National Republican., 1885-01-12
TIE rrrn1ronY OF ALASKA.
An Interesting Interview With Gov.
r<inkend-The Resources and Possi-
biIities OF that Far-OT Country.

Is comfortably located at Wolckcr's, is u
medium sized man Of about 80. Of com
fortably rotund figure, with q well-shapod
head, and pleasant face, surrounded be-
, low tho mouth with full gray beard and
lit up by kindly gray eyes Formerly ho
was Of Nevada, but whom tho organic act
was passed last summer forming tho OK
tensivo area known as Alaska into dis
trict he was selected by President Arthur
as the first governor Of the great north
land OF the United States.
In an interview yesterday with a rep-
res entativo Of The REPUBLICAN he told
tho story Of his land, its resources, It's
people, and its needs. Tho organic
act creating tho district Of Alaska"
was approved May II, 1884, and in the
early days Of last September he, with n
majority Of the officials authorized, frat
set foot, as such, in Tho territory at Cape
Fox, close by tho southeastern boundary.
Ten days later they arrived At Sitka,
the capital, when, after the United States
steamer Pintn's guns barked out the
governors salute, Lieut.. Comdr. Henry
Il. Nichols, tho naval commander, sur.
rendered all
IlNlb Az lhohll1 ~ THE NEW
He found a very marked improvement
in the condition, habits, and appearance
of tho natives over that upon his visit
there sixteen years before, and ascribes
this to the wise administration Of tho
navy officers who at different times COM
manded vessels on that station and oxer-
cisod jurisdiction over the people. Tho
natives seom to really appreciate the ad-
vantages Of civilization, and most Of
them as soon as they can earn q little
money invest in Boston mans" clothing,
and when they build new homes show a
desire to fix them up like "Boston mans"
as they designate Americans.
Alaska needs much help, Gov. Kin
kead says, from tho central government,
and much can be done by legislation,
which is needed in almost everything re-
lating to Alaskan affairs. Tho public
buildings arc in wretohed state OF dilap-
idation, and the government house, or
"castle," should be repaired, IL only for
its historical associations. 1t having been
the
RUSSIAN GOVERNORS OFFICIAL RESI-.
DENCE.
Thore arc sufficient buildings, but they
are unfit for use, from natural decay and
other causes.
Schools are needed badly. There arc
now several established and conducted
by the Presbyterian board Of home
missions, and these are eagerly at
tended by the native children. but IL is
impossible to induce white children to 60.
There should DO moro established aud
school laws which would compel all chill
dren to attend them.
THE RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY.
are very great in timber minerals, and tho
products of tho sea- The timber Ia an
especial feature. Tho growth is remark
ably heavy and extends right down "a
the waters edge, while the undergrowth
and moss Is indescribably heavy. The
commonest and best timber Is what Ia
known there as yellow cedar and the
spruce. Tho cedar grows very large-the
Aleuts mako canoes of six or moro feet
beam frou tho trunks--and from 30 Ia
150 feet high. The land seems to be
piled on end, yet the timber growth is sc
heavy that vessel may steam along day
after day, without seeing actua,
land. All that is required
is lust to cut IL and let it tumble into the
water to be towed where II may be
wanted. Westward from about Longitude
14Oo and north from latitude 60o, the
timber belt ceases as suddenly as though
o wall barred its extension, aud beyond
nothing grows as large as ones finger
The moss beds beneath tho luxurian
timber can hardly be described. II GOV
ers the whole of tho rugged and higl
mountains In bed fully two feet thick
THE MINING INTEREST
Is very important and valuable, though
it has languished heretofore because tn,
only mining title was that Of force, bu
now 1t will undoubtedly revive, for tn,
organic act provides for mineral land
titles, although the land laws otherwis,
are not extended to the territory. Or
Douglas island, near Juneau, mining
company, most of the members Of which
arc from San Francisco, has expended
about half million on tunnel 800 fee
long, 422 feet Of which Is through /,
ledge of gold quartz that averages over 81
ton above ell expenses of mining ant
milling (Which costs $1.25 ton there)
aud they have already enough orc II
sight to last for ton years. This company
10 now putting up 120-stamp mill.
All OF the islands along tho coast, o.
we'll as the mountains on the neighborinl
mainland. show tho Same geological pc
culiarities and general resemblance, ant
it stands to reason that there are
MORE GOLD BEARING LEDGEs TO Bl
FOUND.
Tho prospector in that country has
hard time of II. 1t 10 very rough travel
ing over the mountains, and then b.
can't see the ground TO look for indica
tions until ho digs through the two.foo
thick moss bed that covers everything
The country is probably tho richest Ii
the world In precious metals, and espe
cially about Sitka, Prince William Sound
Cooks Inlet, and up tho Chilcat rive,
Coal is very plentiful, and coppar an
other valuable minerals abound In man
places.
THE CURING AND CANNING OF FISH
has already assumed large proportion
The supply is inexhaustible, both 1
quantity aud quality, and the productio
can only be limited by the demand.
Everybody knows Of the value Of th
} fur production of the territory, the moi
extensive being the fur seal and the Sc
otter. Much has been alleged of the eS
cess of seal pelts taken by the Alaska Flu
v Company over tho number to which II
restricted by the contract, but Gov. Kin
= kead docs not think there is any RET
, grounds for the charge. The company
allowed to take 100. 900 good and perfec
4 skins, and il ono is found to be cut G
n badly rock-worn 1t is rejected, SO that th
A 100000 are good, marketable pelts. /
: this way it might be possible that 1850
:. seals should DO killed in season, br
, that number would make no materi
difference.
The law forbids that COW seals shall
, killed, and the agents Of tho company |
,. rule select young 3-year-old bulls,
: having tho most perfect fur and bes
h sized skins.
D. THE KILLING SEASON
Il begins June 10 aud closes late in Jul
A. and srOat care is taken in killing not
A. frighten the herds generally. They sele
IS and drive out the young bulls wanted
Is such numbers as best suit them, and dri
the selected herd to secluded spot out
sight of the others, aud then kill the
with clubs. The Russians tell that o.
time. many Years ago, tho seals on h