New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-18
RESOURCES OF ALASKA.

OFFICIAL REPORTS CT GOVERNMENT OFFICERS.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE Secretary of
War has sent TO Congress three reports condition
Of Aaska-One by Major John c. Tdbal, second by
Major Luddngton and the third the returns Of
the Territory With regard TO the Of the country,
Major Luddngton says they consist amoj entirely OF
three articles-fur fish, and lumber Furs e obtained
only by trading with the Indians but the supply Of fish
IL unlimited. and companies have established depots ~
several places where FISH cured and packed the In
dams doing the work. The timber very valuable but
is far from market not 10 be available The ag-
cultural resources very seant with great care 1!ew
said there are places In the interior where gram can o
raised but this not certainly known. Settlements are
few and distant from each other. There are
no roads, and available milit2ryf refources:
The Indian tribes generally friendly, ana some OF
them are partly eiylzed Ihey suDslst on tle is OF
the chase Citizens az sitka are now On eopataHeiy
friendly relations with the military Ihey are described
low class OF serfs, OF most corrupt character Ihe
trouble formerly existing was caused IN Sieat par. W
the employment OF citizen interpreters whp were per-
The women are to be degraded ny vice, aud
the presence OF the soldiers tends TO further democrat
do do much the deviation Of the people, as they
not above Appearing in public grossly lnoxleatod
TO some portion Ot the Cars dominons, and Minor
Luddngton thinks it woIld be better foF ali parties
Major rdban gives In his report sonn interesting sta
tistcs touching the industries OF the country Salmon
the principal hsh taken. or these, llO0 barrels we're
taken with nets around Sa Bay last year. and 700 bar
been made to take 1000 barrels in the latter vicinity
year. The fish is worth g per barrel .ll40o for TO
years work In addition 10 this, the shelcs yclded
4GO gallons seal and dog-i3h oil, worth Sl40o Tho
salmon fisheries incNhausible. Ihe fur trade has
decreased every year since the United Sltcs OccHpa
ton. During the first year of American rule this trtno
amounted to S5 O0 during second $50 900 and last
year. than $4,000 The OF this decline IL the
better prices which the Hudson Bay Company pay tho
Indians for skins. The cost OF occupation by the United
States $92So month"; besides supplies aud - divided
follows: Army, 5000 navy, SJ,5SS revenue cutter,
$500; and CustOrn-HOuse 500.
MAJOR Tdball reports that there are but two kinds II
timber III the TCrlit0ry-sprUce ana yellow cedar The
former inferior In quality 10 that Of Washington Ter
ritOry and Oregon. The yellow cedar is valuable
material for chests bureaus &C., as IL possesses qualities
destructive moths. Some coal has been discovered,
but not sufficient quantities TO be relied on for fuol:
The REPORTS that rich mnos Of gold, "copper" &C., had
been discovered denounced false. Ide Ice OF Le
Territory is too porous 10 be " value FOR export Though
the china e is not cold enough 10 produce good Ice, IL
not warm enough make agricultural pursuits success
full Wheat rye and barley will grow, but produce 10
heads Corn will not grow at all The potatoes are 900
watery for table use. few good urnips are raised
Cabbage nd cauhOwers do well, and onlos grow bsb
do not hub. StOcA-raisng cannot DO madS pt1htaDe:
The number OF Americans and Europeans ny EHo more
than half OF all there in Alaska, Is 594 Ie ldlah
pODulaton of the Territory IS estimated az abont s
Te indians described Of the most degraded KIND,
and are both malicious and troublesome Tho great
want OF Alaska according TO this report s gunboa 10
keop these Indians in ORDER, and strong garrison at
citka,