, 1884-05-03
THE YUKON VALLEY.
The Wealth and Resources of Alaska
Territory.
What Lieut.. sehwatka says---The
Iiches OF the Yukon--tattIe-
Raising In the AIeutiau
Islands.

A L-LLM- ltag Ne
3a Portland iOru.) Cor. Chicago Tribuus
Last summer, IL Willie remembered. Lieut..
Frederick Schwatka, OF Arctic fame. made a
thorough exploration OF the country through
which the great Yukon rvsrfiows Accom-
panied lbV 4 small party, be sailed 10 Fort
Wrangel. in Alaska, dsbarked and then
crossed uzwids and hitherto almost totally
unknown region, striking the yukon river at
OF near lis Here the party con-
structed a raft on which they descended
this mighty slream clear TO its mouth,
IN rhsn Northern portion of Alaska. The ex-
pedition was ordered by Gen Nelson A.
Miles, commanding the department of the
Columbia, and wa made for the purpose OF
exploring as far as possible that extensive re-
gion in shs interest Of science and commerce..
In many respects the expedition WINS very
successful. Lieut.. Sciiwatka had u good
opportunity Of Inspecting the country
and acquiring a.. general idea of the
character and extent Of the resources
while making The loug descent Of the
Yukon. That officer IL now engaged in pre-
pairing an official and elaborate report OF the
expedition. Thinking that some interesting
t1ets might be obtained from 81 Lieut..
Schwstka IA a general way in advance Of
the government report, your correspondent
callei On him to-day.
Through what portion Of Alasl;a was
yohf journey ronductedF was asked OF the
lieutenant. s .g
Nearly altogether along the NAkon
w that are tue resources OF the valley, and
when would they be likely 10 induce settle
ment !. .-Ir
yn 8uAoN's SALMON. d
"rhe pr,nelpal and most reliable RESOURCES
Will 1uIfithhadlE ha tha salfnnt tIabntfaa and
at the present high prices paid for fish Oh the
Columbia river 1t will not be long before a
numbeI' nj canneries will he located HlonE the
Yukon river. the kous-ko-guiu, and other
Alaskan STREAM ms enptyiug into Behrine sea.
The cost Of transportion for the catiIeries
thnIe and .beok " such an important item
that ID will not Justify one or two cannsries;
but ~hen the. detnaud is sufficient to Justify
twelve or fifteen they can lind an ample sup
ply q heh 10 keep them busy at almost In
significant prices. HH p A
III believe the best varieties of tbs Yukon
are Equally "a good as the Columbia river
Sainlon. The finest variety there ia called
the kim salmon, ample numbers of which
can BE- caught, while the dog salmon and
tine reddish salmon, which would be caught
In large numbers incidentally to the other
fish, could be we'll utilized in feeding the
natives and their dogs who would act as
employees of The canneries, and who live al,
most wholly on salmon. SO thick are they in
this great riyele D. le
~ SAyIGABLE RIVER
Can you get into the river easily with
boats sfgua .-l 4l aAI SIS a4.-l o.
"That would be difficult TO determine until
a good -hydroarapbic survey is made OF the
asita atthe mouth ofnthe river. None has
been made since the rough charts of the Rus
Sims were executed prior to the purchase of
the country by the United States govern
msnt However, two or three practical
boating-men could soon find n good com
mercial channe II one exists aud should be
needed. The present port OF the river is 81.
Michnels, seventy-tiye miles above the upper
or AAphoon mouth, aud Is forced away
this distance by the enormous deposits
OF sediment, made by this great and
noble stream. For ninety miles out to sea
the water is 80 shallow as to be muddy
during stormy weather when the ocean is
greatly agitated. sg.
yr'Gan seagoins ships enter the mouth of this
river!'
IL am sure they caunot by the Aphoon
mouth, which is the one used by the Alaska
Commercial company's steamers, because it
-isnearest TO ST. Michael's; but l am inclined
10 the opinion that a close inspection OF the
husiisil;, or main mouth, would show that
a I AttNN -lASl oGtuu Vessels cOulu enter
Tar enough TO secure u harbor. The largest
dralu vessels oan always reach st. Michael's
in safety" -
lla al. RIO RESOURCES. BIT. aa..a b.
o caHperies have to carry with them
bulky stores, st.ch as lumber, for construc-
crfhere lsl enough lumber there for rough
building purposes, and for the canning pro-
cess, and all other purposes. The timber of
tho Yukon valley Is generally small and will
never pay to cut for export; but 1 believe
his sufficient for ordinary local purposes-as
salmon cannsries, finders cabins. etc.n IL
H"What are the chances for mining In that
valley n yi1o sIi 81 shr.u ol4 "a 5a q
There are enough indications the whole
length of the valley to make II, very probable
that good mines will be discovered. Practi-
cal miners have already found diggings on
one small tributary stream. The mines
are almost entirely placsr-mines, and
nearly every bar for 1900 miles
up the river shows from five to
fifteen colors TO the pan. Two veins, how
ever, have been discovered, and the assay
was 10 have been made this last winter in
San Francisco. Mine would have to be
much richer In order TO pay there than in a
more temperate. climate, owing to the short,
ness Of the season and the great expense in
transporting men and material, as nearly all
their food would have to be brought I'M
-CouId not shine OF the harder varieties Of
grain and vegetables be raised In some parts
OF the Yukon vplleyl' -
$They might be by. very hard work; but It
would be less expensive TO ship tberu In by
vessels. have seen a turnip that weighed
six aud one-half pounds raised within 100
miles OF the Arctic circle, ON the Yukon
river, about 100 miles from its mouth. Let,
tneet greens, radishts, and, in general. small
vegetables that would be injured by long
transportation, would undoubtedly bs raised
in. small quantities as l~uxuries by those eu-
gagged in other pursuits. But agriculture, in
its bToader sense. would be a failure 10 the
whole valiey. ~ M
NEgTiAN CATTLE .is 4.