The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-11

Time has proved the wisdom of his
diplomacy. AS a paying investment,
DR.. Ball says: Alaska returned a
clear net profit of s per cent. upon the
first cost for the first five years. The
two tiny Seal Islands paid per cent.
on the original $7,20O,OO0, and In their
first lease returned a sum equal to the
purchase money to the United States
treasury. The gold mines have since
added an equal sum to the wealth of
the world, and the salmon industry
yielded $500. 900 in six years, from 1884
to $780," Not only was 1t profitable
bargain to us from the point of view of
the seal fisheries and immense mineral
wealth. but It's possession gives to our
country the most magnificent iceland
In the world. SO far as Is yet known.
Mr.. Wheeler says: Switzerland. with
her Alps and Mont Blanc and the Mat
terhorn, has been compelled to yield
precedence to the American North
land" More and more each year does
the tide of tourist travel turn towards
Alaska to see and learn Of the wonders
Of the Almighty.
AN EMPIRE BY ITSELF.
Where Is Alaska? What of our great
possessions? What Is there in this So
called Kingdom of ice and snow" to
admire? Well, let US see. A hundred
pages cannot fully describe this Amer
lean wonderland, as the sequel will
show.
The aboriginal name is Al-ak-shak.
and means great country and truly
Is a. great country, and much of 1t yet
unexplored. 1t comprises nearly 6OO.-
900 square miles of ice. snow, earth,
riyarc mount fa md fOrpSt9
also a few stunted Indians. an area
equal to one-fourth of all the rest Of
the United States. 1t Is the most
sparsely inhabited part Of the United
States, averaging only one inhabitant
to nineteen square miles. 1t Is an en-
pire of itself. 1t Is larger than twelve
states the size Of New York and nine
times the size of New England. Its
extreme length Is oven 1000 miles. and
its width 1,4OO miles more. It's shore
line Is computed at between two and
three times the coast line Of the Unit
ed States on the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, exclusive of Alaska itself. "The
sun never sets or Amerit an soil. When
1t 6 p. m. at Alto Island, Alaska. 1t is
9.36 a. IN. the next day on the coast OF
Maine."
The possession Of Alaska, as before
stated, completes the variety of seem
cry found within the bounds of the
United States. To have Niagara Falls,
the Grand Canyon of Colorado. Royal
Gorge, Black Canyon, the Yosemite
Valley and YellowstonePark all with
in the domains of our own country Is
in itself glory enough. but add to this
the grandest glaciers-ice scenery-of
the world, then we have a category of
sights that ought to draw not only our
own countrymen, but the wealth, the
culture and refined Of earth itself to our
shores to see them.
The Alaskan tour Is pronounced by
those who are the great travellers of
the world to be the grandest trip under
the sun. The reader who desires to
take this trip. las 1t were by proxy"
we invite to follow usteach day in our
meandering through this inland sea, to
the land of the midnight sun.
/ 81! UP PUGET SOUND.
The steamship Queen with Captain
James Carroll commander starts from
Tacoma Aug. II, at s o'clock In the
morning, for the far and mysterious
Northland, voyage of over 2,400 miles,
within the narrow limit Of fourteen
days. Her sister boats, the City of
| Topeka and Mexico. who carry freight,
as we'll as passengers, make the trip
| in from nineteen to twenty-one days.
| This tour extends to within six degrees
of the Arctic circle and embraces the
| greatest of the wonders of that land of
| icebergs and glaciers.
We board the steamer at nine O'Clock
at Seattle. After a long blow of the
| whistle. fifteen minutes warning, an
| other short whistle, the call "All ashore
/. that's not going" the adieux are said,
the whistle blows again, signal to the
engine room; there Is turn of the
wheel, a command from Captain Car
roll east off the bow line" throw off
the breast line" hold fast stern," "let
her CO." Captain Carroll waves his hat,
the people cheer, and Off we go sailing