New-York tribune., 1902-07-14
THE VALUE OF ALASKA.
A MILLION A MONTH WHAT THE TERRI
TORY OFFERS IN TRADE TO THE
UNITED STATES

Washington. July ID (SpeciaD.-A million dollars
month is the estimate made by the Bureau of
Statistics Of the present value of the market which
frozen Alaska" offers the producers and manu-
facturers OF the United States.
Commercial Alaska in 1901" is the title of a
monograph just issued by the Treasury Bureau of
Statistics In it presented some striking figures
about this until recently little exploited and little
understood Territory of the United States. By rea-
of the application of modern systems Of travel
and transportation Alaska is accessible
Arizona. Three days OF travel by modern ocean
steamers from Seattle among the islands and
along the coast which forms the southeastern eX-
tension OF Alaska lands the traveller at Skagway.
Twelve hours by rail the mountains carries
him to the head waters of the Yukon, where com
Portable and well equipped river steamers carry
him to the gold field of central Alaska or down the
Yukon River. which is navigabe for more than
two thousand miles at this season of the year.
From the mouth Of the Yukon another compare
lively short trip by steamer carries him to Cape
Nome. the latest and greatest OF the gold fields OF
Alaska
Cold fish and furs are according to this mono
graph, the principal industries of Alaska at the
present time and they send the United States
10000 worth OF their products sS00o00o Of gold.
100000 of fish. chiefly salmon. and the remainder
in furs
The cost Of Alaska was s7.2oo.ooo. The revenue
which the government has derived from 1t since its
purchase amounts to over 100000. and the value
Of the products is now twice as much every year
IL cost. The total value OF the products OF
Alaska brought TO the United States since its pur-
chase is according to the best estimates that the
Bureau Of Statistics is able TO make, about $780,.
o00,o00 OF which &00o0.0o0 is precious metals. &O-
100000 products of the fisheries. chiefly salmon, and
$5O,oOoooo more furs chiefly seal fur. Probably
S50000O00 Of American capital is invested in Alaskan
industries and business enterprises including trans
portation systems. In the salmon fisheries alone
the companies engaged have a capitalization of
s22 oo00OO and the value of their plants. including
M S,Frf,tr IN
dustries there large investments. the great
quartz mill at Juneau being the largest quartz
stamp mill in the world. while several other quartz
mills represent large investments.
With the inflow of capital. the development OF
transportation systems and the gold discoveries
have the building up of towns and the de-
velopment OF cities with modern conveniences OF
life. Nome City, which is a comparatively short
distance south of the Arctic Circle has
population of twelve thousand Postal facili-
ties have been extended that the number of
posto1ces is now about sixty and mails are being
Agricultural possibilities in Alaska have until
within a recent period been considered of slight
Importance. AS the country explored however,
and its conditions Of climate and soil were studied.
its G and prn
tions, it became apparent that the agricultural
south and southeast. where the climate is modified
by the Japan current were OF SO r sb Inn
at least part Of the food supply Of the e ~
sustain and make permanent These observations
and experiments lead those who have partcipatetd
them the belief that vegetables IN great Varl-
ETY. 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 cattle abundant and the expert
merits with live stock thus far justify the belief
that this feature Of the food requirements of
Alaska may be furnished by the development OF
stock farms in the southern sections.
In the north vast areas are covered with moss
similar to that upon which the reindeer thrives in
other parts Of the arctic regions. and in view OF
this fact the introduction of reindeer from Siberia
was begun a few years ago, and has proved eX-
tremely successful, about three Thousand now being
distributed through northwest Alaska. The
pertinent has advanced sufficiently to Justify the
CONFIDENT belief that the reindeer will within few
years prove important feature In furnishing
both the transportation and food supply or north
ern and northwestern Alaska.
The gross Of Alaska is, according to the 1900
census $50 s square miles. The Governor OF Alaska
in recent report states that this is equal to the
combined area of the twenty States of Maine, New
Fampshire. Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut. New;YoTk New-Jersey PennsXivainia'
North Carolina South Carolina Georgia, Florida,
Alabama Mississippi and Tennessee.