The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-08-31
Making a New Nation in Alaska.

eau oe FOUND III, say. Delaware or
Rhode Island, or, for that matter, in
Wyoming or Nevada.
An explanation for this is given by
explorers Of Alaska, who say that
whereas, in olden pioneer days, when
q new country was to be opened, faith
ers left their children behind them,
now, through comforts of travelling
and living already existing, they are
able to take the children with them.
Hence, from Cape Lisburne on the
Far North to Juneau ON the South,
may be seen not only the church but
the school-house, and be heard the
laughter of American children making
friends with Eskimo playmates.
Alaska has now population of con-
siderably more than 100000, and it is
rapidly increasing. 1t is not bleak
nor unfriandiy iaad. 1t promises 20
be one of the richest mineral, cattle
raising and agricultural sections Of the
United States during the next twenty.
five years. The trade of the country
with Pacific coast States amounted to
over $50, 900, 900 last year; more than
$500 O,0O0 Of gold was dug over
sS,000,000 of salmon shipped, and
coal enough discovered to indicate
that the land will never again lack for
fuel.
In other ways Alaska is also devel-
oping remarkably. Her oil fields now
amount to more than 1850 square
miles, and two tank ships are kept
busy exporting petroleum. Sixty
steamers are being operated On the
Lower Yukon river, aud another On
the Upper Yukon. A telegraph line
has been constructed that connects
Fort st. Michael, Cape Nome, Ram
part, Eagle City and Valdes. Skag-
way has been connected by cable with
Hames Mission and Juneau. In q
short time the cable line will be in
full connection with Seattle and the
United States. Railways are being
pushed into tho country from the
South and the West, and are expected
il the end to reach Bering Sea. AS
Capt. John Healy says:
"The boy who is ten years old to-
day and lives an ordinary lifetime will
be able in not many years, to take q
train in New York city or Chicago,
and, without changing cars, go direct
to Cape Nome, Bering Sea, and to al.
most in sight of Russian Siberia.
Dr., Chas. Arthur Hollick, in charge
of joint expedition of the United
States Geological Survey and the New
York Botanical Garden, who has re-
Gently returned from survey entirely
across Alaska, brought back proof
that the country was formerly tropi-
cal and later temperate. Hie collec.
tionst were largely of fossil fora, in
Guiding cycads, sycamores, Expresses.
sequoia and ginkgo trees. The cycads,
called sago palms, but still not palms,
were plentiful.
1t is a,relief to know that Central
Alaska has more than 100000 square
miles Of much milder climate than
Georgia's, which is to be future en-
pire Of power and wealth and the
granary Of the Far North. This area
borders on Resurrection Bay, where
Seward, q new city, is the terminus Of
the Alaska Central Railway, now be-
ing built inland 42O miles along the
Susitna Valley.
1t is to this country that rush of
farmers is expected next spring, as
the agricultural experiment atatiens
maintained there by the government
have proved satisfactorily that the
soil will raise anything, and is espe-
oially adapted to grain. The area is
surrounded by the loftiest mountains,
of which Mount Mckinley, 2l,0OO
feet, is one. The water never fr. ezes,
being tempered by the Japanese cur
rent; but little snow falls, and the
thermometer has never gone lower
than two degrees Fahrenheit below
zero.
Resurrection Bay is 1,000 feet deep
and has an area OF seventy-two square
miles. As Q raval and army base it
would be able to protect Hawaii, while
the Susitna Valley behind would afford
an unlimited commissary for any num-
Der Of troops and warships. Boys
World.
STOMACH DOSING WILL NOT CURE.