The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-11
A MILLION A MONTH IS
WHAT FROZEN ALASKA OFFERS

A 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.
Commercial Alaska In 1901" is the title
OF a monograph just issued by the
Treasury Bureau OF Statistics. In Il are
presented some striking figures about this
mntil recently little explored and little
understood territory 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 forms the
southeastern extension OF Alaska, lands
the traveller at Skagway; II hours by rail
over 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 navigable for more than 1000 miles at
this season of the year. From the mouth
OF the Yukon another comparatively short
Nome-the latest and greatest OF the
gold fields OF Alaska.
Gold Ash and furs are. according to
this monograph, the principal industries
OF Alaska at the present time and they
send to the United States l5 million dol
lars worth OF their products-eight mill
lions OF gold, six millions OF fish, chiefly
salmon, and the remainder furs
The cost OF Alaska was N,BO,Oo0. The
revenue which the government has de-
rived from IL since its purchase amounts
10 over 80, ,0oO, ,OoO and the value OF the
products are now twfse as much every
year as Il cost The total value OF the
products Of Alaska brought to tho United
States since It's purchase Is taocordinS TO
the best estimates that the bureau OF
statistics 10 able 20 rnake) about is mil
lions, OF which 80 millions is precious me-
tails 80 millions products Of the fisheries,
chiefly salmon, and 80 million more furs,
chiefly seal fur. Probably 80 million dol
lars of American capital are invested In
Alaskan Industries and business enter
prises including transportation systems
In the salmon fisheries alonc, the COM
panies engaged have n capitalization OF
22 million dollars and the value OF their
planta including vessels, is given at ~
million dollars In the mining Industries
there are large investments-the groat
quartz mill az juneau being the largest
quartz stamp mill I'm the world. while
several other quartz mills represent large
Investments with the inflow OF capital.
the development OF transportation sys-
tems. and the gold discoveries. has come
the building up Of towns and the de-
yelopmeut OF cities with modern con-
veniences of life.
Nome City, which is located but a com
paratively short distance south OF the
Arctic circle has now a population of
over 1900; postal facilities have been so
extended that the number OF postofffces
is now about co. and malls are being reg
ularly delivered north OF the Arctic circle.
Agricultural possibilities In Alaska
have until within n recent period. been
considered OF but slight Importance. As
the country was srolorsd, however, ans