The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-01-02
First ward was in darkness, except for
what light was furnished by candles,
lamps or other improvised means. There
was good deal Of kicking on the score.
A MAN From ALASKA
Talks about the Resources and Prospects.
The Courso for the Government.

Talks about the Resources and Prospects.
The Csurso for the Government.
Mr.. Charles j. Gof, United States Com
missioner to the Seal Islands Of Alaska,
was in the city day or two this week
from his home at Clsrksburg, where he
has been since September with his tam.
lily. An INTELLIGEECER reporter asked
him the other evening II he had seen
the report that q syndicate had been
formed with Sl4. 100000 capital to buy
Alaska from the Government. He said
he had, but he knew nothing Of the
scheme personally, as it had all trans
pired since he left Alaska. He had no
doubt, however, that the British govern.
ment was back Of the proposition.
SIS Alaska worth keeping" the re-
porter asked.
eyes, indeed. 1t is an invaluable
possession, as large in area as the whole
OF the United States possessions besides,
and one vast storehouse OF fine timber
aud rich minerals. It has the lumber
supply OF the future. OF course just
now that is not Immediately important,
but it is only question OF time when it
will be. The trees are nearly all pine or
other coniferous trees, and there are
millions OF acres OF virgin forest. There
are thousands OF trees there which rise
straight for sixty feet without branch,
and these supply the masts Of nearly all
the sailing vessels on the Pacific. AL
that has TO be done 10 to strip the
branches and bark and the mast iE
made"
"What about the gold Of which we
hear 80 muCh?"
at is there, fine gold in rich deposits
but nearly all the mining is placer min
ing, and that is attended with difficulty
owing to the sudden floods and rs sud
den falls in the rivers. When the snow
goes of in the spring every river is out
OF its banks. Still there have beer
large amounts Of gold taken out.
Then there are the fisheries. The
| finest salmon and cod fish in the worlt
are caught there. There are immens:
Canneries there, which put up salmon
and works where cod is packed. Thest
employ thousands OF men, but they art
Migratory. They go up there in the
spring and come down ia the fall, as dc
those engaged in the sealing industry
Very few whites live there through the
winter. The seal company has repre-
sentatiyes there aud there ere men tC
look after the fish packing works. ] havs
two assistants there who stay through
the winter. They live in comtor
through the winter, though OF course
it is severe"
"What about seals"
"They are disappearing rapidly. Tit
Government should prott CT them, or il
two or three years this source Of con
siderable revenue will have disappeared
The situation there is not understood
Until recently sealers OF all countries
could get all the catch they wanted il
the open sea. The seals resorts in .th'
Pacific were so irsquented that the seal
have been eXterminated, and TO MAXI
their trips up there pay, the British ant
other sealers have to 80 into the Rehrin,
sea waters where the seals, having beer
protected, are still plenty. But the wa!
the poachers ara raiding our grounds
this will not be true loug. Last season
other nations took more seals than ",
did"
81 am surprised that the English art
so short sighted 50 to conniye at thi
policy OF determination. The industry
benefits them more than US. All the
skins taken are sent to London ant
there tanned and dressed. That is thu
seal market Of tho world, and Lpndot
makes more out OF the traffic than al
America. The present way Of doini
threatens not alone the industry o
catching seals, but that Of manufactur
ing the skins aa we'll"
Mr.. GOT declined to talk on the merit
of the Behring sea question, saying tina
his official position made it improper
but it was evident that he held thu
opinion that this country oughtto main
tain the Bebripg sea as a closed sea, anC
compel the world to honor her rights al
Russia did before che coded the TERRITORY
to the United States. In that cefsion
OF course all R1ssia's rights passed t
this country, and If they are invaded i
is the fault Of the government.
Mr.. G9f expects to return to Alaska
in April.