ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 553 



of tliein settle down in regions of arctic winters, where they can hear 

 from the outside workl only once a year. 



To the magnitude of the work, and the special difficulties environing 

 it, is still further added the complication arising from the lack of suffi- 

 cient funds to carry it on, there being appropriated only $25,000 with 

 which to commence it. 



On the 0th of April the Commissioner of Education addressed a 

 communication^ to the honorable Secretary of the Interior, requesting 

 authority to appoint a general agent to take charge of the i^laska 

 work, and n^ion the 11th of April, 1885, the Secretary granted the 

 refpu\st and directed the establishment of the office of "general agent 

 of education in Alaska." 



On llie 11th of April, 1885, Eev. Sheldon Jackson, D. D., was 

 appointed by the Commissioner of Education general agent of educa 

 tion in Alaska and at once entered upon the work. 



In southeastern Alaska the establishment of schools, in comparison- 

 with the difficulties met in other sections of this land, was easy, as four 

 of the seven schools can be reached monthly by the mail steamer. 

 Eurthei', schools had been kept at all these points but two for several 

 years by teachers in the employ of the Board of Home Missions of the 



1 Department of the Interior, Bureau of Education, 



JVashiiigtov, D. C, April 9, 1S85. 



Sin: In cfirrying out the orders of the Depjirtinent muter the law providing for 

 the fstablishmeut of common schools in Alaska, I lincl a, condition of facts Avhich I 

 wisli to submit to your consideration, together with a recounueudation. The nearest 

 school in Alaska will be about 1,500 miles from Washington, and all of the schools 

 Avill be widely separated from each other, some of them doubtless over 6,000 miles 

 from this city. The appropriation of $25,000 for the entire work is very small, and 

 much should be done in the way of inducing the communities where there is money 

 to coo])erate in bearing expenses, and thus increasing the amount to be accomplished 

 by the small fund at command. I see no way to organize schools sufficiently under 

 these circumstances but by the appointment of someone in Alaska as a general agent 

 of education. 



liesiding at Sitka, this superintendent could go out in the naval vessel to visit the 

 several chief centers of population, where schools can be established, and interest 

 the people, judge intelligently of the requirements for buildings, teachers, etc., and 

 thus furnish the data for intelligent direction of the schools here in Washington. 

 I therefore recommend that a general agent of education for Alaska be appointed l)y 

 the Secretary of the Interior, to report to this office for orders and instructions, at a 

 nominal salary of $1,200 a year, which will but little more than cover expenses. 

 Beibre concluding to make this recommendation I may add that I have conferred 

 with a considerable number of very intelligent persons who have visited Alaska, all 

 of whom thoroughly concur in the view that it would be impossible to manage schools 

 there eflii'iently without a local superintendent. 



The governor of the Territory when here recently expressed himself to the same 

 efl'ect. In looking for the proper person to become such an agent, I find no one either 

 so well qualified or so strongly recommended as Mr. Sheldon Jackson. He has 

 rejieatedly visited considerable portions of the country, and written a book which 

 is a popular source of information in regard to its people and their progress, and led 

 the way in the establishment of the schools at present taught in the Territory, and 

 is now their superintendent. He was unanimously recommended for the position ot 

 superintendent of instruction by all of the private organizations some time since 

 aiming to promote education in Alaska, and l)y a considerable number of prominent 

 men. "l liave known Mr. Jackson thoroughly for a considerable number of years. 

 He is a Christian gentleman of excellent ability, great energy, and. I believe, 

 specially fitted to carry through successfully the plans of establishing schools in that 

 far-ofi' country. 



I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



John Eaton, Commissioner. 



The Secretary of the Interior, 



Washington, 1>. C. 

 Approved : 



L. Q. C. Lamah, Secretary. 



