Smyrna times., 1880-08-04
Our Unknown Empire.
REMARKABLE FACTS ABOUT ALASKA.

DR.. Sheldon Jackson's fresh and inter
| esthG book on Alaska should put an end to
tne rlolcule that has been so persistently
dlrectsd against the late Secretary Seward
because ofhis acquisition ofremote territory.
and Its incorporation in the Union. In.
stead OF being an unproductivs and useless
ice.bound desert, DR.. Jackson show. from
his own careful observations, supplemented
by the researches of Mr.. Dali, of the Smith.
sonlan institution Mr.. Baker, of the coast
survey; Professors Powell, Nourse and
others, that the southern portion of the
immense tract, or nearly q moietv of the
6OO,OOO square miles comprised in Alaska, is
fertile and salubrious, and that its climate
is as temperate and more eouable than
that OF the middle States. The vegetable
productions of the northern and middle
states grow on its soil as luxuriantly as anv.
where in the United States, and its resour.
ces OF everything nesdful for existence and
commerce--of timber, coal, copper, iron.
gold, plumbago, and other minerals-are
some OF them illimitable, and others sufi.
GENTLY abundant to give full employment
to enterprise and to insure a prosperous
future to the country. In addition TO the
resources contained in or dependent upon
lis soil, the seas that surround Alaska. the
vast rivers that penetrate it-one of these
rlVers-the Yukon, is over 1000 miles long
and seventy miles wide at its mouth-and
the boundless forests that cover its noun.
talns abound with seal, fish and fur bearing
animals, which already give profitable EN-.
ployment to large numbers and make an
important contribution to the commerce
and industry of the nation. Alaska is az
large as all OF the United States east of the
MISSISSIPPI and North of Alabama, Georgia
and South Carolina. Its extreme island.
Attu, In the Aleutian Archipelago, is as
far West Of San Francisco as the coast of
Name IS East of that city. Its extreme
breadth from East to West is 2,2OO miles.
and from North to South 400; and its
shore.line up and down the bays and around
the islands is $4,000 miles, so that its coast.
II extended in a straight line, would belt
the globe. 1t is the great island region Of,
the United States its islands, over one
thousand in number, rise abruptly out of
the ocean to the height of one thousand to
eight thousand feet, the channels between
them in some places less than q quarter of
mile wide, and yet too deep TO afford
anchorage. This great archipelago forms
one OF the most remarkable stretches OF in.
land ocean navigation in the world: its
island shores are bold and indented with
lnnumerable bays and harbors they have
an abundance of fuel and water, and thew
afford perfect shelter from the swslls of tho
ocean. The Voyager may enjoy among
them an ocean sail of 1000 miles without
encountering peril or even seasickness.
Moreover, Alaska is the great glacier
region, some of its glaciers being vastly
greater and grander than those of the
Alps; and its hot and mineral springs are
on an enormous scale, one of them being a
huge boiling and steaming cauldron eight.
cen miles in circumference. What with
Its wonderful natural curiosities, its peculiar
invitations by land and water to pleasure.
seeking or scientific travellers, its illimit.
able resources, and its strange native pop.
ulations. Alaska offers inducements for
travel, for pleasure, and for business, that
are not likely to be disregarded by the
enterPrising and adventurous-Harper's |
Magazine.