The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-20


Russian, boundary marks, Dawson and
large part of the Klondike gold fields are
in the United States. '- 49, = = t.
Mr.. Fletcher declared that British gold
had been spent very freely in southeast
ern Alaska to corrupt local public opln-
ion on the boundary dispute, and that 1t
had also been spent In Washingt on, D. c.
He declared that Seattle had been con-
taminated by Canadians dropping down
from British Columbia. and that the
state of patriotism in that city was very
low. He referred to the permission that
had been given to a subject OF the King to
defile a public hall in Seattle with a
glorif1cation of Great Britian's course in
crushing out the Dutch republics in South
Africa, and spoke contemptuously OF the
Seattle people who had crawled before
the Duke of York at Victoria and pro-
tested their loyalty to Great Britain.
a Roast for Canada.
Then Mr.. Fletcher opened up with a
roast on Canada and the Canadians. He
said that Canada was the only blot on the
western hemisphere and derided the Can.
adams for being subjects and proud OF
their subjectivity. He praised Russia, ad-
vocated American friendship for Russia,
urged suspicion of Great Britain, de-
clared that one of the reasons why the
English wanted access to the Alaskan sea
coast was to be in a better position to
strike Russia, gave it as his firm conv1c-
tion that England was ever the enemy
of the United States, and that the sec
ond Gibraltar she has built at Esqu1nalt
is a perpet ual menace to the United
States. He said that Russia had practi-
cally given Alaska to the United States
with the understanding that the latter
power should hold it in perpetuity as
buffer state between Russia and her his
torc enemy. We ought either hold 1t
intact or hand it back to Russia
Altogether Mr.. Fletcher represented the
people Of Alaska as feeling that they were
neglected, despised and condemned by the
federal government and left to the mercy
of the territorial rapacity OF the Ca
nadians and British.
One interesting charge he made was
that selfish interests dominating Alaska
had continuously caused the republicans
to nominate inferior men for local ONCE
so that the democrats would generally
win at the elections, thus creating the
argument supposedly powerful with re-
publican congress that Alaska was demo-
cratic.
Resources of Alaska.
Mr.. Fletcher dwelt at great length upon
the resources of Alaska. He pointed out
that Alaska had $4,000 square miles more
than Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Fin
land; that it was more productive coun-
try, and should support as many people
as those countries support 12,OO0,O 900.
They now have a population Of 2S to the
square mile, while Alaska has one person
to eight square miles. He quoted from
Professor Georgeson, director Of agricul-
tural experiments in Alaska, from Colo
mel P. H. Ray, and Erastus Brainerd,
Of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, to
demonstrate the great agricultural pos
sibilitieS of Alaska. The coast Of Alaska
alone ought to support 10000, 900 people,
and the interior of Alaska had 100000
square miles Of arabic and pasture, land,
better in quality and larger in quantity
| than that Of several states. Vegetables
and cereals can be grown all over Alaska.
It's mineral deposits, especially copper
are probably the greatest in the world
and await only the building of railways
t % make them available. Alaska cost the
United States 900 and has already
produced $3.50, 900, 900 in wealth. 1t has q
capacity to raise and feed enough cattle
to supply even greater packing houses
than those now existing in Chicago. 1t
has enough standing timber to supply the
| markets Of the world for generations 1t
has minerals for a thousand years tc
come. 1t has farming lands and climate
equal TO that of many other states. 1t has
sixty fish canning establishments, and
room for 600. There are greater re.
sources in Alaska to-day, independent o.
its gold. than in the Pacific coast states
if. the timber is left out. Colonel Ray
declares that the valley of the Yukon is
richer than the valley of the Missouri
The trade between the United States
proper and Alaska Is twice as great al
that now with Hawaii and bids fair soor
to run into the hundreds of millions. Tt
bring about the development all the Alas
kans want is American fair play fayorabl
| land laws and local government.