The evening times., 1902-07-12
TRADE WORTH 4
MILLION / MONTH
Alaska Now as Easily Ae-
CesSible as Arizona.
GOLD AND FISH EXPORTED
Yearly Exports Fifteen Million Dollars
Original Cost Of Alaska Less Than
Half This sum-Nome a City of
Ia,ooo People.

-~jSoS 4 Sok k+Ss
a million dollars month is the estf-
mate usaie By the Bureau Of Statistics
OF the present value OF the market
which frozen Alaska offers the pro-
ducers aad manufacturers Of the United
States.
Commercial Alaska in 1901" is the
title of q monograph just issued by the
bureau. In It are presented some strik-
ing figures about this until recently lit
tle explored and little Understood Ter
ritory OF the Unfted States.
By reason OF the application Of mod
ern systems OF travel and transporta-
ton, ALASKA IS row as accessible as
arizona. Three days OF travel By mod
ern ocean steamers from Seattle. among
the islands and along the coast which
forms the southeastern extension OF
Alaska. lands the traveller at Skagway;
twelve hours by rail over the noun
ta:ns carries him TO the heaavaters OF
the Yukon. where comfortable and we'll
equipped river steamers carry him to
the gold fields of central Alaska or
down the Yukon River, which is naviga-
bic for more than 1000 miles at this
season Of the year. From the mouth
OF the Yukon another comparatively
short trip, by steamer. carries him to
Cape Nome the latest and greatest Of
the gold feds Of Alaska.
Gold, Fish. and Furs.
Gold. fish, and furs are. according to
this monograph. the principal exports
OF ALASKA ut the present time. and they
send 10 the United States annually sf5.-
999,G3e worth Of their products. IS .00g.-
eco Of goId. $6.o0o,0e0 Of FISH. chiefly SAL
mon. and the remainder furs.
The cost of Alaska was s.. .200. 900. TIE
revenue which the Government has de-
rived from It since its purchase amounts
to over s., 9,o0e. .o06, and the value OF the
PRODUCTS are acw twice as much every
year as it cost. The total value OF the
PRODUCTS OF Alaska brought 10 the Unit
ed States since its purchase Is. accord
ing to the best estimates that the Bu-
7eau Of Statistics is able TO make, about
$I50, 500 090, Of whi.h s50. 900. 900 is Urec
ious metals, $50, eco products of the
fisheries. chiefly salmon. and S50. .000, 900
more in furs. cnieay. zeal fur.
Fifty Millions interested.
Probably s5o,ooo, zoo Of american cap
ital IS invessed in Alaskan industries
and business enterprises, including
transportation systems. In the salmon
fisheries alone the companies engaged
have capitalization of So, 100000, and
The value Of their plants, including yes
sells. is given al 81. .000. COO.
In the mining industries there are
large investments. the great quartz mill
at Juneau being the largest quartz
stamp mill n the world. while several
ether quartz mills represent large in
vsstments. With the inflow OF capital.
the development of transportation
systems, and the gold discoveries, has
come the building up of towns and the
development OF cities with modern con-
vsnienees Of life
Nome City. which is located but q
comparatively short distance south OF
the Arctic Circle. has now a population
of over 12,GG0; postal facilities have
been so extended that the number OF
postoffices is now about sixty and mails
are being regularly delivered north OF
the Arctic Circle.
Agricultural Possibilities.
Agricultural possibilities in Alaska
nave until within recent period, been
considered OF but slight Importance. Az
the country was explored. however, and
its conditions Of climate and SOL
studied. its natural products observed,
and experiments made with various
classes OF agricultural productions. it
became apparent that the agricultural
possibilities OF the country, and especf-
ally Of the south and southeast. where
the climate is modified by the Japan
current. were of considerable import
ance in view OF the praeticability Of
furnishing al least q part of the food
supply OF the population which tEs
varied resources Of Alaska seem likely
70 sustain and make permanent
May Grow Wheat and Oats.
These observations and experiments
lead those who have participated "a
them to the belief that vegetables in
great variety can be produced all along
the southern coast and in the valley Of
the Yukon, and by some the possibility
of the successful production OF wheat
and oats is strongly supported.
The grasses for the support OF cattEa
are abundant, and the experiments with
live stock thus far justify the belief that
this feature Of the food requirements
OF Alaska may be furnished by the de-
veIopment OF stock farms in the south
ern sections
In the north vast areas are covered
with moss similar TO that upon which
The reindeer thrives in other parts OF
OF the Arctic regions and in view OF
this fact the Introduction Of reindeer
from Siberia was begun a few years
since and has proved extremely success
ful, about 3.o00 now being distributed
through Northwest Alaska and the
experiment has advanced sufficiently
to justify the confident belief that
the reindeer win within few years
prove an important feature in furnishing
both the transportation and food supply
of Northern aud Northwestern Alaska.
Area Equal to Twenty States.
The gross area Of Alaska is. accord
ing TO the 1900 census. $50. sol. Tba