The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-13
Hawaii and Alaska.

A fresh argument in favor of the
annexation of Hawaii is made by the
Honolulu correspondent of the Wash
ington star. According to the view
held by that writer, the present and
prospective rush to Alaska, involving
large increase in coast-Wls2 trathc
between the Pacific coast cities and the
trading ports Of Sitka and the Yukon
district. place in a new and impressive
light the strategic necessity of Hawaii
to the United States. In his opinion im-
mediate provision must be made for
the protection of this line of commnni-
cation which would be fatally flanked
by an enemy in possession of Hawaii.
On the conservative basis that 50,OOO
Americans will this wear travel from
the states to the northwestern gold
fields, this writer estimates that not
less than twelve large ocean steam
ships moving continually during the
five months Of open navigation. will
be employed between Seattle and st.
Michaal's. To this must be added
nearly 200 stern -Wheelers for river
navigation on the Yukon and 100 coast
wise freighters-a commerce open to
easy attack from Pearl Harbor if that
were held by an enemy. The cores
pondent continues:
within five years doubtless popu-
lation of 100000 white men will be in
occupation of the Yukon valley. Their
wants must be almost wholly supplied
from abroad, the country producing
nothing but minerals, possibly coal.
Several hundred thousand tons of pro-
visions. clothing. lumber and coal must
be imported annually TO supply their
necessities. And with large number
of people going and coming from so
desulate region, the ocean traffic
must soon attain the greatest dimen-
sions above figured out That i'm
mcuse line of American ships steaming
back and forth between Puget sound
aud the Yukon mouth is completely
nankcd by Honolulu and Pearl Harbor
at II distance of 2,400 miles to the
southwest With the Hawaiian Is
lands in the possession of an enemy,
such thanking position would be fatal.
That line of traffic would inevitably
ships and cargoes, but what would
he incidentally more serious, the COM
plete destruction of the inhabitants
of the Yukon valley through destitu-
tion of supplies"
The correspondent adds:
The topic of the above remarks has
Ebeen confined to the Yukon valley. 1t is
in place here to note that in occupying
that region much of the great stream OF
immigration will inevitably be diverted 10
the intervening district of southeastern
Ala ska, which, in consequence, Is certain
to have its occupation greatly expedited.
That territory abounds in the richest re-
sources of timber, mines and fisheries.
| as well as having much agricultural
capacity 1t is fully capable of sustain
| ing a prosperous population of one mill
| ion Is ii not reasonable to expect that
within ten or fifteen years at least 100000
people will become settled in the Sitla
region in consequence of the Yukon eH-
| element? Thus it appears that a new
and prosperous American state is likely
| soon to be formed in the far north, whose
| line of ocean traffic will cross those of
other states at this central meeting point
| of Honolulu. Many of your papers and
public men express a strong aversion to
| any extension of national bounds beyond
the limits of the continent, which, they
say, is large enough for all national
wants, while outside possessions, like
Hawaii, can only bring embarrassment
and be burden. But it is now made to
appear in q most emphatic and cOnspicu-
Gus manner, that in Alaska, you already
hold a vast possession which for all prac-
tical purposes, and to all actual intents,
is a long way outside of your continent,
and as far remote from the rest of your
territories as any part of western Europe.
You own Alaska; you mean to keep and
enjoy II; you would deride the idea of sur
| it constitutes a most important element
| in that empire over the North Pacific
which belong to the United States. Yet
| how far away Alaska is. Hawaii, which
some of you would reject as remote ana
alien. is much nearer than the Yukon
| and far easier TO reach, besides being the
strategic key 10 the ocean-defense of your
! Pacific coast, as well as the key to your
| commercial domination of the North Pa
cifc. and now appearing most conspicu-
ously of all as the key to the protection
| of your line OF communication with
| Alaska itself.
Craftsmanship builds for the future
The future calls for American occupa-
tion, fortifcation and defense OF the
Hawaiian islands.