The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-16
LATENT RICHES
Of NEN alaska
Kansas Professor Writes on
Them.
MANY MISTAKEN IDEAS
Some Day Will Furnish Thou
sands Homes.

Professor Charles c. Georgeson, Of Man
haitian, Kan, who was formerly in charge
| of the agricultural experiment stations
in Alaska, is a firm believer in the future
prosperity of Uncle Sans great north
west territory. Most Americans, he said.
In recent interview, regard Alaska as
| huge desert of snow and Ice, whereas,
as matter of fact, 1t is a country that
| needs nothing but cultivation TO make it
fertile
Alaska" he said. has seemed so far
away to most people that they have ut
| terly failed to keep in touch with the
| great changes which have Ueen going on,
and their Impressions OF the climate and
| conveniences are based upon Iurid tales of
experience by the early Klondikers.
Alaska is a great empire. of the enormous
| size of which few people have any con-
ception 1t is more than 90 times as
large as the state of Rhode Island and
| enarly equals in area all the states of the
| union east of the Mississippi river. 1t
has the grandest scenery IN the world.
and resources sufficient to support 10
| 600, 900 persons.
Through the heart Of this vast terri
| tory flows the mighty Yukon river, the
| largest in North America, larger and
| longer than the Mississippi. On this great
| river one may ride for more than 1000
| miles with much comfort as upon the
| Hudson. The valley of the Yukon mas
been pronounced richer than the valley
n ha nrtri xx-tll ~ TOD Ia,
| some day support an immense popula-
ton.
People in Pennsylvania are very much
interested in coal and know what a source
of wealth II is. I believe that there is
| more coal in Alaska than in Pennsylvania
nor is the market for il likely to be con-
fined by any means TO Alaska. A rapid
| increase in population. the development Of
transportation and industrial interests
will naturally privide market, but there
Is in addition the great geographical fact
that Alaska Is on the direct routes from
the United States to the Orient-Japan,
China, and the Philippines. During the
Spanish war, transports sailing from San
Francisco or Seattle, when in a hurry to
reach Manila, passed within sight of the
sion, gained from maps of the Mer8tor
projection, that it is much shorter from
San Francisco to Manila by way of Hon.
olulu, but 1t is certain fact that 1t is
several hundred miles shorter by Alaska.
Goal is but one of Alaskas many min
eral resources. Gold has been the lode
stone which has drawn thither thousands
of prospectors and many millions have
been taken out from placer claims, while
the largest stamp mill in the world Is
located near Juneau, and has been in I'M
ceasing operation for many years.
The enormous deposits of copper in the
Copper river region are now attracting
great attention. Even before the Rus
sian occupation, the natives of this sec
ton made for themselves various imple
ments of copper. During the past few
months this region has been in part ex-
amined by experts, who find actually
mountains of this valuable mineral. and
Governor Brady has stated that there is
enough copper in sight to affect the mar
kets of the world most profoundly. 1t
has even been stated by Captain Healy.
who was resident of Montana for TWEEN
| ty-four years and Alaska seventeen years,
| that Alaska will in the next thirty years
produce more mineral wealth than the
whole United States has produced in the
thirty years just ended.
The Russians made enormous fortunes
in furs and millions more have been
made by Americans since the purchase by
the United States.
Alaska has the most magnificent fish
cries in the world. The catch Of salmon
alone last year and each for the past
three years has exceeded the purchase
price of s7,2oeOo0 This is but one of the
many food fishes which swarm in Alaskan
waters. There are more cod In Alaska
than on the banks of Newfoundland.
| Competent authority declares the fish
cries of Alaska are greater than those Of
Newfoundland and the north Sea COM
| bined. There are vast forests OF finest
| timber in Alaska. which remain prac-
tically untouched. Alaska is certain to
become great agricultural country. One
reason why there has been no develop
ment of agriculture in Alaska is that It
was only lHt March that Congress pass
ed Law making 1t possible for anyone to
obtain title TO agricultural lands.
secured. When gold was discovered In
| California thousands fiocked thither-
across the Horn, they took provisions
! acros sthe Horn. they took provisions
with them. Great numbers, disappoint-
| ed in their quest for gold. were compelled
70 seek a livelihood in other directions.
and many took 10 the land. with the re-
suit that California has blo.somed with
wonder grain fields and fruit orchards.
Il believe that there is more gold in
Alaska than has even been taken from
California. and that Alaska Will some
day produce more grain and OF better
quality than any state In the union. 1t
has been within my lifetime that the cuI-
tivation of wheat was begun in Manitoba.
the Dakotas and Minnesota. and as a rule
the farther north the better quality.
The fact that thousands upon thou
sands of acres OF the finest grasses cover
the valley from four to six feet high is an
evidence OF the greatest opportunities for
stock raising Cattle can be wintered
in southern Alaska with far less difficulty
and expense than in Montana. and Ia
many places cattle viii look out for them
selves and keep fat all winter. ] believe
Alaska is certain TO become one OF the
greatest stock raising countries OF the
world.
Agriculture in Alaska Is ont q matter
Of conjecture. for the United States gov
eminent has had for several years past
experts al work carefully investigating lis
resources and possibilities and after