|
In The News
The Sitka Post.
Sitka, Alaska
Vol. 1, No. 12
Friday, April 20, 1877.
LOCAL MATTERS.
Mr. William Phillipson's schooner "Nellie Edes: (Phillips, captain) left
port April 11 on a trading cruise along the coast as far as Cook's
Inlet. She will return about July 1, and usually brings back a valuable
cargo of furs, etc.
Mr. Hamilton's schooner arrived from Kayak on the 14th inst. with a
cargo of seal oil.
Mr. C. H. Taylor, Mr. L. Myer, and Lieut. C. E. S. Wood, 21st Infantry,
arrived per steamer "California" on the 15th en route to ascent Mount
St. Elias, and explore the country adjacent to it. Their preparations
are now almost complete; and they intend to leave here for the mainland
about the 24th. The ascent of Mount St. Elias is considered to be a most
difficult and dangerous undertaking. It is regarded by many as being the
highest mountain of North America. One of the objects of this expedition
is to determine its exact altitude.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
REMOVAL OF TROOPS FROM ALASKA.
[From the "Alta California," of March 31, 1877.]
One of the first acts of the Sec. War is to order the removal of the
troops now stationed in Alaska. This is not only a measure of wise
economy, but one of great humanity to the soldiers, who have been kept
there for the past five years. The force consists of two companies of
infantry, numbering from eighty to a hundred and fifty men.
Owing to the severity of the climate and other causes it has been found
impracticable to keep the same troops in Sitka more than a year. They
are no practical use and if it were necessary to use force to keep the
natives in order, no provision for transporting troops to the different
islands has ever been made. The extra expense of the military occupation
of Alaska is about $500,000 a year. The cost is about $10,000 to
transport troops there from the stations on the Pacific Coast, about
$10,000 more to bring them back again at the end of the year, and from
$20,000 to $30,000 a year for the transportation of subsistence and
other stores. The Secretary of the Treasury will issue an order to the
revenue marine officers stationed in Alaska to use their vessels and men
to preserve order among the natives, if necessary.
|
