The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-12-02
THE NEW ELDORADO
THE GOLD FIELDS OF ALASKA
AND THE YUKON.

Geography, Climate and Resources
of tho Now Famous Region OF the
Far North-Great Extent Of Ground
to Be PROJECTED.
Special Correspondence
Purchased from Russia in 1857 Tor
81, 200, 900, Alaska was portion OF the
United States for 80 years without at
tracing the attention its resources and
wealth merit. Everywhere apathy and
ignorance prevailed in regard to this
latest territorial acquisition. Suddenly
this was changed. In a single day the
eyes of the entire world were turned to
Klondike, and there they remain fixed.
On the 18th of last July the steamer
Portland sailed into port with $500, 900
of gold on board, and to the ends OF
the earth was telegraphed the story OF
the rich placer diggings discovered
along the Klondike and its tributaries.
Then began that rush to the new mines
which has filled the news columns OF
the press with it's varied experiences for
four months. Ten thousand men
Joined in it. Some are now at the
mines; others are scattered all along
the trails from the coast to the Klon-
dixie; still others are at Juneau, Dyea
and Skaguay, awaiting a more favor
able time for the journey, while not
few have returned to civilization, sat
isfied with their experience or to make
a fresh start under better circum-
stances. Great and exciting as was
this first rush, it was but the advance
ripple of the great wave of gold hunt
ers that will roll in upon the Alaskan
coast the coming spring. Probably not
less than $1,000 men will start for the
Yukon next year. and possibly four
times this number may 60. For this
reason clear and succinct description
of Alaska and it's resources, with
brief review of it's routes OF travel must
be of interest even to those who have
no intention of seeking the northern
wilderness.
In the first place. it must be under
stood that the Yukon river flows partly
through Canada and partly through the
United States, and that the Klondike
region is on the Canadian side of the
boundary line, though good placers, pos
sibly as good as those of the Klondike,
exist on the American side of the line.
Beginning at the Arctic ocean, the
boundary line runs due south along the
14lst meridian as far as Mt. St. Elias,
10 marine leagues from the Pacific,
whence it follows the coast line, pre-
serving distance of 10 marine leagues
from it, in southeasterly direction to
the latitude of 81 degrees and 40 min
utes, which becomes the southern limit.
All east of that line belongs to Can
ada, part being in the Northwest Ter
ritory and part in the province of Brit
ish Columb ia, the dividing line run
ming east and west across both lakes
Bennett and Teslin. The present gold
discoveries are all north of the British
Columbia line. but no one can tell
what may be revealed in the future.
That portion west of the boundary
line and belonging to the United States
constitutes Alaska proper, and contains
a total area of GIT, 7O3 square miles. of
which 1886 square miles consist of
islands along the coast. 1t is only on
these islands and a narrow strip. of the
adjacent mainland that settlements
have been made and industries de-
velOped, except the gradual development
of gold placers along the Yukon, ending
with the recent startling discoveries.
The towns of Alaska consist of but half
a dozen of any prominence, besides the
new places On the Yukon. They are
Sitka, the capital, Juneau, Wrangel,
New Metlakahtla, Kodiak and Dutch
Harbor. Sitka is on Baranoff island,
off the southeast coast, and has popu
lation of about 500. juneau is On the
mainland, about 100 miles further
north. 1t is the chief commercial city
and during the winter season it's popu-
lation exceeds 9, 1000. New Metlakahtla
is mission and trading point near the
southern extremity, and Wrangel is a
trading point on the coast at the mouth
of Stickeen river. Kodiak is on the
island of the same name south of the
Alaskan peninsula, and is the seat Of
the salmon packing industry. Dutch
Harbor is on the island of Unalaska. one
of the Aleutian group, where vessels
pass from the Pacific into Behring sea.
Alaska is region of mountains,
there being no great valleys nor plains.
Along the coast high range of noun
tains rises almost abruptly from the
waters edge, deeply indented with long
arms of the sea. These present series
of Alpine peaks of the most picturesque
description, the highest being the Fair
weather alps, exceeding $1,000 feet,
st. Elias and Logan exceeding 10, 900
feet, and Wrangel, further to the north.
west, said to be still higher. Down
the canyons of these coast mountains
many tremendous living glaciers flow
steadily to the ocean, filling the bays
and inlets with great masses of floating
ice. Beyond this coast range the noun
tains are lower, but almost continuous
as far north as the Arctic, and as far
east as the great plains of Mackenzie
river region. Yet there are many fine
mountain valleys, with occasional
stretches OF rolling table land, in sum-
mer time brilliant with n Garnet of