Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-07-31
A NEW COMMERCIAL FIELD.
Interchange of Lumber for Fruit
and Provisions An Exchange OF
Mutual Advantage and Great
Profit to Los Angeles.

There is commercial opening for the
-four, bacon, dried and canned fruits,
wine and brandy of Los Angeles that
has never been attempted, but yet is one
of vast possibilities. This new field is
in Alaska, which is nearly ne.fifth of
the area of the American Union. The
country has vast forests of yellow cedar,
spruce, hemlock and Norway pine. All
these woods are valuable to the people
of Southern California, and the need for
them is very great, and growing greater
every day. The amount Of lumber con-
sumed in this part Of the State is aston
shing, and costs vast sums of money
to pay for it. 1t is the Fart of wisdom
to keep our money at home and send
our products abroad. Such an oppor-
tunity is presented in Alaska.
A large part of the lumber used in
this country can be obtained in that
territory. The yellow cedar of Alaska
is one of the most valuable woods of
the forest. 1t is strong, elastic,
takes fine polish, and il used for
shelves and drawers in dry goods and
clothing stores, bureaus and closets, will
prevent moths from committing their
silent work of destruction. II used as
flooring it will keep moths out of car
pets. Some of the readers of tho HER
AID may have seen specimen Of this
noble wood IN the bookcases of WIN.
ii. Seward In Washington, ID. Z. There
Il enough good timber on a tract
100 miles square to pay for the
original purchase of the whole territory,
whlch cost the Government OF the
United States less than two cents per
acre. vi the SI,00o.00o paid for Alaska
the Government has already received
from the Alaska Fur Company OF Cali
lorna about $1,000, 600, so that country
has already more than half paid for
itsef' and VIII soon complete the pay
menf, with no claims Tor damages from
any ring or private individual.
The next step Is Tor the people OF Los
Angeles to see that PORTION OF this
timber land shall be surveyed, and then
purchase Urge tract, say million
acres, and commence the business of
cutting and shipping timber to San
Pedro In that way large numbering
population VIII be established to trade
with Los Angeles; our lumber vessels
VIII bring in yellow cedar to timber our
opening mines and make our fence posts,
aud furnish the interior decorations of
our houses, and make our ships and
boats. So large is the timber OF South
ern Alaska that the natives make canoes
ont Of the trees to hold a hundred per-
sons in each canoe.
A United States Court should be es-
tablished, and Governor, Surveyor
General and Marshal appointed for
Alaska. so that the rights of settlers can
be made secure. Then lumber compa-
ny could begin operations successfully,
and would furnish work for large pop
ulation Here is the opening for prof.
table trade and interchange of products.
In the cold territory of Alaska but few
of the comforts of life can be secured,
and the settlers will be obliged to pur-
chase very largely abroad. They will
then become very important customers,
producing only lumber and furs, and
purchasing all which they use for food
and clothing. In the case of our trade
with our own Humboldt county, for lum-
Der, the advantage is all on the Humboldt
side. The people there produce what
they need for food from their own soil,
but in the colder climate of Alaska,
where the seasons of growth are short
and the Winters long, the people will
find it cheaper to exchange their lumber
and labor for the prepared products of
Los Angeles than to attempt to raise the
necessaries of life from their own SOIL
In the vast forests that extend through
many degrees Of latitude, in Alaska,
besides the vast timber interests, there
are interests OF gold, silver and copper,
besides large number Of fur-bearing
animals. In addition the fur seal, out
| IF which tho Alaska Eur Cao1 Ca,,,,,a,x,