Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-26
THE COMMERCE OF ALASKA.
The Territory Cost 81 400. 900 in 1857
and Since Has Furnished $l5o,OOO,-
900 In Supplies.


Commercial Alaska in 1902" is the title
of monograph prepared by the treasury
bureau of statistics for publication in the
forthcoming Issue of the Monthly Sum-
mary. In this the commercial conditions.
opportunities and prospects In Alaska are
set forth. the number Of industries at the
present time, the routes of travel, the
methods of reaching that once distant but
now accessible territory and a SUMMARIZE
ton Of the commercial and financial re-
suits of ownership of that territory by
the United States. This statement is pre-
scented at the present moment both by rea-
son of the growing interest in Alaska and
especially because of the fact that the bu-
reau of statistics is to publish in future
monthly statements of the commerce of
Alaska with ports OF the United States
Heretofore no detailed statistics of com
merce with Alaska have been obtainable
because of the fact that no provision OF
law existed for the collection of statistics
of commerce between customs districts of
the United States; and as Alaska was by
law customs district such statistics could
not be gathered, under the law. When the
Hawaiian Islands and Porto Rico were
also made customs districts Of the United
States and the collection OF statistics Of
our commerce with those islands was rem
dcred impracticable. n measure providing
for the collection of statistics Of trade be-
contiguous territories was framed by the
bureau of statistics approved by the Sec
rotary OF the treasury, sent to Congress.
passed and signed by the President; and
beginning with the new fiscal year the rec
ord of trade between the United States
and all of it's contiguous territory will
he available in form similar to that Of
commerce between the United States and
foreign countries
The fact that statistical statements Of the
commerce and conditions of Alaska have
not been regularly made in the past rem
ders the attempt to present n picture of
present conditions in Alaska difficult one.
Necessarily the information Is fragment
airy. Aside from the statistics of population
published by the census, and statements
Of the number of fur seals taken by the
lessecs of the Pribilof Islands. the number
OF cans OF salmon packed and the number
of fish taken as reported by the special
agent Of the treasury department. and the
statements of gold production reported by
the mint bureau. little information Of a
statistical nature is available. Even these
reports are extremely meager and in most
cases the statements are simply those OF
quantity unacconranied by estimates of
!alue. The shipments of merchandise be-
tween the United States and Alaska have
been considered as coastwisc commerce
and no reports of the value of merchandise
lectors; while in many cases the manifests
are so indefinite in statements of quantity
that it has been found difficult to obtain
satisfactory estimates in detail of the
movements of merchandise into and out
Of Alaska. The fuctuation in prices of the
seal and other furs and the salmon and
other fish, which have been, until recent
years the chief industries of Alaska.
coupled with the fact that in the official
reports only quantities were stated, have
IN the past rendered detailed statements
Of values year by year dhfcult. The state
ments which are presented as to the indus
tries and their result from financial
standpoint are the results of careful in
quiries from collectors Of customs both in
Alaska and the United States by the var
ious governors Of Alaska and their sub
ordinates and by the special agents of the
government appointed to report upon the
various industries.
In general terms it may be said that
Alaska, for which the United States paid
Russia $4,000 in 1867 has supplied furs
fish and gold amounting to about $3.50 900 =
900 in value, about equally divided between
these three items; that the investments of
capital from the United States in Alaska
are probably $25 10000 with a large add
tional sum invested in transportation to
that territory. and that the annual ship
ments of merchandise to Alaska now ag-
gregate more than 81, 000, 900. and have ag-
greEated since the purchase nearly or quite
800, 00. Meantime the population has
grown from an estimated 5000 at the date
Of purchase to %, o52 in 1890 &c, ~ in 1902
and an estimated 900 at the present time
| The number of fur seals taken on the
Irihilof Islands from 1870 to 1901 is PSI 317,
estimated value at 49,, go 600 and the value
of the seal and other furs taken since the
purchase Of Alaska by the United States is
estimated at about $50 0In 40 The fur se Al