The Alaska prospector., 1902-05-15
SOME ADVANTAGES
Of Alaska in General and this Sec
 ton in Particular.

COunITN. aShihS "'hV'' 'ihuihci- able questions regarding this coun- try. Many of these questions would require Philadelphia law yer to answer. They vary in inn portancc, and include nearly everything imaginable, from the price of can of tomatoes to the advisability of expending hun dred thousand dollars in mining property. The country is so vast that it is almost impossible to answer all the questions, but there are few general ones that can be answered.
 The population of Alaska is about 6O,OOO. It has the greatest fisher ies and the richest gold mines in the country. There are no poison ous berries, vines or reptiles here. The waters are pure and cool and sickness among the white popula- tion Is almost unknown. Almost the entire district abounds in game, fish, berries, wild flowers and grasses. The climate in southern Alaska is much preferable to that of many of the northern states.
 Very few children in the south ern district ever wear furs, and dur ing the winter enjoy all kinds of outdoor sports. It is very un- common thing for the schools to close single day on account of cold weather. The snowfall is from two to six feet in the winter, and there is considerable rain in the summer. At Valdez the ther- mometer seldom falls to 10 below zero, and in the summer goes as high as 95 in the shade. The eli mate of this whole southern and western coast is about the same. In the interior the temperature some time falls to 50 below zero, but it is still dry cold, and is not dis agreeable or dangerous. Occasion- ally people freeze to death, but in nearly every instance it has been caused by their own folly, or ignor- ance of the country and its condi- tiOns.
 No more beautiful or healthful summer climate can be found than in Alaska, and some day it will be a great resort for invalids.
 We believe that Alaska is the richest possession of the United States. The great mineral resour- ces of the country have just been barely opened, There are thou sands of square miles of country that have never been prospected at all, and much of the country that has been opened up, has been barely scratched over. There is no doubt but that there are many as rich, or even richer mines still to be discovered.
 When railroads are built in this country, placer and quartz mines will be opened up by the score, which would not pay to work now, on account of the cost of trans porting supplies to these points.
 The fishing industry is some thing wonderful at present, and is growing in magnitude every year. The fur industry is also large, and ii properly protected by the govern ment, will be paying business for years to come.
 The agricultural possibilities of the country are great, and farming and stockraising will some day be d great business in Alaska. h. stead of shipping thousands of tons of meat and vegetables every year, these things can all be produced here and the farmer and stock raiser can do good and paying business.
 There is room in this great coun- try for thousands of families, and We honestly believe they could make good comfortable livings, and save money beside. Gardening, stock raising, fishing, mining, hunting, trapping, working in the placer and quartz mines and many other pursuits could be followed, giving both summer and winter employ