The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-06-01

pOrtatfOh the hcy 10 ARaSlxa'S MIN
eraI weaIth-Indian Missions Sue
cess at Farming.
Alaska divided into three territories,
each with q delegate Or a commission
er or an agent to represent it's 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 I&londike, says the Wash
ington correspondent of the New York
Post. The circumstances under which
1t 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 considerable extent
is that Of other persons who have visit
ed this newest northwest.
The tremendous distances and the
lack of good roads have been the chief
obstacles to the efficient administration
Of the law in Alaska, and for better
transportation facilities Mr.. McLain
makes quite as strong a plea as for
subdivision of the territory. He tells
that Judge Wickersham of the central
Alaska judicial division holds court for
a district 800 miles long and 900 miles
wide, or fifty times the size of New
Hampshire. And yet it contains not
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, or the upper Koyukuk, 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 If 1t 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 10 $3.50 ton. Coal, which
costs SIT in Nome, sells for $50 ton
twenty-five miles inland. This rate at
Nome would be considerably reduced
and correspondingly for all the back
country il suitable harbor facilities
were provided there. A breakwater is
the first need. 1t Is estimated that it
costs So a ton for the nghterage 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 q point but 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-
lieve that jetty built out from the
mouth of Snake river and the dredging
trance would make 1t possible for small
vessels and lighters to pass through to
a safe harbor within the sand pit.
Mr.. McLain's plan Of division is to
make southeast Alaska, which Is in
substance the panhandle strip, terri
forx re- +o1 at Tn
neau. 1t has white population Of 49,
900. He would then take northwest
Alaska, which has a permanent white
population Of slightly less, and make 1t
territory, with the capital at Nome.
The rest of Alaska, which would be it's
great central and inaccessible part,
should remain under it's present sys-
tenn Of government until it's develop
ment warranted it's establishment as
third subdivision. The people of Alas
ka are united in their demand for a
delegate in congress, and such bill
has once passed the house. The failure
Of the senate to act was due to the
fact that it would be difficult to elect
a delegate. The distances between
places are SO great that there could be
little opportunity for harmonious &C
ton.
Mr. McLain believes that Alaska will
eventually produce it's own dairy prod
ucts, but acknowledges that the begin
nings are decidedly small. He tells an
amusing story Of a Scandinavian wom-
an at Rampant who was found one day
in high state of excitement because
one of her two red cows which were
the only representatives of their tribe
In any direction for hundreds Of miles,
seemed about to choke to death on
potato. Happily this calamity was
averted. and the supply Of milk, which
sold at 81 quart, was uninterrupted.
!. The best demonstration Of Alaska's
agricultural possibilities was found at
an Indian mission at Hely Cross un-
der the charge Of Father Leopold Van
Corp of the Jesuit order. This mis-
sion has under cultivation thirty acres,
which produce fine crops of potatoes,
beans, peas, caulifower. cabbage, let