The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-11
THE USES or ALASKA.

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THERE is probably in the mind of every
American citizen a vague but positive idea
that the manifest destiny" of this nation is
to possess at some future time the entire con-
tinent with all its insular appendages. Our
territory is already immensely out of proper
ton to our population. but then we are grow
ing fast, and need room to expand; and there
is no good reason why we should not realize
our dreams of empire at the earliest possible
day. 1t would not only be gratifying to ma
tional pride, but there would be many great
and definite advantages, if the United States
owned the entire territory from the North
Pole to the Isthmus of Panama, but we really
are not in such need of the country to the
north and south of us, nor are the advantages
to be derived from its ownership so great, as
to warrant the expenditure of much ready
money for the sake of obtaining control of it.
Mr. Seward managed to get over seven mil
lions of dollars out of our impoverished trea-
sury for the purchase Of one of the most un-
desirable and unpromising sections of the
continent and the results of his Alaskan
land speculation have not been so gratifying
as to encourage any further operations in
that direction.
The appearances are that Russia has real
lied all the solid advantages of Mr.. Stewards
bargain in the shape of good round sum in
hard cash, and the people of the United
States have listened with interest to all the
reports from our new territory, hoping that it
might realize at least some of the expecta-
tons formed of it from the glowing accounts
of its climate, mineral wealth, and magnif-
cent timber that were circulated about the
time of the consummation of the purchase.
Alaska, however, has not come up to expecta-
tions, nor does it seem likely that it ever will.
General Thomas, in his report of operations
in his department states that he sees no
prospect of the country being settled up.
The climate is too rigid, and there is too
much rain and too little sun for agriculture
Most of the military posts have gardens at
tached to them, in which are raised turnips,
radishes, lettuce, and other watery vegeta-
bles. Potatoes of moderately good quality
can also be raised but they will not keep for
any length of time and the moisture of the
climate is so great that these vegetables, and
barley, oats, wheat, and other grains, will not
ripen or come to maturity. General Thomas
states that comparatively little land is suita-
BILE for agricultural purposes at all, and that
the summer, though pleasant while it lasts, is
not long enough for successful farming. The
timber is of the finest quality, and in many
places conveniently located, but the supply in
Oregon, Washington Territory, and British
Columbia is equally good, and much better
situated for a market.
Unless we abandon this territory to the Es-
quimaux and the wild animals, confessing to
the world that we have foolishly thrown our
money away, it will be necessary to retain
military force there to support the authority
of the United States This is anything but
pleasant to the unfortunate soldiers who are
thus banished from civilization; for the pro-
liabilities are that, with the exception of few
traders, they will be the only white inhabit-
ants of Alaska. This raises the question,
however, whether the territory could not be
utilized as penal settlement Our prisons
and penitentiaries are crowded with offenders
who are charge to society, and whom it would
be very desirable to get rid of, if possible. If
our soldiers can stand the climate of Alaska,
our criminals would be subjected to no i'm
proper hardship if transported there and
forced to labor hard to earn their bread and
keep themselves warm. The prospect of ban
ishment to such place would undoubtedly
have most wholesome influence in the pre-
vention of crime, for those disposed to offend
against the laws could readily be made to un-
derstand that this would be real punish
ment, and that, once landed in Alaska, it
would be no easy matter to get away again.
This subject is certainly worthy of attention,
at least as means for getting partial re-
turn for the money Mr.. Seward inveigled us
into spending.