The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-30
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oNG ago some one christened
Alaska tho great treasure
III house Of the world That It
was q title well bestowed IL
LIZ demonstrated by the fact that
during the past four years the
sold production of Alaska and the Brit
lsh Yukon Is In excess Of $4,000 900. The
statement Ia not carelessly made: 1t Is
borne out by facts and figures Of the
mints and assay offices Of the country.
Seattle has ever held the lead in the de-
velopment Of Alaska She attained this
position years ago, and has steadfastly
held 1t, despite the fact that 1t was at
times bitterly and stubbornly contested
BY other Pacific coast cities notably Ia
coma. Portland and San Francisco. 1t
Was not q case Of wrestling from rival
cities trade they had acquired, fully
realizing the importance OF the general
trend In direction OF developing the north
In Z commercial and mining sense. Sc
attic set about 10 win and to hold its Inn
mense business. While her ambitions
wsrs It no time seriously threatened from
any quarter, she soon distanced all COM
petibors. outdoing. In fact. her own ex-
pectations.
From year to year its trade has grown,
each exceeding the next past In volume,
untiA 1900 practically doubled tho trans
ACTIONS Of the previous tweavemonth In
tho face Of those happy and more than
satisfactory achievements. Seattle has
every reason to expect far greater COM
merciai results from Alaska IN 1901 than
she attained during the closing year Of
the nineteenth century.
The story Of seattle's success In the
matter Of Alaskan trade and development.
we'll known and familiar ~ It II to the
business public. may be recalled with
Bride and interest in any account Of the
eolden northland. The details, however.
Of the purchase of the country for 81
oo,0oo from Russia and the historic nego-
cations Of Secretary Seward leading up
70 the acquisition Of what many termed
vast land Of icebergs need not be re-
cftod, nor more than mere mention Of
tho mAllions made by the pioneer trad
ing and exploration companies In the
taking Of seals. furs and fisl. Two de-
cAdss agV such thing ~ regular line
of steamers between any port ana Alaska
was not thought Of.
In the light Of modern trade. the past
years business OF Seattle with Alaska
vas little less than phenomenal. Nome
alone received for consumption over 100.-
o00 tons Of general merchandise. fuel. ma
chInery and lumber. The figures are
given upon tho authority Of Lieut.. d. H.
Jarvis. During the summer and until late
in the fall, Lieut.. Jarvis was stationed at
Nome in the capacity OF special agent
Of the United States treasury.
According 10 the same source Of in
formal ton. there we're $50 steam and sail
ing vessels engaged as freight and pas
scnger carriers. This great fleet, In adj
dition to the transportation OF the enor-
NOUS amount OF cargo. took on their
combined voyages 1850 passengers. ev-
cry one Of whom landed at Nome and
ports OF adjacent districts. About 1850
people went to Nome by way of Skag-
way and the aIl-Yukon route swelling the
population. with the 5000 that winterod
at Nome. to a grand total of 1900. That
Is estimated by the most competent au-
thorities on Alaskan statistical affairs to
have been tho maximum population Of tho
so-calied Nome district during 1900
OF the total number OF 2000O people
seeking transportation to Nome the man
agsrs OF the larger steamship lines es-
timated that Seattle outfitted and provid-
cd transportation for at least three
fourths OF the passengers and shipped q
proportionate amount of the freight. or
otherwise putting H. she gave passage to
1900 OF the Nome fortune seekers and
shipped 7A0o tons OF their supplies.
Various estimates have been given as
TO the average tariff passenger and
freight, on transportation from Seattle 10
Nome. During second and third voyages,
nrst-ctass tickets were TO he had as low
as so. while on the first voyage. first
GLASS berths ranged al the way from
SO to s2Q1. Probably nVc-siNths OF those
who went to Nome left on the first vow
ago OF tho respective vessels. as many
MS could he accommodated travelling On
tirst-ciass tickets. Failing first-ciass
transportation. many 0f course were COM
PEELED 10 50 second class and not few
BY steerage These tickets sold at from
So 60 Size. 50 $50 would probably be the
average per passenger, This involved the
payment OF si.N0eoo for passenger trans
portation alone A. 10 The freight local
steamship managers are agreed that the
rats averaged no, less than $40 ton. or
total OF Sl,co0.ooo paid for merchandise
shipments. Assuming these figures 20 be
correct the receipts II the various com-
rSniss. concerns and Individuals for
northboand Nome transportation reached
the grand total OF stSSeo0a
Probably io.oo people returned from
Nome BY way OF Seattle, and figuring
their passage al an average OF sao per cap-
TIA. the transportation company receipts
from this source cquaied seoo. eOo About
Sooo people are wintering fl Nome and
adjoining districts; about 5000 shipped for
San Francisco or went up tha Yukon
These figures do not take into account
the larger c'st az the goods all pur-
chased 81 Seattle mcrchants. which were
well into the millions. nor the great sums
paid for charter OF vessels owned In Sc
attlei nor the beneats accraing IN the
nature OF employment for many men
ashore ana afioat TO operate them. Trans
pettation men believe that the nrst cost
OF the goods shipped equsllea the COM
eined transportation charges. freight and
passenger and return passage money. On
this basis, Seattle alone did business
amounting 20 $4,000 With Nome last
year.
Feese nguros. e Is predicted. do not
bean To represent The business OF 1901
Mhtse not 50 many people will seek Nome
as iass season, there is ample reason
In View OF the general preparations for
Akk1Qelke ussnlnE deN ole pulsuf 10 thar dis.