New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-26


the SUBMITS of the Coast Range of mountains be-
tween these points, with proyso that this strip oil
shore shall never exceed ten marine leagues III
width.
9. The Yukon Division, consisting of all tho con
tnent west of 141o as far north as the FROZEN
3. The islands. not included in the Sitkan Diyi-
sion. comprising all the important islands OF the
Pacific ocean north of 80 40, from Alaska to
ha'y was at the time Of IFS acquisition by the
United States according to Russian estimates
about 20 900 souls. 200 of whom were Caucas'als
and Crcolcs and the rest native. In the first' or
Stkan Division, there were about 500 natives ana
some 500 whites and creoles; IN the Yukon, s,OOo
natives and 100 whites and cTeoes; and IN the re,
n,aindcr of Alaska the Island Districts, 1900
natives and 1900 whites and creoles. ...,uo,,
This mcagre population is grouped entirely
around the scahoard and large rivers. A glance Ht
the best map will show that OF the interior O iht
Yukon District gcographers know very httie. Mhat
riveiand lakes arc.iracediupOn the maps are usually
located upon sight and inaccurate information &c
rived from the natives The interior OF the lslh1S
and coasts longest pe0pled by civilized race Is ai
most altogether iJnOiG terra Inc coast iiho ~
Baranon Island on which Sitka is located. Is Wen
known and accurately defined upon the charts. nei
the interior is entirely uneXplore1, me OILY go"
AT Sltka runs into tho woods to the distance VI
mile and then stops before a wall OF dense 1oreS;It
and undergrowth. The growth OF stuntGd trees a.. a
along the shores of the islands and main land OF te
Sitkan Division is thick to he almost lmpehee-
trable. There is one instance at least OF man
having given entire day 70 the work OF nehfhiiI r
self less than mile from the shore.
THE LIMITED RESOURCES OF ALASKA.
Though the country has been under civilized gov
eminent for nearly eighty years, and though many
agricultural experiments have been made, as yet
very little has been accomplished. In the Sitkan
Division no grass has been grown, and the small
| gardens at Stka and Wrangel produce only lew
of the hardest vegetables. SO great is the moisture
| that hay cannot readily be cured, wheat rlpeneu'
nor potatoes raised. Even cabbages Will not mead
While orr troops were in the territory few cattle
were with great difficulty kept In the District but
there is not at present in the whole division OF
Alaska. Beef is luxury most highly priced the
only meat being an occasional haunch of venison'
and in the proper season, small game The noun
tains as rule descend abruptly TO the sea, and the
small patches of level land few and far between.
In n word agTiculuraly this whole district is abso-
lutey worthless There is no fodder for cattle, and
the ground under the most careful cultivation
Yields nothing but the poorest varieties of the most
| insjqnifcant vegetables The hand of man can do
little to add to the value of the Sitkan Division
The chief business in all parts of Alaska has been
and still is the fur trade. The gold mines OF the
Stikine River all located In British Columbia
and as the stores from which the most of the miners
supplies are furnished upon the river the busi-
ness is diverted to the British possessions Very
many miners. however winter at Wrangell, and
freight bound to points on the Stikine River is at
This Mace transferred to the small river steamers
Some cold claims have been located near Sitka and
snecmens of ore sent to the Assay Office at Victoria
have been found to contain fair quantity OF the
precious metal quartz mill was erected during
1878, and 1t was intended to develop one of the
mines but the unpleasant weather and short days
OF Winter will render IL extremely difficult to carry
on operations during more than six months OF the
| year No sufficient amount Of capital has as yet
| been invested nor have the mines been sufficiently
| worked TO determine the mineral wealth OF the
territory. Many who have given the subject great
attention are fully convinced that valuable de-
posits of the precious metals exist. Mr.. Francis.
now and for many years past our Consul at Victoria,
Is sonq1line in the belief that considerable guam
titles of gold will yet be mined, and his SON who
was until recently the Deputy Collector at Sltka,
sneaks i'm still more confident terms OF the value OF
he ore-beds The Sitkan Division does, however,
possess great abundance of most valuable SNIP
timber The wood, known as yellow ceuar, ana
sometimes called camphor-wood when is the most
durable of all woods for purposes OF -buldlng'
is found in large quantities, and the Sltka spruce
inferior TO this but of very great value, is most
plentiful Logs Of either of these woods can be easily
procured at very small expense, Lumber has been
sawed at total cost of three dollars per thousand
which would easily command from twelve TO hfteen
dollars in San Francisco. There has been for some
time small saw mill in Sitka, and another has re-
Gently been built in Klahwoch but only trifing
quantities of lumber have as yet been sawed AT
either place. The vast tracts OF timber lann IN ore
| ROn Washington Territory and Northern CalnOrnla
will for many years supply the market OF the
The fnr trade of the Stkan Division Is at present
| the most important interest Tho small amount OF
business now transacted ut Stka is entirely depend
ent upon the exchange of commodities for furs
and peltres. For the past few years there has not
| been a sufficient demand for furs to make Ilgl
prices or large gains. Fashion has frowned at tne
dictation, perhaps of the hard times ana compel,
| tion among traders has assisted in reducing the
profits. All the merchants profess 10 hape lost
money and it is the general opinion that none nave
made any. The fur seal is not found in the waters
adjacent TO Sitka but large quantities of other va
able furs are brought TO this place and TO Nrange
, | Inv the Indians and accumulated by traders. Fur
Tadinp is in its very nature little suited to the per
| manent prosperity OF "a country. III deInahds the
frontier and the wilderness as the seat OF
and is perforce killed country is settled ana It's
| resources developed. 1t is the enemy OF clVlliza
ton and the more profitab it is. the sooner doe,
| il come to an end. Year by year IA the circle OF
population wdens, the trappers are driven furthel
TO the north. Astoria for years the centre OF tht
trade. long ago yielded its supremacy. end to-day
/ no furs are sold in that market ut trst hand. 4
large part of the worlds supply must hencefortl
come from Alaska She has no rival on this Cont
nent and in the most important branches no fornid
able competitor on the globe.
, | The fisheries of the Stkan waters VIII perhap
ultimately prove the most valuable resource ine>
have however until very recently been OF but ittl
practical value few barrels oil sailed hsn haV'
been annually exported, and the inhabitants have
to large extent sustained life on the products
the sea- Within the past two years two salmon
canncres have been built, and quite large amour
of money invested in this enterprise, but lack o
information does not permit me to say whether thu
, venture has proved successful ,
! ii was said In support of tho Alaskan purchas'
that all the ice of the Pacific coast was imported
from that Territory but the value Of the export wa
never in a single year more than thirty thousan'
dollars and tho successful introduction of ma
, chinery for the production of ice artihcially ha
, caused the business to rapidly decline and disap
pear No ice is now exported from any portion o
the Territory.
THE GARDEN OF ALASKA.
The second division. which l have called tn
E Yukon, has been less explored than either OF tn
l others. There were formerly few Russian posts L
the Territory, but these have now been abandoned
At Cooks Inlet at the mouth of the Sutohno River
noinfs the NIknn River sntlicieu