New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-13

the wild rush for gold; then abnormal growth
IN tributary industries. then wholesale ana
rand EXPANSION on natura' lines IL IS true
that Alaska has not the sunny vineyards the
teerning fruit gardens and the broad ana ferl"e
fields 81 California, but ~ its resources "h'c"
are known Il may be said that IN addluoh u
IT'S possibilities. nay surety. OF much go'' "
holds the worlds greatest reserve OF umper' ~
lands are full OF coal. II has the hRest grazing
land tor cattle and IFS fisheries are unsurpassed
Disregarding however the uncertainties OF
future development. let US consider solely the
necessities. now plainly apparent OF the go'o-
saaLer While a multitude Of the latter seem 70
no ,-anar,ng FOR the new Eldorado. many must
fau N find II owing 70 the lack FOR the time at
least OF transportation facilities. The proDleih
O, the carriage OF even fraction OF the waiting
.,-o,g over the miles Of sea and river 10 the
r<londike IL one involving for the present the
gravest difficulties The distance from Seattle
~ c, Michaels Is 800 miles by sea. and AFTER
.he latter port is reached there are still 2,JOO
miles O, the Yukon 70 traverse by river steam
ers. which as yet DO not exist
with each Alaskan emgrant from Seattle
.re-a must 20 a ton OF supplies for clothing and
sus.enance. a ton Of fuel for his warmth during
mo winter. and a considerable weight az lum-
ber FOR his housing To these there must De
added materials Of construction for the great
number Of small and light-draught YUKON
cleaners vet 70 be transported In sections 20
ord erected upon the banks OF that river ana
The fuel for the use OF this river fleet whicn VII!
average not less than two tons for each goIo
miner and his baggage, stores. lumber etc Ac-
cording 10 a conservative estimate embracing
~ - the items noted above. to transport nifty
81
ond materials will require an ocean service Civ
,,g a, least one arrival Ter day az St Michaels
~ large steamers from Seattle during the I'VE
months Of available summer weather
ono arrfyat day means. as well. an average
Of one departure day AZ hfteen Knots sp a.,
cleaners will cover the distance Of twenty-five
burdred miles between he two ports In seven
davs Admitting the premises. as above. there
viii then be always en- route during 'he tllIe
noted fourteen large steamers, or thtr equNd-
L.. ~ a greater number Of smaller and slower
,.assels steam or sail-those outward bound car
r,.-rg stores without which the Yukon settlers
iti ,.orish and our interests there be destroyed,
,bas5 returning freighted It Is hoped. like the
eaiiaors ~ old Spain. with much treasure.
S,,restsd by herculean toll from a frozen and
unyielding soil
EXPOSED TO HOSTILE FLEETS.
=, ,ha event o, conflict between the United
GATES and 4 maritime Power. this throng OF
.,siv laden but helpless vessels Will present 70
49, enemy a noble field sor attack by the
..o,,e-ra dc course" that 'commerce-destroyin
,.r,ch erst formed a factor II naval war dur
49,, the relgh Of Elizabeth Of England. which
- .ouov, I'd with such deadly effect by the
aIabsuna and her consOrts. and which has at
,bis time many strong advocates. notably in
tha United states and France
~oy- Hawaii commands fully this ocean
t n distance from IL Of less than twen-
- e. hundred nies.nlt five days steaminS
- he cruiser Columb!a-and In that thanking
,osi,tor which VIII give naval force USING u
rs. such immense power To harass and
s...~,,, Tho Klondke s ca7ada's. soon she
,,tu douhtless lay down railways reachlng us
ri,nl,s Great Britain VIII then nave not ohly
co. the gold lands but Tor All Alaska the sur
..,o.strg Strategic advantages Of Inner lines on
prteh >, onerate In the event Of war Alaska
" ~ ne practically an oversee province our
- -, ,asrs ~ communication with II would ap-
So - - a, least to be an ocean route. Shall
- - h,-ard the safety Of Stewards Imperial ter
-, COR this and for all time by refusing Ha-
,,,aU the ocean fortress which IN our hands,
with an adequate naval iorce would make our
siaskan lines OF transit unassaiabe by any
foe? ,
,ofrt 81 prime importance have been set forth
- ativ and so often as 10 foi bid their citation
Scre one or two objections raised by not a
,evy non-technicsl critics may. however. be con-
sldered Pearl Harbor IL ~ enty-one hundred
miles from our western coast. and Madeira Is
about the same distance from our eastern
shore The latter has little, II any. military
value Why. then, should Hawaii parted by
the same stretch Of sea exceed IL in Importance
The critics forget that the paramount worth Of
the Hawaiian group In war will lie. first, in
the fact that the Pacific is SO broad that It's