New-York tribune., 1898-11-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SOME GLIMPSES OF ALASKA.

ALASKA It's Neglected Past Its Brilliant Future
By Bushrod Washington James. octave. pp
~. Philadelphia: The Sunshine Publishing
Company
THROUGH THE GOLD FIELDS OF ALASKA
TO BEHRING STRAITS pS. ~ HsTTy ,o InSia se "Tn W
Map and Illustrations. Octave PIP. Sl'
Harper & Brothers
This book on the far Northern country is full
Of information. but 1t is one in which descrip-
tion and the actual present situation Of affairs
overbalance the history. Mr.. James is Jealous OF
what he deems the encroachments of Great
Britain OF the Alaskan boundary. He is. per-
haps. justified in his censrrcs But as long as
there is nothing but gold in the upper Yukon
country. censurc Is wasted. Gold is unlike any
other crop. 1t impoverishes the country from
which It is taken II California had nothing but
the gold which has now been taken from II. IT
would be poor indeed There is an indisputa bic
lesson OF history which should be added as foot
note TO every book about gold region For al
most two centuries Spain controlled the gold ana
silver output Of the world. These two centuries
were a time in which civilized peoples every
where were learning how 10 work and trade
Spain learned nothing. She developed nothing
but gold and silver and these simply passed
through her hands 10 enrich others VINO hao
something TO trade for the gold When the
placers and quartz lodges Of the Yukon have
been exhausted, unless there is something else
IN the soil to keep men alive and 10 enable them
70 keep their wealth. the country Will never
raise a riprle in international affairs. One
might as we'll expect an international quarrel
over the Desert OF Sahara At the present mo-
ment the Canadian police guard the Kondike'
but almost every pinch Of gold dust passes
through the United states 1t does not need on
Adam Smith to tell us who makes the money
Of
covers how to raise wheat in tho Yukon valley.
then the case will be different.
MFR dc WIndts book is that OF the traveller
and explorer only Something OF the freshness
@. his narrative IS gone now. since the features
Of the route from th9 sea TO the klondike nave
been 50 often described by writers OF all classes
But Mr. de Windt after leaving Alaska and
crossing 70 Asia fell among people almost un-
known 20 the rest Of tho world He meant to
have gone from New York TO Paris afoot. but
he found that Rehring Straits were never closed
bv ice as he 1ad hoped. He crossed to Asia as
best he could thinking that no might proceed
from there on his land journey. But he and his
companion fell into the hands Of tribe. the
Tchuktchi which f5urcs in his description as
the flthiest and most treacherous race on earth.
Tho chief promised TO guide him through the
wilds 10 90 nearest Russian settlement. but
nothing W. ',rther from his real intention
He ard his trio-smen first robbed the travellers
Of all their property. except what was IN actual
use Only good store of pistols and cartridges
kept him from numbering his guests. The doc
tors of the tribe took umbrage at the superior
magic Of Mr.. de Wndts medicine chest This
chest however. secured faithful friends Inc
division between rich and poor is broad one
among these people. and The poor are Vlr'uR4
slaves Of the mora wealthy class. Thelr poverty
prevented their getting drunk with the chief
and his following. and to their enforced sobrietY
the travellers often owed life aud safety. for
they came with warnings, and. II need were
acted as guards Worn out 10y disease and hope
lessncse the travellers managed at last to get
away from the horrd coast on an American
whaling ship in Mr. de Windts opinion the
time for land Journey from New-York to Paris
has not vet