Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-26


halibut are taken in southeast Alaska
and shipped to ports on Puget Sound
and thence to various parts of the
United States in refrigerator cars. Her
ring, oolachin and great variety OF
other fish, as we'll as crabs, clans anC
cookies, are abundant. AS resource fol
future development. attention is callee
to the vast cod banks, aggregating
many thousands of square miles of fish
ing grounds along the shores of Alaska
hitherto untouched.
The mining industry has been vigor-
ously prosecuted during the year. The
development of the gold fields in the re-
gion of Nome has been greatly hamp-
cred by litigation. The output from
this district for the present season is
estimated at $4,000 600 The mines a
| the headwaters of the Koyukuk have
| attracted much attention. The Porcu.
| pine and Tanan districts have also beer
very productive. The operations OF
three mining companies on Douglas
Island, in southeastern Alaska, have
been greatly extended. They now OPP
crate 500 stamps. These companies
make handsome profits and distribute
large sums in wages. The Berners
Bay, Snettisham, Rodham Bay, Ketchi-
|. ho MI uS il, nd
Eagle are other we'll established quartz
mines in southeastern Alaska. The
shipments from the mines on Unga
Island, in western Alaska, are estimated
at $4,000 per month. Silver and plati-
mum have been found in paying guam
titles, and there have been allegations
of discoveries of tin and cinnabar.
Mountains of iron are available, but
very little attention is paid to iron on
account of the search for gold. Copper
mines have been opened upon the shores
of Prince William Sound, Prince OF
Wales, and Dali Island
The governor expresses the opinion
that the mining interests in Alaska
have become so extensive and valuable
as to render advisable the appointment
of commissioner of mines whose duty
would be to exercise general supervision
over the mining operations in the dis
trict, to protect mining companies
against unjust litigation for damages.
and to require the companies to conform
to regulations prescribed for the protec-
of miners.
The timber of Alaska is an import
ant item of its wealth; the forests are
almost tropical in their luxuriance and
impenetrableness. The whole under
surface of the land is covered with a
heavy growth of moss, which holds wa
ter like a sponge; large spruce and
hemiock grow upon the rocky mountain
sides with apparently no soil whatever,
and the young timber takes hold and
grows very rapidly. Climatic condi-
lions are such that in southeastern
Alaska there is but little danger from
forest fires. The governor states that
there should be applied to this great
timber reserve the preventative meth
DDS Of modern forestry There have been
wanton depredations by people from
along the Portland canal, but the gen
eral land office has this matter In hand
now ard will doubtless be able to stop
further stealing Of timber in that di-
rection.
The governor urges that congress pass
a bill declaring the legai status of ma
tives Of Alaska.
A notable change, it is stated, has oc-
CURED during the past year in public
opinion regarding the wisdom of stock
ing Arctic Alaska with reindeer, and
the people are beginning to appreciate
the true value of these animals as a
factor in developing the resources OF
northern Alaska. Two hundred deer of
much larger and stronger breed than
that in use in this country were I'M
ported from Russia during the summer
and delivered at the Teller reindeer sta
ton at Port Clarence. There are now
Alp reindeer in nine herds in the dis
trict of Alaska.
In recapitulating the legislative need
of Alaska the governor states that the
people want,the land laws in their full
ness, the lands surveyed for immediate
settlement, and delegate in congress.
,ou. np,u,oMc AVN NorEc