The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-12-18
THE GREAT NORTHWEST.
Lecture OF Professor Rothrcck, Of Wilkes
barre, Pa, Before the American Geo
grNphicNl Society,

Lecture OF Professor Rothrcck, Of Wilkes.
barre, Pa, Before the American Geo.
graphical Society.
The usual monthly meeting OF tho American
Geographical Society was held last evening at the
rooms OF the Historical Society, Eleventh street
and Second avenue. There was good attendance
Of members. Tho chair was taken by
Judge DAILY President OF the society. After
the reading OF the minutes and the trans
action OF other business. The President intro
duced DR.. J. D. Rothrock, OF Wilkesbarre Pa, who
read a paper on 1.-THE Northwest: Its Resources
aud Its Inhabtants.n The lecturer said nothing In
the history Of the past two centuries was hair 30
wonderful as the
GROWTH AND PROSPERITY
OF our country. The perils on the frontier from
Indians, starvation and other canses were terribly
real in the times past but all this is now changed.
We travel in palace cars to the Golden Gate with
out danger OF any kind as comfortably as in the
East We hit from city to city.
The lecturer referred
TO PUGET SOUND,
using lt as a starting point, and pointed out the
vast resources IL contained--harbors sufficient to
accommodate in safety the navies Or the world
lie then spoke OF the force OF the current on the
Fraser River, which was one OF the strongest In
the world. The valley OF the Fraser il extremely
fertile, and here flourish many rare and beautiful
plants known to the potanist. The region Is occu.
pied by no particular tribe OF Indians, but claimed
by them all. For centuries II has been q battle
ground for them, and here they have fought out
THEIR MOST TERRIBLE fEuDs.
Much OF the lan1 Is Wen adapted to farming and
grazing purposes, and almost everywhere traces OF
gold can be found. There is remarkable analogy
between the western coast OF the Old World and
the western coast Of the New The eli.
c ahsaa acS oS saa s .aa hsh
for salubrious temperature. The mineral
resources OF yancouycr's Island arc silver and
Int IN N lar tttpu In prit gybl No,
iumbia large quantities OF gold found. In less
than i've years some six million dollars OF gold
Island copper ore Is found. In Alaska coal exists
but yha quantity OF II is unknown. The vegc-
The trees grow 10 an enormous height and thick
ness. Seine or them grow to the height OF 200
feet. There are SPECIES OF grass found which can
be used for raising useful horses. From the mouth
o the Fraser to It's termination are stretches OF
fertile land as can be found on this Continent, and
before the close OF the century, Will bc the seat OF an
active CIVILIZATION fhe area CT Alaska Is computed
10 be 51l,ooo square mites, but Clinton sonnty Ia,
mems OF plants. Animals OF various kinds are
numerous salmon abound IN tho rivers AZ well as
trout aud blasx fish. The InGana--what sball be
e.id Of them The ideas Which have been formed
of them arc mainly cue to imaginary qualities with
~ hieh they have been invested. Hkg cloqpesee is
due TO his barbaIism lie never aitaiGs 10 any
ADowleAge Of his Dan mental conceptions
] nave tried in vain to and the spiritual element
among them, and most OF them have no
IDEA or A FUTURE STATE.
The record OF the wrongs We have inflicted upon
shp Il NtiaAE makes Dldeb pagp aratn~t Ms " we ud-
Ss,t H. al the land originally belonged to them and
ehould ! theirs by right. hut when we consider
he tenn. W millions OF CIVILIZATION who come TO NJ
nom Enrop 20 develop our resources, we cannot
.na how IN ", In the instincts OF baibarism,
rbouiJ occnnv large amount OF territory, which
a ~ The IN, rests OF CIVILIZATION, work TO de.
a., 20 e. Tho .,no tol mankind. We are told they
IRE heaven planted Blu, are they any more heaven
planted WIN tn ~ % % rupy territory rs large as
ave .ne Ign, ~ abo =. cxcus on Of 3Oooo0
ms 9'a'e' 70 t Tmr o1 Anglo. sAyoN RACE,
-, n,, 49, ~ com "ibuLc to the glory OF
lie empire BarbaI Gus rs ~ niust OH nor Ia nav,
,heIeSs true, that Tie Inuians - '~''