The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-15


First he tells of the climate OF course, in
regions SO vast the climate must be variable,
but he thinks that 'he must be q fastidious
person who complains of climates in which,
while the eagle delights to soar, the humming
bird does not disdain to flutter." He says,
too, that mot only have these skies been suf-
fciently bright and serene to give me perfect
view, under the sixtieth parallel of the total
eclipse of the sun, and of the evening star at
the time of the suns obscuration, but 1 have
also enjoyed more clear than there have been
cloudy days in the early mornings and late
evenings peculiar to the season." And if they
have fewer unclouded sunrisings and settings
in Alaska than in more southern ATTITUDES,
they have more frequent and more magnih-
cent displays of the rainbow and the aurora.
'And of all the moonlights in the world COM
mend me to those which light up the archi-
pelago of the North Pacific Ocean" ''The
thermometer tells the whole case when it
reports that the summer is cooler and the
winter is warmer in Alaska than in New York
and Washington" The country, too, must be
healthy, for Mr. Seward says that he has min
gled freely with its mixed population, the
Tongues, the Stickeens, the Cakes, the Hy-
dahs, the Sitkas, the Kootsnoos. and the Chill
cats, and with the traders, soldiers, seamen-
English, Russian, Swedish, and American
and he has found them all in robust and exu-
berant health. Manhood, up there is active
and energetic; infancy seems exempt from
disease and age from pain. Could anything
more be asked in the matter of climate?
Secondly, the Alaskan rivers are broad,
shallow, and rapid, and the seas deep and
tranquil. And such marine treasures The
whale therein abounds; and the sea otter, the
fur seal, hair seal, and the walrus; and those
waters swarm with salmon, cod, and other
delicious fishes From what he has seen he
is almost convert to the theory that the
water produces more for the sustenance of
animal life than the land. And the cloud
capped towers, domes, castles, and minarets,
and snow-covered cones and ridges of those
mountains are wonderful to behold and those
glorious forests of pines, cedars, cy-
presses, frs and larches are a sight to see.
Even the cottonwood tree (the balm of
Gilead) there grows to such size that from
single trunk a canoe is often made capable of
bearing phalanX of sixty warriors. Think
of that. And no beam, or spar, or mast, or
plank is ever required in any land which the
fragrant cedars of Alaska cannot furnish. And
the native grasses up there are first rate for
cattle and horses. Such is the island and
coast section of Alaska: and from all that is
known of the great inland Yukon valley, it is
much the same.
In the third place, the land animals of this
| new purchase are worth something. They
include the elk and the deerin profusion-the
BEAR the black, the grizzly, the cinnamon,
| and other varieties; mountain sheep, enor-
nous fellows, with rich feeces; the wolf and
| the fox, in several varieties; the beaver, the
| otter, the mink, the raccoon, the marten, the
| ermine, the squirrel-grey, black, brown, and
| flying. 1t is from these fur-bearing animals
that the Hudson Bay Company have become
SO rich that no combination of capital has yet
been found competent to buy them out.
Next, with regard to the Alaskan ice crop.
hoch hoo fail in dc
season; but in the glaciers Gf that ice will do
there is a liberal supply. In minerals, too,
Alaska is we'll supplied Its copper mines are
| an old story, and it has whole ranges of noun
tains of iron, the very dust of which adheres
to the magnet. 1t has beds of coal on the
Kootsnoo and in other places placer and gold
quartz mining is carried on With such re-
sources in the land and the water, with q
climate singularly salubrious, and with scenery
surprising in sublimity that of the Alps, the
Apennines, the Alleghanies, or the Rocky
Mountains, Mr.. Seward expects a glorious
future for Alaska in its settlement and deve
lopment. The summer season in those higl
latitudes is too short for much in the way O.
farming and gardening; but for fishermen
hunters, lumbermen, miners, and dealers IL
ice, Alaska is the Promised Land.
We have given the substance of Mr.. Sew
ards report to the citizens of Sitka of the re
suits of his observations as to the materia
resources of Alaska. His political reflection
thereon are full of enthusiasm. From al
that he says, we are inclined to think tina
Alaska is a good bargain. Mr.. Seward, how
ever, in his detour hardly touched the mail
continental body of Alaska. Therefore w
hope that among the recommendations o
General Grants regular December message t.
Congress he will recommend liberal apprc
priation for scientific exploring expedition
next summer of this prodigious terra ancoS
nit0 by land and water. Mr.. Stewards glance
along the coast will increase the public dc
sire to know all about the vast interior c
Alaska.
PURITY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
From the ~ Y. World.
The Democratic party of the United States
, for the last seven or eight years, has exhibite
, q more steady and disinterested adherence
, principle than any party that has ever existe
in this country. When political parties al
pretty evenly balanced and either has tolert
bly, fair chances of gaining the control of th
Government and disposing of its patronage
sordid motives have free play, and the hop
of office and emolument is potent inf1uenc
in political action. But, for the last eigf
years, the Democratic party has had no SAL
guine expectation of ''the spoils," and n
other motive than honest patriotism coul
have made it so firm, steady and resolute 6
it has shown itself to be in the vigorous cor
, tests against mighty odds in which the chance
! of early success were so slender. The Demo
, cratic masses and their true and tried leader
, have breasted malignant tide of obloquy an