The Saint Paul globe., 1904-10-01
TO FINISH ALASKAN
CABLE IN TWO WEEKS
j. w. Ivey Says Remote Cities
viii Soon Be In TeIegraphic
Touch With the States

"Within two weeks time Alaska will
be in direct telegraph and cable COM
munication with the United States and
their papers will be receiving the press
reports that will keep us in touch with
the outside world" said J. w. Ivey, of
Alaska, who is stopping at the Mer-
chants hotel en- route East.
'The cable ship left on her last trip
last week and will lay the last of the
cable connecting Sitka with Valdez.
The line is now 1000 miles from Seat
tie to Sitka and Juneau. From Valdez
the cable will run 400 miles west to
connect with land telegraph line over
to the Yukon, distance Of another
1000 miles, and down the Yukon 1900
miles to st. Michaefs. From st. Mich
ael's the messages will be sent by wire
less telegraph across the arm of the
Behring sea to Nome, 120 miles, and
the line is complete.
'It marks one of the most wonder
fully rapid developments ever seen in
any country since the time of man.
have been in the Alaskan country for
nearly eight years. and while / knew
that we would some time have modern
connections with the world | thought
we would do we'll if we obtained them
inside of the next twenty-five years.
1t has all come about inside OF eight
years. The government Is now build
ing a system of eleven lighthouses,
costing each from $4,000 to $125,O0O,
and these are expected to be a great
aid to navigation.
Alaska Well Cared For
Alaska is being we'll cared for by the
home government, when it is consid-
cred that it is remote from the seat of
the administration and has no dele
gate in congress. 1t has been given a
new system of municipal laws, home
stead law by which each man is en-
abled to take 800 acres of land, ana
favorable coal and mining laws. Moth
ing can stay her material develop
ment.''
Mr.. Ivey speaks modestly of his own
work in connection with Legislation
beneiting Alaska, but Alexander Nc
Kenzie, of North Dakota, who knows
him well, said that for three years Mr..
Ivey has spent his winters in WASH
ington as the representative OF the
commercial interests of Alaska ana
that favorable legislative enactments
are due to him more than to any other
one man.
"The discoveries in the Tanana val
ley rival III TlCHncSS tAC SSiArNS cAL - "
son and Nome Mr.. Ivey said yester-
day. '"The valley runs 280 miles up the
river from it's junction with the Yu-
kon, and 5000 people have already
gone into the new fields The season Is
about closed now but when the snow
falls many will go in overland. The
Nome country is still yielding big re-
turns. but the real richness Of that
section will probably be best made
known when the big water bitches are
in operation and the hydraulic propo--
sitions are working. Best informed
mining men claim that the increase
will continue for years to come.
Coal Mines Extensive
Mr.. Ivey is developing extensive coal
mines in the Kayak coal and Oil neidS.
These are soc miles west of Sftka on
the south coast, and were discovered
only three years ago. Large develop
ing work has been done by the capl-
taIists interested and bituminous ana
high grade of anthracite coal have
been found The fields are but elght
miles from the ocean and railroad
will be built next season to bring the
product Of the mines to the sea. Be
cause of a shortness of coal on the Pa
cific coast, the value Of the coal dls-
coveries in Alaska cannot be overestl-
mated. Seattle, Spokane and ldaho
capitalists are interested in the various
properties.