The times., 1899-07-24
THE RICHNESS OF ALASKA.
senator Fnirbnnks' Description of
the Gold Country


the Gold Country.
Senator Fairbanks. of Indiana, Chair
| man of the American side of the Cana
dian American Joint High Commission.
who has just returned from Alaska. where
he went TO Investigate the boundary situa-
tion by going over the disputed territory,
talked very interestingly of that country
last night
Alaska is a very interesting country, =
began the Senator. and growing more and
more interesting every day. l refer par
ticularly 10 southwestern Alaska, for that
is the region / visited, and with which
am, OF course, the most familiar. On ac-
count of the recent large gold finds in that
country Alaska IS looked to today by
Americans as containing more possibilities
for wealth. combined with the fascination
of adventure, than any other part OF the
globe, The mineral wealth of the country
is not, as is generally believed, the only
profitable enterprise that can be engaged
in. The fish-canning industry and the fisn
oil manufactures are being worked on
large scale. The streams which empty into
the Pacific in southwestern Alaska are lit
orally alive w1lh salmon and halibut. The
salmon are canned and the halibut are
converted into fish oil, and what remains
OF the fish after the oil has been extracted
is converted into fertilizer and shipped to
Hawaii, where it is eagerly bought to en-
rich the sugar plantations.
The climate OF Alaska IS generally re,
garded as cold in the extreme and alto
gether disagreeable. While this may be
true particularly in the northern portion.
nevertheless there are many places and To-
calities where the climate is excellent, and
where practically an even temperature Is
maintained all the year round. At Sftka
Skaguay, Dyea, Juneau, and Wrangel the
weather is never unduly severe and the ex-
tremes of temperature are not great. The
coast Is within the influence OF the Japan
current. and it is quite common for peo-
pie to wear the same clothing the year
round The southwestern portion OF the
territory is very mountainous. There is
very little level land. This condition ap-
plies also to the islands lying off the coast
The country is filling up very rapidly with
an intelligent and energetic class of peo-
pie from all parts Of the United States
The Northern States, however. are contrib
uting more largely than any other section.
Many of these people who went to Alaska
to make a quick fortune and return, have
been so enamored with the country that
they have become permanent residents.
From what / saw, l regard the settle
ment of the country as permanent. There
is plenty of natural wealth to sustain a
large population, and although the placer
mining enterprise is not carried on TO any
extent in the portion of the territory which
/ visited, quartz mining is being made 10
pay handsomely. Tho Treadwell mines,
which work the largest number of stamp
mills of any mine in the world. are in
themselves an enterprise of vast magni-
tude. There are eight or nine hundred
stamps kept running day and night at these
mines. They run the entire year round.
with the exception of the Fourth OF July
and Christmas and while the ore is not OF
very high grade, the mines are paying
Handsomely. The mineral resources of this
section of the Territory are by no means
exhausted or discovered, and with the new
and cheap metho1T of handling ore, quartz
mining will remain a permanent and pay
ing industry in that section OF the country
for an indefinite number Of years to come.
The output is more certain and reliable.
although perhaps not always so profitable
as in the Klondike region, where the bust
ness is carried on by a single individual
who prospects through the country with
his pick and shovel and pan looking for
a rich pocket here and there.
There are many strikingly interesting
features OF the country which impress the
tourist For instance. the contrast be-
tween the older cities and those which
have recently sprung into existence is
most marked In Sitka many of the build
ings were constructed by the Russians
long before the treaty of Session in 1867
and their architecture is oddly antiquated
Among the most notable OF these is the
old Russian church.
"One thing which is strikingly apparent
is the lack of adequate laws and the ne
cessary means for their execution. 1t may
seem strange to say, but there is only one
judge In Alaska, Judge Johnson by name.
l met him and found him a very conscien-
tious and efficient officer 1t is, however.
a physical impcssibility for him to admin
lister justice for the many people and large
area of territory under his jurisdiction.
There should at least be two more judges
appointed. Another source OF great com
plant is the lack OF ability on the part of
citizens of many Of the cities to own the
land on which they have erected buildings
Under the present law there is no way by
which individuals can acquire title from
the Government OF town property AL
though Sitka is very old city, the houses
stand upon land owned by the Government
AT the last session of Congress a bill
extending code of civil laws over Alaska
was passed by the Senate but no action
was taken on It by the House. There will
doubtless be an effort made early in the
next Congress to have this or some sim
liar measure become a law"
Senator Fairbanks expects to leave the
city for his home in Il few days. He is
at present overwhelmed with the accumu-
lated business Of the past eight weeks, and
in addition is feeling the change in temper
ature between Alaska and Washington.