The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1897-10-27

Is Plentiful w eaLth OF Alaska Lies II
Her Fisheries.
Branscomb Ashley has travelled in every
known country on the face of the globe
for years surgeon major in the English
army. a newspaper writer and a man Of
the world generally.
There is perhaps no man in the United
States who is better posted on Alaska and
the kIondike than DR.. Ashley He spent
two years in the country, and every foot
Of it is familiar TO him.
In reply to a recent request to speak OF
Alaska as it is today he said
My object in going to Alaska was to
study the countTy-its tribes peoples and
CUsJOms-and l found it q most interest
ing study and one out Of the usual chan
mel This klOndike fever is but a repeti-
ton OF previous gold crazes Of Alaska
About six years ago there was a similar
mania and tremendous exodus from the
Puget sound country to Cooks inlet
There was much gold taken out Of the
country at that time, and there still is a
great deal of it there.
The difficulties of mining, and partic-
uIarly placer mining, are such that with
out the proper equipment it cannot be sue
ceSstuI. The climate is such that one COM
ing from the United States laBors under
difficulties unthOught of, which accounts
for so many expeditions being unsuccess-
full. The country is filed with abandoned
mining enterprises.
Il am amazed at the cOnsummate i'm
pudence Of a great trading company in
Alaska in booming the Klondike 1t is
one or the most gigantic attempts to build
up a trade between the Pacific coast coun-
try Of America and Alaska ever attempt
ed The Puget sound country has been de-
pressed for several years. and this boom is
nothing more or less than an attempt by
the American trading companies to recoup
themselves for tremendous losses in the
Alaskan trade. Since the failure of the
seal fisheries Alaska has gone to pieces and
has taken with it, as is natural enough.
the American companies.
1t Is not generally known that this
Fuination Of Alaska has been brought
about by the extravaganza of the tribes
and clans Of the country and the American
traders by their greed and pride combi-
nation that would ruin any country on the
face Of the giU55ee. There is rivalry be
tween the tribes and clans Of eacIs Iyi,n,ce in
their potlaches or entertainments Each
$3.50 " OuluO luG OlneI.
= OF only are the immediate members
of the family invited to these entertain
ments, but everybody else, whether Rus
sian or Indian. The American trader has
Charged such prices as 80 cents per poI..ar,.1Sl
for very fat hams; preserved ruit, apple
sauce for instance, 81 per gallon. and whis-
ky at the rate Of SIS per gallon These
entertainments cost all the way from 81, -
900 to 50, 600, and you can easily imagine
the drain it has been upon the ignorant
inhabitants of Alaska.
The result Of such extravaganza is that
Fort Wrangell, or WrangeIl, as it is com
monty known. is nothing but place OF to-
TEN poles, empty houses and gaunt and
hungry dogs The only place in the country
where there is life and motion Is Juneau,
which is kept UP by the great Ireadweu
mines which are operated continuously
and declare large dividends.
This brings me back to Klondike
There is no question but what Klondike is
rich in gold, but so. too is the entire ter
TitOry. You can walk along the streets Of
abandoned Wrangle and dig anywhere and
find gold without taking the 1000 mile
trip up the Yukon to Dawson City. I re
member once that / amused myself in the
Frazier river, jumping from floating log
10 log and with my knife digging from
out of the monarchs of the forest nuggets
which had become embedded therein
This is but an example of the prevalence
of gold in Alaska.
The coast range on the Pacific side and
its foothills and the streams that flow
therefrom are filled with gold which can
be had for the labor of securing it, What
is needed in Alaska is Il complete and well
equipped milling plant, with stamps OF
the various systems. In the Klondike all
is distress. Pneumonia and typhus rage
there, and there are no hospitals, wei
equipped drug stores or nurses, and the
only thing for man to do is to fight the
battle with death himself.
The wealth of Alaska lies in her fish
cries, which are beyond the mind Of man t
comprehend. The streams are swarmine
with fish, and once at Wrangell myself anC
a few friends amused ourselves catching
halibut from the rickety pier. OF all W,
caught not one weighed less than 5;
pounds.
- 1t will take years to develop Alaska
but it is destined to be one of the riches
countries on the face Of the globe. Thi
will come, however, only after the boon
fever has ceased and the people have set
tied down to work, and such work d
makes empires and nations. st. Loui
Republic.