, 1883-06-23
ALASK

The area Of Alaska is placed at
$50, l07 square miles, but that must
be an estimate only, for we are not
aware that there has yet been any
regular survey Of the territory. It
is, however, a far more extensive
country thanmoSt people have any
conception Of For instance, from,
extreme north to south is ,IGO miles
in an airline. From its eastern
boundary to the end of the Alcutian
islands is a distance Of 300 miles,
or as far as from Washington to Cal
ifornia. The island Of the Atlu, at
the end Of the Alcutian chain, is far
west of San Francisco us Maine is
east. a good many people have
been astonishcd, when they were
asked where is the center of line
drawn from the furthcrest east to the
furtheSt west of the United States
territory, totind that the true answer
is San Francisco.
Alaska is as large as az the New
England and Middle States together
with Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wiscon-
sin, Michigan, Kentucky and Ten
-nessee combined, or as large as all Of
the United States east Of the Mis-
sissippi river and north of Georgia
and the Carolinas. That is, it is
nearly One-siXth Of the area of the
United States. 1t has coast line of
5000 miles, or two and half times
more than the Atlantic and Pacific
coast lines of the remaining portion
of the the Union. The total area of
tho IAlands OF Alaska, Or. .Iacsson
estimates at 3l,2O5 square miles, or
twice as much as that Of the State of
Maine.
To find our higest mountains we
must 60 to Alaska, There the coast
range Of California and the Rocky
Mountain range of Colorado and
Montana unite to form the Alaska
Mountains, which extend until they
gradually sink into the Pacific, the
highest peaks visible above the wal
ter forming the Aluetian chain Of
Islands. In the Alaska range are
Mt. st. Elias, 1880 feet high, Mount
Crook, 10000 feet; Mount Crillon,
$1,000; Mount Fairweather, l5,OOO.
These are figures of DIR. Jackson,
though for their accuracy ,hc does
not give us his authorities. But the
heights are those commonly given
in glzeetcrs and Biographies. Be
sides its ordinary mountains, Alaska
contains the great volcanic system
Of the United States. Itis the great
glacier region. "From Butte Inlet
Unimak Pass nearly every deep
gulch has its glacier, some Of which
are greater and grander than any
glacies in the Alps" Hot and min
eral springs also abound in Alaska.
And, in addition, it contains one of
the largest rivers in the United
States. The Yukon river, is 10
miles wide at its five mouths and in
tervening deltas for the first thou
sand miles it is from one to five
miles wide, and according TO Mr..
Robert Campbell of the Hudson Bay
Fur Company, it is navigable at GER
tain seasons for 5000 miles, if its
tributary, the Pclly, be included.
Nearly al Of the sealskins used in
the markets of the world come from
little islands belonging to Alaska.
The skins Of the sea otter are also
valuable, and there are many choice
land fur-bearing animals. The wa
tiers are wonderfully rich in fish, us
all the explorers of the region, from
Capt. Cook down have testified. Be
sides cod, alaska can supply the
world" says DIR. Jackson, "with sal
mon, herring and halibut of the best
quality" 1t isalso the great reserve
lumber region Of the United States.
There are thousands Of square miles
Of yellow cedar, white spruce, hem
lock and bllsam fir that densCly
cover the sOutheaster section Of
Alaska. And Of course, minerals
are plenty and of various kinds in 50
mountainous region.-Nelc York
Sun.