The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1895-06-29
THE WONDERS OF ALASKA.
4 Territory Nearly ~ Large a. the
United States, but Yet undeveloped.

4 Territory Nearly ~ Large ~ the
United states. but Yet Undsveloped.
Some idea Of the vastness Of this ter
ritory may be gained when we consider
that the extreme length from north to
south Is l.l00 miles a distance as
great Us from Lake Michigan to the
Gulf Of Mexico; and from east to west
the distance is nearly 1000 miles or
equal to the distance from Lake Michi-
gan to New York. Alaska contains
land AREA of 53l, 49l square miles and
in this vast scope Of country there is a
population Of not moro than 900
people. There is a school population
Of from 5000 to 10000 and there are
only about sixteen government schools
and fifteen schools maintained by var
ious religious societies. With these
facts before "a is it any wonder that
We concluded that Alaska is one vast
opening. The industries are very
limited and there are no agricultural
products beyond u few garden vege-
tables. All the flour, fruits and other
provisions arc shipped in from the
states. There is PROBABLY not n wheat
field, corn field or Touring mill in the
territory. There are NO railroads, pub
lie highways. telegraph lines Or even
telephone lines outside Of Juneau and
Sitka, i'll the entire country. There is
paucity OF domestic animals. not be-
ing more than two dozen teams in the
territory. All travel is by water in
canoes, skiffs, schOoners or ocean
st ,amers. n lining, salml N canning al d
numbering constitute the chief INDUS
tries. ana these give employment To
only limited number. There are
some doctors, lawyers. school teachers
and preachers that constitute the few
that are engaged in professional
work.
Heretofore the Alaska Commercial
Company has purchased supplies for It's
stores On the ukon III San Francisco,
but in the future the supplies will be
purchased at Victoria. lhis trade
amounts to about 500, 900 per year
The enforcement Ut the BRUSH laws
heretofore dormant in the far north
makes the change advantageous to the
company. There IS really no British
custom house on the YUKON river, but
the duty on foreign goods passing into
Canadian territory Will 10 collected, II
IS understood by the mounted police ru
oe sent north by the Ottawa govern.
ment.
Just now people are fiocking in great
numbers into the Yukon country. Tin,
section just now Is attracting mure at
tenrion than any other. but the pros
poets are not very bright. owing ~ the
class vi people coming IN, they being
mostly mechanics vi every imagina bl.
Grade. not beng accustomed to hard.
ships, entirely ignorant Of mining, ana
OUT lew possessed of the means VI liv.
ing, among whom there will no doubt
be much suffering, as the weather Is
extremely cold thus season.
The Alaska Commercial Company is
building two good sized steamers at
San Francisco-the Beaver and tn.
Alice-to ply ON the Yukon river.
These steamers will only be able to
make the round trip ON the river this
year. but next year they will be run
regularly. They will go 1000 miles
up the river to place known as For,
distributing merchandise and
collecting furs for the company.
Professor w. II. Dali, member Of the
Institute, and member OF
the government geological survey, and
DR.. George Becker, of the geological
survey, are in Alaska. They have been
sent out by the government under the
act and Appropriation Of 5000 made
by last congress to investigate the re-
sources of coal and gold In the terri.
tory. They have had the United States
steamer Pinta placed at their service
and will visit all the mining centers
IN Southeastern Alaska Professor Dali
will investigate the extent Of the coal
beds around killisnoo, while the gold
mines and deposits will be examined
by DR.. Becker. Professor Dali Is well
known IN the territory having spent
i've years on the coast survey to the
westward and first visiting the terri.
Tory i'll 1865 with Col. Buckley and
party Of engineers to determine the
Of building a cable line via
Alaska across the Behring sea to ST.
'eria. At that time it was not deemed
TO extend cable line across
he Atlantic ocean from the United
states to Europe. In 1870 Professor
Dali issued book ON the resources OF
Alaska which has been taken as one of |
he best written and correct statement
II facts ever written about the terri. |
DRY. Both gentlemen will make a
ong stay there to look over the import
mt mining districts.