The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-03-06

ysI-.t.- E stt-s
1879.
sto be experienced from them except
when they are crazed with drink, and
then there is no telling what they
might do. The troops could only pre-
tend to keep order Immediately ad-
joining the posts, and for this reason
were withdrawn, as being of no SER
vice.
who are the second class people?
sThey are the interior tribes, of
whom little is known. They will al
low no white man to enter their do
main, and only trade with the coast
Indians. Their country is partitioned
off for each tribe. They are warlike,
dangerous, and, in fact, perfect saw
ages. Both classes of Indians are
more of an Asiatic type than our red
men of the plains, and clearly show
their Tartar origin.
What is the climate of Alaska,
Major7
sThe temperature of Southern Alas
ka is 20 colder than at the mouth of
the Columbia River, Oregon, and three
degrees warmer than at Ottawa. This
10 owing to the warm current which
flows from Japan, known as the Jap
anese gulf stream. Snow is very rare
ly seen in the streets of Sitka, though
in the winter time the mountalns in
the vicinity are covered. The same
clothing is worn there as you wear to-
day in Washington. The dampness
of the air is far more to be feared than
the cold. These remarks, however,
do not apply to the entire country
west of the Aleutian Islands, which is
barren and inhospitable.
HAS Alaska any rivers p inquired
the Post.
yes, sir, the principal ono being
the Yukon, which flows through Cen
tral Alaska, and empties into Norton
Sound. It has large arm debouch-
ing to the eastward towards British
Columbia, from which flows innumer-
| able streams.
How large is the Yukon2
asIt has never been thoroughly sur
veyed, but Capt. Raymond navigated
it for 1900 miles. 1t is supposed to be
larger than the Mississippi or the Am
azon. 1t j. frozen up in the winter
time and its breaking up in the apring
is a grand and terrific sight. The
debris, driftwood, and timber which
is carried down at each freshet is, by
the force of the current, dOated out to
the Aleutian Islands, where it serves
the natives as fire-wood. 1t is the
only kind they use, as no trees grow
on these islands.
sWhat are the resources of Alaska !?
'In the first place, Alaska is full of
coal. 1t can be found cropping out
everywhere. But it cannot be utilized
because there is so much of itin Wash.
ington Territory, which is nearer CAL
ifornia and Oregon. The best coal
for steaming purposes is found near
Nanaimo, but anthracite coal is known
to exist. It's development will proye
q fortune to somebody, as we have ne
anthracite on the Pacific slope.
do other minerals abound2
yes; gold, silver, iron. copper, and
platinum have also been found in pay
ing quantities, but none of the mines
have ever been prospected or devel-
oped, owing to the dangers which
miners are subjected to in making ex-
plerations. In the Cassir District,
however, which is British Columbia,
and which is annually visited by g..
600 miners, who have to pass through
Alaska, the mines have yielded mill
lions OF dollars Of surface gold. Re-
Gently numerous rich deposits have
been discovered in part of the terri
tory which is now in dispute between
the United States and Great Britain.
A joint commission has agreed upon
a provisional line, which those ac-
quainted with the facts of the case
know to be unjust towards this coun-
try. The question is an important one
and the lives Of many of the citizens
of the United States are in jeopardy.
1t should be settled at once. or it may
involve both countries in serious diff
fculties.
DO not the natives make use of
these metals?
'Oh, yes; the Indians wear orna-
meuts of gold, and state that gold ex-
lists, but are very reticeut as to its To-
cality. It must, however, be borne in
mind that prospecting in Alaska is
not like Arizona or the Black Hills.
The distance is great, the season is
short, a great deal of money is needed
TO get there, and even when they
reach Alaska there is no guarantee
that they will not be scalped by saw
ages.
Are there other resources besides
those imbeded in the ground?
| Climber and fish are the remaining
principal treasures. The forests are
immense, principally of yellow cedar,
which is most valuable for building
purposes. White spruce is also plen-
tiful.
And the fisheries?
Il believe that Alaska will evcntu-
ally supply the world with salmon.
The Oregon fisheries are giving out.
From the mouth of the Columbia Riv-
er, below Astoria, there arc stretched
across it every night, for forty miles,
seine after seine, and the salmon can
not get up the river to spawn. But
the Alaska fisheries are inexhaustible
and . catch of from four to seven