The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-16
BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR ALASKA.

Although the bill for the organization of
Territorial Government in Alaska failed
10 become a law at the last session of Con-
cress. something was done TO help the in
habitants of that region toward social
organization. The land laws of the United
States were extended 10 the Territory, which
enables occupants OF land to get good
title TO their holdings, 81 that they can con-
vey them and borrow money on them. In
suran companies will now establish agen-
cies at Sitka aud Juneau, and better class
of buildings Will be erected. Owners Of
salmon canneries will take up the land they
REQUIRE, and obtain patents for it. Trading
posts will be established on the coast, and
the fur industry VIII be developed, as the
Alaska Commercial and its successor could
never have developed il. 1t is not wholly
impossible that boom in Alaska land
might set III.
AS q general rule, it is best for those who
seek new homes to plant themselves in the
temper ate zone, where extremes Of climate
do not divert the energies from productive
purs uits. 1t is impossible to recommend
young couples in search of a homestead TO
pitch their tent in places where the summer
only lasts three or four months. But there
inhabi tants of Norway and Lapland, and
Arch angel is thriving city. There are
worse places TO live in than Alaska. 1t is a
remarkably healthy spot. and it has re-
sources which are valuable and varied. 1t
is guile possible 10 acquire competency
there by asSiduous toll. Society is a tritie
mixed, and the refinements of modern civ
IIizatIon do not abound. But nobody need
ever go hungry.
1t was the policy of the Alaska CONNER
cial ComIau TO discourage settlement in
tile Territory. Every new settler was pos
side pOacher, al d possible trader with
the Indians. Therefore the company set its
face against his coming, and threw many
obstacles in The way of his obtaining foot
hold. FIom this cause the public is very
imp erfeclly informed respecting the posi-
bIlities If the region 1t is known in gen
eral way that il pr duces furs of various
kinds, minerals and food fish; but no one
knows how much of these several kinds of
merchandise can be obtained, nor on what
conditions the search for them can be con-
Quoted.
The fur seal industry on the PrybiIoff
Islands has been so frequently described
that every one is more or less familiar with
| IL. bul, OulSiub VI Ll4C tulpIUSGS VI lut
! lessee OF the mon opoly rights, no one can
! tell what quantity Of other furs, the sable,
| the marten, the blue fox. the otter and the
ermine can be taken on continental Alaska.
1t is quite possible that au organized sys-
TEN Of fUT-huntmg might add largely TO our
supplies Of that valuable merchandise. The
| country lying between Behring Sea and the
| frontier Of Canada is vast in extent and may
| TEEN with fur-bearng animals
The precious metals are being mined with
success at Juneau and elsewhere. When
| the mountain range extending TO Mount
Elias is prospected it is fair to expect that
| other mines will be discovered. But, better
than gold and silver, there is prospect that
coal will be discovered, and coal of the
same grade or 4 better grade than the coal
of Vancouver. Biologists have declared
| that the carboEiferous measures of Alaska
will probably be found to contain excellent
bituminous coal, and in spots anthracite
coal II any such deposits are found on the
| inland sea with which steam communica-
| ton can be maintained throughout the year
| their value will be very great indeed.
| The salmon canning industry is already
large, and represents an annual trade which
runs up into hundreds of thousands. It is
| probably susceptible of increase. and the
! value Of the product will swell with the
gradual withdrawal of the salmon from
more southern waters. But salmon is not
| the only food fish which abounds in the
waters that wash Alaska. On the plateau
which skirts the Aleulian chain cod and
halibut are said to be more plentiful than
they are on the banks of Newfoundland. A
vast industry may be built up by catching
! and drying them for market. There is no
limit to the worlds capacity to consume fish
| at fair price.