ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 237 



Eussiau laijguage in preference to any other, but I flud tLat they are 

 just as ignorant of Eussiau as they are of English, and as backward 

 in learning it. 



There has been one day of each week devoted to the Eussian school, 

 which, in my opinion, has a bad eliect upon the children in their attempt 

 to master the English tongue, and I therefore respectfully suggest that 

 the practice of teaching Eussiau to the school children be abolished. 

 After a year's residence here I am able to say that the people as a whole 

 have conducted themselves very w^ell indeed; not a loud, vulgar, or 

 angry word has been spoken in my hearing or to my knowledge by a 

 native man or woman on the island of St. George. Not one case of 

 drunkenness or drinking, nor anything approaching to it, has come to 

 my knowledge. A case of wrongdoing by two white men, employees 

 of the Alaska Commercial Company, compelled me and my assistant, 

 Mr. A. P. Loud, to complain to Mr. Sloss, the president of the com- 

 pany, who immediately removed and discharged the offenders. Except- 

 ing one instance, there has not been one w^ord of complaint from any 

 quarter. 



The men who wintered in the service of the Alaska Commercial Com- 

 pany are all good and worthy, especially the agent, Mr. Daniel Web- 

 ster, and the physician. Dr. L. A. Noyes. I take pleasure in thus 

 testifying to their worth, for I have found them to be upright and hon- 

 orable at nil times in all their transactions with the natives, with whom 

 they are deservedly very popular. 



1 have endeavored to promote a more perfect sanitary system in the 

 village, and I find it is not so hard, as was expected, to prevail on the 

 people to adopt better methods, if one will be patient and treat them 

 kindly. 



It will be an impossibility, however, to do much toward establishing 

 a sanitary system of value until we have better water and a more 

 abundant supply than is possible under existing conditions. 



The present supply of water for domestic purposes is obtained from 

 a well into which the drainage of half the village finds its way, and 

 the wonder to me is that the people are not constantly sick while they 

 have to use such drinking water. There is a nice fresh-water lake 

 within 2,000 feet of the village, and fully 50 feet higher, from which a 

 constant and never-fiiiling supply of good water can be taken if you 

 can have 2,000 feet of 2-inch pipe and the necessary hydrant and 

 fixings sent here. 



A drain is the next essential to success, and one of 700 feet in length 

 can be dug easily, and will suffice to carry all the dirt and offal of the 

 village into the sea. It will be necessary to have 700 feet of 12-inch 

 drainpipe. 



The total absence of water-closets on this island is a disgrace, and is 

 beyond all question the cause of more immorality, disease, and death 

 than all other things combined. That such a state of things has been 

 allowed to exist for twenty years is a disgrace to our civilization, and 

 I do hope you wall insist on the present lessees or on the Department 

 to have it altered at once. 



The subject is so abominable I dare not write it in a public report. 



It is absolutely necessary, too, that at least six of the dwelling houses 

 be enlarged, as the families now occupying them have not room to live 

 as human beings should. It may be true, as many assert, that under 

 Eussian rule the natives were not housed one-half so well as they are 

 now ; but such arguments are of no avail in a country like ours. When 

 a family of seven persons, of all ages and sexes, are packed in a sleep- 



