The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-25
Commercial Alaska.

million dollars a month is the esti-
mate made by the Bureau of Statistics
of the present value of the market which
frozen Alaska" offers the producers and
manufacturers OF the United States.
BY reason of the application OF modern
systems OF travel and transportation
Alaska is now as accessible as Arizona.
Three days of travel by modern ocean
steamers from Seattle, among the islands
and along the coast which form the
Southeastern 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 fields of
central Alaska or down the Yukon
river. which Is navigable 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 o.. Alaska.
Gold, fish and furs are the principal
industries OF Alaska at the present time /:
and their value to the United States Is
$4,000 900 annually.
The cost OF Alaska was &. 200 000 The
revenue which the Government has de-
rived from II since its purchase amounts
20 over S9,OO0,O00 and the value of the
products Is now twice As much every
year as IL cost The total value OF the
products OF Alaska brought to the
United States since it's purchase is (ac-
cording TO the best estimates that the
Bureau of Statistics is able to make)
about s1500O0,oo0. OF which $50 000. 900. is
precious metals $4,000. 600 products OF the
fisheries, chiefly salmon. and $4,000, 900
more furs, chiefly seal fur. Probably
S5o.oO0,0o0 of American capital is invested
Alaskan ird"~tries and ',''e'-~- ~~-
terprises. including transportation sys-
se..as. in lGc ss.....-.. .....- ..-. =. -.
companies engaged have q capitalization
OF 500 900. OO0 I'D the '-alu~ r,e ihe'-
plants, including vessels, is given at
ylL,UJ.VO0. al ,ne min.ns iLd4st..-.s .h,. 4.
are large investments. the great quartz
mill at juneau beirg the largest quartz
stamp mill In the world, while several
other quartz mills represent large invest
ments. With the inflow of capital. the
development of transportation systems
and the gold discoveries have come the
building of towns and the development Of
cities with modern conveniences of ,'fe.
Nome City which is located but n COM
pdratively short distance south OF the
Arctic circle, has now a population OF
over l2.0vo;. postal facilities have ocen 90
extended that the number OF post OF crs
Is now about sixty. and mails are being
regularly delivered north OF the Arctic
circle.
Agricultural opportunities in Alaska
have. until within a recent period. been
consldercd OF Dut Sllknt lfnpOrttnce. As
the country was explored however, and
its conditions OF climate and soil studied.
It's natural products observed. and expert
ments made With various Glasses Of agri-
cultural productions. II being apparent
that the agricultural possibilities OF
the country and especially OF the
south and southeast. where the eli
mate is modified by the Japan cur
rent. were Of considerable importance.
In view Of the practicab'lity OF furnish
ing at least n part OF the food supply
OF the populatio which 'hc varied re-
sources OF Ala ska seem likely to sustain
and make permanent. Grasses for the
support OF cattle are abundant. and the
experiments with live stock thus far JUS
tify the belief that this feature OF the
food requirements Of Alaska may be FUR
nished by tho DEVELOPMENT ~ stock farms
in the southern sections.
In the north vast areas are covered with
a moss similar TO that upon which the
reindeer thrives in other parts or the
Arctic regions: and IN view OF this fact
the Introduction 81 reindeer from Slberin
was begun a few years since. and has
proved extremely successful. about SVt
now being distributed through northwest
Alaska The experiment has advanced
sufficiently TO justify the confident belief
that tho reindeer Will within a few years
prove an important feature in furnishing
both the trans nsportation and food supply
N northern and southwestern Alaska
The gross area of Alaska In. according
~ the 1900 census 5C9.so4 square miles
The governor OF Alaska IN a recent re-
port states that this is equal TO the com