The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-11-07
OUR ARTIC POSSESSIONS.
Resources of Alaska.


as has been charged Here are few of
the products of her soil and waters, which
invite the investment of capital and the
employment of muscle Gold, Silver
and copper are found, but there has been
no thorough work from which the extent
or value of the ores could be estimated ;
the "indications" are considered very fair
Coal of good quality, and so located as to
be conveniently and cheaply shipped to
market, exists in abundance.
The timber of the Territory includes
yellow cedar, of quality superior to the
cedar of Puget Sound for ship building,
which is the highest praise it could re-
ceive. Forests of this matchless ''camphor-
wood" Gas it is sometimes called, from its
fragrance), cover the sides of mountains
near the sea, while hemlock, fir and other
varieties of timber not valuable for ex-
port, but serviceable in many other ways,
| are also plentiful y peculiar kind of
| kelp grows on the coast north of Ayiu hoff,
from which iodine and carbonate of soda
are obtained so abundant is the sea weed
that it would be considered source of
immense wealth were it found ia some
European countries.
Then, in the way of fish, the cod. sal
mon, halibut and herring present their
claims, with score of others. The cod
fish of the Shumagin Islands is superior
to the Eastern article, and the supply is
unlimited. A species of small fish called
the yulikon is remarkable for its plenteous
ness, and as being the latest member of
the finny tribe-so greasy that the In
dians use it, after drying, as torch.
They light the tail, and that and the back
bone serve as wick, the lamp" burn
ing for some time. In valuable oils there
are whale, walrus, seal and other descrip-
tions for manufacturing and lubricating
purposes, to say nothing of the "bear's
grease" essential to every well furnished
toilet, and the cod. liver oil which furnishes
consumptives with a new pair of lungs
yearly.
The fur bearing animals of Alaska com
prizes both the land and sea otter, the wal
rus, bear, wolf, deer, fox, marten, mink,
muskart, nearly every kind of seal-in
short, all the desirable and beautiful spe-
cies one could ask for. Walrus ivory and
whalebone constitute a source, also. Of
considerable profit. 1t has hardly pene
trated many minds yet that myriads of
birds with the richest pumage exist
"away up there" but such is the fact, and
in regard to numbers, it is said that if the
surplus down" of Alaska were collected
and distributed, no person on the Pacific
coast need repose Oh any harder bed.
We think all intelligent men will agree
that country possessing these sources OF
employment and wealth and embracing
an area of half million square miles,
must in time attract considerable popu-
latiou. The capabilities of the soil promise
to afford table supplies and sustenance for
stock, at least in the southern districts
1t is certain that Alaska has great deal
besides fur seals it is equally true that
no exclusive privileges have been granted
save in the two little fur seal islands As
to this exclusive" privilege, we have al
ready expressed our views, but as we con
tinue to receive inquiries, we will briefly
recur to the subject, Government has leas
ed the seal fisheries to Il number of per-
sons who are incorporated under the name
Of the Alaska Commercial Company"
This company is permitted to kill 25,-
600 seals on St. George and rs, 900 on ST.
Paul, per annum, and no more. The lease
is for twenty years if faithfully complied
with, and was awarded to the company
named because it was the highest and
best bidder. Our government plainly
foresaw that free permission to kill the
seals were given, the islands would not
show trace of those valuable animals in
few years. The fur seal has to be treat
eG with the utmost caution, and if a
rookery is once destroyed by reckless or
incompetent hunters, it is never revisited
The seal leaves if he escapes his pursuer,
not to find home on some happier shore,
but, nine times out of ten, TO perish 10
the sea. This has happened 50 often that
it is an established fact and when almost
the last remaining haunt of these crea
lures came into the possession of our
government it determined 10 exercise the
same care with which the Russians had
guarded it, SO far, the plan works we'll !;
the seals are killed under such restric
tions as to season, numbers, age and sex,
and with precautions against disturbance
of the rookeries that there is no proba
bilty of losing the treasured species. Our
government, also, instead of having bur
densome aud expensive territory upon its
hands. derives more than enough revenue
from the islands which have fortunately
been made the home Of the fur seal to pay
all tho expenses to hich it is subjected
for military and other service in Alaska.
Resignation.