Arizona republican., 1891-03-27
WEALTH or ALASKA.

| when secretary SeWdru neBOllhteu
 the purchase of Alaska twenty-four
 years ago tor the sum of S7 200, ,000 it
 was generally condemned as foolish
 piece of diplomacy-a virtual throwing
 away of the money, as it were. Long
 since the wisdom of the purchase was
 demonstrated, but it is only within re- cent years that the great value of Alaska
 has begun to be appreciated by the gem
 eral public. Superintendent of the
 Census Porter took especial pains to gather accurate information of this lit.
 tle-known country, and partial result of his work is made known in Census
 Bulletin No. 80, which has just been is- sued. A condensation of the bulletin shows that the value of the fur-seal skins shipped from Alaska and sold in
 the London markets since the Territory came into the possession of the United
 States is nearly $SS,000,000, and of other furs l6,OOO,OO0.
 With regard to the fisheries of the Territory, the value of the product of the salmon canneries alone from 1884 to 1890 is reported at nearly $7, ,000, ,000, and of salmon salted at S500,000. In 1890 over 3,00O,000 salmon were taken at Karluk, where the largest cannery in the world is situated, and no fewer than 2J0, 900 cases of salmon were canned at this place last year, HOO fishermen and packers being employed therein. The herring fishery at Killisnoo yields annu- ally over l50,000 gallons of oil and nearly 1000 tons of fertiliziug material, and the value of the codfish catch in Alaskan waters since 1868 is stated to be fully $3,0OO,OOO.
 One of the most eminent authorities on Alaska recently stated it as his be- lief that the salmon, cod and herring fisheries of the Territory would become of such immense value in the event of the entire destruction of the fur seal, which now preys upon the fish, that its possible extermination is contingency that need not excite serious alarm. Among the facts brought out is that the red salmon and king salmon (the latter sometimes attaining a length ol from five to six feet and a weight of 120 pounds) literally crowd the waters of the great Yukon river for distance of several hundred miles.
 The whale fisheries of the Arctic ocean in 1890 yielded 226, ,402 pounds of whale bone, worth from S2.50 to $S.5O per pound 39S0 pounds of ivory, worth 50 cents per pound, and l4,567 barrels of oil, worth from 30 to 60 cents per gallon.
 The total valued the precious metals exported from Alaska up to the present time approaches $4,OOO,OJO, the annual production of gold dust and bullion be- ing now $70O,000. Within radius of 100 miles from Juneau quartz mills have been established, with an aggregate ca pacity of 800 stamps. Of these 240 stamps are employed at the we'll known Treadwell or Paris mine, on Douglas island, capable of reducing 500 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 diffi- culty of transportation has hitherto pre- vented its development. Lignite coal of a superior quality is also found in vari- ous places, but is mined at only one point.
 It is difficult to ascertain the quality | of merchantabie timber in the Territory, but it is probable that the amount has been greatly overestimated. Es- pecially is this true Of the yellow cedar, an exceedingly valuable tree, which is to be found only in isolated groves. Nine saw mills are already in operation, the requirements of the local market, the exportation of timber products being prohibited by law, and even then local utilization is much re- ,.ricted.
 The report concludes with an expres- sion of regret that the development of he vast resources of Alaska is impover- shing instead of enriching the country, he principal industries being carried on oy imported labor, and no equivalent eft in the Territory for the valuable products annually exported.