Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1886-06-16
ALASKA.
Frank N. Pixley's Estimate of che
Northern Land-POOr Prospects
for Settlers without Capital.

- EHhIA u AAhCJ > vs. hHG
Northern I.and-POOr Prospects
for Settlers without Capital.
Frank NJ. Pixley, OF San Francisco, 70.
turned home last Thursday from 9 trip to
Alaska. To q Call reporter he said: "Tho
first stopping place in Alaska is Cape Fox.
1t has q cannery, but 10 was not in opera
ton when we saw 1t. A number OF Chi
namen we're around the building, indicat-
ing that work would soon begin. Loring
was the second port Of call. II has tho
dignity Of owning q Postofioe, and there is
q large fish-drying establishment, owned
by q San Francisco company, and man
aged by Mr.. Marks Prah,. We stopped at
Douglas Island, where the juneau Mining
District is. There is placer and quartz
mining there. The Treadwell mine is on
Douglas island. II has q splendid 100
stamp mill run by water power. The ore
Is low grade. The mine is 600 feet above
the mill, and one OF the few mines in the
world where there is go hosting done, the
ore being led from the mine through o
tunnel by gravitation. The mine pays o
net profit of $40, 900 monthly. Mr.. Tread
we'll lie the manager. The other owners
are Colonel Fry, James Freeborn. Horace
Hill, Senator Jones and W. Hopkins.
Sitka is 80 years old; q rambling. de-
caying and worn.out place. The old Greek
church is unused, but it is open for the in
spection of visitors. The paintings and
decorations arc equally ornamental. artis-
tic and valuable. Sitks lives because 1t 10
the seat of government. and the only sign
of life about IL is official, and therefore
dreary.
Alaska is 8 country OF negatives. There
is no agriculture, and never can be. The
soil ia shallow and covered with moss from
two to three feet deep. which holds the
snow and Ice far into the Summer. Neither
vegetables nor cereals can ever be grown
in any part OF Alaska. II has no lumber,
From Vancouver Island to Sitks there is
not q log growing that 10 fit for the saw.
The poor stunted pines that cling to the
bills are only fit for firewood.
That il has valuable minerals has been
proved, but il is doubtful whether tho short
season that work ia possible in will ever
allow any extended development Of its re-
sources in that direction. As q region for
prospeotors il is the most barren, God
forsaken country that ever q miner put his
foot upon. Warn miners against going
there to die Of starvation or to be frozen
up by the everlasting frost.
The average man has no business In
Alaska. There Is nothing to buy, and its
people want nothing. The soil produces
nothing but moss and stunted trees, but
the sea and the streams TEEN with fish,
whales. seal, fur seal. sea otter, salmon,
halibut, cod and herring. On land are
found the red and silver fox. deer, grouse.
duck, teal, msllard and sprig. On these
products the natives live, and II the other
Inhabitants want bread, meat, vegetables
or fruits, they must have them brought
from southern ATTITUDES.
The Indians are the working classes;
they hunt and fish, and also work In the
mines, and are as industrious, frugal and
reliable as the average working man in any
part of the world. They have good houses.
go we'll clothed and have good food.
, There is not q horse, mule, ass or BIZ
cycle In Alaska; each and ell would be use
less as q means OF locomotion. The whole
country leads toward heaven at an angle
OF As degrees. To move on you must
climb and keep on climbing forever. The
Indians, for that reason, with level heads.
avoid the land, except as q place to sleep
on; they live and move in canoes. b
the gondols is to the Venetians the canoe
Ia TO the people Of Alaska.
The Summer climate is delightful. July
and August being the favored months.
Alaska lie 10 place for q poor man. for I'M
less he is amphibious and can live on fish
he must starve. 1t is no country for g
rich man. for i. would take ten fortunes to
make one man comfortable there for q
single year. 1t is a place to look at from
the deck OF a steamer, but mover to set Q
foot upon it's rocks or moss. Within q few
years i. will be the Mecca OF the tourists.
Norway, Iceland, the Japan Islands and
the fairy isles OF the South Seas are tame
In comparison with the almost illimitable
extent and unequal grandeur OF Alsska's
coast.