The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-04-21

and closer touch with the outside
world. A remark made to me by q
resident OF the district for years shows
that at least some men have ultimate
chances in mind. He said, 81 prefer
to live in Gods country and where, if
I die, I can have my bones shipped
home if WISH"
Of the industries that just at pres
ent can be made to yield the quickest
and surest returns, there can be no
doubt but that the lumber interests
take the lead. For the past year there
has been heavy shipment of lumber
and shingles from Puget Sound and
which, unless the supply at home is
largely increased at once, will assume
great proportions at an early day. The
timber in great quantities is already at
hand and it only needs the mills to
turn it into ready money. I say ready
money with an emphasis because in
this country everything is paid for in
the coin of the realm; no barter and
no so days nor four months bills. Saw
and shingle mills are greatly needed,
not an expensive plant of necessity,
but something that will answer the
present need and which can be in
creased in capacity as the demand
may warrant. Lumber can be manu-
featured and sold at a good profit, for
less than present freight charges from
Puget Sound, the base of supplies. A
few mills are in operation but prac-
tically the field for this industry, so
necessary in new country, is unoccu
pied. Coal is to be found at various
places from the Lynn Canal to Alaska
Peninsula, and though the industry is
undeveloped it offers great induce
ment to capital and labor. In the eli
mate of Alaska and especially in the
great valley of the Yukon, where the
timber supply is already becoming ex-
hausted, coal for fuel is an absolute
necessity and it must follow that if, as
reported, there is an unlimited quanti-
ty of good bituminous coal of good
quality at Cooks Inlet and other plac-
es in Alaska. The fuel supply of the
central part of the territory will be
produced at home ard save the heavy
expense of transportation from the
Sound district mines. We may ex-
pect then to hear before long that cap
ital has been invested in these black
diamonds that can, in places, be kicked
out of the ground with the toe of ones
shoe.
On all the two or three thousand
miles of shore line of the isIauds and
mainland fish abound in the greatest
abundance, particularly salmon. We
have spoken of the fish interest of
Puget Sound, but in the waters of
Southern Alaska both the variety and
quantity is illimitable. The two kinds
that enter most largely into commerce
salmon and cod-can be taken with
the greatest success, and the indus
tries though just in process of devel-
opment, promise great things in the
future. There are now several can
neries and codfishing, though carried
on only in a small way at present,
must become a large field where 4
small capital combined with industry
will yield sure return.
Having, in considering the ways in
which Alaska can be utilized we have
brought forward only the ways that
are reasonably sure, or that appear to
be so; let us now take glance at two
wholly undeveloped resources of the
great Northland, both of universal
use and demand, petroleum and cop
per. Any miner will tell you that be
had rather own a good copper mine
than one of gold quartz, because,
mainly, that good vein of copper
seldom gives out. The largest and
most profitable mine in the United
States-the Anaconda copper mine in
Montana-is capitalized at $3O,OOOOOO,
on which it yields large dividends; the
Hecla and Calumet in Michigan are
nearly as valuable.
Large veins of copper have been
discovered on Copper river and vicinity