New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-23
rHE rRop1cAL PRopUcrg or ALAsKA

One once obtained better strawberries at Cape
Ray than some he had eaten a few weeks be-
fore at Cape May. And now San Francisco
marketman informs the journals of that city
that cranberries from Kadiac and the PENN
sula of Alaska are superior to those from
Oregon and Washington Territory. Oregon,
in turn, we make no doubt, grows better
oranges than the West Indies, and, strangest
of ALL we already learn that our new posses
sions have become the seat of the opium trade.
We confess we were not prepared to hear OF
the Tropical Products of Alaska, but, after
the Alaska achievements at Washington, and
Mr.. Ashleys bill to provide q civil Governor
for the uncivil bears and walruses of that re-
gion we are ready for anything Chatham-st
merchant advertised Alaska diamonds before
the first American adventurer reached Sitka,
and perhaps before the close of the present year
some enterprising San Francisco traders will
have established "The Great Alaska Tea Com
"panyD In the very brief period since Baron
StOech paid his lawyers fees and sent our
American gold to his MASTER the Car, so many
wonderful things have been accomplished that
it were mere foOlhardiness not to expect other
things equally remarkable. But we must pro-
test against diverting commerce from Its regu-
lar channels to give color to the absurd pre-
tense upon which the Government is swindled
Alaska seems TO be a good place for ice, and
somewhat prolific in Esquimaux but we do not
see any reason in this why China, and Japan,
and even Siberia and the Aleutian Islands,
should be made tributary to the future State
on Behring's Strait and the Arctic Ocean, to
supply it with products which afterward come
into the port of San Francisco duty-free. There
may be coal at Cooks Inlet, and fish in Bristol
Bay but no one except Revenue official could
believe in opium from Mount st. Elias at the
same time that Siberian sables were palmed
off upon him as Alaskan produce.
There is in the Kamtchatka Sea a little island
called Attu so small that one can hardly
it on the map, from which the sharp Francis
cans, without being guilty of pun at all, are
going to say to the Siberans: 1--WE are ready
" to be at you" These Franciscans are a queer
people. Some of them were born Cinnamon,
and some of them were born Yankees, and not
a few Of them were born rOgues; but one who
calls himself Agapus HOncharenko, and who
was born in "the Province of Kew, now Rus
"sia, but formerly Ulraina," gives this delicate
hint to his shrewd neighbors: "Attu Island is
1.-THE nearest to Kamtchatka, and is the best
"place for carrying on smuggling trade OF
"any kind with Siberia. We recommend all
"smugglers to this place, with which many of
"them are now acquainted" Ordinary people,
with slight knowledge of geography and no
idea that the Revenue Department of the Gov
eminent is defrauded by any means except
the manufacture of illicit whiskey and cigars,
will not be a little surprised at the existence
of such an island for such purpose.
Siberia, owing to the rgor of its climate and
the peculiar mark the Emperor of Russia places
upon the foreheads of some of its colonists, has
not attracted the general attention of the
American people but previous to the purchase
of Alaska it had some trade in furs with San
Francisco. Since that blessed acquisition, how
ever, the trade has almost entirely ceased. The
number of sable furs annually brought into
that port was over ten thousand, but last year
only two thousand Siberian sables were import
ed. The other day, the steamer Alexander
arrived with 304 sea-Ottcr skins, some of which
belonged to the stockholders of the Russo
American Company, and some had been bought
at Nicolaevsk but all were landed free of duty.
"All San Francisco remarked the same Hon
charenko, "says that the Alexander had a
smuggling cargo" Another vessel recently
arrived from Siberia, but remained outside the
bar for two days after its arrival was reported.
A bay steamer placed itself in communication
with the ship, and when the latter came into
the bay it was found loaded down with ballast,
No other except San Francisco merChahts conld
afford to send vessel oil tie way to Siberia
for ballast; but With Chinese opium among
Alaskan products. there is no reason why Sibe-
rian sa1les should not be attributed to the same
Wonderful region.
Our trade with China and Japan must be
largely augmented during the next few years.
With Q sh0gtsg and more direct route and in
creased facilities, even Great Britain canpQt II
val us in our future Intercourse with Eastern
Asia. But the Tropical Products of Alaska must
not be allowed to aggravate the profits of our
already plethoric revenue swindlers. The opium,
upon which the duty is 100 per cent, that came
from China to Alaska and thence to San Fran
cisco last year duty-free, must not be manipu-
lated in the same manner this year. Nor must
the San Francisco Ice Company be allowed to
duty 10y conceang them under pieces Of frozen
water Voyages in search of ballast must be
stopped and smuggling cargoes cOnflscated. If
some of those people on the Pacific slope who
were so anxious to have Mr.. Stewards purchases
consummated, are permitted to have their own
way in the Pacific Ocean, there will soon be
worse ring Of swindlers near the Golden