The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-03-17
Alaska's Resources.

In the current mum Der of the North
American Review. Congressman 1. b
Reed has an article on Our Outlay
ing Province, meaning, of course,
Alaska, the only United States province
that lies outside the National c0ntinu-
Gus boundaries. Mr.. Reed writes Ike
one who has been an artist on the spot.
He has discovered that, when this
country purchased Russia's American
possessions river greater than any in
the United States was purchased great.
er even than the Father of Waters. !"
He means the River Yukon, seven
miles wide one thousand miles from its
source and an equal distance from lite
mouth, and pouring into Behring Sea
volume of water one-third larger
than that the Mississippi empties into
the Gulf of Mexico. This will be in
the nature of news to the people of this
country who have been contenting
themselves with the belief that about
the only stream of any Importance in
the comparatively unknown country,
was that an agent of the NeW York
Times claimed to have discovered and
which he named after the modest
owner of that metropolitan paper.
Mt. Reed tells lis readers what they
probably lave pretty thoroughly learn-
ed by this time, that of the $50. 600, OO)
square niles of territory purchased by
Secretary Seward ouly tie sixty square
miles embraced by the St. Paul aud
St George Islands are as yet of any
particular value. and they are only
made valuable by the fact that they are
trystins place of the seals of Behrlng
Sea- and neighbq waters.
There are resources, but at present
they are of little value. For instance.
Alaska has a never-failing crop of ice.
Such q thing as an ice famine in those
chilly possessions of Uncle Sam was
never known, but just now the ice
located three thousand miles away is
not marketable. Then. too, there are
coal mines, we'll nigh inexhaustible. but
coal only one hundred miles away is
now so expensive that many OF CIncin-
MATHS population are either shiverin g
over one fire or going to bed and stay.
ing there to keep warm. The coal Of
Alaska Is n resource, but 1t is almost
like the eye water used by the man in
the moon. 1t Is not come.at-able.
Then; too. there are fur-bearing land
animals and fish id interior Alaska in
great abundance. and they are resour-
ces. We don't doubt that Inc planet
Mars may have resources equally valu
able-to the people of this sphere
Alaska also has some gold-bearing rock
not at all rich in the precious metal.
still sufficiently rich to variant the
erection of the largest stamp mill il
the world.
The greatest wealth Alaska will We
realize, however, will probably consis
in that which is carried there, no
brought from the country. The hotel.
of Sitka and other Alaskan villages are
to co n money in the near future ant
coin it out of the tourist who will ever.
summer 60 up there to cool off. Sitk;
is becoming more popular as sum
mer resort than was ever Saratoga in
her palmiest days. The suckers from
the States are to furnish ALASKA Will
wealth. What they do not dump il
| Florida or Southern California in win
Ter they will toss into frigid Alaska
lap when the sum mer solstice is on
Cincinnati Weekly Times.