Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-01-30
ISOLATED ALASKA.
Its Great River and Rich Mineral De.
posits-Am exhaustible supply
OF Cod and Salmon.


OF Cod and salmon.
From the San Francisco Chronicle
:, reporter Of the Chronicle called Of
.,,liam Gouverneur Morris. appuinte,
special Commissioner by the Government
10 make an,eXanlinatiOn OF the condition o
AlaskH, and who is now in the city. an,
was accorded an interview. in which Mr.
Morris outlined briefly some of the point.
Of his forthcoming report on the Terri
tDry.
What is your opinion of the mineral
wealth Of Alaskan
Alaska is undoubtedly rich in gold. sill
yer. copper. iron. platina. coal. and other
mines. look for one of the greatest min
M excitements Of the age at no very dis
t,nt day. all along the coast islands and
those Of the Alexander Archipelago. The
interior has never been prospeeted owing
60 the unfavOrable disposition of the ma
tive tribes. but enough is known to con-
vince any one who has investigated the
matter TO satisfy any reasonable man that
as rich auriferous quartz will yet be
brought 10 light as Nevada has ever pro-
d.iced. Recently in the Tengas Na,rows.
near the port Of Wrngel. has been discov-
cred vein which assays $500 per ton in
gold. S37.37 in silver, and 60 Der cent of
copper. This mine is readily accessible to
water navigation. and fuel is abundant. All
along the coast can be seen Outcroppings
ofqmifz. The reason why so little is
known Of the mineral wealth is owing to
the fact that no man is safe in exploring Al |
aska. Maintain strict patrol by g,,nboat.
enact laws for the protection Of lite and |
property. and the punishment Of crime.
and this unknown country will have be
fore il degree OF nnexampled prosperity.
snd discoveries will he made which. will
"sionish the whole civilized world. All
isis have thoroughly discussed. and prc.
-"nt~d at length the reasons which have
-'rce'l this conclusion upon me. The
mighty Yukon River. which flows through
'"ntral Alaska and ,IeboucIes into the sea.
. iify miles wide with its deltad mouths. is
ne OF the wonders OF the world. II is as
trgr. II NOT migltier in all respects than
~ Amazon. Ii drains an enormous belt
If sohl-prodlcing country. Streams flow
from il in large numbers throughout.
southeastern Alaska and into British Col
,Nnii,.
Here. undoubtedly, will be found as I
rich placer-tliggings as We're ever found in r
California in the palmiest days of surface !
i';inlng. But before these placer deposits T
an be reached or worked. it will be neces- 6
>ary to teach the interior tribes that the
w!'ite man must be permitted to pass to i
mi fro unmolested. All this can be done q
mi will he done if the proper policy is +
adopted. At present any investment in n
Alaska is attended with very great risk. u
There is no law whereby any one can OBJ n
:;H title to mining or other property. The s
presumption laws of the United States are =
rot extended over the Territory; in fact, "
everything is in state Of chaos and con- b
usiOn worse cOniOlnded.' -
"What OF the timber resources?" q
''Thry are valuable and inexhaustible. h.
)ne OF the most valuable woods in all q.
America for ship-building purposes grows b,
'ere. the yellow cedar. The white spruce n
also abundant. About two years since a,
party of San Francisco spectators at Ia
e'hpfe'i TO get bill through Congress al
whereby they wonll virtually gobble I'D IN
he entire island Of Ken. rich in timber ard nc
Oal. The Chronicle exposed this lnI.al- or
owed combination. and feel assured Con- Mi
.rcss will never enact the bill The woods cd
( Alaska will be of immense value in the q ,
lt.lIe. and her forests should be sacretlly 81,
RI,
''W!at do yon think Of her tisheries?"
They are simply enormous. but are in in.
hr utmost infancy. The run OF salmon in ed
~ bays and estuaries among the islands sin
unprecedented. and challenges compa,- til,
ION with any portion of the civilized globe. tel
is not uncommon to catch 1000 salmon We
single haul Of the seine Alaska must
GREATER supply the world with fish. AL br
lady the catch in the Columbia river is on
creasing. while the canneries there are no
multiplying. The price of every salmon fol-
Did TO the Columbia river canneries is 80 we
.nts per fish. large or small. while in ma
laska they only cost from to cents ou
.r fish. while they are larger. and, to my DC
ste. better The large king salmon caught ~ ~
Cooks Inlet will weigh from Is to l25 sto
)nnds. Two or three of them will fill as
lrrel. Attention has been attracted re- a,
ntly to the canning business OF Alaska.
ID last summer two caDneries were cstab- :,
he'd. They have met with gratifying Pa
ccess. The cod fisheries are magnificent. cp,
ID it is strange why we should pay S. of
o.0O for the privilege of fishing upon no,
e banks of Newfoundland when W.. have t,,-;
is inexfarstible source Of wealth right at snr
II own doors. ~