The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-31

coast. The commercial instinct seems
to be deeply rooted in all our hyper
borean tribes, predominating with the
Eskimo, but existing also to more
limited extent among the Athapascans
inhabiting the higher latitudes.
No sooner had the Cossack adven-
turers of Russia, endeavoring to escape
from the tightening yoke of the Gear,
entered Siberia and advanced in their
eastern course from one great river
system to the other than the primitive
articles of Muscovite manufacture
found their way to the utmost confines
of Arctic Asia. Here the pieces of
metal, the glass beads, rough cutlery,
axes and knives were eagerly seized
upon by the ancestors of the present
! coast Chukche and bartered again for
skin. boats and products of America
with the Eskimo navigators, who in
each season crossed the narrow strait
dividing America from Asia.
In time the Asiatics, being superior
to their eastern neighbors, with whom
they intermarried freely, acquired the
art of navigation and took the inter
continental traffic into their own hands,
as they hold it to-day. For several
centuries the interchange of commodi-
ties took place on neutral ground, the
Diomede Islands, situated in the Strait
of Bering.
Some idea of the vast extent Of the
Alaska coast may be had from the fol-
lowing figures, showing it to be more
than twelve times as great as the en-
tire Atlantic coast. The report says
that the length of coast line of Alas
ka's mainland and islands is nearly
four times that of all other parts of
the United States combined, as exem-
plifed in the subjoined statement
| furnished by the United States coast
and geological survey: California, in
cluding islands, 1880 statute miles;
Oregon, 3S2; Washington, including
islands, 2O2S: Alaska, including, isl
ands, 26,364; Atlantic coast, includ-
ing islands, 2043; Gulf coast, l8lO;.
Total, 33,907.
The Alaska range of mountains ez-
tends along the southern coast OF the
peninsula, varying in height between
5000 and 5000 feet. Great progress has
been made of late years in ascertain
ing the geographic outlines and top
ographic features of the vast extent
of country lying within the boundaries
of Alaska.
The United States coast and geo.
detic survey hos made q systematic
survey of the islands. coasts and waters
of the Alexander Archipelago, pub
fishing from time to time revised
maps of all Alaska whenever addi-
tional information is obtained by the
office from reliable sources.
The glacier region situated to the
northward of Cross Sound and Icy
Strait, unknown in its contours ten
years ago, is now place OF call and
one of the greatest attractions for the
thousands of tourists who visit South
eastern Alaska every summer.
The Alpine coast region, rising
abruptly from the shores OF the North
Pacific between Cape Spencer on the
east and Mount St. Elias on the west,
has been the objective point OF several
exploring expeditions. 1t is now
known definitely that Mount st. Elias
is more than Is, 900 feet high.
Much has been printed in the news
papers regarding the mineral deposits
of Alaska. Rumors Of fabulous gold
diggings have been circulated, but
official reports show only substantial
and steady increase of production.
Henry Bourskin makes special re-
port on the mines. Gold was first
discovered at Sitka, at Silver Bay, ten
miles northeast Of the town, by Frank