New-York tribune., 1885-09-21
SENATOR DOLPHS IDEAS ON ALASKA.
aIs TRIP TO THE TERRITORY IN JULY--ITs SEEN
ERY AND RESOURCES.

aIs TRIP TO THE TERRITORY IN JULY-ITs SEEN
ERY AND RESOURCES.
A TRIBUNE reporter met Senator j. n. DOlph,
of Oregon at the Fifth Avenue Hotel last night Ia
July the Senator, with Colonel George Bliss, Assembly
man Walter Howe and some other gentlemen, paid
VISIT to Alaska Speaking OF the trip the Senator said
"Iwas more impressed with the voyage than with the
country ITSELF The trip was delightful one. indeed.
Persons who have travelled extensively In Europe
pressed the opinion that II OF the most pctur
esque and enjoyable trips in the world The Journey is
made by steamship from Portland. The steamer
makes one trip every month. BY taking the Northern
Pacific Railroad Puget sound that Is from Portland
to Port Townsend, avoids an ocean voyage as he
can take there, and its route thereafter s
entirely by inland channels, except crossing Queen
Charlotte Sound, the passage Of which is only about
three long. 1t is only Southern Alaska that Is
visited by tourists. The scenery is grand throughout
the entire voyage Mountains frequently rise abruptly
from the edge. covered with timber and verdure
10 their sumits Not the least interesting OF sights are
the glaciers The steamer during the summer usually
goes Glacier Bay at the head OF which five large
glaciers reach down to the water, continually throwing
off iccbergs."
"was sitka your port of destinatonf'
ave went further north. Ny impressions Of
the value OF Alaska were confirmed by what
I saw and learned. / believe, owing to the
numerous inland channels. islands and great
rivers that the fishing interests of the Pacific
Northwest will exceed IN magnitude and value the FISH
is "a sufficient marke. for food fishes TO their de.
yelopnent Goldfish, salmon. herring AMI halbut are
abundant. Goldfish are being caught at few laces FOR
market. At several points salmon are hriDg picked
Recently there has been established number OF salmon
canneries. Owing 10 the low price OF salmon and
OF ti0n the canDeries have not been In
operation this have no doubt but Alaska pos
great mineral resources Mines OF copper, Iron
and eoa been discovered well "a edees OF gold
aud silyerberlnR quartz There are also placer ies
OF botn metals On Douglas island. just scro,s from
the town OF Juneau Is quartz ledge winch IS owned
and worked by company iu which Senator Jones. OF
Neyada Colonel Fry, OF San Francisco think ssna
tor Fair of California aud 0thers arc Interested. They
have l20-stamp mill said 10 be s fine mill as there
Is In the United States in operation Their lege comes
down TO the waters edge. The mill is situated within
lew rods OF good ancnorage for the largest yesses
what about the seasl"
The value OF the seal fisheries generally known.
psny tue small islands OF ST Paul and ct
George for $4,000 year. ana So 67l2 for each seal
Killed the privilege OF killing 100000 seals annually.
clone"
now abont the timber7r
The value OF the timber OF Alaska, believe has
been oyeresmacd The Alaska cedar tsa very valuable
ti'nber. and VIII Pe in graf demand some day for
farniture and finishing lumber, but fear IL will only
De found IN United quantities. The whole country,
Judge II from Southern Alaska, is covered with less
valuable varieties OF pine"
" What about the vegetable productsi"
:" 40 not tnnk Alaska VIII ever become agricut |
ua country not SO much an account of the tco dDess
OF the winters. for II 10 asserted that the weather at
stka during winter months 10 little colder than
Washington City. but acconht Of the cool wet
mors, and the shortness OF the summer In fact
soil for agriculture II the climate suitable. How
ever Vegetables. including cabbages beets turnps and
potatoes to thrive In Southern Alaska and it i
sad some kinds OF grain have. been raised on Cooks
saw strawberries ~ sitks In July, but they were not
eameroua"