ALASKxV. 229 



LETTER FROM MM. DAhL. 



Wliilc' in tlic Tenitoiy last season, I liad tlic satisfaction 

 of nieotin<>- this gentleman, an employe of the United States 

 Coast Snrvey, and we bad occasion to exchange views iu 

 regard to the condition of the people. The opinions of Mr. 

 Dall were, in some instances, so ditierent liom mine that I 

 asked him to embody his conclusions Iq the form of a letter 

 in order that I might publish them, to show the contrast. This 

 he has done, and I take pleasure in making known the views 

 of Mr. Ball, and in appending a criticism based upon my 

 knowledge and judgment. I may say at the outset that, -while 

 I concede for the sake of argument that Mr. Dall " has seen 

 moreof the country than any other individual," lam not willing 

 to grant the plain inference that he has studied that which he 

 lias seen more intelligently or patiently than others, who may 

 have seen less, but still enough to form a correct opinion.* 



OUNALASHKA, ALASKA TeEKITOEY, 



U. S. Coast Sueyey Schoo^'ee Yukon, 



August 31, 1874. 



Gentlemen : At the instance of .Mr. Elliott, I have addressed 

 to you the present letter, intended to embody the conclusions 

 to which I have been led during a long residence in this Terri- 

 tory^, bearing on the subject of your inquiry. 



For nearly ten years I have been constantly engaged either 

 in the study of the subject or in active investigation in this re- 

 gion. Three winters and more than seven years of this period 

 I have been actually resident in the Territory, and the duties 

 assigned to me have carried me to nearly every point in it 

 which is of any importance. I have consequently seen more of 

 the country than any other individual, and never having be£ii 

 connected in any way with any trading comi)any, it may be 



* In making my comments npon this letter, I do not wish to appear iu the 

 light of 'laying down the law' in every case, for it is a question well open 

 to argument as to the effect of any attempt to educate these peo])le. A long 

 interview with General Eaton, Commissioner of Education, upon this sub- 

 ject pleased me very much, for I found that he had a quite different idea 

 from the plan now followed of schools on our Indian reservations ; indeed, 

 it was almost identical with the views of the Russian bishop iu San Fran- 

 cisco, who has charge of the Greek Catholic church in this, Territory. The 

 system of General Eaton will uudoubteillv be fouml in his report for this 

 .year. ' II. ^Y. E. 



