University of Oklahoma College of Law University of Oklahoma College of Law Digital Commons American Indian and Alaskan Native Documents in the Congressional Serial Set: 1817-1899 2-4-1879 Report upon the customs district, public service, and resources of Alaska Territory. Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.ou.edu/indianserialset Part of the Indian and Aboriginal Law Commons Recommended Citation S. Exec. Doc. No. 49, 45th Cong., 3rd Sess. (1879) This Senate Executive Document is brought to you for free and open access by University of Oklahoma College of Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in American Indian and Alaskan Native Documents in the Congressional Serial Set: 1817-1899 by an authorized administrator of University of Oklahoma College of Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 45TH CONGRESS, } SENATE. Ex.Doc. 3d Session. { No. 59. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURL COMMUmCATING, In cmswer to ct Senate resolittion of Jcinuciry 7, 1879, copies of portions of the report of William Goiiverneur Morris, specicil agent of the Treasury Department, in regard to the condition of the pnblic service, resmtrces, &c., of Alc1,ska Territory. FEBRlJARY 4, 1879.-Refcrrecl to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to be printed. TREASURY DEPART~IENT, OFFICE OP 'l'HE SECRETARY, Washington, D. O., Febritary 3, 1879. SIR: I haYe the honor to acknowleuge the receipt of a resolution of the Senate, dated the 7th ultimo, directing that this department com­ municate to the Senate, if not incompatible with the public service, the ' report of William Gouverneur Morris, special agent of the Treasury De­ partment, recently submitted, in regard to the condition of the public service, resources, &c., of Alaska Territory.. The report has been examined, and the portion which is deemed to be of public interest is herewith transmitted. The portions omitted are mainly the recommendations made by Mr. ~!orris which require imme­ diate action by this department. Portions of the report indicate the necessity for the adoption of some legislation for the better protection of the inhabitants of the Territory and the presenTation of law and order, as well as the necessity for some system of land records in that Territory by which titles to real estate may be perfected. Very respectfully, JORN SHERJ\IAN, Secretary. Hon. w~r. A. WHEELER, Vice- President. OFFICE SPECIAL AGENT OF THE TREASURY DEPART~IBNT, TWELFTH DISTRICT, Port Townsend, Washington Territory, November 25, 1878. SIR : For the past two years and more I have made Alaskan matters my especial study, and have devoted much time and patient attention to gathering all available information relating to that unexplored region. 2 PUBLIC SERVICE AND RESOURCES OF ALASKA.. Since the acquisition of the Territory, in 1868, no adequate steps have beeu taken by the government to properly acquire any definite knowl­ edge of its geography, topography, ethuology, or natural resources. To the Smithsonian Instjtution are we principalll indebted for such meager sc:ientific information as has not been the direct result of the hardy and ad venturous prospecters, who have penetrated its inaccessible cliffs and mountah1ons retreats in search of mineral treasm·e. Added to this, must be mentioned the reports of Elliott, Dall, and Whymper, of the Russian Telegraph Expedition, and books and ma1,s prepared by the United States Coast Survey, relating principally to the coast and har­ bors. These sum up about all the written knowledge we have of Alaska of to-day, saYe what can be gained from occasional contributions to 11ewspapers, and by contemporaneous testimony furnished those who have explored its depths, and who, by dint of hard work, industry, and untold hardships, have demonstrated t,hat Ala.ska is not the "desert 'Wo.,te ry waste" hitherto supposed to be, and that instead of it being only fit for polar bears to live in, it has, if properly protected and nurtured by the goyernment, a bright and useful future before it. It is not purposed in this communication to make any reference to the works of older writers, which have been published about Alaska be­ fore its acquisition by the United States. When the treaty was before the Senate, the Hon. Charles Sumner ably reviewed its history, ancl pr~sented an elaborate and interesting description of the Territory. The Hon. vVilliam H. Seward was most enthusiastic, as is well known, in the negotiation of the purchase, and has contributed valuable and lasting foforrnation concerning its resources. I shall only deal with the present condition of affairs; what develop­ ment has been produced during the past two years, the present status of the country, and more particularly since its abandonm·ent by the War D ~partmeut. In fine, not Alaska of the past, but Alaska of the present, as she now stands, utterly desolate and all forlorn, unprotected in the extremest sense of the word, weeping at the doors of Congress, and begging that her citizens may be permitted to enjoy the blessings of freedom, and be protected in their lives, liberty, and pursuit of happi­ ness. Being deeply interested in the promotion of the advancement of this neg­ lected region, it occmred to me forcibly1 that perhaps bybohrg personally present at the seat of government durmg the last session of Congress I might be able to mature some plan of action which would receive the sanction of the department and facilitate the necessary legislation. It had also occurred to me that if proper representations were made, Congress might be induced to make the requi ·ite appropriation for a scientrnc exploration of the country. ~aving also been unofficially in­ formed that the honorable Secretary had ad vised the abolition of the cu. toms-district of .Ala ka, based upon a report said to p.ave been fur­ ni. ·hed by Col. Henry C. De Ahna, late collector at Sitka, I thought my pre ence in "\Va ·hi1wton, where I could converse with the Secretary and pre ·ent my ·dews to the proper committee of Congress, might be con­ ducive to the public good, and so, instead of making written report, I addre: ·ed th department the following letter: PECIAL AGE~CY TREA, URY DEPARnfENT, Victol'ia, B. C., Ja1wary 9, 1 78. , m: 'in<:P th with<lrawal ofthP m11itaryfromAlaska, that Territory ha~ been prae­ tically without an:v government or protection whatever, ave the occa. ioual presence of a Y ·. el of tht· rt·vt nue marin<>. I have n<leaYor d to keep the department advi ed of the state of affairs in that PUBLIC SERVICE AND RESOURCES OF ALASKA. 3 locality to the best of my knowlNlge, ::mcl a very satisfactory result has been obtained with the limited means aml jurisdiction at its command. The opinion, however, is respectfully ventnred that some additional legislation is needed for that Territory, and tL report has already been ren<l.ered in reference to the importation of spfrituous and vinous liquors. As previously advised, I am collecting the requisite data and· information for the 1wesentation of some refleetions upon the proposition to abolish the whole customs district of ALtslrn, a measure which can only result in great loss to the revenue. Since my incumbency as special agent,_ August 6, 1874, a great deal of my time and attention has been direetecl to the wants and resources of this, to-day, almost unknown region. I am not prepared at present to charge directly any persons with a deliberate intent to undervalue the natnra,l wealth of Alaska, a,ncl prevent its settlement and civiliza­ tion, but that there is an undercurrent at work to belittle the purchase and decry the -acquisition from Russia as wort,hless and a desert watery waste, is patent to all those who have the good weal and interest of the Territory at heart, and who have made explorations there, and who are cognizant there lie in Alaska immense fields of un­ developed mineral wealth, which only require the fostering care of the government to make valuable to mankind. For m0re than two years have I endeavoretl to impress upon the department the substantial result which would ensue from a thorough inspection of that country b y an officer of this agency, not only to thoroughly overhaul the customs force, location of officers, suggest changes, &c., but to collect all useful information practicable in xegard to its mineral wealth, fisheries, timber-growth, and other natural resources. It may safely be stated there is not a single vessel in the revenue marine which is properly built and la.rge enough to enter upon a lengthened cruise in Alaskan waters. If the Treasury Department is to alone exercise control and jurisdiction over Alaska, necessity exists for the immediate construct.ion of a suitable steamer. As I have made the whole subject a study for years, it has occurred to me the pre­ sentation of my views might have some weight with the Department and Congress, .especially with the delegation from this coast. Personal presence in Washington would, in my judgment, be of practical benefit, hence I have the honor to submit most respectfully to the honorable Secretary the propriety of directing me to report there in person for that purpose. · • There are also many other matters touching department affairs on this coast which I am satisfied a visit from myself to the seat of government will improve aud better the interests of the public service. A precedent for this was established while Secre­ tary Boutwell was in office. He ordered my immediate predecessor, C. A. Morrill, special agent, to report in person at Washington for consultation in reference to cus­ tom matters on the Pacific coast.