New-York tribune., 1896-12-27
GOLD IN ALASKA.
WELL-KNOWN BROOKLYNITES INTER-
ESTED IN THE MINES.
THE COUNTRY A LAND OF MAGNIFICENT SCENERY
AND RICH IN MINERALS AND TlMbEN-
DEVELOPING ITS CAPABILITIES.

DEVELOPING ITS CAPABILITIES.
The rapid development of gold mining and other
industries in Alaska has made everything when
throws light on that much h-misunderstood territory
of public interest. One of the largest mining con-
Germs in Alaska is the Alaska Gold Syndicate Com
pany. in which benjamin Russell and other promi-
nent Brooklynites are Interested. Mr. Russeh IS
enthusiastic over the possibilities Of development
in the territory. During the SKINNER e. H. oehs-
low. of the firm of Denslow. Ward & Co.. who are
The fiscal agents of the syndicate, spent TWO
months IN the neighborhood of Cook Inlet. in the
northwestern part of Alaska. and his experience
contradicts the common notion that the territory
is frozen wild.
A Tribune reporter called Mr.. Denslow at his
Office in New-York City few days ago and asked
him 10 describe his impressions OF the territory
Ha replied:
Alaska is as large all The United states east
Of the Mississippi River and it is as foolish to at
tribute one characteristic TO the whole territory rs
il would be 10 do the same with that part or The
United States People talk about frozen Alaska.
Does this look as if II was frozen land?" and he
pointed to a photograph of some of the company
workmen standing with bare feet in field
Cook Inlet. where | spent most of the summer.
faces the Pacific Ocean and l. warmed by the
Japanese current which makes the climate de-
lightful and the vegetation luxurious. Flowers OF
all kinds grow there in great profuSion ana Win
great intensity of color. Red currans. sweet peas
blackberries. strawberries and other fruit grow
wild The grass grows TO Il great height. and Is
preferred by the horses 10 imported nay. lhls
inlet was called by the Russians the Paradise OF
Alaska.
'I landed on July 70 in Kachemak Bay, branch
~ (,ook Inlet at a place known as the Spit. This
Spit is a peninsula extending into kachemak Bay
about five miles. and the harbor in front OF II Is
the only safe one in Cook Inlet At the end OF the
Spit the waite. is seventeen fathoms at low tide
which, OF course. will float 'he largest ships on the
seas Work b. carried on AT the SPIT the ehtr1
year around as the thermometer has never fallen
baou, degrees below zero according to the test
mony OF old residents. Opposite the spit there are
three large glaciers. and the mountain tops are
covered with most of the time. 4here Is
quantity OF fire timber that Will last Tor Il lohs
time The navigation of Cooks Inlet Is dangerous
and IS not thoroughly known no accurate chai'
ever having been made.
"At tho head Of the inlet IS Turn-Again Arm
which goes TO the east about thirty miles. AS 'ie
tide rises the water comes in with u rush, per
feet wall of water, and rushos back AGAIN JuS' -
rapidly. There is story that when captain COOK
was searching for the Northwest Passage. he got
into this body water believing that he had
found what he was looking for. When he got 10
the end he said. Boys. will have TO turn asdih'
This II Is said, t. whore the name came Hoh'
Anchor Point. just above kachemak Bay IS so
named because it is said that COOK lost MS ahchor
there.
There is a rather singular thing about the eli
mate II is that none OF our me. ever take cold. !
wear glasses here in Now-York. but while was at
the inlet never needed them. | do not know now
to for this. unless is by the cearness OF
the atmosphere. On the coast read paper at ~
O'Clock at night The sun sets at about 1925 p m.
and rises at 9:10 d. m. that there is hardly any
night in the summer II the winter OF
course this is reversed and there is little light
RICH IN GOLD.
'It is believed and nearly conceded now that
the shortest route to the Yukon is by way of Cook
Inlet and through the Chiutna River The present
route TO the upper waters of the Yukon is long
and tedious journey The country about these
rivers is rich in gold. brought down probably by
the glaciers in past ages. The bones Of mastodons
are found all through that country. and reports
have come down that the Stick Indians who are
UP around the headwators Of the Copper River.
have seen some live mastodors That. OF course
remains 10 be verified hut the reports have come
from several sources. These St!ck Indians are a
fine body of men. large and well built, and re-
semblng the Sioux Nation. The Aleutar Indians
are understood and are an inferior race 10 the
Sticks.
This part of the country IS peopled largely by
Indians and Russian half-breods There IS an
Indian town called Omunina. some forts and some
trading posts The Alaska Commercial Company
and the North American Company have a numb"
of trading posts there. There are number Of
cannerics further TO the eastw ard. where salmon
are prepared FOR export There are ninety kinds
Of edible fish in these waters including cod, salmon
and haib II. The game includes the black bear,
bearing animals Four days before | arrived there
G Vas c%,Tn U' "1 Inwn n" wh"re % "o }sh were
taken. The usual catch range from loco to 2Ocp
enormous including ducks geese and all sorts OF
aquatic fowl
TRIP OF GREAT BEAUTY.
Il started for Alaska from Seattle. where there
| Is a regular line Of steamers The route is an
| inland one among the islands and the distance 10
Stka is about 100 miles This is one OF the most
picturesaue and interesting trips that be
| ioyed anywhere the face of the earth Here
| YOU have the scenery Of Switzerland and Norway
| all about YOU you sail The mountains are
| covered with snow; there are magnificent rivers
| and waterfalls. and great timber country, and
the route of the steamer is one constant delight
| Of scenery As the journey is made through tr'
| archipelago IL is as smooth as II upon a lakc
the only roughness Is on Queen Charlotte Sou u
| The steamers so little out Of their way at
celebrated Muir Glacier TO allow the passengers y
| seq ii.
| .The route ends at Siika the capital, town Of
| about 1000 Indians and 40 whites In Sitka are me
headquarters of the Greek Chnrcn IN AiaSKa. ih,S
have fine chuI ch there, and IN the administration
9i IIInoe in Tho rhurcl are o. gold and the
| prince's castles were the scenes OF some OF me
| r,ost extravagant entertainments that any country
ci cty S" There are many islands in the haroor and
| snow -caupcd mountains in the BACKGROUND. The
Presbyterian missions have their headguariers IN IN
Sitka Colonel Elliott r. SHEPARD pull some ,,i oil
| scme large buildings where they take the Indian
| girls The Episcopal bishop also makes his home IN
| This town The Greek Church. however. l. the
J most powerful religious organization in Alaska
| THE MALESPENA GLACIER.
| The steamer Dora makes monthly trips from
sitka 20 Kadak an island about lSO miles from our
| town of Homer The route OF the steamer is along
| the coast stopping At numerous ports. At Dlsen-
chantment Bay IS the great Malcspena Glacier. the
| largest I'm the world. 1t comes from the face Of
| Mount St Elias and Mount Logan. In Disenchant-
] ment Bay the great masses OF rock come plunging
/ down constantly into The sea from ule Two noun
Tins and the report of their fan he heard for
4 ,r -la rl.t.f. m he. * Ihq