ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 547 



The general assembly of the Presbyterian Church iu the United 

 States of America, in session at Saratoga Springs, May, 1883, took the 

 following action : 



In view of the pressing needs of Alaska, where our missions have been singularly 

 successful, we recommend that the general assembly appoint a committee of five 

 persons, who siiall wait upon the President of the United States and the Secretary 

 of the Interior, asking of the Government through them the (\stablishmeut of civil 

 government among these people of Alaska, and pressing upon them the necessity of 

 estal)lishiug industrial schools in that Territory. 



At the fifty-first aunual meeting of the American Baptist Home Mis- 

 sion Society, Saratoga Springs, May 25, 1883, the following resolution 

 was adopted : 



The committee on work among the IiRlians reported. * * * From the country 

 of Alaska comes a cry for help as pitiful and as hopeless as any that ever startled 

 Christian ears from the lands beyond the sea. What answer will our great denomi- 

 nation make to this repeated appeal? We repeat the recommendation made to the 

 society a year ago, that missiouaries be sent as soon as practicable to the Indians of 

 Alaska. 



The following was ordered sent to the President of the United States 

 and the Secretary of the Interior : 



Resolved, That as Alaska is the only section of the United States where Govern- 

 mental or local aid has not been furnished for the education ot the people ; and as 

 the establishment of schools will assist in civilizing the native population, prevent 

 Indian wars, and prejiare them for citizenship; 



Therefore, the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, in session at Saratoga 

 Springs, May, 1883, would respectfully petition you to renew your recommendation 

 to Congress for an educational appropriation for Alaska. 



Feeling the need, not only of enlisting the churches, as had been done 

 through their central missionary societies, but also the educators of 

 the land in behalf of Alaska, on the 23d of March, 1882, through the 

 courtesy of Gen. John Eaton, Commissioner of Education, I was invited 

 to address the superintendents' section of the JSTatioual Education 

 Association, at their meeting in Washington, on the needs of Alaska. 

 The association unanimously adopted the following resolution : 



Whereas the native population of Alaska have alone of all sections of our com- 

 lUDU country been overlooked in educational provisions, and whereas the President 

 has sent to Congress a special message asking for an appropriation of $50,000 for 

 education in Alaska, to be disbursed through the National Bureau of Edixcation; 

 therefore, 



Resolved, That this association earnestly request the Committees on Education and 

 Labor of the Senate and House of Representatives to give favorable consideration 

 to the above request. 



The year 1883 was sigualized by the unanimous action of the various 

 educational associations that I could visit and address. On July 11, 

 1883, at the twenty-second annual meeting of the National Education 

 Association, held at Saratoga, N. Y., the following resolutions were 

 unanimously adopted: 



To the Friends of Education: 



The National Education Association of the United States, in session at Saratoga 

 Springs, July 9-11, 1883, took the following action with reference to education in 

 Alaska : 



Whereas Alaska is the only large section of the United States for which some 

 educational provision has not been made by law ; and 



Whereas it is a reflection upon our interest in universal education that Alaska 

 should be worse otf than when under the control of Russia, the United States having 

 neglected to continue the schools that for many years were sustained by the Russian 

 Government, or substitute better ones in their places; and 



Whereas the President of the United States transmitted to the last Congress a 

 paper from the honorable Commissioner of Education, calling attention to this 

 neglect; therefore, 



