Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-08
IDEAS OF ALASKA.
The Territory in JuIy-Its Scene ry
and Resources


and Resources.
A Tribune reporter met Senator J.
@. Dolph of Oregon at the Fifth Ave-
nue. Hotel last night, In July the
senator paid a visit to Alaska. Speaks
ing of the trip he said.
Il was more impressed with the
voyage than with the country itself.
The tri was q delightful one indeed.
Persons who have travelled extensive,
~ In Europe expressed the opinion
that it was one of the most pictures
que and enjoyable trips in the world.
Inc Journey IS made by ocean steam~
snip from Portland. The steamer
makes one trip every month. By taks
ing the Northern Pacific Railroad to
Puget Sound, that is from Portland TO
Port TO gnsend, one avoids an ocean
voyage, SIS he can take the steamer
there, and its route thereafter is en-
tlrely by inland channals, except
crossing Queen Charlotte Sound, the
passage Of which is only about three
hours long. It is Southern Alaska
that is visited by tourists. The seen,
cry is grand throughout the entire
voyage. Mountains frequently rise
ABRUPTLY from the waters edge, covs
cred with timber and veroure to their
SUBMITS. Not the least interesting of
sights are the glaciers. The steamer
during the summer usually goes into
Glacier Bay, at the head of which Eve
large glaciers reach down to the watts
er, continually throwing off ice,
bergs."
Was Sitka your port of destina-
ticn?"
I'VE went further north. MY i'm
pressions Of the value of Alaska were
confirmed by what 7 saw ana learned.
| believe owing TO the numerous in
land channels, islands and great rivers
that the fishing interests of the Pacific
northwest will exceed IN magnitude
ana value the fishing interests Of the
North Atlantic coast wherever there
Is q sufficient market for food fishes to
cause their development. Goldfish, sal
mon, herring and halibut are abund>
ant. Goldfish are being caught at
few places for market. At several
points salmon are being picked. Re-
Gently there has been established
number OF salmon canneries Owing
to the low price Of salmon and ex>
pense Of transportation the canneries
have not been put IN operation this
season. | have no doubt but Alaska
possesses great mineral resources.
Mines of copper, iron and coal have
been discovered, as we'll as lodges OF
gold and silver bearing quartz. There
are also placer mines of both metals.
On Douglass Island, just across from
the town Of Juneau, Is quartz ledge
which is owned and worked by COM
pany in which Senator Jones of Ne
vada, Col Fry of San Francisco
think, Senator Fair Of California and
others are interested. They have 100
stamp mill said to be as fine mill as
there is IN the Unite Estates, in opera
ton. Their ledge comes down to the
waters edge. The mill is situated
within few rods Of good anchorage
for the largest vessels"
"What about the seals2"
"The value of the seal fisheries are
generally known. The government
has leased to California company
the small islands of St. Paul and St.
George, for $50, 900 year, and $2,671
for each seal killed, the privilege of
killing 100, 900 seals annually, making
$317, 500 per annum revenue from
those island alone"
Glow about the timber?"
''The value of the timber of Alaska,
believe, has been over estimated.
The Alaska cedar is very valuable
timber, and will be in great demand
some day for furniture and finishing
lumber, but fear it will only be found
in limited quantities. The whole
country, as l judge it from Southern
Alaska, is covered with less valuable
varieties of pine"
"What about tie vegetable prod
ucts?"
II do not think Alaska will ever be-
come an agricultural country, not so
much on account of the GOODNESS of
the winters, for it is asserted that the
weather at Sitka during winter
months is very little colder than
Washington City, but on account of
the cool wet summers and the short
ness of the summer season. In fact,
but small position of the territory
has suitable soil for agriculture if the
climate were suitable. However,
vegetables, including cabbages, beets,
turnips and potatoes seem to thrive in
Southern Alaska, and it is said that
some kinds of grain have been raised
on Cooks Inlet, north of Sitka, and
some parts of the mainland. [ saw
strawberries at Sitka in July. but they
were not numerous"