The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-22

should not have been taken from the Territory:
They should be tried where the deed was committed
and by ms fellow people This Is one o. Tue tunoa-
mental IDEAS OF civilized government
Af-AsKAs REsOU HcEs.
The resources OF Alaska wonderful IN number
ana extent The country Is unknown IN great de-
20 the citizens OF the United States. La furs.
fish. mineral wealth and agricultural lands IL has
superior claims for that treatment the govern
ment which will cause their greater development
Salmon. haIbut cod. herring and other ish
abound TO an extent SURPRISING all belief.
The fisheries among the leading industries
of the Territory. In the western waters, salmon
weighing as much as 40 pounds are frequently
caught. Two canIeries have been built III Eastern
Alaska during the past year. The Cutting Packing
Company is within six miles OF Sitka. and the other
at klawac. Prince of Wales Island is also
trolcd by San Francisco capitalists. These cannerei
will become profitable Investments. The world il
their market. 70 the west, in Cooks Inlet and al
the mouth of the Yucon River, where the salmon are
large, there canncries yet established. The
Goldfish are of excellent quality and 50 great in num-
Der as to almost exceed belief. There better
Goldfish banks in the world than those OF Alaska.
Halibut are just as abundant along the coast.
The hlawac cannery began 10 clans last
son. and soon found themselves unable to sup.
ply the demand from the San Francisco market.
The largest ships navigate throughout the archi-
pelago Alaska abounds in mineral wealth. Iron.
coal, copper. gold and silver have been found A
fvesta mill was erected within ten miles of Sitka
last at cost OF s22 000 and the yield of the
gold and silver ore has been about Sl75 ton One
ledge in the neighborhood is rich in free gold
The miner who discovered IL carries the his
back into Sitka. and with the aid OF mortar
and pestle only has extracted several hun
|
have been found and below Fort Wrangle
one of gold and silver assays $500 to the ton. Rich
veins have also been discovered in Prince of Wales
Island, and large company, organized in San Fran
cisco. will commence work there next summer. On
all the eleven hundred islands in Eastern Alaska there
is valuable timber. Hemlock, spruce. fir, pine and
yellow cedar are the most abundant and of great
size The yellow cedar is wonderful wood. II il
almost worm proof. and excellent for shipbuilding
and all kinds of cabinet work Alaska has monopoly
of this wood.
ALASKA THE Pooh MANS COUNTRY
"Alaska," continued the missionary, ''S
phatically the poor mans country. There the
humblest live on the of the land. There every
thing that heart desire is found to Game Of
all kinds abounds and venson and bear meat can ba
obtained at trihing cost In sttka last summei
numerous gardens planted, and fine DO
tatoes turnips. cabbage, caulihowers and radishea
produced. There ice in Sitka during the
winter of 1S777S and to the middle of last Decen
Der il had not frozen more than half inch. Tho
average temperature of fourteen winters kept by
Russians was 81 $40 degrees Fahrenheit. The aver
age for each year during the same period was AZ slO
degrees Fahrenheit. The usual dress Of the average
drawers aud single blanket. He Is always bare
footed.
THE HARBoR OF srrKA
"The harbor of Stka in the matter of scenery is
one OF the most beautiful spots on EARTH exclaimed
the missionary with enthusiasm. There are fifty
sixty islands within sight. which form a natural
breakwater to the Pacific The soil is fine and be
made very productive. If these islands in New
York Harbor they would be held at millions. Near
Sitka there are hot springs. whose great healing
qualities are known throughout the Territory.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.
alaska can be made great country" conciudetr
the missionary, land it is due to the settlers there
that Congress should at afford them permanent
protection. Good civil government is required, not,
however, in connection with Oregon Washington
Territory, but a government Of its own.
This is due the Territory, it even now
abundantly pays its way. There is doubt.
from the mildness of the climate and its vast
sources. if Alaska is properly looked after by the
federal authorities that it will be admitted into tho
Union as a State within fifteen years. gunboat
should Immediately be sent to ply the waters be-
tween Fort Wrangle and Sitka and tLen thu
settlers would feel at 1t would be
great wrong to carry the present Indian
policy to Alaska. The natives have abundant food
with which to support themselves and Congress will
please notice that agents needed in that and
The Indians capable of high degree OF civi liza
ton and this in time Will be found out by the coan-
try at large"