Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-04-12

I'm the first place, Alaska is full OF
coal, 1t can be found cropping out every
where. But it cannot be utilized, because
there is so much Of it in Washington
Territory, which is nearer California and
Oregon. The best coal for steaming pur-
poses is found near Nanaimo, but am
thracite coal is known to exist. Its de-
velopment will prove a fortune to some>
body, as we have no anthracite coal on the
Pacific Slope"
"Do other minerals abound ?"
Eyes ; gold. silver, iron. copper and
platinum have also been found in paying
quantities, hut none of the mines have
ever been prospected or developed, owing
to the dangers which miners are subjected
to in max ing explorations. In the Cassir
District, hswever. which is in British
Columbia, and which is annually visited
by 5000 IN iners, who have to pass through
Alaska, the mines have yielded millions
of dollars of surface gold. Recently nu-
merous rich deposits have been discovered
in part OF the territory VIII ich is now in
dispute between the United States and
Great Britain. A joint commission has
agreed upon a provisional line, which
those acquainted with the facts of the case
know to be unjust toward this country.
The question is an important ore, and the
lives OF many OF the citizens of the
United States are in jeopardy. 1t should
be settled at once, or it mny invole both
les in serious difficulties"
"Do not the nstives make use of these
metals p
"Oh, yes the Indians wear ornaments
of gold, and state that gold exists, but
ave very reticenta as to its locality. 1t must,
however, be borne in mind that prospect.
ing in Alaska is not like Arizona or the
Black Hills. The distance is great, the
season is short, great deal of money is
needed to get there. and even W. en- they
reach Alaska there is no guarantee that
they will not be scalped by savages."
"Are there other resources beside those
imbedded in the ground ?"
Climber and f,h are the remaining
principal treasures. The forests are i'm
mense. principally of yellow cedar, which
is most valuable for building purposes
White spruce is also plentiful"
"And the fisheries ?"
81 believe that Alaska will eventually
supply the world with salmon. The Ore
gon fisheries are giving ut. From the
the mouth of the Columbia River, below
Astoria, there are stretched across itevery
night, for forty miles, seine after seine,
and the salmon cannot get up the river to
spawn. But the Alaska fisheries are in
exhaustible, and a catch of from four to
seven thousand salmon with one haul of
the seine is of common occurrence. Two
wealthy San Francisco firms have started
canneries Up in Alaska, and last year sent
down between 1000 and 5000 cases, each
case containing four dozen one-pound
cans. The fish met with ready 81 Ie, and
it is probable many more canneries will
be established next spring. But, as in
mining, it, mus: be borne in mind that
this is no child's play; that none but
hardy men. and men willing to work,
can embark in it,"
Are salmon the only fish ?"
mo, cod exists in larger numbers
than on the banks of Newfoundland,
but as they keep in deeper water they
are harder to catch. Herring exists in
countless myriads, besides other varieties
of food fish almost equally plentiful"
"Now, then, Major, tell me something
of the Government"
"There is no Government whatever.
There aIe no courts, and a man there
has no civil or political rights. Noper>
son acquires title 10 property, for there is
no law to enforce the collection of debts
or the conveyance of deeds, wills or
other instruments. Nor can he even &C,
quire land by presumption. He can
neither vote, hold property, nor is he
guaranteed trial by jury"
"How is this to be remedied 20
'In the present condition of the Ter.
ritory and the paucity of the opulation,
no bersonse political machinery should
be adopted. Anything would do that
would meet the exigencies of the case
and protect the people. The suggestion
of the Secretary of the Treasury that
executive powers be conferred OH customs
officers might d. for the present, but not
permanently. Mr.. Fuller, of Indiana,
has already introduced bill to extend
the Land laws of the United States over
Alaska, and similar bills for the m ming
and other laws will. soon follow. What
is wanted now is an appropriation, for
which bill has been offered, to At out
revenue cutter to cruise along the
southeastern coast of Alaska, and also
money enough to make cOaing station
at some point along the coast
"How large is Alaska :" said the Post,
in conclusion.
at contains 560, ,000 square miles
about ohe>tenth the ize of the United
States. 1t has 10000 miles of sea coast,
or more than all the sea-coast of the rest
of the United States together. p Wash
inyton Post.