Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-03-24


some interesting figures On TIE wealth
ana resources OF Alaska. prepsree BY
Iyon PETROL. speclal agent furs, nsa.
minerals and timber constitute the four
nems OF Alaskan wealth IEeyslue Of
far-sesl SKINS shipped from Alaska and
sold in the London markets since tie
territory came INTO the possession OF
the United states 10 gwen as nearly
81. 600 600, and Of other furs "a Sic &C.,
600.
The value Of the product OF salmon
canneries alone from 1884 10 1890 10 re-
ported al nearly s. 900, 600. and of sal
mon salted AZ t5oo. 900. In 1890 over
5, 600, ooo salmon were taken al kaFluk,
where the largest eannery in the world
- sitaated, and no fewer than 200, 600
caseses of salmon were canned 81 this
place last year. 100 fishermen and
packers being employed therein. The
herring fishery az Killlsnoo yields an
nually over 100, 600 gallons OF oil, and
nearly 900 tons OF fer.il!zing material.
and the value of the Goldfish catch IN
Alaskan waters aimee 1868 Is stated to
DC fully 5000 900. An eminent au-
thorlty on the territory has stated II as
his belief that the salmon, cod and her
ring fisheries OF the territory would be-
come OF such immense value III the
event OF the entire destruction OF the
fur seal, which now preys upon the
tish, that It's possible determination is
a contingency that need not excite seri-
Gus alarm. The red salmon and the
king salmon-the latter sometimes at
tanning length of from five to SIX feet
and weight of 100 pounds-literalIy
crowd the waters OF the great Yukon
river for distance of several hundred
miles. The whale fisheries OF the Arc.
TIC ocean IN 1890 yielded 226, 402 pounds
Of whalebone, worth from $3.50 to
$3.50 per pound; $3.50 pounds of ivory,
worth 80 cents per pound, and 1867
barrels of oil, worth from so to 20 cents
per gallon.
The total value of the precious met
ais exported from Alaska up to the
present time approaches $1,000, 900, the
annual production of gold dust and
bullion being now 100000 Within a
radius of 100 miles from Juneau quartz
mills have been established with an as.
gregate capacity of 500 stamps. OF
these, 240 stamps are employed at tine
well. known Treadwell or Paris mine
on Douglas Island, capable of reducing
600 tons of ore per diem when both
steam and water power are utilized.
There are said to be extensive deposits
of copper in the territory, but the diff
Guilty of transportation has hitherto
prevented its development. Ignite
coal of superior quality is also found in
various places, but is mined at only one
point.
1t is difficult to determine the guam
tity of merchantable timber in the ter.
rltory, and Mr.. Petrotf thinks that it
has been greatly overestimated. Es-
pecially is this the case with the yellow
cedar, an exceedingly valuable tree,
which is to be found only in isolated
groves. Nine saw mills are already in
operation, supplying the requirements
of the local market, the expectation of
timber products being prohibited by
law, and even their local utilization Is
much restricted.
Alaska seems at present to be a vast
storehouse of wealth, from which
everyone is willing to draw, but to
which none contribute. 1t is an object
of regret to the special agent that the
development of the vast resources of
Alaska is impoverlshing instead of en-
riching the country, the principle in
dustries being carried on by imported
labor. and no equivalent being left In
the territory for the valuable products
annually exported.