Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-06-06
THURSDAY JUNE 9, 1889.
ALAsK. ASp HER RESOURCES.

ALASKA AND HER RESOURCES.
TO one whose attention has neveI
be N called to the fact, it seems rath
er surprising that San Fsancisco II
on the meridian that divides the
possessions Of the United State
into equal parts. The Alaskan ar
chipelago extends as far TO the west
of San Francisco as Maine Is to the
east of il. We are Furthermore not
apt to realize that the coast line o.
Alaska exceeds that Of the Uuited
States, and that its territory Is equal
In extent to the portion Of the Uni
ted States east Of the Mississippi
river. lis islands are some lOO H.
number, and its scenery Is as grand
and rugged, with its abrupt head
lands, its gigantic ravines, its snow
covered mountains and glaciers, and
enormous rivers, as any on this con
tinent. 1t has population ofaboul
$1,000, only 5000 Of whom are
whites.
The few towns that are to be
found are scattered along the coast,
and are principally tradingan fish
ing stations. The most important
is Sitka, formerly the seat Of the
Russian governor, and ut the time
called New Archangel II has n
population of about 800 and Is the
headquarters Of the United States
authorities. 1t has fortiiications,
magazines, and II magnetic observn-
tory, and has n Greek church and
bishop. II also boasts ola training
school for Indian children. On n
rocky point near Sitka is situated
the castle, which in spite of its rug
ged walls and severe aspect, possess
es its secrets aud its romance. II
was formerly the abode of II Russian
princess who held sway In the Ter
ritory. and who was murdered in
her own home In the midst of gay
rcvels by a jealous admircr.
One of the most curious practices
Of tho natives Is their method of dis
posing of the dead. The bodies of
the departed are cremated and de-
posted In log houses, which are sur
mounted by some carved object in
wood which Is supposed TO guard
the ashes Of the deceased whose
bones lie beneath.
The fishing industry is being
very rapidly developed, Nineteen
salmon canneries are now In opera
tion In Alaska, and very few realize
how the waters of Alaska abound
In salmon, They are much more
numerous then they are In the pro.
life waters Of California, Oregon
and Washington. Thousands have
been taken, 80 we are informed in u
recent government report, by sin
gle haul OF the seine, We quote the
following from this report:
"On the southeast shores of the
Alaskan peninsula, In the bays with
small streams entering into them,
the salmon are crowded ~ thicllly
that the progress of the boat Is i'm.
peded 10y them, and should n south
east storm suddenly arise at such
seasons, the fish are driven ON the
beach In innumcrahle quantities.
One ofthe Russian navigatos assur-
ed us (lSdTl that under such circum.
stances hc has seen the beach slrcwn
two or thrco feet deep with strand.
ed salmon, Vancouver has record.
al that he saw them In Burroughs
Inlet cast upon the beach In great
numbers This all sounds indeed
like fish story, but we must not
look upon il askancc, rs It appears
In government records.
The salmon fisheries have incnas-
ed very rapidly, In lSS7 eighteen
vessels Were engaged IN the traffic
and 10000 eases of salmon were eN.
ported. la lSSs the number OF yes
sells had Increased To twenty-elghl
and between S0O, eco aud S60,OO0 cas-,
Is were exported,
Whaling is also extensively car. /
rIed on - Alaska, aud lSS7 forty vrs,
sells wero engaged In this business,
six of which were steamers. The
total catch yielded S3, us hatels of
oil and u, 9O pounds OF whalehone. |
One of the greatest resoul,,,s Of this /
vast nglon IL iIs forsts, which an
practically virgin, Scientific Amer |
lean.
A theorisl has Investigated the sas /