 
 intention to prosecute work on the tunnel so located and described with reason- 
 able diligence for the development of a vein or lode, or for the discovery of 
 mines, or both, as the case may be. This notice of location must be duly 
 recorded, and, with the said sworn statement attached, kept on the recorder's 
 files for future reference. 
 
 25. By a compliance with the foregoing much needless difiiculty will be 
 avoided, and the way for the adjustment of legal rights acquired in virtue of 
 said section 2323 will be made much more easy and certain. 
 
 26. This office will take particular care that no improper advantage is taken 
 of this provision of law by parties making or professing to make tunnel locations, 
 ostensibly for the purposes named in the statute, but really for the purpose of 
 monopolizing the lands lying in front of their tunnels to the detriment of the 
 mining interests and to the exclusion of bona fide prospectors or miners, but 
 will hold such tunnel claimants to a strict compliance with the terms of the 
 statutes; and a reasonable diligence on their part in prosecuting the work is 
 one of the essential conditions of their implied contract. Negligence or want 
 of due diligence will be construed as working a forfeiture of their right to all 
 undiscovered veins on the line of such tunnel. 
 
 MANNER OF PROCEEDING TO OBTAIN GOVERNMENT TITLE TO VEIN OR LODE CLAIMS. 
 
 27. By section 2325 authority is given for granting titles for mines by patent 
 from the Government to any person, association, or corporation having the 
 necessary qualifications as to citizenship and holding the right of possession to a 
 claim in compliance with law. 
 
 28. The claimant is required in the first place to have a correct survey of 
 his claim made under authority of the surveyor-general of the State or Terri- 
 tory in which the claim lies; such survey to show with accuracy the exterior 
 surface boundaries of the claim, which boundaries are required to be distinctly 
 marked by monuments on the ground. Four plats and one copy of the original 
 field notes, in each case, will be prepared by the surveyor-general; one plat and 
 
 I
 
 ALASKA. 105 
 
 the original field notes to be retained in the office of the surveyor-general, one 
 copy of the plat to be given the claimant tor posting upon the claim, one plat 
 and a copy of the field notes to be given the claimant for filing with the proper 
 register, to be finally transmitted by that officer, with other papers in the case, 
 to this office, and one plat to be sent by the surveyor-general to the register of 
 the proper land district to be retained on his files for future reference. As there 
 is no resident surveyor-general for the State of Arkansas, applications for the 
 survey of mineral claims in said State should be made to the Commissioner of 
 this office, who, under the law, is ex officio the U. S. surveyor-general. 
 
 29. The claimant is then required to post a copy of the plat of such survey 
 in a conspicuous place upon the claim, together with notice of his intention to 
 apply for a patent therefor, which notice will give the date of posting, the name 
 of the claimant, the name of the claim, mine, or lode; the mining district and 
 county; whether the location is of record, and, if so, where the record may be 
 found ; the number of feet claimed along the vein and the presumed direction 
 thereof; the number of feet claimed on the lode in each direction from the point 
 of discovery, or other well-defined place on the claim ; the name or names of 
 adjoining claimants on the same or other lodes ; or, if none adjoin, the names 
 of the nearest claims, d'c. 
 
 30. After posting the said plat and notice upon the premises, the claimant 
 will file with the proper register and receiver a copy of such plat and the field 
 notes of survey of the claim, accompanied by the affidavit of at least two cred- 
 ible witnesses, that such plat and notice are posted conspicuously upon the claim, 
 giving the date and place of such posting; a copy of the notice so posted to be 
 attached to, and form a part of, said affidavit. 
 
 31. Accompanying the field notes so filed must be the sworn statement of the 
 claimant that he has the possessory right to the premises therein described, in 
 virtue of a compliance by himself (and by his grantors, if he claims by purchase) 
 with the mining rules, regulations, and customs of the mining-district, State, or 
 Territory in which the claim lies, and with the mining laws of Congress; such 
 sworn statement to narrate briefly, but as clearly as possible, the facts consti- 
 tuting such compliance, the origin of his possession, and the basis of his claim 
 to a patent. 
 
 32. This affidavit should be supported by appropriate evidence from the 
 mining recorder's office as to his possessory right, as follows, viz: Where he 
 claims to be the locator, or a locator in company with others who have since 
 conveyed their interest in the location to him, a full, true, and correct copy of 
 such location should be furnished, as the same appears upon the mining records ; 
 such copy to be attested by the seal of the recorder, or if he has no seal, then 
 he should make oath to the same being correct, as shown by his records. Where
 
 lo6 ALASKA. 
 
 the applicant claims only as a purchaser tor valuable consideration, a copy ot 
 the location record must be filed under seal or upon oath as aforesaid, with an 
 abstract of title from the proper recorder, under seal or oath as aforesaid, brought 
 down as near as practicable to date of filing the application, tracing the right of 
 possession by a continuous chain of conveyances from the original locators to 
 the applicant, also certifying that no conveyances affecting the title to the claim 
 in question appear of record in his office other than those set forth in the accom- 
 panying abstract. 
 
 33. In the event of the mining records in any case having been destroyed by 
 fire or otherwise lost, affidavit of the fact should be made, and secondary evi- 
 dence of possessory title will be received, which may consist of the affidavit of 
 the claimant, supported by those of any other parties cognizant of the facts rela- 
 tive to his location, occupancy, possession, improvements, &c. ; and in such case 
 of lost records, any deeds, certificates of location or purchase, or other evidence 
 which mav be in the claimant's possession and tend to establish his claim, should 
 be filed. 
 
 34. Upon the receipt of these papers the register will, at the expense of the 
 claimant (who must furnish the agreement of the publisher to hold applicant for 
 patent alone responsible for charges of publication), publish a notice of such 
 application for the period of sixty days in a newspaper published nearest to the 
 claim, and will post a copy of such notice in his office for the same period. 
 When the notice is published in a zveekly newspaper ten consecutive insertions 
 are necessary ; when in a daily newspaper the notice must appear in each issue 
 for sixty-one consecutive issues, the first day of issue being excluded in estimating 
 the period of sixty days. 
 
 35. The notices so published and posted must be as full and complete as pos- 
 sible, and embrace all the data given in the notice posted upon the claim. 
 
 36. Too much care can not be exercised in the preparation of these notices, 
 inasmuch as upon their accuracy and completeness will depend, in a great 
 measure, the regularity and validity of the whole proceeding. 
 
 37. In the publication of final-proof notices the register has no discretion 
 under the law to designate any other than the newspaper "nearest the land" 
 for such purpose when such paper is a newspaper of general circulation. But 
 he will in all cases designate the newspaper of general circulation that is pub- 
 lished nearest the land, geographically measured. When two or more papers 
 are published in the same town, nearest the land, he may select the one which, 
 in his honest and impartial judgment as a public officer, will best subserve the 
 purpose of the law and the general interests of the public. 
 
 38. Newspaper charges must not exceed the rates established by this office for 
 the publication of legal notices.
 
 ALASKA. 107 
 
 39. The claimant, either at the time of filing these papers with the register 
 or at any time during the sixty days' publication, is required to file a certificate 
 of the surveyor-general that not less than five hundred dollars' worth of labor 
 has been expended or improvements made upon the claim by the applicant or 
 his grantors; that the plat filed by the claimant is correct; that the field-notes 
 of the survey, as filed, furnish such an accurate description of the claim as will, 
 if incorporated into a patent, serve to fully identify the premises, and that such 
 reference is made therein to natural objects or permanent monuments as will 
 perpetuate and fix the locus thereof. 
 
 40. It will be the more convenient way to have this certificate indorsed by 
 the surveyor-general, both upon the plat and field-notes ot survey filed by the 
 claimant as aforesaid. 
 
 41. After the sixty days' period of newspaper publication has expired the 
 claimant will furnish from the office of publication a sworn statement that the 
 notice was published for the statutory period, giving the first and last day of 
 such publication, and his own affidavit showing that the plat and notice afore- 
 said remained conspicuously posted upon the claim sought to be patented dur- 
 ing said sixty days' publication, giving the dates. 
 
 42. Upon the filing of this affidavit the register will, if no adverse claim was 
 filed in his office during the period of publication, permit the claimant to pay 
 for the land according to the area given in the plat and field notes ot survey 
 aforesaid, at the rate of five dollars for each acre and five dollars for each frac- 
 tional part of an acre, the receiver issuing the usual duplicate receipt therefor. 
 The claimant will also make a sworn statement of all charges and tees paid by 
 him for publication and surveys, together with all fees and money paid the 
 register and receiver of the land office; after which the whole matter will be 
 forwarded to the Commissioner of the General Land Office and a patent issued 
 thereon if found regular. 
 
 43. In sending up the papers in the case the register must not omit certifying 
 to the fact that the notice was posted in his office for the full period ot sixty 
 days, such certificate to state distinctly when such posting was done and how 
 long continued. 
 
 44. The consecutive series of numbers of mineral entries must be continued, 
 whether the same are of lode or placer claims or mill sites. 
 
 45. The surveyors-general should designate all surveyed mineral claims by a 
 progressive series of numbers, beginning with survey No. 37, irrespective as to 
 whether they are situated on surveyed or unsurveyed lands, the claim to be so 
 designated at date of issuing the order therefor, in addition to the local designa- 
 tion of the claim; it being required in all cases that the plat and field-notes of 
 the survey of a claim must, in addition to the reference to permanent objects in
 
 lo8 ALASKA. 
 
 the neighborhood, describe the locus of the claim, with reference to the lines of 
 public surveys, by a line connecting a corner of the claim with the nearest public 
 corner of the United States suryeys, unless such claim be on unsuryeyed lands 
 at a distance of more than two miles from such public corner, in which latter case 
 it should be connected with a United States mineral monument. Such connect- 
 ing line must not be more than two miles in length and should be measured on 
 the ground direct between the points, or calculated from actually surveyed 
 traverse lines if the nature of the country should not permit direct measure- 
 ment. If a regularly established survey corner is within two miles of a claim 
 situated on unsurveyed lands, the connection should be made with such corner 
 in preference to a connection with a United States mineral monument. The 
 connecting line must be surveyed by the deputy mineral surveyor at the time of 
 his making the particular survey, and be made a part thereof. 
 
 46. Upon the approval of the survey of a mining claim made upon surveyed 
 lands, the surveyor-general will prepare and transmit to the local land office and 
 to this office a diagram tracing showing the portions of legal 40-acre subdivis- 
 ions made fractional by reason of the mineral survey, designating each of such 
 portions by the proper lot number, beginning with No. T in each section and 
 giving the area of each lot. 
 
 47. The survey and plat of mineral claims, required by section 2325, Revised 
 Statutes of the United States, to be filed in the proper land office, with appli- 
 cation for patent, must be made subsequent to the recording of the location of 
 the mine; and when the original location is made by survey of a United States 
 deputy surveyor such location survey can not be substituted for that required 
 by the statute, as above indicated. 
 
 48. The surveyor-general should derive his information upon which to base 
 his certificate as to the value of labor expended or improvements made from his 
 deputy who makes the actual survey and examination upon the premises, and 
 such deputy should specify with particularity and full detail the character and 
 extent of such improvements. 
 
 49. The following particulars should be observed in the survey of every 
 mining claim : 
 
 (1) The exterior boundaries of the claim should be represented on the plat 
 of survey and in the field notes. 
 
 (2) The intersection of the lines of the survey with the lines of conflicting 
 prior surveys should be noted in the field-notes and represented upon the 
 plat. 
 
 (3) Conflicts with unsurveyed claims, where the applicant for survey does not 
 claim the area in conflict, should be shown by actual survey. 
 
 (4) The total area of the claim embraced by the exterior boundaries should
 
 ALASKA. 109 
 
 be Stated, and also the area in conflict with each intersecting survey, substantially 
 
 as follows : 
 
 Acres. 
 
 Total area of claim 10. 50 
 
 Area in conflict with survey No. 302 i. 56 
 
 Area in conflict with survey No. 948 2. 33 
 
 Area in conflict with Mountain Maid lode mining claim, unsurveyed i. 48 
 
 It does not follow that because mining surveys are required to exhibit all 
 conflicts with prior surveys the areas of conflict are to be excluded. The field- 
 notes and plat are made a part of the application for patent, and care should 
 be taken that the description does not inadvertently exclude portions intended 
 to be retained. It is better that the application for patent should state the 
 portions to be excluded in express terms. A survey executed as in the example 
 given will enable the applicant for patent to exclude such conflicts as may seem 
 desirable. For instance, the conflict with survey No. 302 and with the Moun- 
 tain Maid lode claim might be excluded and that with survey No. 948 included. 
 
 50. The rights granted to locators under section 2322, Revised Statutes, are 
 restricted to such locations on veins, lodes, or ledges as may be "situated on 
 the public domain.'^ In applications for lode claims where the survey conflicts 
 with a prior valid lode claim or entry and the ground in conflict is excluded, 
 the applicant not only has no right to the excluded ground, but he has no right 
 to that portion of any vein or lode the top or apex of which lies within such 
 excluded ground, unless his location was prior to May 10, 1872. His right to 
 the lode claimed terminates where the lode, in its onward course or strike, 
 intersects the exterior boundary of such excluded ground and passes within it. 
 
 51. The end line of his survey should not, therefore, be established beyond 
 such intersection, unless it should be necessary so to do for the purpose of includ- 
 ing ground held and claimed under a location which was made upon public land 
 and valid at the time it was made. To include such ground (which may possi- 
 bly embrace other lodes) the end line of the survey may be established within 
 the conflicting survey, but the line must be so run as not to extend any farther 
 into the conflicting survey than may be necessary to make such end line parallel 
 to the other end line and at the same time embrace the ground so held and 
 claimed. The useless practice in such cases of extending both the side lines of 
 a survey into the conflicting survey and establishing an end line wholly within it, 
 beyond a point necessary under the rule just stated, will be discontinued. 
 
 PLACER CLAIMS. 
 
 52. The proceedings to obtain patents for claims usually called placers, 
 including all forms of deposit, excepting veins of quartz or other rock in place, 
 are similar to the proceedings prescribed for obtaining patents for vein or lode
 
 1 lO ALASKA. 
 
 claims; but where said placer claim shall be upon surveyed lands, and conforms 
 to legal subdivisions, no further survey or plat will be required, and all placer 
 mining claims located after May lo, 1872, shall conform as nearly as practicable 
 with the United States system of public-land surveys and the rectangular subdi- 
 visions of such surveys, and no such location shall include more than twentv 
 acres for each individual claimant ; but where placer claims can not be conformed 
 to legal subdivisions, survey and plat shall be made as on unsurveyed lands. 
 But where such claims are located previous to the public surveys, and do not 
 conform to legal subdivisions, survey, plat, and entry thereof may be made 
 according to the boundaries thereof, provided the location is in all respects legal. 
 
 53. The proceedings for obtaining patents for veins or lodes having already 
 been fully given, it will not be necessary to repeat them here, it being thought 
 that careful attention thereto by applicants and the local officers will enable them 
 to act understandingly in the matter and make such slight inodifications in the 
 notice, or otherwise, as may be necessary in view of the different nature of the 
 two classes of claims, placer claims being fixed, however, at two dollars and 
 fifty cents per acre, or fractional part of an acre. 
 
 54. By section 2330, authority is given for the subdivision of forty-acre legal 
 subdivisions into ten-aci'e lots, which is intended for the greater convenience of 
 miners in segregating their claims both from one another and from intervening 
 agricultural lands. 
 
 55. It is held, therefore, that under a proper construction of the law these 
 ten-acre lots in mining districts should be considered and dealt with, to all 
 intents and purposes, as legal subdivisions, and that an applicant having a legal 
 claim which conforms to one or more of these ten-acre lots, either adjoining or 
 cornering, may make entry thereof, after the usual proceedings, without further 
 survey or plat. 
 
 56. In cases of this kind, however, the notice given of the application must 
 be very specific and accurate in description, and as the forty-acre tracts may be 
 subdivided into ten-acre lots, either in the form of squares often by ten chains, 
 or if parallelograms five by twenty chains, so long as the lines are parallel and 
 at right angles with the lines of the public surveys, it will be necessary that the 
 notice and application state specifically what ten-acre lots are sought to be pat- 
 ented, in addition to the other data required in the notice. 
 
 57. Where the ten-acre subdivision is in the form of a square it may be 
 described, for instance, as the " SE. % of the SW. % of NW. %" or, if in the 
 form of a parallelogram as aforesaid, it may be described as the " W. % of the 
 W. % of the SW. % of the NW. % (or the N. % of the S. % of the NE. % of 
 the SE. X) of section , township range ," as the case may
 
 ALASKA. 1 1 1 
 
 be; but, in addition to this description ot the land, the notice must give all 
 the other data that is required in a mineral application, by which parties may 
 be put on inquiry as to the premises sought to be patented. The proofs sub- 
 mitted with applications for claims of this kind must show clearly the character 
 and the extent ot the improvements upon the premises. 
 
 Inasmuch as the surveyor-general has no duty to perform in connection with 
 the entry of a placer claim of legal subdivisions, the proof of improvements 
 must show their value to be not less than five hundred dollars and that they 
 were made by the applicant for patent or his grantors. The annual expendi- 
 ture to the amount of $100, required by section 2324, Revised Statutes, must 
 be made upon placer claims as well as lode claims. 
 
 58. Applicants for patent to a placer claim, who are also in possession of a 
 known vein or lode included therein, must state in their application that the 
 placer includes such vein or lode. The published and posted notices must also 
 include such statement. If veins or lodes lying within a placer location are 
 owned bv other parties, the fact should be distinctly stated in the application 
 for patent, and in all the notices. But in all cases whether the lode is claimed 
 or excluded, it must be surveyed and marked upon the plat; the field notes and 
 plat giving the area of the lode claim or claims and the area of the placer sepa- 
 rately. It should be remembered that an application which omits to include an 
 application for a known vein or lode therein, must be construed as a conclusive 
 declaration that the applicant has no right of possession to the vein or lode. 
 Where there is no known lode or vein, the fact must appear bv the affidavit of 
 two or more witnesses. 
 
 59. By section 2330, it is declared that no location of a placer claim, made 
 after July 9, 1870, shall exceed one hundred and sixty acres for any one person 
 or association of persons, which location shall conform to the United States 
 surveys. 
 
 60. Section 2331 provides that all placer-mining claims located after May 10, 
 1872, shall conform as nearly as practicable with the United States systems of 
 public surveys and the subdivisions of such surveys, and no such locations shall 
 include more than twenty acres for each individual claimant. 
 
 61. The foregoing provisions of law are construed to mean that after the 9th 
 day of July, 1870, no location of a placer claim can be made to exceed one 
 hundred and sixty acres, whatever may be the number of locators associated 
 together, or whatever the local regulations of the district may allow ; and that 
 from and after May 10, 1872, no location made by an individual can exceed 
 twenty acres, and no location made by an association of individuals can exceed 
 one hundred and sixty acres, which location of one hundred and sixty acres can
 
 112 ALASKA. 
 
 not be made by a less number than eight homi jide locators ; and no local laws 
 or mining regulations can restrict a placer location to less than twenty acres, 
 although the locator is not compelled to take so much. 
 
 62. The regulations hereinbefore given as to the manner of marking locations 
 on the ground, and placing the same on record, must be observed in the case ot 
 placer locations so far as the same are applicable, the law requiring, however, 
 that where placer claims are upon surveyed public lands the locations must 
 hereafter be made to conform to legal subdivisions thereof as near as practicable. 
 
 63. The first care in recognizing an application for patent upon a placer claim 
 must be exercised in determining the exact classification of the lands. To this 
 end the clearest evidence of which the case is capable should be presented. 
 
 (1) If the claim be all placer ground, that fact must be stated in the applica- 
 tion and corroborated by accompanying proofs; if of mixed placers and lodes, it 
 should be so set out, with a description of all known lodes situated within the 
 boundaries of the claim. A specific declaration, such as is required by section 
 2333, Revised Statutes, must be furnished as to each lode intended to be claimed. 
 All other known lodes are, by the silence of the applicant, excluded by law from 
 all claim by him, of whatsoever nature, possessory or otherwise. 
 
 (2) Section 2395, Revised Statutes (subdivision 7), requires the surveyor to 
 "note in his field books the true situation of all mines, salt licks, salt springs, 
 and mill seats which come to his knowledge;" also "all water-courses over 
 which the lines he runs may pass." It further requires him to "note the qual- 
 ity of the lands." These descriptive notes are required by subdivion 8 to be 
 incorporated in the plat by the surveyor-general. 
 
 (3) If these duties have been performed, the public surveys will furnish a 
 reasonable guide to the district officers and to claimants in prosecuting their 
 applications. But experience has shown that great neglect has resulted from 
 inattention to the law in this respect, and the regular plats are of very little 
 value in the matter. It will, therefore, be required in the future that deputy 
 surveyors shall, at the expense of the parties, make full examination of all placer 
 claims surveyed by them, and duly note the facts as specified in the law, stating 
 the quality and composition of the soil, the kind and amount of timber and 
 other vegetation, the locus and size of streams, and such other matters as may 
 appear upon the surface of the claim. This examination should include the 
 character and extent of all surface and underground workings, whether placer or 
 lode, for mining purposes. 
 
 (4) In addition to these data, which the law requires to be shown in all cases, 
 the deputv should report with reference to the proximity of centers of trade or 
 residence; also of well-known systems of lode deposit or of individual lodes.
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 J 13 
 
 He should also report as to the use or adaptability of the claim for placer min- 
 ing; whether water has been brought upon it in sufficient quantity to mine the 
 same, or whether it can be procured for that purpose; and, finally, what works 
 or expenditures have been made by the claimant or his grantors for the develop- 
 ment of the claim, and their situation and location with respect to the same as 
 applied for. 
 
 (5) This examination should be reported by the deputy under oath to the 
 surveyor-general, and duly corroborated ; and a copy of the same should be 
 furnished with the application for patent to the claim, constituting a part 
 thereof, and included in the oath ot the applicant. 
 
 (6) Applications awaiting entry, whether published or not, must be made to 
 conform to these regulations, with respect to examination as to the character 
 of the land. Entries already made will be suspended for such additional proofs 
 as may be deemed necessary in each case. 
 
 MILL-SITES. 
 
 64. Section 2337 provides that "where nonmineral land not contiguous to 
 the vein or lode is used or occupied by the proprietor of such vein or lode for 
 mining or milling purposes, such nonadjacent surface ground may be embraced 
 and included in an application for a patent for such vein or lode, and the same 
 may be patented therewith, subject to the same preliminary requirements as to 
 survey and notice as are applicable to veins or lodes; but no location hereafter 
 made ot such nonadjacent land shall exceed five acres, and payment for the 
 same must be made at the same rate as fixed by this chapter for the superficies 
 of the lode. The owner of a quartz-mill or reduction-works, not owning a 
 mine in connection therewith, may also receive a patent for his mill-site, as pro- 
 vided in this section." 
 
 65. To avail themselves of this provision of law, parties holding the possessory 
 right to a vein or lode, and to a piece of nonmineral land not contiguous thereto, 
 for mining or milling purposes, not exceeding the quantity allowed for such pur- 
 pose by section 2337, United States Revised Statutes, or prior laws, under 
 which the land was appropriated, the proprietors of such vein or lode may file 
 in the proper land-office their application for a patent, under oath, in manner 
 already set forth herein, which application, together with the plat and field-notes, 
 may include, embrace, and describe, in addition to the vein or lode, such non- 
 contiguous mill-site, and after due proceedings as to notice, etc., a patent will 
 be issued conveying the same as one claim. 
 
 66. In making the survey in a case of this kind, the lode claim should be 
 described in the plat and field-notes as " Sur. No. 37, A," and the mill-site as 
 
 Xo. bO 8
 
 114 ALASKA. 
 
 "Sur. No. 37, B," or whatever may be its appropriate numerical designation; 
 the course and distance from a corner of the mill-site to a corner of the lode 
 claim to be invariably given in such plat and field-notes, and a copy of the plat 
 and notice of application for patent must be conspicuously posted upon the mill- 
 site as well as upon the vein or lode for the statutory period of sixty days. In 
 making the entry no separate receipt or certificate need be issued tor the mill- 
 site, but the whole area of both lode and mill-site will be embraced in one entry, 
 the price being five dollars for each acre and fractional part of an acre embraced 
 by such lode and mill-site claim. 
 
 67. In case the owner of a quartz mill or reduction-works is not the owner 
 or claimant of a vein or lode, the law permits him to make application therefor 
 in the same manner prescribed herein for mining claims, and after due notice and 
 proceedings, in the absence of a valid adverse filing, to enter and receive a patent 
 for his mill-site at said price per acre. 
 
 68. In every case there must be satisfactory proof that the land claimed as 
 a mill-site is not mineral in character, which proof may, where the matter is 
 unquestioned, consist of the sworn statement of two or more persons capable 
 from acquaintance with the land to testify understandingly. 
 
 POSSESSORY RIGHT. 
 
 69. With regard to the proofs necessary to establish the possessory rights to 
 a mining claim, section 2332 provides that "where such person or association, 
 they and their grantors, have held and worked their claims for a period equal to 
 the time prescribed by the statute of limitations for mining claims of the State 
 or Territory where the same may be situated, evidence of such possession and 
 working of the claims for such period shall be sufficient to establish a right to a 
 patent thereto under this chapter, in the absence of any adverse claim." 
 
 70. This provision of law will greatly lessen the burden of proof, more 
 especially in the case of old claims located many years since, the records of 
 which, in many cases, have been destroyed by fire, or lost in other ways during 
 the lapse of time, but concerning the possessory right to which all controversy 
 or litigation has long been settled. 
 
 71. When an applicant desires to make his proof of possessory right in accord- 
 ance with this provision of law, he will not be required to produce evidence of 
 location, copies of conveyances, or abstracts of title, as in other cases, but will 
 be required to furnish a duly certified copy of the statute of limitation of mining 
 claims for the State or Territory, together with his sworn statement giving a 
 clear and succinct narration of the facts as to the origin of his title, and likewise 
 as to the continuation of his possession of the mining ground covered by his 
 application ; the area thereof; the nature and extent of the mining that has been
 
 ALASKA. 1 15 
 
 done thereon ; whether there has been any opposition to his possession, or liti- 
 gation with regard to his claim, and, if so, when the same ceased; whether such 
 cessation was caused by compromise or by judicial decree, and any additional 
 facts within the claimant's knowledge having a direct bearing upon his posses- 
 sion and bona fides which he may desire to submit in support ot his claim. 
 
 72. There should likewise be filed a certificate, under seal of the court having 
 jurisdiction of mining cases within the judicial district embracing the claim, that 
 no suit or action of any character whatever involving the right of possession to 
 any portion of the claim applied for is pending, and that there has been no liti- 
 gation before said court affecting the title to said claim or any part thereof for a 
 period equal to the time fixed by the statute of limitations for mining-claims 
 in the State or Territory as aforesaid, other than that which has been finally 
 decided in favor of the claimant. 
 
 73. The claimant should support his narrative of facts relative to his posses- 
 sion, occupancy, and improvements by corroborative testimony of any disinter- 
 ested person or persons of credibility who may be cognizant of the facts in the 
 case and are capable of testifying understandingly in the premises. 
 
 74. As a condition for the making of application for patent according to 
 section 2325, there must be a preliminary showing of work or expenditure upon 
 each location, either by showing the full amount sufficient to the maintenance of 
 possession under section 2324 for the pending year; or, if there has been failure, 
 it should be shown that work has been resumed so as to prevent relocation by 
 adverse parties after abandonment. 
 
 The "pending year" means the calendar year in which application is made, 
 and has no reference to a showing of work at date of the final entry. 
 
 75. This preliminary showing mav, where the matter is unquestioned, consist 
 of the affidavit of two or more witnesses familiar with the facts. 
 
 PROOF OK CITIZENSHIP OF MINING CLAIMANTS. 
 
 76. The proof necessary to establish the citizenship of applicants for mining 
 patents must be made in the following manner : In case of an incorporated com- 
 pany, a certified copy of their charter or certificate of incorporation must be 
 filed. In case of an association of persons unincorporated, the affidavit of their 
 duly authorized agent, made upon his own knowledge or upon information and 
 belief, setting forth the residence of each person forming such association, must 
 be submitted. This affidavit must be accompanied by a power of attornev from 
 the parties forming such association, authorizing the person who makes the 
 affidavit of citizenship to act for them in the matter of their application for 
 patent. 
 
 77. In case of an individual or an association of individuals who do not
 
 I 16 ALASKA. 
 
 appear bv their diilv authorized agent, you will require the affidavit of each 
 applicant, showing whether he is a native or naturalized citizen, when and 
 where born, and his residence. 
 
 78. In case an applicant has declared his intention to become a citizen or has 
 been naturalized, his affidavit must show the date, place, and the court before 
 which he declared his intention, or from which his certificate of citizenship 
 issued, and present residence. 
 
 79. The affidavit of the claimant as to his citizenship may be taken before 
 the register or receiver, or any other officer authorized to administer oaths 
 within the land district; or, if the claimant is residing beyond the limits of the 
 district, the affidavit may be taken before the clerk o^ any court of record or 
 before any notarv public of any State or Territory. 
 
 80. If citizenship is established by the testimony of disinterested persons, 
 such testimony may be taken at any place before any person authorized to 
 administer oaths, and whose official character is duly verified. 
 
 ADVERSE CLAIMS. 
 
 81. Section 2326, and the act of April 26, 1882, provide for adverse claims, 
 fix the time within which they shall be filed to have legal effisct, and prescribe 
 the manner of their adjustment, etc. 
 
 82. An adverse mining claim must be filed with the register and receiver 01 
 the Land Office where the application for patent was filed, or with the register 
 and receiver of the district in which the land is situated at the time of filing the 
 adverse claim. It must be on the oath of the adverse claimant, or it may be 
 verified by the oath of anv duly authorized agent or attorney-in-fact of the 
 adverse claimant, cognizant of the facts stated. 
 
 83. Where an agent or attorney-in-fact verifies the adverse claim, he must 
 distinctly swear that he is such agent or attorney, and accompany his affidavit 
 by proof thereof. 
 
 84. The agent or attorney-in-fact must make the affidavit in verification of 
 the adverse claim within the land district where the claim is situated. 
 
 85. The adverse notice must fully set forth the nature and extent of the 
 interference or conflict; whether the adverse 'party claims as a purchaser for 
 valuable consideration or as a locator; if the former, a certified copy of the 
 original location, the original conveyance, a duly certified copy thereof, or an 
 abstract of title from the office of the proper recorder should be furnished, or if 
 the transaction was a merely verbal one he will narrate the circumstances 
 attending the purchase, the date thereof, and the amount paid, which facts 
 should be supported by the affidavit of one or more witnesses, if any were
 
 ALASKA. 1 17 
 
 present at the time, and it he claims as a locator he must file a duly certified 
 copy of the location from the office of the proper recorder. 
 
 86. In order that the "boundaries'' and "extent" of the claim may be 
 shown, it will be incumbent upon the adverse claimant to file a plat showing his 
 entire claim, its relative situation or position with the one against which he 
 claims, and the extent of the conflict. This plat must be made from an actual 
 survev by a United States deputy surveyor, who will officiallv certifv thereon to 
 its correctness; and in addition there must be attached to such plat of survey a 
 certificate or sworn statement by the surveyor as to the approximate value of 
 the labor performed or improvements made upon the claim by the adverse party 
 or his predecessors in interest, and the plat must indicate the position of anv 
 shafts, tunnels, or other improvements, if any such exist, upon the claim of the 
 party opposing the application, and by which party said improvements were 
 made : Provided, however. That, if the application for patent describes the claim 
 by legal subdivisions, the adverse claimant, if also claiming by legal subdivisions, 
 mav describe his adverse claim in the same manner without further survey or plat. 
 
 87. Upon the foregoing being filed within the sixtv days as aforesaid, the 
 register, or in his absence the receiver, will give notice in writing to both parties 
 to the contest that such adverse claim has been filed, informing them that the 
 party who filed the adverse claim will be required within thirty days from the 
 date of such filing to commence proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction 
 to determine the question of right of possession, and to prosecute the same with 
 reasonable diligence to final judgment, and that, should such adverse claimant 
 fail to do so, his adverse claim will be considered waived, and the application 
 for patent be allowed to proceed upon its merits. 
 
 88. When an adverse claim is filed as aforesaid, the register or receiver will 
 indorse upon the same the precise date of filing, and preserve a record of the 
 date of notifications issued thereon ; and thereafter all procedings on the appli- 
 cation for patent will be suspended, with the exception of the completion of the 
 publication and posting of notices and plat, and the filing of the necessarv proof 
 thereof, until the controversy shall have been adjudicated in court, or the adverse 
 claim waived or withdrawn. 
 
 89. Where an adverse claim has been filed and suit thereon commenced within 
 the statutory period, and final judgment determining the right of possession 
 rendered in favor of the applicant, it will not be sufficient for him to file with 
 the register a certificate of the clerk of the court, setting forth the facts as to 
 such judgment, but he must, before he is allowed to make entry, file a certified 
 copy of the judgment, together with the other evidence required bv section 
 2326, Revised Statutes.
 
 1 l8 ALASKA. 
 
 90. Where such suit has been dismissed, a certificate of the clerk of the court 
 to that effect, or a certified copy of the order of dismissal, will be sufficient. 
 
 91. In no case will a relinquishment of the ground in controversy, or other 
 proof, filed with the register or receiver, be accepted in lieu of the evidence 
 required. 
 
 92. Where an adverse claim has been filed, but no suit commenced against 
 the applicant for patent within the statutory period, a certificate to that effect 
 by the clerk of the State court having jurisdiction in the case, and also by tiie 
 clerk of the circuit court of the United States for the district in which the claim 
 is situated, will be required. 
 
 93. A party who is not an applicant for patent under section 2325, Revised 
 Statutes, or the assignee of such applicant, is not entitled to make entry under 
 said section, and in no case will the name of such party be inserted in the cer- 
 tificate of entry. This regulation has no reference to proceedings under section 
 2326. 
 
 94. Any party applying to make entry as trustee must disclose fully the nature 
 of the trust and the name of the cestui que trust; and such trustee, as well as 
 the beneficiaries, must furnish satisfactory proof of citizenship ; and the names 
 of beneficiaries, as well as that of the trustee, must be inserted in the final cer- 
 tificate of entry. 
 
 95. No entry will be allowed until the register has satisfied himselt, by a care- 
 ful examination, that proper proofs have been filed upon all the points indicated 
 in official regulations in force, and that they show a sufficient bona //de compli- 
 ance with the laws and such regulations. 
 
 96. The administration of the mining laws as prescribed by these regulations 
 will be, so tar as applicable, adopted for, and extended to Alaska. 
 
 (1) The ex-ojficw register, receiver, and surveyor-general, while acting as 
 such, and their clerks and deputy surveyors, will be deemed subject to the laws 
 and regulations governing the official conduct and responsibilities of similar 
 officers and persons under general statutes of the United States. 
 
 (2) The Commissioner of the General Land Office will exercise the same gen- 
 eral supervision over the execution of the laws as are or mav be exercised by 
 him in other mineral districts. 
 
 APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY SURVEYORS OF MINING CLAIMS CHARGES FOR SURVEYS 
 
 AND PUBLICATIONS FEES OF REGISTERS AND RECEIVERS, ETC. 
 
 97. Section 2334 provides for the appointment of surveyors of mineral 
 claims, authorizes the Commissioners of the General Land Office to establish 
 the rates to be charged for surveys and for newspaper publications.
 
 ALASKA. 119 
 
 Under this autherity of law the following rates have been established as the 
 maximum charges for newspaper publications in mining cases: 
 
 (i) Where a daily newspaper is designated, the charge shall not exceed seven 
 dollars for each ten lines of space occupied, and where a weekly newspaper is 
 designated as the medium of publication five dollars for the same space will be 
 allowed. Such charge shall be accepted as full payment for publication in each 
 issue of the newspaper for the entire period required by law. 
 
 It is expected that these notices shall not be so abbreviated as to curtail the 
 description essential to a perfect notice, and the said rates established upon the 
 understanding that they are to be in the usual body-type used for advertisements. 
 
 (2) For the publication of citations in contests or hearings involving the 
 character of lands, the charges shall not exceed eight dollars for five publications 
 in weekly newspapers, or ten dollars for publications in daily newspapers for 
 thirty days. 
 
 98. The surveyors-general of the several districts will, in pursuance of said 
 law, appoint in each land district as many competent deputies for the survey of 
 mining claims as may seek such appointment ; it being distinctly understood that 
 all expenses of these notices and surveys are to be borne by the mining claim- 
 ants and not by the United States; the system of making deposits for mineral 
 surveys, as required by previous instructions, being hereby revoked as regards 
 field zvork; the claimant having the option of employing any deputy surveyor 
 within such district to do his work in the field. 
 
 99. With regard to the platting of the claim and other office work in the 
 surveyor-general's office, that officer will make an estimate of the cost thereof, 
 which amount the claimant will deposit with any assistant United States treas- 
 urer or designated depository in favor of the United States Treasurer, to be 
 passed to the credit of the fund created by "individual depositors for surveys 
 of the public lands," and file with the surveyor-general duplicate certificates of 
 such deposit in the usual manner. 
 
 100. The surveyors-general will endeavor to appoint mineral deputy survey- 
 ors, so that one or more may be located in each mining district for the greater 
 convenience of miners. 
 
 101. The usual oaths will be required of these deputies and their assistants 
 as to the correctness of each survey executed by them. 
 
 The duty of the deputy mineral surveyor ceases when he has executed the 
 survey and returned the field notes and preliminary plat thereof with his report 
 to the surveyor-general. He will not be allowed to prepare for the mining 
 claimant the papers in support of an application for patent, or otherwise perform 
 the duties of an attorney before the land office in connection with a mining claim.
 
 120 ALASKA. 
 
 The surveyors-general and local land oiiicers are expected to report any 
 infringement of this regulation to this office. 
 
 102. The law requires that each applicant shall file with the register and 
 receiver a sworn statement of all charges and fees paid by him for publication of 
 notice and for survey, together with all fees and money paid the register and 
 receiver, which sworn statement is required to be transmitted to this office for 
 the information of the Commissioner. 
 
 103. Should it appear that excessive or exorbitant charges have been made 
 by any surveyor or any publisher, prompt action will be taken with the view of 
 correcting the abuse. 
 
 104. The fees payable to the register and receiver for filing and acting upon 
 applications for mineral-land patents are five dollars to each officer, to be paid 
 by the applicant for patent at the time of filing, and the like sum of five dollars 
 is payable to each officer bv an adverse claimant at the time of filing his adverse 
 claim. (Sec. 2238, R. S., paragraph 9.) 
 
 105. All fees or charges under this law may be paid in United States cur- 
 rency. 
 
 106. The register and receiver will, at the close of each month, forward to 
 this office an abstract of mining applications filed, and a register of receipts, 
 accompanied with an abstract of mineral lands sold, and an abstract ot adverse 
 claims filed. 
 
 107. The fees and purchase money received by registers and receivers must 
 be placed to the credit of the United States in the receiver's monthly and quar- 
 terly account, charging up in the disbursing account the sums to which the reg- 
 ister and receiver may be respectively entitled as fees and commissions, with 
 limitations in regard to the legal maximum. 
 
 PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE REGISTER AND RECEIVER AND SUB VEYORS-GENERAL IN 
 CONTESTS AND HEARINGS TO ESTABLISH THE CHARACTER OF LANDS. 
 
 108. The "Rules of Practice in cases before the United States district land 
 offices, the General Land Office, and the Department of the Interior," approved 
 August 13, 1885, will, as far as applicable, govern in all cases and proceedings 
 arising in contests, and hearings to determine the mineral or nonmineral character 
 of lands. 
 
 109. The only tracts of public land that will be withheld from entry as agri- 
 cultural land on account of its mineral character, will be such as are returned 
 by the surveyor-general as mineral; and even the presumption which is sup- 
 ported by such return may be overcome by testimony taken at a regular hearing. 
 
 1 10. Hearings to determine the character of land, as practically distinguished, 
 are of two kinds :
 
 ALASKA. 121 
 
 (i) Where lands which are sought to be entered and patented as agricultural 
 are alleged by affidavit to be mineral, or when sought as mineral their nonmineral 
 character is alleged. 
 
 The proceedings relative to this class are in the nature of a contest between 
 two or more known parties. 
 
 (2) When lands are returned as mineral by the surveyor-general. 
 
 When such lands are sought to be entered as agricultural, notice must be given 
 by publication for thirty days, with posting in the local office for the same period. 
 
 111. At the hearings under either of the aforesaid classes, the claimants and 
 witnesses will be thoroughly examined with regard to the character of the land; 
 whether the same has been thoroughly prospected; whether or not there exists 
 within the tract or tracts claimed any lode or vein of quartz or other rock in 
 place, bearing gold, silver, cinnabar, lead, tin, or copper, or other valuable 
 deposit which has ever been claimed, located, recorded, or worked; whether 
 such work is entirely abandoned, or whether occasionally resumed; if such lode 
 does exist, by whom claimed, under what designation, and in which subdivision 
 of the land it lies; whether any placer mine or mines exist upon the land; if 
 so, what is the character thereof — whether of the shallow-surface description, 
 or ot the deep cement, blue lead or gravel deposits; to what exent mining is 
 carried on when water can be obtained, and what the facilities are for obtaining 
 water for mining purposes; upon what particular ten-acre subdivisions mining 
 has been done, and at what time the land was abandoned for mining purposes, 
 if abandoned at all. 
 
 112. The testimony should also show the agricultural capacities of the land, 
 what kind of crops are raised thereon, and the value thereof; the number of 
 acres actually cultivated for crops of cereals or vegetables, and within which 
 particular ten-acre subdivision such crops are raised ; also which of these subdi- 
 visions embrace the improvements, giving in detail the extent and value of the 
 improvements, such as house, barn, vineyard, orchard, fencing, etc., and mining 
 improvements. 
 
 113. The testimony should be as full and complete as possible; and in addi- 
 tion to the leading points indicated above, where an attempt is made to prove 
 the mineral character of lands which have been entered under the agricultural 
 laws, it should show at what date, if at all, valuable deposits of mineral were 
 first known to exist on the lands, 
 
 114. When the case comes before this office, such decision will be made as 
 the law and the facts mav justify; and in cases where a survey is necessary to 
 set apart the mineral from the agricultural land, the necessary instructions will 
 be given to enable the proper party at his ozvn expense, to have the work done, 
 at his option, either by United States deputy, county, or other local survcyer;
 
 122 ALASKA. 
 
 the survey in such case, where the claims to be segregated are vein or lode claims, 
 must be executed in such manner as will conform to the requirements in section 
 2320, U. S. Revised Statutes, as to length and width and parallel end lines. 
 
 1 15. Such survey when executed must be properly sworn to by the surveyor, 
 either before a notary public, officer of a court of record, or before the register 
 or receiver, the deponent's character and credibility to be properly certified to 
 by the officer administering the oath. 
 
 1 16. Upon the filing of the plat and field notes of such survey, duly sworn to 
 as aforesaid, you will transmit the same to the surveyor-general for his verifica- 
 tion and approval; who, if he finds the work correctly performed, will properly 
 mark out the same upon the original township plat in his office, and furnish 
 authenticated copies of such plat and description both to the proper local land 
 office and to this office, to be affixed to the duplicate and triplicate township 
 plats respectively. 
 
 1 17. With the copy of plat and description furnished the local office and this 
 office, must be a diagram tracing, verified by the surveyor-general, showing the 
 claim or claims segregated, and designating the separate fractional agricultural 
 tracts in each 40-acre legal subdivision by the proper lot number, beginning with 
 No. 1 in each section, and giving the area in each lot, the same as provided in 
 paragraph 45, in the survey of mining claims on surveyed lands. 
 
 1 18. The fact that a certain tract of land is decided upon testimony to be min- 
 eral in character is by no means equivalent to an award of the land to a miner. 
 A miner is compelled by law to give sixty days' publication of notice, and post- 
 ing of diagrams and notices, as a preliminary step ; and then, before he can 
 enter the land, he must show that the land yields mineral; that he is entitled to 
 the possessory right thereto in virtue of compliance with local customs or rules 
 of miners, or by virtue of the statute of limitations ; that he or his grantors 
 have expended, in actual labor and improvements, an amount of not less than 
 five hundred dollars thereon, and that the claim is one in regard to which there 
 is no controversy or opposing claim. After all these proofs are met, he is 
 entitled to have a survey made at his own cost where a survey is required, after 
 which he can enter and pay for the land embraced by his claim. 
 
 1 19. Blank forms for proofs in mineral cases are not furnished by the General 
 Land Office. 
 
 Thomas H. Carter, 
 
 Commissioner. 
 
 Approved December 10th, 1891. 
 
 John W. Noble, 
 
 Seci'etary.
 
 ALASKA. 123 
 
 A. Department of the Interior, 
 
 General Land Office, 
 Washington, D. C, October 12, i8q2. 
 Registers and Receivers, United States Land Offices : 
 
 Gentlemen: Attached is a copy oi the act of" Congress of August 4, 1892, 
 entitled "An act to authorize the entry of lands chiefly valuable for building- 
 stone under the placer mining laws." 
 
 The first section of said act extends the mineral land laws already existing so 
 as to bring land chiefly valuable for building-stone within the provisions of said 
 law to the extent of authorizing a placer entry of such land. The proviso to 
 said first section excludes lands reserved for the benefit of the public schools or 
 donated to any State from entry under the act. 
 
 In cases that may arise hereafter in reference to any lands subject to entrv 
 under the mining laws, you will be governed by said act in admitting such 
 entries. The proper instructions for your guidance in so doing may be found 
 in official circular of December 10, 1891, entitled "United States Mining Laws 
 and Regulations Thereunder," to which you are referred, and your special 
 attention is called to the law and instructions therein relating to placer claims. 
 
 It is not the understanding of this office that the first section of said act of 
 August 4, 1892, withdraws land chiefly valuable for building-stone from entry 
 under any existing law applicable thereto. 
 
 The second section of said act of August 4, 1892, makes the timber and stone 
 act of June 3, 1878 (20 Stat., 89), applicable to all the public-land States. You 
 will observe the same in acting upon applications for entries in your respective 
 districts. For instructions you are referred to the general circular of February 
 6, 1892, pages 35 to 38 inclusive. 
 
 In allowing placer entries for stone chiefly valuable for building purposes, 
 under the first section of the act of August 4, 1892, you will make a reference 
 to said act on the entry papers returned. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 W. M. Stone, 
 Acti ng Com ni i ssio n er. 
 
 Approved October 12, 1892: 
 
 Geo. Chandler, 
 
 Acting Secretary.
 
 124 ALASKA. 
 
 AN ACT to authorize the entr\' of lands chiefly valualilc for building stone under the placer 
 
 mining laws. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 
 of America in Congress assembled, That any person authorized to enter lands 
 under the mining laws of the United States may enter lands that are chiefly 
 valuable for building stone under the provisions of the law in relation to placer 
 mineral claims: Provided, That lands reserved for the benefit of- the public 
 schools or donated to any State shall not be subject to entry under this act. 
 
 Sec. 2. That an act entitled "An act for the sale of timber lands in the States 
 of California, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington Territory," approved June 
 third, eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, be, and the same is hereby, amended 
 by striking out the words " States of California, Oregon, Nevada, and Wash- 
 ington Territory " where the same occur in the second and third lines of said act, 
 and insert in lieu thereof the words, " public-land States," the purpose of this 
 act being to make said act of June third, eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, 
 applicable to all the public-land States. 
 
 Sec. 3. That nothing in this act shall be construed to repeal section twenty- 
 four of the act entitled "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for other 
 purposes," approved March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-one. 
 
 Approved, August 4, 1892. 
 
 A. Department of the Interior, 
 
 General Land Office, 
 Washington, D. C, October 24, i8g2. 
 Registers and Receivers, United States Land Offices : 
 
 Gentlemen : In addition to instructions contained in general circular of Feb- 
 ruary 6, 1892, pages 35 to 38, inclusive, and pages 147 and 148, in relation to 
 the timber and stone act of June 3, 1878, extended by the act of August 4, 1892, 
 referred to in circular A of October 12, 1892, you are advised as follows: 
 
 1. That entries made under section one of said act are required to be kept 
 and reported in consecutive and numerical order in your mineral land series. 
 
 2. That entries made under section two of said act are required to be kept 
 and reported in consecutive numerical order in your regular agricultural cash 
 series. 
 
 Necessary additional blank forms for entries under said act are as follows: 
 Form Nos. 4-357; 4-363J 4-370i 4-37'; 4-537; 4-65^^- 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 W. M. Stone, 
 
 Acting Commissioner.
 
 X. 
 
 Commerce Transportation Facilities — Proposed 
 
 Railroad. 
 
 It is difficult to obtain statistics in regard to the trade of Alaska, 
 since the transportation of imports and exports is accompHshed less 
 by the regular lines than through special conveyances. The large 
 companies engaged in business in the Territory usually employ 
 their own ships. There were some 87 trading houses reported in 
 Alaska in 1891, located in not less than 60 towns and villages, 
 and scattered from Point Barrow to the southern extremity, and 
 from Loring to Attu. The number of stores for the sale of general 
 merchandise in southeastern Alaska in 1892 was 47. The imports 
 consist of merchandise, machinery, powder, clothing, provisions, 
 tools, furniture, etc. The exports are made up of fish, furs, 
 whalebone, ivory, oils, gold and silver bullion and ores. The 
 total imports in 1892, according to the report of Governor Knapp, 
 of Alaska, amounted to the value of $2,164,238. The exports 
 are classified as follows: 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Furs, curios, etc., from 13 stations, southeast Alaska $351, 000 
 
 1,220,000 codfish (7,500 tons) 375, 000 
 
 789,294 cases of salmon 3, 157, 176 
 
 9,000 barrels of salted salmon 8r, 000 
 
 186,250 pounds whalebone i, 210, 625 
 
 1,000 pounds ivory 5, 000 
 
 12,228 barrels whale oil 103, 668 
 
 Product of the Killisnoo manufactory, oil and guano 114, 000 
 
 125
 
 1 26 ALASKA. 
 
 Gold bullion, Alaska Treadwell Gold Mining Compan}- $707, 017 
 
 Gold and silver ore and bullion by other companies 400, 000 
 
 13,500 seal skins taken under the lease; 52,087 seal skins taken by sealing 
 
 fleet ; 10,000 seal skins taken by natives and others 755, 5S7 
 
 Furs shipped b}' Alaska Commercial Company 348, 991 
 
 Furs shipped by other parties, western Alaska go, 000 
 
 Other products not enumerated 60, 000 
 
 Total 7, 759, 064 
 
 Balance of exports above imports, $5,594,886. 
 
 Among the furs may be mentioned those of the sea otter, the 
 seal, the beaver, the silver and blue fox, the mink, and the marten. 
 
 Mr. PetrofF ( Alaska, Its Population, Industries, and Resources, 
 1884) says: 
 
 In the regions inhabited by the sea-otter hunters and on the Pribilof Islands, 
 a barrel ot flour per annum is consumed for each man, woman, and child more 
 than the average in civilized communities. Traders report that the demand for 
 flour and hard bread increases annually, even among the tribes of the interior. 
 The demand for tea, also, is steadily gaining, and the consumption of sugar is 
 universal wherever it can be carried by the traders, but is especially large in 
 those sections of Alaska (especially in the southeast) where the Creoles and 
 natives understand the manufacture of alcohol from sugar and molasses. Includ- 
 ing the southeastern division, which is supplied chiefly from Portland, Oreg., 
 and British Columbia, the annual shipment of flour may be estimated at not less 
 than 10,000 barrels, or a barrel for every three individuals of its population. 
 If to this are added 5,000 or 6,000 cases of hard bread, 1,200 chests of tea, 
 and 2,500 barrels of sugar, it is seen that the trade with Alaska in these staples 
 alone is assuming considerable proportions. The shipments of tobacco aggre- 
 gated from 15,000 to 20,000 pounds. Of the value of the dry goods it is 
 impossible to make an estimate, but it is safe to assume that it does not equal 
 that of groceries or provisions. 
 
 MAIL AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Governor Knapp, in his report for 1892, says: "The mail con- 
 tract with the Pacific Coast Steamship Company requires stoppage 
 for receipt and delivery of mail by their regular passenger and 
 freight steamers, two each month, at seven ports, viz: Kichkan, in 
 Tongass Narrows, Loring, Wrangel, Douglas, Juneau, Killisnoo,
 
 ALASKA. 1 27 
 
 and Sitka. For this service, they are paid the sum of $18,000 
 per year. When other trips are made and other phices are visited 
 by the steamers of the company, mails are also carried and deliv- 
 ered on those trips and at those other places. By this more uncer- 
 tain service, several mails have been delivered at Metlakahtla, Mary 
 Island, Chilkat, and Hoonah, and the mail has been carried v^^eekly 
 instead of semi-monthly to the first-named places during the months 
 of June, July, and August. Another mail contract insures monthly 
 mails served from Wrangel to Klawak and Howkan (or Jackson, 
 which is the post-office name). A small steamer or steam launch 
 plies between Wrangel and Howkan. Between Sitka and Una- 
 laska, a distance of about 1,3^0 miles, a small steamer has made 
 seven regular monthly trips, stopping at six places, from April to 
 October.'' 
 
 In Special Consular Reports, Highways of Commerce, 1895, 
 page 29, it is stated that the tare from San Francisco to Wrangel, 
 by the Pacific Coast Steamship Company, is $50; to Juneau or 
 Sitka, $70. There is also steamship service from vSt. Michael's, 
 via Unalaska to Seattle and San Francisco. 
 
 The report of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General of the 
 United States for 1896 says that a post-office was authorized at 
 Circle City March 19, 1896. The carrier for the first trip started 
 from Juneau June 11 and reached Circle City July 14, carrying 
 1,474 letters. He returned by way of St. Michael, reaching 
 Seattle August 19. On the second trip, the carrier left Juneau 
 July 8, reaching Circle City August 6. Another trip was to be 
 made in September, and four between November and May, 1897. 
 
 PROPOSED RAILROAD. 
 
 In 1886, in reply to an inquiry on the part of the United States 
 Senate, the Director of the United vStates Geological Survey, 
 Mr. J. W. Powell, presented a report on the feasibility of con- 
 structing a railroad between the United States, Asiatic Russia,
 
 1 28 ALASKA. 
 
 and Japan. Mr. Powell said that troni all available information, 
 the proposed line appeared to present no greater obstacles than 
 those already overcome in transcontinental railroad building. It 
 was suggested that the line start from some point on the Northern 
 Pacific Railroad in Montana, and run, via the head waters of the 
 Peace River, to the head waters of the Yukon; and thence to 
 some point on the shore of Bering Sea, the total distance covered 
 being about 2,765 miles. A branch line of 375 miles from the 
 head waters of the Peace River might run to the mouth of the 
 Stikine River, so as to facilitate communication with Sitka.
 
 XL 
 
 Territorial Government. 
 
 In 1884, a district government was created by Congress tor 
 Alaska, with a governor and a district court, which sits alternately 
 at Sitka and Wrangel. The laws are those of Oregon. ' There 
 is a land office at Sitka. Commissioner Hermann, ot the United 
 States General Land Office, on July 31, 1897, stated that the 
 mineral-land laws of the United States, the town-site laws (pro- 
 viding tor the incorporation ot town sites and acquirement ot title 
 thereto from the Government to the trustee ), and the law providing 
 for trade and manufactures, giving each qualified person 160 acres 
 of land in a square and compact form, are applicable in /\laska. 
 The coal-land regulations and the public-land laws do not extend 
 to Alaska, as the Territory is expressly excluded by the laws 
 themselves from their operation. 
 
 The following is a list ot United States officers in Alaska, fur- 
 nished by the Department of the Interior, August 7, 1897: 
 
 John G. Brady, governor, Sitka. 
 
 Albert D. Elliot, clerk of the court, and ex officio secretary of 
 Alaska, Sitka. 
 
 William L. Distin, surveyor-general, Sitka. 
 
 John W. Dudley, register of the land office, Sitka. 
 
 Ruswell Shelly, receiver of public moneys, Sitka. 
 
 Caldwell W. Tuttle, commissioner at Sitka. 
 
 Kenneth M. Jackson, commissioner at Wrangel. 
 
 Lycurgus R. Woodward, commissioner at Unalaska. 
 
 John Y. Ostrander, commissioner at Juneau City. 
 
 :So. 80 9 129
 
 130 
 
 ALASKA. 
 
 Philip Gallaher, commissioner at Kadiak. 
 
 John E. Crane, commissioner at Circle City. 
 
 L. B. Shepard, commissioner at St. Michaels. 
 
 John U. Smith, commissioner at Dyea. 
 
 Charles H. I sham, commissioner at Unga. 
 
 The following is a list of the judicial officers of the United 
 States in Alaska, furnished by the Department of Justice, August 
 7' ^897: 
 
 Charles S. Johnson, district judge, Sitka. 
 
 Burton E. Bennett, United States attorney, Sitka. 
 
 Alfred J. Daly, assistant United States attorney, Sitka. 
 
 James M. Shoup, United States marshal, Sitka. 
 
 I
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Agricultural conditions 39 
 
 resources 38 
 
 Aleutian division 16 
 
 Aleutian Islands 32 
 
 climate 26 
 
 Aleut Indians 14 
 
 Arctic division 16 
 
 Area 7 
 
 Athabascan Indians 12 
 
 Balsam fir 37 
 
 Black bass 74 
 
 Boundaries of Alaska 7 
 
 Boundar}' dispute with Great Brit- 
 ain g 
 
 British vessels seized in Bering 
 
 Sea 56, 67, 69 
 
 Canadian boundary treaty 10 
 
 Cattle 40 
 
 Chilkat Pass 81 
 
 Chilkoot Pass 80 
 
 Circle City 34 
 
 Civil officers of Alaska 129 
 
 Claims for British vessels seized . . 69 
 
 Climate of Alaska 25 
 
 Codfish 73 
 
 Copper 75 
 
 Copper River i8 
 
 Corporations owning mining claims 87 
 
 Cost of transportation 127 
 
 Dogs 42 
 
 Douglas Cit}', location, etc 31 
 
 Eskimos 12 
 
 Exports, value of, 1892 125 
 
 Fisheries, value of, 1893 74 
 
 Forests of Alaska 35 
 
 Fort Yukon 22 
 
 Furs 126 
 
 Fur-seal arbitration: 
 
 Arbitrators 58 
 
 Award 58 
 
 Findings of fact 64 
 
 Place of meeting 54 
 
 Points considered 55 
 
 Regulations 62 
 
 Treaty 52 
 
 Fur-seal fisheries: 
 
 Controvers)' 43 
 
 Negotiations since 1893 68 
 
 Fur-seal islands, leasing of 48 
 
 Fur seals; number taken by United 
 
 States 47 
 
 General merchandise stores 125 
 
 Geographical situation 7 
 
 Geography and topography 15 
 
 Gold 15, 75,76, 77 
 
 Halibut 74 
 
 Hemlock 37 
 
 Herring 73 
 
 Horses 41 
 
 Hyda Indians 14 
 
 Indian tribes 12 
 
 Intoxicating liquors 13, 65 
 
 Iron 75 
 
 Judicial officers of Alaska 130 
 
 luneau, location, etc 30 
 
 Kadiak division 15 
 
 Kenai peninsula 31 
 
 Klondike region : 
 
 Claims located 76 
 
 Climate ... 26 
 
 Description of route to 80 
 
 Expenses of trip to 79 
 
 Gold discover)'. 76 
 
 Routes to 79 
 
 131
 
 '3^ 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Kuskokwim division 
 
 Land district, to create 
 
 Laws applicable to Alaska 
 
 Lead 
 
 Lode claims, status prior to 1872 
 
 Mail and transportation facilities 
 
 contracts 
 
 Page. 
 16 
 
 95 
 129 
 
 75 
 
 98 
 
 126 
 
 127 
 
 Maps of Alaska frontispiece 
 
 113 
 
 98 
 
 75 
 83 
 
 Mill sites, law relating to 
 
 Mineral lands and mining : 
 
 Act of 1866 
 
 Act of 1874 
 
 Act of 1878 
 
 Act of 1884 
 
 Mineral lands open to exploration, 
 
 etc 
 
 resources 
 
 Miners — proof of citizenship 
 
 Mining claims: 
 
 Adverse claims ... 85, 94, 95, 116, 117 
 
 Affidavits required 88 
 
 Appointment of deputy surve}'- 
 
 ors 118 
 
 Blank forms 122 
 
 Building-stone claims 123, 124 
 
 Charges for survey, etc 119 
 
 Extent of 83, 96, 117 
 
 Fees of receivers 
 
 How patented 
 
 Legal subdivisions 
 
 Location of 
 
 Non-resident claims 
 
 120 
 
 85 
 
 87 
 
 84 
 
 94 
 
 Placer claims 86, 87, 109 
 
 Possessory rights 114 
 
 Proof of citizenship 115 
 
 Priorit}' of possession 89 
 
 Proceedings before receivers. . 120 
 
 Regulations 83 
 
 Right of possession 83 
 
 Survej' of 88 
 
 Tunnel rights 83, 92, 103 
 
 Vein or lode claims 85, 
 
 86, 8g, 99 100, 104 
 
 Mining in winter 78 
 
 laws 82 
 
 repeal provisions .... gi 
 
 Mission stations 
 
 Mosquitoes 
 
 Nulato 
 
 Pelagic sealing 
 
 Point Barrow, climate 
 
 Poplar 
 
 Population of Alaska 
 
 Port Clarance 
 
 Potato crop 
 
 Pribilof Islands, discovery of 
 
 Prince of Wales Island 
 
 Purchase price 
 
 Railroad proposed 
 
 Rainfall 
 
 Reindeer 
 
 Religion 
 
 River system 
 
 Salmon fisheries 
 
 Act for protection of 
 
 Canned product, 1883-1890 . . . 
 
 Sawmills 
 
 Scrub pine 
 
 Seal life in Bering Sea, commis- 
 sioners to investigate 
 
 Silver 
 
 Sitka: 
 
 Location, etc 
 
 Spruce 
 
 Southeastern division 
 
 Spruce 
 
 St. Michaels: 
 
 Climate 
 
 Location 
 
 St. Paul, location, etc 
 
 Stikine River 
 
 Sushitna River 
 
 Tanana River 
 
 Teller reindeer station 
 
 Territorial government 
 
 Thlinket Indians 
 
 Timber, varieties of 
 
 Towns and trading posts 
 
 Trading houses 
 
 Treadwell Mining Company 
 
 Tsimpsean Indians 
 
 Vegetables 
 
 Page. 
 13 
 
 28 
 23 
 
 49 
 26 
 
 36 
 10 
 
 33 
 38 
 44 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 127 
 26 
 41 
 13 
 17 
 20, 69 
 70 
 69 
 37 
 37 
 
 56 
 
 75 
 
 30 
 36 
 15 
 
 35 
 
 27 
 33 
 32 
 
 18 
 
 19 
 23 
 42 
 
 129 
 14 
 35 
 30 
 
 125 
 75 
 14 
 38
 
 INDEX. 
 
 133 
 
 Wages paid 
 
 Western limits 
 
 Whales, result of catch 1874-1891 . 
 
 White birch 
 
 White Pass 
 
 White River 
 
 Wrangel, location 
 
 Yellow cedar 
 
 Yukon district : 
 
 Climate 
 
 78 
 8 
 72 
 35 
 79 
 21 
 30 
 36 
 
 26 
 
 Page. 
 Yukon district — Continued". 
 
 Description 16, 3g 
 
 Gold discoveries 76, 77 
 
 Gold production, 1890-1896... 76 
 
 Mining population 76 
 
 Prospecting 78 
 
 Rainfall 26 
 
 Routes to 79, 80 
 
 Yukon River 18, 20 
 
 Yukutat, location 31 
 
 o
 
 THE . 
 
 Commercial Directory 
 
 . — 9^^^ American Republics 
 
 This Bureau will soon publish a comprehensive 
 and reliable Commercial Directory of the American 
 Republics. The volume will be the most complete 
 and accurate ever issued in any of the countries that 
 will be represented in it, namely, Argentine Republic, 
 Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, 
 Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Para- 
 guay, Peru, Salvador, Santo Domingo, United States 
 (including Alaska and Hawaii), Uruguay, Venezuela, 
 and the West Indies. The expense of such a publica- 
 tion is so great that a charge of five dollars will be made 
 for a copy of the Directory, which will comprise two 
 splendid octavo volumes of more than 800 pages each. 
 The Directory will contain upwards of 60,000 names, 
 and include the addresses and lines of business of 
 nearly all the commercial concerns of Latin America. 
 The first volume will be ready for distribution on or 
 about October ist, the magnitude and increasing 
 interest in the work requiring its publication in two 
 volumes, and the second on or before December i, 1897. 
 Manuficturers, bankers, shippers, merchants, and edu- 
 cators, lecturers, editors, and other professional men, 
 for whom the work must possess peculiar interest, and 
 all others desiring to subscribe for the Commercial 
 Directory, will be furnished with the proper blanks by 
 addressing the 
 
 Director of the Bureau of American Republics, 
 
 . WASHIIvtflTON, D. C.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 This book is DUE on the last daie stamped below 
 
 I 
 
 DFH p 7 m' 
 
 flWRL FEB 13 1968 
 
 , ^ ,^ m 1 3 19^8 
 
 MAY 10 1948 
 
 NOV 5 Sii prsCHARGEURL 
 
 ^mM 1381 
 
 ■JAN 19 1354 
 
 APR 2^ 1956 
 
 Form L-O 
 2.j»l -2, '43(5203) 
 
 1931] 
 
 • z-u.'i-w; r„i, ii'<i:-> 
 LIBRARY
 
 n 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 AA 001 160 630 8
 
 
 i;!liiill|l|lil|l|!i!i!llll!ilii