Evening journal., 1905-05-10
TIE NEEDS or ALASKA
Plan to Divide the Country In
to Three Territories.
POSSIBILITIES OF THE VAST TRACT


portation the Key to AInsla's Min
eraI weaIth-Indian Missions Sue
cess at Farming.
Alaska divided into three territories,
each with a delegate or a commission
er or an agent to represent its inter-
ests in Washington, is the picture for
the future of that great stretch Of
country which John S McLain draws
in a recently published book on ALAS
ka and the Klondike" says the WASH
ington correspondent Of the New York
Post The circumstances under which
it was written lend interest to it.
When the special subcommittee of the
senate committee on territories visited
Alaska in the summer of 1903 to study
the legislative problem which the new
development of that region presented
Mr.. McLain was invited TO go with
them in an unofficial capacity. He
saw the same things that they saw,
and his view to a considerable extent
is that Of other persons who have visit
ed this newest northwest.
Tho tremendous distances and the
iacl, Of good roads have been the chief
obstacles to the efficient administration
oi the law in Alaska, and for better
transportation facilities Mr.. McLain
makes quite as strong a plea as for
subdivision Of the territory. lie tells
that Judge Wicl(crsham of the central
Alaska judicial division holds court for
district 500 miles long and 800 miles
wide. or fifty times the size Of New
Hampshire. And yet it contains not a
mile Of railroad or even of wagon road
worthy of the name Steamships along
the south coast and on the Yukon riv-
er, which runs through the middle Of
the district, furnish the only real trans
portation 1t took Judge Mckenzie,
United States commissioner at Cold
Foot, on the upper Koyulauk, twenty
seven days TO get to Rampant TO at
tend court although the distance is
somewhat less than from New York to
Chicago
Lack OF transportation facilities
greatly increases the price of the COM
modities which Alaska produces. This
is an axiom Of trade the world over,
but it is doubtful IL it has been illus
trated better in modern times than In
Alaska today Gold is still an ex-
pensive commodity to produce. Seat
tie shipped during the season of 1903
to Nome and St Michael more than
100000 tons Of freight at rates ranging
from 81 to S22.50 a ton. Coal. which
costs SIT in Nome, sells for $50 a ton
twenty-five miles inland This rate at
Nome would be considerably reduced
and correspondingly for all the back
country If suitable harbor facilities
were provided there A breakwater is
the first need Il is estimated that II
costs So ton for the lighterage Of or
binary merchandise at that point. The
vessels must anchor about two miles
from the shore Their freight and pas.
sengers are then conveyed In small
boats TO a point but a few rods from
the waters edge. where everybody and
everything is lifted by a sort of travel
ing crane from fat boats and carried
TO the shore. The people Of Nome be
lieyc that a jetty built out from the
mouth Of Snake river and the dredging
Of a sand bar which lies near the en-
trance would make It possible for small
vessels and lighters to pass through tC
n safe harbor within the sand pit
Mr.. McLain's plan Of division Is Il
make southeast Alaska. which is il
substance the panhandle strip. a terri
tory by itself, with its capital at Ju
neau. II has a white population Of 10,
600. He would then take nOrthwes
Alaska. which has a permanent white
population Of slightly less. and make j
a territory. with the capital at Nome
The rest Of Alaska, which would be il
great central and inaccessible part
should remain under its present sys
tenn Of government until its develop
ment warranted its establishment as I
third subdivision. The people of Alas
ka are united in their demand for ,
delegate in congress, and such a bill
has once passed the house The failur,
OF the senate to act was due to th'
fact that It would be difficult to elec
a delegate. The distances betweel
places are so great that there could b.
little opportunity for harmonious ac
ton.
Mr.. McLain believes that Alaska vii
eventually produce its own dairy prod
ucts, but acknowledges that the begin
nings are decidedly small. lie tells Al
amusing story Of a Scandinavian WON
an at Rampant who was found one da
in a high state of excitement becaus
one Of her two red cows, which wer
the only representatives Of their trib
In any direction for hundreds Of miles
seemed about TO choke to death on
potato. Happily this calamity wa
averted, and the supply Of milk, whic
sold at 81 a quart. was uninterrupted.
The best demonstration Of Alaska
agricultural possibilities was found @
q IN Indian mission at Holy Cross III
der the charge Of Father Leopold Va
Corp OF the Jesuit order This mii
4 sion has rcder cultivation thirty acre
which produce fine crops of potatoes
beans, peas, cauliflower, cabbage, le
4 tuce, radishes. turnips and other veg
tables. About 15O Indians are attacl
81 ed to the settlement The ground
q were found to be we'll kept and IL
buildings substantial
Canada has expended $1.oO0000
the last FIVE years or roads and trai
TO ren6sr more accessible the part {
her dominiofss lying near our owl
The senate committee came bac
tF<gly impressed with the necessii
n - 4otr~ .o.,,oft,f,,rv - ttt. t-t,.S -, ~