New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-16
dLd.St ALASKA,

The last YcStlge OF nope mas departed, ana
the night of cold despair settles over damp,
snowy, scrubby, tangled-up, uncomfortable
country. Alaska, fguratiyely speaking. is no
more. Two special agents of the Treasury
Department, sent out to make a thorough in
vestigaton of the condition and resources of
this wretched region, have returned and re-
ported, and to an inquiring Senate has the Secrc-
tary transmitted two dolorOus documents detail
ing the dreary discOmforts of our HyperbOrean
territory. Reluctantly. then, do we reach the
conclusion that Russia, when she sold Alaska
sold also the United States. For some time
we have supposed this to be the case, yet
there has been all along dim hope that
something might be realized out of seal-skns;
that the deposits of coal, which if dug up and
sold at highest market rates would more than
pay the national debt, might not turn out all
slate and btumen; that tho Goldfish might
prove numerous enough to bring down restaur
ant prices to the poetical standard of
Twelve and half cents for two nshbulls;"
and that possibly the Alaskan cranberry crop
could be made to favoraby affect the pie
market. But these last hopes now seem doomed
to disappointment.
The estimated cost Of Alaska, present and
future. within period of twenty years, is
put at somewhat more than forty three millions
of dollars. In return for this expenditure the
special reporters of the Treasury Department
say that we may hope to get, with good luck.
100000 year out of seal-skins, and five or
ten thousand for customs. AS for the fisheries,
which next to the sealeries were the most
promising source of profit, their only drawback
is that better fish can be caught nearer market
in the waters of Oregon, Washington Terri
tory, and British Columbia There is coal, to
be sure, in Alaska, on Admiralty Island, but it
abOunds in resinOus matters and ends in smoke.
1t is not adapted to generate steam, but might
be used in the production of Illuminating
gas. Inasmuch, however, as the demand for
street lamps, chandeliers. and burners is not
lively in that region, it is safe to say that the
carboDiferous DEPOSITS of Alaska will sleep I'M
disturbed while the much better and apparently
inexhaustble coal fields of Columbia, Wash
ingtOn, and California hold out. There is much
good lumber in Alaska, but, like the coal and
Goldfish, it is too far off, and when you get
there it is almost unattainable. being either in
impossible swamps or far up the mountain
slopes, with no facilities for bringing it down.
1t has been thought that little cold comfort
might be gotten out OF an ice crop at Kadiak.
Sufficient to supply the entire Pacific coast y
but year ago the amount obtainable was 80
insignificant as to hardly pay tho cost of ship
ping, at it was a notable fact that at Sitka
there was not ice enough last year to freeze
cream for public festival in midwinter. and
shades of Maillard and Fussell!- cream
was served unfrozen. The report also says that
80 long as the cost of bringing ice to the Pa
ci6c markets raises the retail price there to
ten cents per pound, it will not DO used
by the masses. Now il Alaska is not cold
enough to produce ice, it ought certainly to be
warm enough to raise vegetables. Here again
our modest hopes are dashed. Listen to the
melancholy plant of the special During the
"last Summer. although traversed the most
desirable and fertile portion Of the territory,
"and was entertained by the most hospitable
residents, my total supply of fresh vegetables
Cup to the time of my leaving the country, In
"the latter part of August, comprised two small
"radishes and an onion obtained In Kadiak and