The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-12-14
ICELANDERS AND ALASKA.


cold. snowy, frozen country, purchased by
the late Hon. WM. ii. SEWARD, for
the United States, contains With
in itself, elements of prosperity, and
wealth, and that these are TO be devel-
oped by Icelandcrs, who propose to col
onize the region. The subject of Ice
landic immigration to this territory was
mooted some time ago, and a commission
from that country aided by the United
States government, started out to make
explorations, with view to pcrma-
ncnt settlement.
We notice extracts from the official re-
mort of Commander j. :. SKERRETT, OF
the Portsmouth, the ship upon which
these commissioners set sail from San
Francisco, for Alaska, on the 18th OF
Scptembcr last which gives us some III
tcresting particulars of the visit and It's
probable results.
II saws that on the 18th of October
following Fort 81. Nicholas was reached
and at this settlement the lcelandlc COM
missioncrs debarkcd for the purpose o.
cyaminin" the country. On the 18th
thew returned, expressing themselves
we'll satisfied with their explorations
They found that potatoes and other hardy
vegetables could be produced, and that
such of the land as had been cleared
away was covered with grass, which
offered good pasturagc. Also the fact
WAS ascertained that salmon were very
plentiful, while wild game and fur bear
inr animals were abundant.
On the 22d Of October, sail was made
for the Island of Kodiak, two hundred
miles down the coast, where The commits
sioncrs again stopped to make. eXplora-
tions. The landing was made ut St
Paul. and here in Il very short time, the
I,elandcrs were made delighted with
what they saw. On every hand, were
immense tracts of pasture lands. The
air was balmy, and the natives stated that
the temperature was even during the en-
tire wear. Goldfish, trout, salmon, and game
were found in protusiorl. Elk also were
plentiful, while already seVerai lur "SSeh-
cies are established wi'ch derive i"'S'
incomes from the many pe"'' 'oNe'' W
tiers, ana wh''o e''"'"eS' ""''" '"'S
kill. These agent, naturally "DJect |"
the island being settled by the lceIander"
rs this would Interfere with their mon
opoly of trade; but the commissioners
pronounce themselves ;" "''' p''"''>''
that two OF them resolved 10 rei'"''' "p"''
the Island for the pr'''"'' awaiting inc
arrival OF their TRENDS ohe III ''''',
MIR. oLAfSS"N' wrote p'''"'' '''''' W
gentleman Ill NC" Vi ny '''''' ''>'' "' y,
oil WHICH, Pu"'S"'" IL ""
N"ry ''""'""'' VIZ S"'"'' WV '''''"''7
lilo EXPRESSES h'''''''' &c '''"N"
with his ""S'r'"''''''', o'97,,'' '''' 800
countrymen b'Sih th''r Se''io'''''' III
Cooks inlet, All" from t"''' pro-
coed to c"ioh'"e INC i'"u. N'
c''''"S Wv ,..'.,. ;. .,. oua,,,J
he writes that ne Oehe''s II WIS 'fe"''''
just for them I" Set''e' Ill., Ill" ''''''''' 'i''''-
self that, OF all nations III inc WORM, '"'s
would he exactly the right one 10 ue'ei-
"p whatever n"'"ra' RESOURCES '''
dencc may nave our''' III '''"' '',"',s'
l Ills Is " '""', WIFI, :.
the '"'"'' VI ~ ,....0
ri'o's ''' .',N ~. ,ho Ioa,.ndor :,
''''H'" $500 ~, .,,u
WIN " ,,, ,,
ana '"S'o''''' u, ''''
DC "'''"'''S '"'N -,-
lcelahuerS "'' '" ="
INDUSTRIOUS """''9
as MT, oL h-, ,u,.
h"""f'oS VI ",' , '.',.. ,,.h, ,ro,,,5
MS .r,.,.,,,2. ,,,,h. ,ho vary
consider tn'"'S''''> "'' wy
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C"uh'i. "HN''