Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-07-07
THE GROWTH OF ALASKA.


graph prepared by the Treasury depart
ment Of statistics contains the state
ment that not until Hawaii and Porto
Rico were made customs districts has
il been possible to secure any statistics
regarding the development of Alaska
either domestic or in its trade relations
with the states.
People of the United States are to
all intents and purposes just waking
up to the fact that Alaska exists.
Hitherto It has been slated as part OF
the frozen north which should be al
lowed to freeze. The finding of gold and
the announcement of a representative
of the Department of Agriculture that
the American Siberia has enough fer
tile land to support population of sew
eral millions. have brought Alaska out
of the woods so to speak and given 1t a
place as a part of the country worth no.
tice. The statstician finds that he has
nothing to start in with. Aside from
the statistics of population published
by the census, and statements Of the
number OF fur seals taken by the les
sees of the Pribilof Islands, the mum.
Der of cans of salmon packed, and the
number of fish taken as reported by the
special agent of the Treasury Depart
ment, and the statements of gold pro
duction reported by the Mint Bureau,
little information of a statistical nature
is available. Even these reports arc
extremely meager and in most cases
the statements are simply those OF
quantity unaccompanied by estimates
of value. The shipments of merchan'
disc between the United States and
Alaska have been considered as coast
wise commerce and no reports of tht
value of merchandise so Transported
/ have been made to the collectors
while in many cases the manifests arc
so indefinite in statements of quantity
that It has been found difficult to OBJ
| tain satisfactory estimates in detail o
! the movements of merchandise into anC
out OF Alaska. The fluCtuation II
prices of the seal and other furs and tn
salmon and other fish. which have been
until recent years. the chief industrie
of Alaska. coupled with the fact that il
the official reports only quantities wer
stated, have in the past rendered de
tailed statements of values year b.
year difficult. The statements whic
are presented as to the industries an
their result from a financial standpoint
are the results of careful inquire
from collectors of customs both /
Alaska and the United States by tn
various governors of Alaska and thei
subordinates and by the special agent
of the Government appointed to repoI
upon the various industries.
In general terms it may be said tina
Alaska. for which the United state
paid Russia ST,2OO.OOO in 1867. has SUI
piled furs. fish and gold amounting
about Sl5O.OOO,OOO in value, abou
equally divided between these thre
items; that the investments of capiti
from the United States in Alaska al
probably S25.OOO,O 900 with 4 large add
tional sum invested in transportatio
to that Territory; and that the annui
shipments of merchandise to AlasR
now aggregate more than $l2,OOO,OO
and have aggregated since the purcha'
nearly or quite SlOO,0OO,OOO. Meal
time the population has grown from
estimated 80. 900 ct the date of the pu
, chase to 32,O52 in 1890 1882 in 1870
and an estimated $4,000 at the presel
@ time.
; The number of fur seals taken on Il
q Pribilof Islands from 1870 to 1901
2.lS7,317. and the value of the seal al
!, other furs taken since the purchase
=, Alaska by the United States is est
: mated at about s5O,OOO,OOO. The f
seal industry, which has declined
the last few years, was succeeded
the fishing industry, Alaska now su
plying about one-half of the salmon
Y the country. The value of the saline
n pack in Alaska last year is estimat
n at about $7,OOOOOO, and the total val
il of the fish taken in Alaska since t
o purchase, about s5O,OOOOOO; while I
5 value of gold and silver mined since I
ii purchase Is also about $50,000,O00.
=