The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-12-12

AlasISa The Wonderland of the North.
Little has been told us, as yet, of the
greatness and the riches of this far off
portion of the United States. And little
thought, probably, has been bestowed up
on the subject by those who have CHANGED
to hear or read what was offered to their
notice.
The readers of THE RECORD will find
it well worth while to give something
more than glance to the following state
ments, made at missionary conference
in Washington, a short time ago by a
very careful observer and very accurate
speaker, the Rev. DR.. E. A. Hoffman
and by the most venerable missionary we
have among our own Red Indians. Bishop
Whipple, of Minnesota:
/ think very few of us appreciate the
wealth which will be developed in few
years in this country of Alaska 1t is a
very short time since Alaska was spoken
of as MIR. Stewards folly" but | am con.
fident, from personal observation of a
large portion of Alaska, that Mr.. Seward
acted very wisely for this country in ac-
quiring 1t. Few of us, | suppose, are
aware that the largest gold mine in the
world is on Douglas Island, Alaska. In.
deed, it is not gold mine, it is gold
quarry, because the material is dug out
OF the side of mountain without any
mining whatever. and they are running
there 240 stamp mill, day and night,
pounding up the quartz; and the report
states that they are producing out of that
one mine nearly two millions of gold an.
nually. There are many other spots,
doubtless, where gold and silver will be-
found, and the enormous mineral wealth
of the country is unquestioued. This, of
course, is saying nothing of the value of
the great seal fisheries of Alaska, of which
the government allows 1907 900 a year to
be taken, and on every skin of which a
royalty is paid to the government. | sup
pose that in few years the cod and hall
but and paddock fishing in Alaska will
be much larger than the fishing on the
banks of Newfoundland. The salmon
fishing will be appreciated when state
that last summer they were canning So
900 salmon day iD the various canning
factories on those waters, and even at
that, apparently making no impression on
the number OF salmon still to be found.
Then, perhaps, few of US are aware that
all the coal consumed on the Pacific coast,
in Washington Territory, in Oregon, in
Northern and Southern California, comes
from mine on an island in British Col
umbia 10 the immediate vicinity of Alas
ka, aud it is stated by those who have ex.
amined the subject that there are coal
fields in Alaska large enough to provide
fIn ,hnl ITptt
many years to come.
| make these statements, Mr. Presi-
dent, in order to show you that there will
be pouring into Alaska in few years a
very large population of English speaking
people. They are coming in there al.
ready from British Columbia and from
the north western territories. and it ia
very important that the Church should
interest of those people.
1t is true that we have done very little
there as yet. We have two ministers on
the Yukon River, Mr.. Chapman and Mr..
Parker. You will scarcely realize. from
looking at the map, that they are three
thousand miles from the south eastern
portion of Alaska.
The Bishop of Minnesota Mr.. Presi-
oSHs "'o D'Oe'aShj JVo VIII DbE
that last year, had the honor to present
this subject to the Board of Missions.
made a statement as far as / could Of my
visit 10 Alaska. The subject has been
very near my heart during this entire
year. So far from my brothers making
an e1aggeration of the question, assure
you that it is not an easy thing to realize
the future of that country.
Let me mention one instance connected
with the Yukon River. 10 1862 at the
conservation of church in my diocese,
met young Englishman. There was
that in his manly countenance that won
my heart from the very moment we met,
and as be was In orders | urged him to
stay in my diocese. He very quietly said,
mo, / came from England to do mis-.
sionary work" sad, "Where are you
going ?" He said. II am going wherever
my bishop sends me-" Six years after
the bishop of Ruperts Land paid me a