The Iola register., 1900-12-07

large as all New England. IL mas
coast line of 5000 miles. A line that
would encircle the entire globe. 1t is
rich in gold, silver, copper, iron, coal
and petroleum. In the thirty three
years that it has been in our posses
sion it has returned $50 million dol
lars for the less than seven and one
half millions invested. Its salmon
fisheries alone return $4,000 yearly.
More than twice the purchase
price.
We used to think of Alaska as a
land of ice without exception, and yet
only four times in thirty-four years
has the temperature of Sitka, its capi-
tai, dropped below zero and in some
places along the coast frost is un-
known. We used to think the chief
and almost the sole products of Alas
ka we're Indians and fish, Esquimaux
and frs; and yet there are thousands
of acres of land in southern Alaska,
warmed by the life giving Japan cur
rent that yields luxuriant pasturage.
The Interior of few weeks ago said:
"There is fattening pasture enough in
southern Alaska to furnish 200 million
pounds of first class beef per annum. :"
William Dali, of the Smithsonian In.
stitute, says, after careful investiga-
tion, he is convinced Alaska is far
better country than Norway, much Of
Scotland and even parts ofthe German
empire.
Across the mountains and into the
interior of course we have different
conditions from what found i'm the
south. Yet DR.. sheldon Jackson says
that the stocking Of central Alaska
with tame reindeer by the government
means the opening up of that coun-
try to the white settler and civilization
and the opening up of anindustry that
will yield from 50 to 100 million
dollars.
Now these are just few Of the facts
which together with its immense gold
deposits foreshadow thecomiug great
ness of Alaska.
What will be the character of its in
habitants is the vital question. At
this time it is one of the most thinly
populated countries on the face of the
globe, there being only one person to
every nineteen square miles and hav-
ing total population of less than 50,
600. But these thousands are our own
and look to us for salvation, ask il of
us and expect it too, and if they are
saved at all it must be through our
efforts; and to considerable extent
the efforts of the Presbyterian church,
for our church was first IN this field
and is established there as no other
church is.
The origin of the Alaskan Indian is
a question amoug scientists, some
holding that they come from the in
terror and are descendants of the
Aztecs whom Cortez robbed and drove
from their homes in Mexico. Others
contend that they are of Asiatic ori.
gin. They possess many of the char
acteristics of the japanese. 1t Is
thought by some that many years ago
a japanese junk was caught ina storm
swept into the Japan current and cast
away on one of the Alaskan islands.
Such an incident did occur not many
years ago and one man lived to tell
the story. BE that, as it may, they
are "A race distinct from, and vastly
superior to the American red Indian.
They are surprisingly intelligent,
taking readily to books and becoming
especially proficient in mathematics.
1t is said by those who know that they
compare tavorably with the most in
telligent immigrants that come into
our ports from foreign lands. In the
early days many of the natives were
cannibals. On the death of chief
several of his slaves were cooked up
and their bodies eaten in order that
their spirits might accompany their
masters to the happy hunting ground,