Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-19
A LAND OF RICH RESOURCES
The Territory of Alaska Rich In
Mineral Wealth.
WAITING TO !eE DEVELOPED.
Gold and silver as Well as Coal, Iron
and Copper Undoubtedly Exist
in Paying Quantities
The Fur Trade.
Great Country.

to THE BEE. This is great country
and great in extent OF area, estimated
at 100000 square miles by the United
States geological survey. A fair idea
of its magnitude may be had by COM
pairing its size with all of the states
east Of the Mississippi river north OF
the gull states. Great in mineral re-
sources, for in not n stream in any por-
tion of its vast territory has prospecting
been done without finding gold, in
greater or less quantities. Silver, iron,
copper and coal have been found in nu-
merous localities, and the full develop
ment of these latter is simply question
OF short time; great in the extent OF
its fish, which cannot be comprehended
without personal investigation, and to
do this thoroughly would require months
of travel, and the rivers and lakes would
have to be explored between the eastern
and western extremes Of the territory,
and from the ice-bound region north OF
Behring strait to the Pacific ocean on
the south.
AT every point touched by the steamer
specimens of coal may be seen, brought
in by the Indians. 1t is mostly bitumi-
nous, but OF excellent quality. That
found along the coast west of Htka
closely resembles the anthracite coal of
Pennsylvania. The coal finds have not
been Investigated to any extent, for the
reason that those engaged in prospect
ing are devoting their time in looking
for gold. 1t is not generally known
among the prospectors in this
country that good coal
find would meet with less
trouble in inducing capital to develop
it, and that probably as rich returns
could be had in much less time than
that consumed in opening up q gold
mine.
JUNEAU,
within two miles of which is located the
celebrated Treadway mines, now turn
ing out $l50,000 every month, is the
great mining town of Alaska. Its pop
ulation numbers only about eight hun
dred inhabitants all told. 1t is situated
on what is called Gastineaux channel.
and has an excellent harbor, in which
the largest ocean vessels may find safe
anchorage. The town nestles quietly
at the foot, or rather under range OF
mountains, rising to height of proba-
bly, 1900 feet, indeed, so close to the
base of the mountains does the town lie,
that Spalding base ball rolled along
the top, when precipitated over the
summit, would gather force sufficient to
laud it away out in the water.
Being the seat OF the largest mine in
the world, and the only outiitting point
for the Yukon river country, it natur-
ally becomes center for prospectors
and those engaged in mining in any
portion of northern and eastern Aslaska.
An idea may be gathered of the
AMOUNT OF BUSINESS
transacted with the Indians from the
fact that leading mercantile house of
San Francisco took orders from mer-
chants IN Juneau for $4,000 worth of
blankets alone.
A large fur trade is carried on at
Juneau, and it would do fur
fancier good to spend day run
ming around among the stores
and looking Mt the different assort-
ments. The variety can hardly be
realized, for there is every grade of
wolf, fox, otter, mink, martin, seal and
mink, and good jud ge could find lots
of specimens that would make the eyes
of an eastern furrier water, and his
heart leap at the prospect OF securing
choice one at whatever cost. And it
would not require an expert to select
silver gray fox either, even with his
eyes shut, so long and thick and soft is
the fur.
The indians at different seasons of
the year, take aboard of their canoes
their whole family, together with such
supply of food rs their limited resources
will permit, and raising the sail or
welding their paddles, make for their
I'm n nrnupH ho Q00
miles away. In tho course of six weeks
or two months their canoes again CRATE
upon the sauds of Juneau beach, where
they unload their bundle OF furs, which
Is quickly transferred to the merchant
to be shipped with his. regular consign-
ment, or sent directly to someone ut
San Francisco from whom he has a
Special order for an extraordinary good
article. 1t may here be remarked that
the Indians OF the interior are not per-
mitted by the coast Indians to bring
their furs to any trading point on the
coast. They must either sell them to
the coast Indians at low price when
they make their regular trips into their
country, or to some agent of
THE ALASKA COMMERCIAL COMPANY,
who sends them down the Yukon or to
some stray white man who knows q
u
man whom | met in Juneau the other
day told me that while prospecting in
the Yukon country last summer no in
vested all the money he had-about
e200-in furs, and packed them out him
self. He bought only such as suited
his fancy, and shipped them to New
York. The net profit was nearly 81 100.
Fine sea otter skins he bought for $l2
each. These sold on an average of $55
each.
Returning to the question of the
mineral resources OF this country-in
all my inquiries relative to this subject,
l have, of course, heard a great many
tales based upon wildcat theories, and
hearsay testimony, but l have also sat-
isiied myself that
GOLD HAS BEEN FOUND
In paying quantities in more than one
part OF Alaska. / am satisfied OF the
further fact that it is being taken out
to-day in paying quantities in more
places than one.
1t would be hard to place an estimate
upon the amount OF gold that has been
obtained from the placer mines in the
Silver Bow Basin lust north of Juneau.