The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-02
CONCERNING THE MINES
OF FROZEN ALASKA
Country is Exceedingly Rich in Gold,
Fishes and Furs.


Country is Exceedingly Rich in Gold,
Fishes and Furs.
A monograph issued by the treasury
bureau of statistics estimates that the
present value OF the market which
frozen Alaska offers to the producers
and manufacturers Of the United
States amounts to $1,000,000 a month.
The pamphlet presents some striking
figures about this territory OF the Unit
ed States, Which until very recently
was very little understood and por-
lions of which yet remain to be ex-
plored. By reason, however, of the ap-
plication of modern systems Of trade
and transportation, Alaska is now in
great part unacceptable as most por-
lions of the great Northwest. Three
days travel by modern ocean steamers
from Seattle, among the islands and
along the coast which forms the south
eastern extension Of Alaska, lands the
traveller at Skagway; twelve hours by
rail over the mountains carries him
to the headwaters of the Yukon, where
comfortable and well equipped river
steamers carry him to the gold field
of Central Alaska or down the Yukon
river, which is nayigable 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
fields of Alaska.
Gold, fishes and furs> are, according
to the monograph. the principal indus
tries Of Alaska at the present time,
and they send to the United States
100000 worth of their products,
100000 gold, $6.000,0o0 of fish. chief
ly salmon, and the remainder furs.
The cost of Alaska was $7,200,000. The
revenue which the government has de-
rived from 1t since its purchase
amounts to over S900000 and the
value of the products are now twice
as much every year as it cost. The
total value of the products of Alaska
brought to the United States since it's
purchase (according to the best esti
mates that the bureau of statistics
is able to make) about $150,000,000, Of
which $50, 900, 5000 are precious metals,
$50, 100000 products of fisheries, chief
ly salmon, and $50,0e0,000 more furs,
chiefly seal fur. Probably $50,000,00D
Of American capital capital are in
vested in Alaska industries and bust
ness enterprises, including transporta-
ton systems. In the salmon fisheries
alone ther companies engaged have a
capitalization of $22,000000 and the
value of their plants, including vessels,
is given at $12,000,O00.
Agricultural possibilities in Alaska
have until a recent period been consid-
cred Of but slight Importance. AS the
country was explored, however, and its
conditions of climate and soil studied,
its natural products observed and ex-
periments made with various classes
Of AGRICULTURAL productions, it becomes
apparent that the agricultural possibil-
tiles of the country, and especially of
the south and southeast, where the CHI
mate is modified by the Japan current.
were Of considerable Importance In
view of the practicability of furnish
ing at least part of the food supply
of the population which the varied re-
sources Of Alaska seem likely to sus-
tain and make permanent. These OBJ
seryations and experiments led those
who have participated in 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 grass
es for the support of cattle are abund-
ant.