Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-10
About Alaska.

For several weeks past subcommittee Of the
Senate committee on territories has been con-
Quoting an inquiry into the ACCESSIBILITY of es
tablishing territorial government in Alaska
Several residents Of that country and person,
who have visited it have been examined and a
good deal Of interesting information respecting
Alaska, its Climate, population, resources, ETC..
has been obtained. Alaska, as shown By this
examination, covers a territory as large as that
part OF The. United States east Of the Mississippi
river and North OF Georgia. Alabama and North
Carolina The northern and central sections
are largely prairieS, On which grows heavy
grass which makes excellent hay. There are in
The territory about 1880 men who would be
citizenship. Sitka has white male populate ON
of about 600 and about 800 male adult
Russians: The Russian church has a
mm md Ip, Of Of 5000 IN the territory:
larger volume OF water than the Mississippi.
1t is 10 miles wide across its five mouths and
intervening delta, and 1000 miles above Its
mouth 1t is, In some places, 20 miles from main
bank to main bank. 1t is nav1gable for 1 500
miles five months in the year for light draught
steamers Ia the northern part OF the territory
it Is cold In the winter and hot in summer, the
thermometer ranging from 20 degrees below
zero To 10 above: but in the southern section
the winter temperature Is about the same as
That Of the state of Georgia and the summer
temperature about equal to Minnesota. There
are about 1000 of what is called the Aleut popu-
lat1On, who are described as about On par, In
all matters OF education and citizenship with
the Mexican population we have received into
citizenship with New Mexico, Arizona and
Texas. The Indian population Is reckOned to be
from Sc, coo to 10000.
COUNTRY WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT.
The country is absolutely without govern
ment and there is no protection for lie or prop
erty. The fur interests Of Alaska are the most
valuable in the world, and all who have been
before the subcommittee agree that the fish,
nrint, lltrn ~ fNNIa
are found In fneXhausttble numbers and OF the
finest kind. Eighteen vessels from San Fran
cisco last season took 5000 tons OF COZ off the
coast Of southern Alaska. The finest salmon
are the valuable fish OF cOmmerce-herring hall
but and others; also Oil fisheries, the Oulican
and Others In the way of minerals, iron, coal,
copper and gold are found The coal is so fine
In preference to any other. AS to agriculture,
OTIS and barley grow on the Yukon river. There
for grazing, and which makes good hay. vege-
tables OF all kinds are raised, and the country
abounds in small fruits, such as black berries
raspberrteS, cranberries, etc. The statements
here given are all gathered from the Information
that has been given to the subcommittee. All
who have appeared before the committee agree
In urging some form of government for Alaska.
They say that with the protection OF a govern
ment the country would be rapidly settled, and
would soon return revenue to the United
States; that no man Is willing to invest money
to develop mines or anything else because he
would be at the mercy Of any adventurer who
chose to overpower him. One gentleman said
that acquaintance Of his were satisfied they
knew where valuable gold deposits existed, but
they would not work them, for the reason that
when they struck paying lead they might be
overpOWered by brute force, and all their posses
sions taken from them. Under acts of Congress
the United States government charges tax on
seal skins taken in Alaska. The total amount
paid into the treasury from such tax since the
purchase of Alaska and up to December 31st,
1879, was 81, S47 ,042.07.