Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-12
DILLINGHAM;
REPORT ON ALASKA
Tells Of Conditions, Resources
And Legislative Needs OF
The Territory.
COUNTY NEEDS WAGON ROADS.
Fish Source Of Wealth Equal to
Gold-Many Abuses Under
The Mining Law.

Washngton,Ja Jan. Ex-senator Dilling-
ham, from the committee on territories,
introduced In the senate today the re-
port of Subcommittee consisting Of
Senators Dillingham;, Burnham. Nelson
and Patterson which visited Alaska
during the last summer and made a
thorough investigation of existing con-
ditions, resources and legislative needs
OF the territory. The committee visited
Matakatla, Kotchkan, Fort Wrangel,
Juneau Douglass Island and then
Treadwell mines, Kalnes mission, where
the government Is now establishing a
military post Skagway, White Pass,
Lake Lebarge, Lewes River, Dawes, st.
Michael. Eagle City Fort Yukon, Cir.
Gle City. Rampant, Fort Gibbon, Nome,
st, Paul Island, the headquarters OF
the sealing industry Dutch Harbor and
Unalaska, Karlukc, Kodiak, Valdez and
Sitka. As result Of the inquiries the
committee has made many recommend
atoms to Congress,
A statement of receipts and expen.
ditures of the general government since
Alaska became part OF the United
States shows a profit TO the govern
ment OF nearly million dollars.
SALMON INDUSTRY.
The report says that in 1902 the out
put Of canned salmon from Alaska was
1881 ,320 cases valued at about 5000. 900,
from which the government derived q
revenue OF sos, 255. The committee rec
ommends that some provision be made
for propagating salmon In sufficient
quantities to insure the permanency of
the supply The present law requiring
the establishment Of a hatchery by
each company and the planting of 10
red salmon for each red salmon caught
the report says cannot be enforced
without great dlsproportionate expense
IAN expense greater than the profits OF
the business will warrant II Is sug-
gested that hatcheries be established by
the general government at as many
places as may be found necessary, the
great expense to be laid on those In the
salmon Industry in proportion to the
amount of the respective product OF
each concern.
COD AND HERRING.
The report says that the great wealth
to be derived In the cod. herring and
halibut fisheries of Alaskan coast Is
little comprehended because few have
sought H. The committee predicts that
the annual catch Of cod can be made
to exceed that OF New Foundland or
any other part of the world. Whether
the climatic conditions of the region
which initiate against successful cur
ing Of fish can be overcome, has not
been fully determined,
PRODUCTION OF GOLD.
The production of gold in Alaska with
some huctuatlon, has steadily increased
since 1898, when II amounted 10 only
&,5l7,l2l, In 1902 It reached the sum
OF SS,Si5.S00, Silver has not been pro-
duced only IN limited quantities and
other mineral pioducrs while reported
have not yet been extensively exploit
ed.
The most unfprtunate of all the ex-
listing Faulty conditions IN Alaska. the
report says, is the poor transportation
facilities.
LEGISLATION NEEDED.
The committee calls attention to the
fact that Congress has provided good
government for the district OF Alaska
but substantial legislation calculated to
aid the people IN the Development OF
great areas Of gold and copper pro-
duction territory IL needed. outside
the few and scattered settlements
called towns, most OF which are only
the ccnters Of mining interests, there
is not to be found single public
wagon road over which vehicles can be
drawn summer or winter. In that
connection the committee says:
DEVELOPMENT CONTINGENT
1.-The development OF Alaska depends
more on the Improvement OF trans.
portatlon facilities than on any other
one fundamentally. Substantially
everything consumed by the people and
everything required to carry on bust
ness must be brought In from the out
side. The inactivity Of our govern
ment IL manifest. II has done MOTH
Ing 20 relieve this condition. The ac-