The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-09-29
IRWIN TELLS ABOUT ALASKA,
interesting Interview With Well Known
Educator.

Alaska enthusiasts In Portland Is Rev
e, Nj. Irwin Of Juneau, who was super.
intendent of public instruction of ore.
gon for the four years preceding ]
II. Ackerman's term, but has been IN
Juneau ever since, having been United
States commissioner, and now being
employed In law office there, lie is
on his way to St, Louis 10 deliver thr
principal address ON Alaska day. Oc-
toher Is, which is the anniversary Of
the transfer of the territory from Rus
sia to the United States,
"One great feature of the Alaska ex-
hihit at ST, Louis Is made by the Tread
we'll mine, which is just across the bay
from Juneau, said Mr., Irwin. "This
is mock representation Of the amount
of gold taken out ot the mine during
the 16 years of its existence, A pyra-
mid of slabs covered with gold foil
has been built, each slab representing
one years output, and all being ~
inches thick. The top slab. about the
size of common brick, represents the
first years production, when the mine
had only five stamps, but the last of the
l6 is SS inches wide and rs inches
long, This whole pyramid represents
$2l.700 900, and beside II Is a cube
representing $720O00o the amount OF
gold paid by the United States for
Alaska, for the purpose OF COMPARE
son with the output Of that one mine,
The Treadwell Is now In the prime OF
its existence, employing 1900 men and
500 stamps, The vein above ground Is
still being worked like q quarry and
has been carried to a depth
of 1900 feet, showing that the ore in
creases in value with depth. There are
more than half dozen mines within
80 miles of Juneau which bid fair to
excel the Treadwell in value.
THE total output of gold from Alas
ka, exclusive OF the klondike an Brit
ish Columbia, from July /, 1908, to
July l, 1904 which passed through the
custom house, was over S6.000,O0O |
This does not include the large sums
'arried out by individuals in pokes and
10 doubt the total output exceeded the
price of the territory.
THE fisheries are also enormous
rhe Gamers pay to the United States
a license Of cents on ev-
'ry case of fish canned and 10 cents on |
very barrel of salted fish. This has
'ielded revenue of over 100000 a |
'ear. There are four dozen ne-pound |
ans in case, so that the tax amounts
o / cent on a dozen cans. In other
words, the territory produced 10000
100 pounds of fish.
THE has been a great rush to the
'anana country In the last two years,
nd 1t has produced considerable gold.
fairbanks has grown to be a town of
ver 1000 people. 1t is a good live
took and agricultural country and
'ill be a country Of homes, for many
eople can live there, as we'll as In
Iorway and Finland.
Juneau Is a thriving town of 1000
eople and more buildings of a perma-
ent character have been put up this
ear than for some time, including an
Dddfelows' hall. The United States
overnment has a system Of licensing
Il business, and with a population Of
little over 1000, we have saloons,
ach of which pays $500 a year license.
alf Of this is APPLIED to the support
the municipal government and tae
her half to the support of the schools
Ie have enough revenue to support {
ne Of the most interesting schools a
the country. There are six teachers y
I'd l believe we stand in the front o
INK of the United States in the rate t
salaries paid them. The lowest is 3
900 year for nine months work, u
ID the principal gets $500. We have :
good school building with all modern q
cillties.
81 think the license system works well
ere, and it is the only way we could -
anything with the saloons. The M
wn is peaceable and though we have lr
ugh miners, there are few toughs, 81
d they keep very close. A respecta- II
: lady can walk down the streets in ef
fety at any time Of night and no. g.
dy thinks Of locking his door"