The Republican journal., 1904-06-16
THE BOOM IN ALASKA.

The story of the development of
Alaska reads like fairy tale. 1t had
long been regarded as land of glaciers
and low temperatures, where men went
to encounter fearful hardships in their
quest for gold. Now we are told, not
only of other mineral resources of great
value, but-strangest of all,-of agricul-
tural possibilities The Alaska Cen.
trail railroad now in course of construc-
ton, and which when completed will
bring the Yukon gold fields within five
days travel of Seattle, is said to have
opened new era for Alaska, which is
now perhaps the land of the greatest
opportunities in the world This rail
way starts from Seward, the coming
metropolis of Alaska, which is situated
on one of the best harbors on the Pacific
coast-Resurrection Bay. The bay is
one mile wide at the entrance and ex-
tends IS miles inland, where it is four
miles wide at the upper extremity.
The depth varies from 200 to 1000 feet.
1t is open to navigation the year around
and the climate is mild, the Japan cur
rent tempering both water and climate.
A writer in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle
says of the Alaska Central railroad:
The road is to cross the uneXpIored
field of gold, copper, silver and plati-
mum that are said to be unparalleled in
= II 4 sol,
district are mighty forests of excellent
timber, favorably comparing with the
fir of the Norwegian coast. Within the
fertile valleys are rich fields for the
agricuturist. experiments having al
ready demonstrated that the lands in
the Tanana and Sushitna valleys are
wonderful producers of grain, grasses
and vegetables. Lake kenai is the
first point to which the railroad will be
built This is in the heart of a big ag-
ricuttural region.
The new railroad also penetrates the
great coal fields of Central Alaska An
area comprising over eighty-tive square
miles has been explored and is reported
10 have immense bodies of semi -anthra-
cite coal of high, full value. The prin-
cipal fields are located 125 miles in the
interior, north of Seward. Outcrop-
pings Of coal measure two to seven
feet in thickness. These properties are
owned by capitalists from the anthra-
cite regions of Pennsylvania and the
owners are prepared to ship 500 tons
per day as soon as the railroad can sup
ply facilities for handling the output.
The engineer of this railway is A. W.
SwanitZ, a German-American, who
claims Chicago as his home. and who
said Of the enterprise: ''The building Of
this railroad was brought about by
some bankers who had seen what was
accomplished by the White Pass Rail
road in Alaska. That road is a narrow
gauge only a little more than one hun
dred miles long, connecting the Pacific
at Skagway with the Upper Yukon at
White Horse. 1t cost 81, 100000 to
build the road and its earnings the rst
year were 81. coo, 900, and since then il
has paid so per cent. annually in diyi
dends.' That is better than digging
for gold. Then as to the territory it.
self Mr, Swantz said:
Alaska now mas Wnlte population
Of 100000. 1t has produced $50. 900,
900 in gold since 1897, and annually
yields an output of salmon valued "a
IS. 100000. 1t has 260 00000U acres OF
merchantable timber, 5000 square miles
Of oil producing territory and copper
mines developed sufficiently to show
$4,000 900 worth of copper i'll sight and
immense areas of agricultural land