The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-30
RICHES OF ALASKA.
Proposed Expedition to I'm
known Parts.
MUCH VALUABLE FARMING LAND.
Building Of TranscontinentaI Road From
Puget Sound North Not Unlikely
All Rail to Europe.
Washington City Special.

Washington City Special.
Comparatively nothing is known of
Alaska. There has never been any real
exploring expedition of its interior. Some
daring adventures have pursued the
course of some of the leading streams Of
the territory, but there is no exact knowl-
edge concerning the topography of its IN
terror or Of its geological or meteorological
character. There is proposition now
pending before congress for the purpose of
building q central station in Alaska. This
station is to be used as the rendezvous for
scientists to be sent out by the government
to examine into the real character of this
country. 1t is said by army officers who
have been in Alaska that its riches are
great, and that their development is only
Just begun. 1t is so far away and
the communication is so poor that
the public hears but little of what is being
done there. In the southern strip of the
territory. below Mount st. Elias, there are
today some of the largest quartz mills in
the world In the mines there are deyel-
oping expected riches. This little strip
alone exported last year products to the
value of more than $1,000, coo. In is COM
mon to associate Alaska with the Arctic
regions, but people forget that the greater
portion of il is in the same latitude with
England, and that the Japanese current
tempers its climate as the gulf stream does
the atmosphere of England. The average
temperature during the winter, even in the
southern portion of the territory, is not
below 81 deg.
Explorers who have been up and down
some of the swift streams report evidences
of tropical vegetation. At any rate it is
certain that in the central portion of the
fnp stretch
which can be used as agricultural land.
1t is exactly as good land and as favoraDly
situated as that of the great wheat belt OF
Russia 1t is also in the same line with
some of the best agricultural portions OF
Sweden and Norway. But it is not from
an agricultural standpoint alone that tins
exploration is being prepared. 1t IL be-
lieved that Alaska. from surface indicar
tions, contains inexhaustible wealth in the
shape of gold, silver copper and iron. The
silver mines now being worked In the
southern strip are very rich and prohtabie.
From the peculiar formation of the noun
tain ranges experts who have already
visited the country say that the indications
point to the most valuable of discoveries.
The fur trade of the interior is also I'M
developed. More than this, the interior
streams are alive with magnificent. hsh.
Indeed one of the returning explorers
relates fish story which is quite the
L
He says that in some of the streams
hsh are so thick that III coming
down in the shadows they MI the water to
such an extent as to crowd out flsh on to
the banks. 1t is said in behalf of this ex-
petition it will cost no more than $780,
and that the government cannot afford to
neglect any longer careful examination
and study of the possibilities of riches to
be found in this country. The secretary
of war has earnestly recommended that
this expedition be approved by congress,
and ii is probable that it will be so APP
proved unless it is lost in the hurry of the
short session.
The development of this territory will
undoubtedly lead to a reviying Of the pro-
ject of great transcontinental railroad
which will enable people to go to Europe
without crossing the ocean. So long as
the country between Washington and
Behring straits showed nothing but forests
and deserts of ice no combination of cap
ital could have been found great enough to
be enlisted in an enterprise which could
not by any possibility have paid in passing
through ali undeveloped country. but if il
can be shown that Alaska is a country
rich in minerals, that fact alone will result
in a railroad being built to Alaska
British America has also developed
rich mineral regions. am told by rail-
road experts that there is nothing which
is so sure TO enlist railroad enterprises as
rich mineral developments. IF, then,
Alaska itself develops enough to draw to
it a railroad from the Northwest, then the
rest of the project would be comparatively
easy. Russia is now building trans
continental Siberian railroad and within
ten years will have the road completed to
the extreme eastern limit. Ten years will
mean a good deal in the history of
Alaska, as many vigorous-minded
explorers are turning their attention
TO the fascinating subject of Alaska
and its possibilities. Behring strait, in its
narrowest portion, is not over twenty-five
miles in width 1t is but tribe more than
the English channel between Calais and
Dover. It's waters are more tranquil on an
average than the famous strip of water
between England and France. 1t would
be open for at least six months in the year.
During the winter, when it is closed By ice,
undoubtedly science would discover some
way to effect transportation over il: ut any
rate, the project, which few years ago
looked like the widest of improbable
things, Is now approaching the region of
possible ones.
There are many people who would take
such route because they fear and dread
the sea. have known many people who
go 10 Europe every year who are sick from
the time the vessel leaves the dock and
who are unable to raise their heads till it
reaches land. The majority of people who
make up the passenger lists of the
European steamers suffer hideously dur
ing the passage. A large percentage of
them would take railroad route for the
simple comfort alone even If it
took three times as iongl a time.
Then again there are many peo-
pie deferred from crossing through
fear of the seas. | know an American
gentleman living in Paris who suffered so
during the crossing that he never sum-
moned up the courage to come home. He
has been in Paris for eighteen years, and
probably will never see America again on
account of the fear he has of the crossing
of the sea-