The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-09-17
HOME From ALASKA.


months, during which time he made
tour of Alaska as chairman of the
| United States Senate subcommittee
on territories, which investigated the
resources and needs of the territory
in pursuance to resolution passed
| during the closing days of the last
session of Congress. Senator Beve-
ridge of Indiana is chairman of the
| committee on territories and he select.
| ed Senator Dillingham; as chairman of
| the subcommittee, naming as his
associates, Senators Burnham of New
Hampshire, Nelson of Minnesota and
| Patterson Of Colorado. The itinerary
called for journey of fifty days from
Seattle but owing to the eccentricities
of the river Yukon, a gale off Nome,
and other exigencies which were not
counted upon the party was eight days
behind the Schedule at the home port.
| Senator Dillingham; is we'll and ex-
cept for a touch of seasickness in the
Behring Sea was in splendid health
throughout the trip. The journey
covered the principal points of the ter
ritory very thoroughly, the route
briefly outlined beingas follows Seattle
to Juneau and Skagway, then via the
White Pass and Yukon routes to Daw-
| son. From the latter place the trip
was made down the Yukon river to
st. Michael, on the Behring Sea, then
to Nome, from which they sailed to
the St Paul Islands and along the
J southern coast visiting the principal
points of interest.
Senator Dillingham; is enthusiastic
over the possibilities Of Alaska
and is heartily in favor of laws
which will develop them. Speak
ing to journal reporter on this
subject Senator Dillingham; said that
the great need Of Alaska today is roads,
and in explanation he stated that ex-
cept during the four summer months
when the Yukon river is open there is
absolutely no means of communication
with the important American territory
along the upper Yukon region except
by way of the White Pass and Yukon
routes through British territory. The
principal road, Senator Dillingham;
believes, should connect Valdez on
the southern coast with Eagle City
on the Yukon. Between these two
points are the rich copper fields around
| the Copper river and it's branches, and
the gold fields of the upper Tanana
river, Forty Mile, and numerous other
creeks. The problem of developing the
mineral resources of Alaska is largely
one of supplies for the camps. At present
the base of supplies is the British city
of Dawson, at the terminal of the
White Pass route, and everything is
transported to the mining camps in all
| that region by dog team or upon men
backs. This increases the cost of liv-
ing and operating the mining claims
SO. greatly that full development of
the region cannot be looked for until
roads are built, over which supplies
can be transported at a reasonable cost.
While the Senator believes that the
resources of Alaska are almost unlimit-
ed, he is convinced that the develop
ment of agriculture is almost wholly
dependent upon the establishment of
permanent mining camps, or in other
words home market. This is another
argument in favor of road building as
roads will not only bring settlers but
they will afford an opportunity for the
marketing of crops and thus stimulate
agriculture. Many agricultural pro-
ducts grow and mature in Alaska but
Senator Dillingham; states that there
is no probability of the territory ever
becoming competitor of the west and
northwest in the matter of supplying
the markets of the word. But as Alas
ka is developed and the population be-
comes greater the matter of supplying
local needs will encourage the develop
ment of the agricultural industry !,
Senator Dillingham; spoke especially of
the valley of Tanana river as very
fertile region, and said that with a
road from Valdez to Eagle City to
open up that country the development
of the valley agriculturally would
surely follow.
To illustrate the need of this road
and to show the mineral wealth of the
region through which it would pass,
the Senator spoke of nugget of
copper weighing two and one-half
tons which cannot be moved to the
coast although the owner, who wishes
to exhibit it at the Louisiana Pur-
chase Exposition, offers 81, 800 to any
one who will get it to the sea. The
only entrance to this region is a gov
eminent trail cut several years ago
from Valdez to the Yukon, which is
of no commercial value, and while
the people there would like very much
to see a railroad built through from
| the ocean to the river, they will be