THE DOUGLAS MINER
Entered at the Douglas, Alaska. Postottice as
Second Class Mail Matter.
Published by
THE GASTINEAUX PRINTING CO.
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Address all communications to The
Douglas Miner, Douglas, Alaska.
Douglas, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1896.
The political complexion of this pa
per will be Republican. We shall sup
port the national policy of our party,
and be found on parallel lines with
the administration which assumes office
on March 4th next
We shall, however, aliove all other
considerations, champion the cause of
Alaska in her struggle to effect an ame
lsoration of her anomalous condition,
and shall support any legislation, irre
spective of the source from which it may
emanat •, which has for its object the
enactment of such laws as will -uit the
conditions under which we exist, and to
which we are so justly entitled.
We believe that when the government
purchased this vast territory, and per
mitted, and in a sense encouraged its
occupancy by citizens of the United
States and others, it assumed certain re
sponsib lities from which it is impossible
to escape, and certain duties devolved
upon it, in respect to the neglect of
which it is as susceptible to criticism as
wo. Id be a private citizen in like circum
stances. We will admit that at the time
the Organic act was passed it was a step
in the right direction, but it is no longer
applicable to our changed conditions and
larger growth.
We must have legislation which will
enab'e us to transact our business in a
businesslike manner. We must be
placed in a position to conduct the af
fairs of commercial life under the pro
tection of and in con fortuity with, equit
able and suitable laws.
It is contrary to our sense of the pro
prieties, and derogatory to our self re
spect to compel t.s to associate ourselves
with a breach of the law when extending
o receiving those courtesies which are
inseparable from the ordinary ameni
ties of civilized life.
The s a euient that we are not law
abiding citizens will not bear analysis.
It would be no more inconsistent for the
government to pass a law making it an
offense to take a bath in Alaska, and
then brand those who did as law break
ers, as it is to deprive us of remedial
measures without which we cannot con
form to the usages of society, and then
accuse us of crime.
We believe that the time has arrived
for us to have a representative in cong
ress. Capital is pouring in upon us, our
population is rapidly on the increase,
and important mineral discoveries are
constantly being made. Values are in
creasing, property is changing ownership
and development goes on at every side.
Our output of precious metals is assum
ing such proportions that it will soon
have an appreciable effect upon the mar
kets of the world.
Our trade with other parts of the
United States is already of great magni
tude, and this year will be greater than
ever before in the history of the coun
try. We anticipate a tremendous influx
of gold seekers the coming season and
preparations are being made on every
side to handle the increased business
which such a state of things will bring
about.
Several capitalists whose names are
familiar in mining circles have signified
their intention of visiting this country
the coming summer and this can have
but one result. We touch upon these
matter to indicate that the Miner
knows something of the requirements
of the country, and at the right time
will be found in line with those who
have faith in Alaska’s future, and who
believe that it is the duty of the govern
ment to regard us as an integral part of
the United States, and treat us accord
ing’y.
The Miner will endeavor to keep its
patrons informed upon all matters of in
terest pertaining to Alaska, its mineral
deposits and new discoveries, its mining
development and the movements of men
engaged in its various indurtiies. From
our correspondents in various parts of
the cou try we expect to|receive accurate
information upon such matters as will
prove ofi terest to the general reader.
We ill endeavor to produce a news}’,
readable paper, and in asking the indul
gence of our readers we invite them to
rember that Rome was not built in a
day.
We heartily indorse the views of our
esteemed contemporary, the Searchlight,
that the experiences of the past week
show the n c ss ty for some means of
rapid communication with Sitka. And
we go a great deal further and say that
not only should we he in a position to
communicate with the seat of govern
ment at S.tka quickly, but the officials
of the government there should be in a
position to respond promptly to our re
quests
The absurdity of having a derelict like
the Pinta stationed anywhere for pur
poses of protection is calculated to excite
ridicule and is a menace to the security
of life and property.
Our lit le boat, the Lucy, made the
voyage to Sitka and return in seventy
two hour . She carried despatches of
the gravest character to those in author
ity, and the very source from which they
emanated ought to have been sufficient
to provoke an immediate response. What
happened^ Did the U. S. S, Pinta weigh
anchor at once and bear down to the
seat of trouble and relieve the anxiety of
thousands of people? No such thing.
The Pinta does not do things that way.
The marshal himself had to risk his life
and come to Juneau in the little Lucy
and employ his spare moments when not
holding on to the wheel house in baling
out the boat, He brought the welcome
intelligence that the Pinta would sail
“next Wednesday.”
The information on this point is vague.
We understand, however, that she did
manage to steam for a few miles and
then blew out a few of her boiler tubes
and returned to Sitka for repairs. The
next we heard of the Pinta was after the
trouble was nil over. The outlaws had
been captured and the boats sent from
Juneau were on their way home, and as
they neared Point Retreat last Saturday
morning, something which looked like a
boat was seen in the distance. Upon a
nearer approach it proved to be the
L. S. S. Pinta. The prisoners were
placed on board of liar and she returned
in triumph to the capital. The anxiety
is universal for her officers, ciew and the
prisoners until we hear of her safe arri
val at Sitka. We are consoled by the
assurance that the Pacific Coast steamer
Topeka left Juneau for Sitka last Mon
day morning, and she may find the Pinta
anywhere between Point Retreat and
Sitka and.will of course render her such
assistance as she may require.
The neglect of the government to give
us protection here is culpable. No ne
cessity exists for having this boat at
Sitka. Of course she is safer there than
here, for in case of an ins rrection of any
kind, we could send a message by a
pigeon and she might stand some cliauce
of getting to a place of safety if ;-he had
a few weeks start, providing however,
that she could get away from her moor
ings. Of cou se s’ e would incur great
risks by putting to sea, but one cliauce
more or less taken by the Pinta would
make no difference.
In this imm^diiite vicinity we produce
bullion to the value of over $2,coo,ooo a
year' which is equal to ioper cent, on a
properly valuation of $20,000,coo, and
our sole protection is one deputy mar
shal who lies at death’s door. The as
sessed valuation of Tacoma is about
$26,000,000, and ships of war are in and
out of the Sound constantly.
We have mail steamer; from the Sound
here every week, and other boats come
and go chartered especially, wlier«.as one
mail boat every two weeks is more than
sufficient for the requirements of Sitka.
We have lo desire to belittle Sitka; that