The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-27
PRICESIN KLONDYKE
Continued from Eighth Page.)

Alaska. In 1899 the territory was grant
ed TO a Russo-American fur company
by Emperor Paul VIII. and the charter
was renewed in 1889 for twenty-five
years Soon after its expiration. there
fore. the purchase was made by the
United States government.
TOPOGRAPHY OF COUNTRY.
The territory naturally falls in six
grand divisions. They are the arctic
division, treeless expanse diversified
by icy hills and mountains and With no
inhabitants but the ESquimos; the Tu-
kon basin, with its extensive forests
near the coas. and rs inhabitants OF
Esquimos and Indians: the Kuskokwim
district, the Aleutian district, comDris-
.-g the islands off the coast. where fish
ing AMI sealing are the chief pursuits.
and where the population is mixed Aleu-
tan and Russian blood; the Kadiak dis
tric;. including the mainland and is
lands south of the Alaskan range. and
the Sitka district. including the archi-
pelago and the coast. extending south 70
British Columbia. The Sitka district $
that seen by the tourists from the states.
They gaze on its enormous forests and
imagine they have seen the country. As
matter OF fact, they do little more
than set foot on the territory.
The population OF Alaska. as given IN
the census reports. is necessarily largely
an estimate. What census taker would
be wiling 10 go a couple OF thousand
miles up the Yukon, for instance. to
find the number of miners in one OF the
new camps. or venture into the arctic
circle to count the noses Of the Esaui-
mos, VINO are said 10 have their May
day festivities romping around the
north pole? Dogs furnish a great part
Of all the means Of transportation and
communication up there n the SHOWS.
and they are not valuable for sensus
work.
OF THE POPULATION.
The census enumeration Of 1890.
though. gave the population OF the ter
ritory as 30.32S. of whom 4.416 were
whites. 81 blacks. 1.56s half-bIed In
dams and Esquimos, 1875 natives not
Esquimos Qndians). 2,125 Chinese and
s, 100 Esquimos. The number of whites
has probably been more than doubled
since then, however, as the Alaskan
gold fever set in in mild form three or
four years ago. One would hardly
think OF gong TO Alaska for the social
advantages of the place.
Neither could il be said that reason
ably constructed individual would go
there for the climate. In winter the
thermometer falls so low in places that
no ore Will recognize il: that il goes
down 10 20 degrees and lower. During
all this kind OF winter up in the Yukon
region little can be done but sit about
a fire in vain endeavor TO keep warm,
for darkness exists most OF the time.
and the life seems like that OF a man
uncomfortably seated at the bottom OF
a we'll
During the summer season the days
are some times even a little bit hot, but
not for long. In that time, too, there is
almost continual day. for that end OF
the earth Of it may be so called is the
one that is pointed directly at the sun.
But as the summer brings warmth
and daylight 1t also brings mosquitoes.
And such mosquitoes! Creatures tina.
buzz and bite in such a way as 10 make
the dreaded Jersey variety seem by
comparison like the silvery. angelic.
sweetly, humm.ng fancies OF a peaceful
dream. The travellers who return from
the Yukon region tell stories OF how
brave and strong men, courageous
enough to undertake the perils a jour
ney TO that country involves, actually
break down and sob in utter despera-
ton and despair under the torments OF
these terrible pests. The ice and the
magnificent distances" OF the country
are not the only drawbacks 10 its ex-
ploration or TO journeying to the gold
fields; the mosquitoes must ever DE re
membered.
Of course, in the southern part Of
Alaska, where Juneau and Sitka are
situated, the winters are not 50 rigorous.
There the weather is comparatively mild.
and in summer is said to be elghtful
But Juneau and Sitka are inini,esimaI
as compared with the whole country.
and they are not an index TO what is
furnished farther up and farther inland.
INDUSTRIES OF ALASKA.
When travellers were asked as late as
two or three years ago what We're the
principal pursuits in Alaska they re-
piled, Of course. that fishing and hun;-
ing furnished occupation for the greater
part OF the population. What else was
10 be expected from a population made
up in the main OF EsquimOs and In
dams? In the Sitka district there are
magnificent forests and numbering Is an
industry. but IN the barren. icy north
the occupation Of the Indian was u
shoot and trap the bear. the fox. the
otter and TIE other animals whose fur
would bring a price in the markets OF
the world. 20 eaten the seals and spear
the whale and catch the other FISH or
game that could be turned into money.
Salmon canning IS the great industry ot
the Kadiak district, and has been for
years.
o. late, however. and particularly
within the past few weeks. the other in
dustries OF Alaska have sunk almost cut
OF sight because OF the new gold furry.
Mining. OF course. IS in ne industry o.
he white man. Virgin gold might have
lain in plain sight in the rocks 70 a i'm
itless extent and n al probability tie
Indians and the Esquinos would never
nave touched Il. Food and furs are the
standard of value with tnem. Gold fills
no Esquin1o s:omachs AID keeps 10 Es-
quimo body warm.
b.; NTH the white man 8: was al |
te-eat- H came. ne saw. ne dug. and |
in the digging he found richness. Gilt |
-ering gold greeted his eyes, and the !
fever Of gold = upon Is
The GRASDEsT REMEDY
= =
h0wie. Va. certihes mat he had con
sumption. vas gwen % . de. sought 4
al medical trestnen: that money could /