The herald., 1898-02-21
CALIFORNIA; INTEREST IN
ALASKA

California has everything to gain and
very little to lose by the prospective
invasion en- masse of the Alaskan ter
ritory. 1t does not follow that all, or
nearly all. who go there the coming sea-
son will remain. Indeed, it is likely that
a consdera BILE proportion of the pilgrims
will return, after spending the money
they take with them and demonstrating
their inability to adapt themselves to
the existing conditions. But on their
way back to civilization in it's more
agreeable forms they will meet with
and pass other armies of ardent spir-
its, equally inspired by hope, undaunted
by the failures of the many and deter
mined to see for themselves what the
country offers in the way of reward for
pluck, energy and perseverance. And
thus for seasons to come we shall, in all
probability, witness restless movement
to and from the great northwest penin-
sula, the preponderance in numbers con-
stantly shifting from one element to the
other, as reports of discoveries inspire
the newcomers to press on, or the knoWl-
edge of failures and disappointments and
losses speed the footsteps of the home
ward bound.
Estimates as to the number who will
go in the coming season range between
one and five hundred thousand, but we
are inclined to think the maximum num-
Der of pilgrims has not yet been ven-
tured by the more optimistic. Assuming
that it has. however, and that half a
million people are preparing to go in
during the next six months, how little
of an impetus would be required to
double the number? Full and authentic
confirmation Of the strikes already re-
ported, coupled with half a dozen addl-
tional discoveries in the field known to
be mineralizad or in virgin territory
contiguous, would be sufficient to "set
the country on fire" and to fix a resolve
in the minds of million other men
to try their fortunes in the new land
of promise.
Industrial conditions all over the
United States are such as to give en-
couragement to innumerable hosts of i
toilers to venture into Alaska out of
sheer desperation with their present lot
and unpromisng prospects. Indeed, the |
number to go would be limited only by
the means at hand for the expenses of !
the long journey, and not a few humble |
homesteads would be pledged to the
money loaner in that behalf.
Whether in the precious metal re-
sources of Alaska there is justification
for any such stampede is matter be
longing wholly to the field of conjecture. |
Only time will demonstrate the extent
and value of the deposits. If the aurlfer- /
Gus wealth of the country is confined /
to placers, its exhaustion will be only
question Of a few years at best, albeit
the richest claims may be worked out
in a single season with modern appli- |
ances. But mining authorities, the
learned as well as the unlettered in the
science of geology, are strong in the con-
viction that the source of the gulch gold
will be uncovered in the higher eeva-
tions, a theory that will take a long
time to demonstrate. The search for it |
will begin in earnest only when all of I
the mineralized sections along the
streams have been taken up and the
rrospectors are forced into the surround
ing hills
For long time the consumers will