Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-08-06
ALASKA.
Was the Purchase Wise One :?
What II Cost-What IL Pays.

Was the Purchase a Wise One ?
What II Cost-what IL Pays.
There were those who laughed and
scoffed when Alaska was purchased by
the United States from Russia. II was
called the purchase OF an iceberg, and
many held that Il was merely gift of
money to Russia In recognition OF its
friendly attitude to the Union during the
Civil war. II any of those persons are
stiiI living we hope, says the Kennebec
Journal, they win read little pamphlet,
Commercial Alaska in I90i," just issued
by the treasury bureau OF statistics. 1t
contains many striking figures about this
vast territory, so little explored and little
understood until recently.
By reason o, the application OF modern
systems Of travel and transportation,
Alaska Ia now IS accessible a. Arizona.
Three days OF travel by modern ocean
steamers from Seattle, among the islands
and along the coast which forms the
southwestern extension OF Alaska lands
the traveller at Sksgway; twelve hours by
rail over the mountains carries him to the
head waters OF the Yukon, where COM
Portable aud well-equipped river steamers
carry him TO the gold flslds, OF central
AlsskM or down the Ynkon 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 10 Cape Nome--the latest and
greatest OF the gold fields OF Alaska.
Gold, fish and turs are, according to this
monograph, the principal industries OF
Alaska at the present time, aud they send
to the United States s15, 600, 900 worth of
their products, q, co., 600 Of gold, $1,000
OF fsh, chiefly salmon, and the remain
der furs.
The cost OF Alaska was s7,2oo.0oo. The
territory is as large as the twenty states
of Maine. New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massac husetts, Rhode Island, Connecti-
cut. New York, New Jersey. Pennsyl-
ysnia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
West Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carcllns, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi and Tennessee.
The direct revenue which the govern
nent has derived from II since its pur-
chase amounts to over sa,ooo. 900, and the
yalae OF the products are now twics as
much every year as It cost, Tue total
value Of he products of Alaska brought
to the United States since Its purchase
Is according to the best estimates that
the bureau OF statistics Is able to make)
about $50 600 600, OF which $50, 100000 IS
precious metals, s5o,0oo,00o products of
the fisheries, chiefly salmon, and $4,000
600 more furs, chiefly seal fur.
Probably $50 100000 of American cap
ital are Invested in Alaskan industries
and business enterprises, including
transportation systems. In the salmon
fisheries alone, the companies engaged
have a capitalization OF s22,OOo,0o0, and
the value of their plants, including ves-
sells, Ia given at s12,0o0,o00. In the min
ing industries there are large invest
ments-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 develop
ment OF transportation systems and the
gold discoveries, have come the building
up OF towns and the development OF cities
with modern conveniences OF life. Nome
CIV. which is located bat comparatively
snort distance south of the Arctic circle,
4 now a. large as Augusta, having pop
utation OF over II 600; postal facilities
have been so extended that the number 81
,1oStofflees Il now about sixty, and mails
are being regularly delivered north OF the
Arctic circle.