New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-24
GLIMPSES OF NORTHERN ALASKA.

Trustworthy information concerning the in
terror of Alaska is at last being secured by the
Government, and though it does not go very far
in enabling clear judgment to be formed of the
possible resources east Of the 1 55th degree of
longitude and north of the Goth parallel of
latitude. it is yet of great value in explaining
the topography of the country, the possible
means of travel, the natives to be encoun-
tered and the times and seasons within which
closer observations may be taken. That por-
ton Of the Territory contained within the lines
mentioned is fully two-thirds Of its entire area
and equals in extent twice the area
Of New England, NewYork, New-Jersey'
PENNSYLVANIA and Ohio. The Alaska
Of which so much has been sald
and with which we are reasonably familiar Is
exclusive Of this vast region, and includes mere
w the islands and coasts within and along the
Pacific Ocean and Behring Sea.
II might be thought remarkable that coun-
try so long known and possessed by civilized
nations should have been permitted to remain
until now practically unexplOred, but 1t must DC
horne in mind that both Russia and the United
States have had large areas of their original
territory unsettled, and that no great reason
hidden resources so far away. Russia did, IN
deed. peep into the Alaskan interior. survey
ing parties under Russian commissions ascend
Cd the Yukon River for 800 miles anu
Russian trading posts were established along lS
hanks. The KuskOkwim, the copper ana the
Kowak rivers were also explored TO some eA-
FONT but the Russians pursued such harsh
and ;ntoIerant policy toward the natives that
their exploring parties frequently met win the
horrors of a Tinneh massacre Our own, pro-
ceedng by other means, have been much more
bosnitably received, and the explorations OF
Cantain Beardslee, Leutenants Ray and Schwat-
l,a Captain Hooper and the officers of the Vega
enabled the War Department in 1884 to make
= man of Alaska in which few changes, though
MANY additions are shown by more recent and
extended researches to be necessary
Probably by the end of the coming year sur
VOWS will have been so far completed as to give
an accurate idea of this whole northern
interior country, as well as of the wandering
boundary line which extends from point
few miles north of Mount ST. Elias to the head
If the Portland Canal Some interesting per-
sonal letters were printed last week from an
officer of the Yukon River party, which is
charged with the task Of making surveys along
the boundary. It's serious work has not yet
been begun, but it is already in a region of
which no distinct knowledge has ever been OBJ
tained. Its progress has been easy and unin-
tcrruptcd. Gliding in a little steamboat in the
summer months along river quite as majestic
as the Mississippi and through a region which,
however souad as TO its native population, is
vet kindly in climate, affords experiences very
difTcrent from those so heroicaly endured by
lieutenant Allen during his winter reconnos-
sance along the Copper in 1888 McGrath and
Turner are Just beginning 10 learn what are the
real dangers and difficulties Of Alaskan research
A. the same time their success may be hope
fully anticipated, for moose caribou and rabbits
arc nlentiful and the natives easy to deal with
There is nothing essentially malicious in the
ohoracter If the Indians and Eskimo. Their
| ,,oos GRO generally confined to an inordinate
disposition to lie and steal
Except for the boundary line surveys Alas
kan explorations arc not expensive and the
Government may proiitably undertake more Of
| them The headwatcrs of the kuskokwim, a
second Missouri. have never been visited. The
Nunatok county is unknown. Lieutenant Al
| len did admirable work in reaching the sources
of the Copper and in following the long reaches
of the Tanana aud the KoyulSuk but he left
the last still unvisted for hundred miles or
more and except along the river courses prac-
ticaly nothing is known about the soil, the min
| eral deposits and other conditions and resources
/ reasonably to be hoped for. This work is ina,