Delta chief., 1883-03-28
Prospects OF Alaska.
;ripntific AInpriran


Commander Henry Glass, u. S. Navy who was
for time stationed at sitks, Alaska, with the
United States ship Jamestown and af,erward
visited every part Of the coast in command of the
Wachusett, was in san Francisco recently. where
he was interviewed with regard to the produc-
tons and possibilities Of our great northern terri
tory.
The fisheries of Alaska he thought very valua-
BILE, and destined TO play an important part In the
commerce and industries of the Pacific coast.
salmon OF fine quality found In the greatest
abundance in every creek and river Of the terri
tory. II IS probable that several canneries will
be in operation this year. The waters in places
are ,ce,ning with halibut OF the finest quality,
and already the herring fishery has become Of
great value works having been established dur
ins the past year for the manufacture OF herring
oil. Great numbers Of whales frequent the innor
channels and bays, and arrangements are now
being made to prosecute whaling extensively.
This can easily be done, and at less expense Than
In the open seas. as small and inexpensive vessels
can be used on the calm bays and channels Of
southeastern Alaska. To the northwAri and west
ward Of siikA are banks Of considerable extent,
where very fine goldfish are found In great abun.
dance.
The vast timber products Of Alaska promise to
be Of great value In the future. on all the
ISLANDS ana the MAINLAND OF southern AliAkh hrt
heavy forests Of FIR. spruce alder, and cedar. Up
In the present time very little timber has been
cut in Alaska-only that needed for the consump-
lion Of the territory. But. with the inroads
being made on the timber OF California. Oregon
and Washington territory, Alaska must soon be
come source Of supply. and from the aecessibtl-
iiy of the timber along TIE extensive shorc line
It can be ecSported very cheaply. ON many OF the
Islands found large quantities Of hard yellow
.ydar, superior 20 any found elsewhere on this
coast This wood Is quite hand. easily worked,
takes a high polish. l. quite aromatic and Is aid
10 possess the power Of resisting the attacks OF the
,orcdo, which. ~ true, would make 1t very val
uAhlc In ship building Commander Glass was
told when Ia command in Alaska that the timbers
off Russian vessel constructed oi thi, wood aflcr
being foay ycar under water, were found
perfectly sound and tina, they had no, been
touched by the ioredo.
OF the mining prospects Of Alaska, Commander
Glass was quite hopeful The placer mines OF
the Harris district already valuable. During
iss2 over s.sn,,oo In gold dust were sent away,
only the crudcst machinery being used by the
miners. Quartz mining /. equally promising in
the same district several extensive lcdgcs having
been discovered aud ,rnccd one ar two miles, mud
although only surface work has been done in
pr~pcciinT,a great deal Of fne quartz has been
shown. The want Of laws and courts 10 adlucate
disputed claims has prevented any extensive
work being done up 10 the present time. with
the organization os the territory capital would
he aItHntcd shsrr and mines Of yhiae be devcl-
opci. Coal has been reported in several portions
of the territory. but as yet nothing OF value has
been discovered. Copper Is rvTored In consider
able quantities about the Copper river. 10 the
westward OF Mount 81. Elias.
Al present nothing OF importance is done IN
agriculture. only few small gardens being plant
al about the principal settlements to supply veg
tables. The summer Is too short for any Of our
cereal crops. but potatoes of very Gno quality
could be grown In Alaska, and in all the valleys
anc grass,,s grow iuxurianiiy, and portions Of
Alaska will HEREAFTER be valuable for grazing
psrpns.s.
souihcns, Alaska produces furS Of value, and
quite large trade IS carried on Land and
otter lynx several varieties Of the fox-bear, and
deer skins are exported in considerable quaint.
tir.
Contrary to popular opinion, Commander Glass
Regards sonthern Alaska as nm exceedingly
healthy country with climate not at all severn.
The loves, temperature that he saw recorded in
Alaska during the two winters he was there was
four degrees below zero (rahrcha"iD. This was
only day OF January, Of isS2. in latitude ~
degrees north. Tho highest temperature recorded
un hcard ship during the summer was ~ dcErecs;
this was at sitka, nbou, the middle OF August.
The mean temperature for December. January
and February a. found by hourly observations
taken on board the jamestown, was about a2 dc.
prccs (Farcnheip. A great deal Of min and snow
fall in southeastern Alaska, say from Mount 81.
Elias to southern boundary at Portland channel.
The climate of western and northern Alaska
differs very greatly, and very low mean temper.
aturc Is experienced in that portion Of the terri
tory. The difference is largely due to the inAu'
cncc OF the Japanese current, or Kuru siwo,
portion Of which is detected by the Aleutian is-
lands. and impingcs on the coast In about the
latitude OF sitka.
The Atlantic a Pacific Road.