Digital Bob Archive

JANUARY 2, 1887-The little mining camp of Juneau is no longer so little and has a counted population of 860 as of yesterday, and this despite that fact that many of our residents are south for the winter. Our energetic school teacher, Dr. F. F. White, occupied himself yesterday with taking the census, the first ever made here. The results are as follow: White men over 21, 285, white women over 21, 51; white boys under 21, 46; white girls under 21, 35; total white population, 423. Indian men over 21, 128; Indian women over 21, 145; Indian boys under 21, 85; Indian girls under 21, 179; total Indian population, 437. Total population of Juneau, 860. Dr. White is now making a census of Douglas Island, and this will be reported when completed.

The camp made a great step forward in September when the Sisters of St. Ann founded their hospital. It was badly needed. Shortly afterward our medical staff on the channel was doubled with the arrival of Dr. James K. Simpson. A native of Canada, he is only 25 years of age but is a graduate of the medical school in the University of Minnesota. He. joins Dr. H. S. Wyman in attending patients at the hospital.
-A school has also been opened in the Roman Catholic block between Fifth and Sixth streets, and Fr. John Althoff is making progress with the construction of his church, which should be completed sometime this year.
-Five federal officials are now permanently located at Juneau. They are Postmaster James C. Stitt; deputy Collector of Customs William I. Webster; U. S. Commissioner Louis L. Williams; deputy U. S. Marshal Philip Weittenheiller, and assistant United States Attorney Daniel H. Murphy. The latter position is new, created last fall. In addition, District Judge Lafayette Dawson has held two special terms here and we have been visited by Governor A. P. Swineford, Marshal Barton Atkins, clerk of Coourt A. T. Lewis, Agent for Education D. Sheldon Jackson, and in the U. S. Navy in the form of the gunboat Pinta.

Juneau is increasingly becoming a trade center, including a fur trade post. Furs arrived from Lynn Canal, the islands of Southeastern Alaska and from Yakutat. Ed James of the firm Koehler & James, one of the largest fur buyers here, has gone to New York in the interest of the trade. Juneau is also an outfitting point for the Yukon country. Many of our own people have gone there and have been joined by men who arrive on the mail steamers and outfit here. Miners coming out of the Yukon last fall brought with them from $300 to $900 apiece in gold dust.