The Nome nugget., 1903-10-28
WORTH OF ALASKA Large Volume of Com.
 merCe This Year. DOUBLE LAST YEAR Since 1867 Alaska Produced Nat. uraI Products Which Aggre.
 gate $l5O,OOO,OOO.
DOUBLE LAST YEAR

The wealth-producing power of Alaska stands out conspicuous in the latest government reports of domestic commerce. The value of merchandise, not including precious metals, from our far Northern territory to the United States in July, the department of commerce says, was more than double that of the same month in 1902. The enormous importance of this terri tory, which has only recently gained recognition at the seat of government, is such that the latest statistical publi- cation of the department of commerce devotes no less than 80 big quarto pages to discussion of the phenome- non. Here are some of the facts about Alaska, precisely as they are given Tn the monthly summary of commerce and finance. They deal in big figures, for it is big territory.
 Alaska, for which the United States in 1867 paid S7,2O0,OO0, has since that time supplied furs, fish and gold amounting to about $50 0O0, ,000-about equally divided between these three items.
 The investments of capital from the United States in Alaska are probably $25, GOO, ,00O, with large additional sum invested in transportation in that territory.
 The shipments of merchandise to Alaska now aggregate about $l0,OO0,- GOO per annum, and have aggregated since the purchase nearly or quite 00,0OO, ,0O0.
 The receipts of the government from Alaska revenues since it's purchase have greatly exceeded the sum paid for that territory. The total revenues from Alaska since it's purchase have been $9, 555, 3O9. Of tho total receipts, $7, 597, ,35l was from the tax on seal skins, $999, POO from the rental of seal and fox islands, $52s, 55S from customs and BPS, 1928 from sale of public lands.
 Ocean travel from Puget sound to Skagway during the summer season averages one vessel per day, the yes sells being from 1000 tons upward.
 The climate of Alaska is widely mis- understood; the mean temperature of Southeastern Alaska in winter is little lower than in Washington, D. c. Win ter does not set in until Dec. 1. (These facts are, of course, familiar to every body acquainted with Alaska condi- tions, but the significant thing at this time is that they have been recognized in conspicuous and widely circulated publication of the government
 The total value of the Alaska fish cries up to this time has not been less than $50, 100000. Several branches of the fisheries industry have scarcely been touched.
 A great part of the needed food sup plies of Alaska, it has been found, can be produced from the Alaska soil itself The agricultural possibilities are ex- cellent.
 In addition to the foregoing para graphs, which are quoted almost liter ally. the department of commerce dis cusses in great detail every principal industry of Alaska, quotes from many government reports, presents tables of commerce, and expatiates on the possi- bilities of an enormous development throughout the territory. Here is single paragraph from the depart ment's special article, referring to the trade of the fiscal year closed on June 30, last:
 "Of the merchandise shipped to Alaska in this first year of definite record on the subject, over 5000, 900 worth was manufactures of iron and steel; nearly s1,OOO,OOO worth, provi- sions; manufactures of tin, nearly S5OO,O0O; wines, spirits and malt liquors, over S5OO,OOO; breadstuffs, o75O,O00.