New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-26
,,,,,u vonu n.uv TRIBUNE MONDAY july 26 1850

r", oarmSsJy wish also the presence of some
force 10 guard and protect them rom tlio l,""s
II necessary, and At al tncS W thnmch force
may not be needed. Nor is this an 9Nlrht t ~
measure No one desires the eStaGSii ncr war
military force. naval force II III fttti' sh",cs
better 4 small steamer can easily guard te shoittS
and restrain the Indians. but 1t would no ni', ,bc
put whatever vessel may be- SEM tht!' T;t,rr
commend of the highest official in the ItIIl'uiA,
A swift stcam-cuttcr. Differed ny me oitfctt ~
marine service under the authority OF me Io'cht"s
at Stka and carrying two or three SILL, would
and fifty men available for that service WHY
amply suffice for the preservation OF INC sa''' -
Alaska is not aCriculturally rich and will never
he the seat Of a large or thckly-settled PopnaIni,
She possesses other great resources, all OF Whtn
will ultimately become valuable. She pays - tnI
Government mn annual revenue OF between IVY "pH
threc hundred thousand dollars, but for the urN,!
oplncnt of her riches, for the safety OIL her h. IL
tants for the protection OF indiNldua propri5 ,'ro
United States has not for nearly Two Sr"i' J
ncnded n dollar or enacted law. Wise laws ann
ample protection will encourage cmleEdtlon, %i,Ii
attract capital but il is folly to anticipate nAtftu
dcy elopmcnt or expect an increase ot P2PI'"'iun
where ultimately there Is no security lof NV 80
personal courage, and no protection or p,nP;tto1
save private integrity IL ~ the duty OF llc 49,
States Government rs one of the attributes VI i"o
ereignty, to defend its citizens, and rom 'hotNrS
of the highest honor it is bound to guard lhT nv.
csts of Alaskas inhabitants. No material al. uOof
mcnt is satisfactory. and no economy matter OF
generalization, long as the Nation prohliSc - Ia
literally and literally fulfilled and the persons ",i,
-
protected.
ATTRACTIONS TO TOURISTS.
The journey to Alaska is easily Accomplished
and presents singular attractions. III oherS eA'l"
ordinary Inducements to the tourist IN searcn Vi
novelty to the weary man in search OF reiaNa'ion'
TO the invalid in search of health. Comfortable
mail steamships sail every month from POftlahu'
Oregon, to Sitka, and the round trip Is made III
about three weeks AS the inner passage Is CHOSEN,
the traveller Is not exposed to the dlsc0nIortS Vi
An ocean voyage. save for very few miles. Leav-
ing Portland In the early morning, charming san
Is enoved the first day down the willamette anu
Columbia rivers reaching Astoria before hlghtIall
If be stage of water on the famous bar be such as
to detan the steamer over night, ample Time ~
af,rded TO explore the little town, long ago made
famous by Washington Irving Almost the oldest
settlement on the North Pacific coast, it seems the
newest The hills directly back of the town are
still covered with trees or with the sumps so typ-
cal of new clearing" The buildings appear to
have been erected only yesterday and the men who
wander through the streets wear the costume OF
frontiersmcn What town there is, is built upon
stills and is apparently i'll imminent danger OF
falling into the river. Yet Astoria is nearly seventy
years old and was spoken of rs great commerclal
point with an assured future of power ana wealth.
long before Chicago and San Francisco were
named. The view from the wharves across the bay
is AT evening extremely picturesque The GlearheSS
of the atmosphere makes the harDors WON seem
not more than two. though in reality 1t Is elght
miles and the dark hills beyond form wonderful
back ground TO the blue water made alive ana at
tractye with the hundreds of small boats engaged
From Astoria. the sail on the open ocean to the
straits of San Juan de Fuca and up the straits to
Port Townsend, the principal port or washington
Territory, is entirely pleasant scarcely aHpplo us
turbing the water. At Port Townsend the steamer
takes the mails and clears for Victoria, the unique
and attractive capital of British Columbia, where
there is always cargo of wheat TO unload, proving
that the cry of Fifty-four Forty or Fight
silcnced by the Treaty of 1876 was real ly raised
over tract of country north of the bread prOduc-
ing belt From Victoria the steamer passes by me
island of San Juan, giving the tourist an admirable
view Of the land and water dispute so long pending
between this country and Great iBritain, which the
Emperor of Germany decided in our favor Beyond
San Juan, the route lies along the eastern SHORE oil
Vancouver's Island for its whole LENGTH Az Mana
mO coal is taken, and the steamer leaves the
British for own possessions. ,
The picturesque parts of the voyage are FOUND
between Nanamo and Sitka. The steamer sweeps
through a narrow strait guarded on either hand by
snow capped mountains, and so narrow that despite
all your knowledge of perspective II seems as II the
chores meet rs you look up the channel from the
)ow of the ship. On either side mountains green at
| the base and white at the summit oyerhang the
water. A patch OF marble cropping through inc
rees forms occasional and welcome spot OF color
| n the mOnotOnOus green, and the ripple OF cas-
AIDE agreeabv breaks the stiffness which every
where reions supreme For days not n living thing
seen; no animal upon the land, no Indian on tho
water, no bird in the air. The waves washed by
the hills which echoed the whistle snllenly grow
calm once more and you seem shut in BY the forces
of nature, and i'll the power of tine genii of sea and
| strand There is apathy everywhere, activity no.
where. High up In the sky, the sun rolls lazily
along, completing the task in twenty hours which
glitter with weird light The sunset is reflected by
the sunrise The west, yet glmmers with the
streaks of day. while in the east ocund morn stands
tiptoe on the misty mountain top At 10 q night
| the finest print is read with ease and at in the
| morning the sun streaming into the state room
| vakana vou from sleeD.