GOVERNMENT. Alaska is an unorganized Ter ritory, there being no general legislative body. Alaska is controlled by laws passed by the United States Congress,- and its administrative and ju dicial officers—governor (residing at Sitka ), surveyo•-gene•al, attorneys. judges, and others —are appointed by the President of the United Status. Towns of a certain size are allowed to incorporate and elect governing bodies. Legis lation in 1900 divided Alaska into a judicial district, with three courts, at Juneau, St. Mi chaels, and Eagle City. These judges are au thorized to appoint commissioners, throughout Alaska, who are to act as justices of the peace, recorders, probate judges, and perform other duties civil and criminal. A new criminal code for Alaska was adopted in Congress in 1899, and a new civil code the following year. As yet, it is impossible for settlers to acquire title to the public lands. In 1898 Congress extended the operation of the homestead law to Alaska, but has failed to provide for a survey of the land, and thus render settlement possible.
Much trouble has grown out of the working of t-he mining laws. The right to locate
claims by power of attorney granted by these laws results in extensive districts being staked and t hen abandoned. awaiting such developments as will give the holdings a speculative value. Much "claim jumping" has been practiced: in deed, there have been but few paying claims that have not been involved in litigation. It has been impossible to anticipate the emergencies which have arisen from the sudden addition to the population. and oftentimes civil order has been disrespected and legal jnstice has been extremely tardy. This was conspicuous at Nome: but the evils there were corrected in 1901, and proper laws put into operation. Military force at times has had to assert its authority, and a consid erable force was maintained in the territory from 1899 onward. On the whole, however, while the miners have been a law unto them selves, the instinct for good and for order has been in the ascendency, and remarkably few excesses have been perpetrated.