Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19
GREAT PACIFIC COAST
Senator Geo. C. Perkins Writes
of Its Future.
WONDERFUL POSSIBILITIES
Utilizing the Snow Water Of the
Sierras.
ALASKA AND ITS RESOURCES
Yield Of Precious Metals Will In
crease-Brilliant Society Within
the Arctic Circle.
.LASKA AND ITS RESOURCES
Written for The Star.

| What the development of the Pacific coast
| will be during the next fifty years no one
can now forecast 1t Is a portion Of our
| country that has thus far been prolific in
surprises and there is no reason to believe
| that there are more in store for the
| world from that quarter.
From the bay of San Diego to Point Bar
| row there are possibilities which stimulate
| the imagination Of all who are familiar
with them. and the difficulty is, in speak
ing Of the future, to keep within the
| bounds Of our present knowledge. Every
year or two some new and unexpected
source Of wealth is discovered, and the re-
| sources Of the coast become more varied
| What discoveries will be made when q vast
| region now sparsely peopled contains a
| large and varied population we cannot sat-
| isfactoriry speculate on. Who, for instance,
| twenty-five years ago, would have dared
| to predict that California would become an
| important oil-producing state? And yet to-
| day 1t is no weak rival Of Pennsylvania.
| Gold and silver are becoming an old story
/ They are found in the rocks of the Sierra
| In the beds of rivers throughout Alaska,
4 and in the sands over which roll the waves
| shores of the frozen sea, copper and iron
] amid the ranges of northern California, and
| borax in millions of tons in the deserts
| Wherever new discoveries are made they
/ are not mere indications; they at once be-
| come facts of vast Importance. So one can
| not fail to believe that the future develop
ment Of the Pacific coast will be charac-
! terized as well by it's magnitude as by its
| unexpectedness.
Important Factor in Development.
Perhaps the most important factor in the
| future development Of the extreme western
| part of this continent is the certain entrance
| of the orient into the full stream of modern
| the globe cast aside old habits and take on
new. there will result stupendous change
| for the entire world. Situated nearer to it
than any other portion of the earth where
modern civilization exists-except Russian
| Siberia-the Pacific coast will be first to ex-
perience the effects of the change and Is In
| the best position to receive benefit from it.
| Hitherto the trade with Asia has been in
| significant. For forty years single line
| Of steamships with difficulty paid expenses
| But already the single line has been multi
| piled many times, and more lines are being
| projected. When half billion people pur-
| chase as much abroad Americans do
| now the imports from the orient will aggre-
| gate five billions of dollars per year. The
| oriental demand Is now growing, and its
| effects are beginning to be seen in every
port on the Pacific coast Of North Amer
| lea. Soon 1t will grow at a more rapid rate
| and then will begin that increase in the pop
| ulation of our Pacific states and present
territories which will not stop even when
| tH6 year ZUUV sees people between
| the Sierra and the sea, the Mexican line
| and the arctic circle.
| The Panama canal will open to the Pa
| cif1c coast the markets Of the east and of
saving of 10000 miles Of sea carriage can
| give. California, Oregon, Washington and
| Alaska will no longer be isolated. The
| trade Of the world will be open to them
| The great circle route will bring past their
| very doors the vast commerce which will
cross the Pacific. The ports on that ocean
will become the centers Of the oriental
trade, and New York and Chicago will find
| rivals on San Francisco bay and Puget
sound. All the people of the world will
| there have their representatives, and the
| maritime cities will become the most CO.'S
| mopolitan Of any that the world has seen,
with probably an oriental tinge in their
| civilization.
| Changes Forecasted.
What changes this vast, active and ener-
!, getic population will work within the Dor
ders of their respective states can only be
limited at. California will teen with busy,
| active people. Its vast interior valley,
nearly 500 miles long from Bakersfield to
| Redding, will be the most productive region
| which man has ever seen. The Sierra will
be used the storehouse of the water
| which will irrigate every acre and tempt
the soil to prodigal harvests. Wheat fields
| will give place to orchards and vineyards,
and from them the world will get its surest
| and best supplies of fruit, oil, wine, nuts
and every kind of semi-tropical product.
Before the irrigating streams flow to the
| thirsty land, they will turn wheels to gen.
crate electricity that will turn other wheels
| in manufactures. Throughout the state
| manufacturing and agriculture will be
Joined by these silver threads, each con-
| tributing to the others prosperity. Elec-
| tricity will work the metals found in the
mountains. The production of gold and sill
yer will be increased a hundred fold, while
frAvN a rvylI <rt. u,z
of industries now little dreamed Of.
Scientific forestry will create an mex
haustible supply of lumber which will
supply hundreds of mills and workshops
with material to be worked into shapes
for home and foreign use. Everywhere
will be industry and prosperity, for the
wide world will be the market, and what
ever is produced the world will want Along
the foothills of the Sierra and amid the
mountains Of the Coast range, will be thou
| sands Of villas Of the rich, In and about
which will be expended hundreds Of mil
lions of dollars to create palaces and exotic
gardens where the earths most delightful
climate may be enjoyed.
San Francisco bay and Puget sound will
become the busiest commercial ports In
America, ard at each point will be estab-
lished vast shipbuilding works which will
supply the needs of an immense trans
Pacific and European trade. The applica-
ton of electricity to navigation will rem
der possible speed Of more than fifty
miles an hour, and will bring Yokohama
within less than four days sail OF Pacific
coast cities, and Liverpool only five days
distant. The greatest commerce OF the
globe will be carried on the waters Of the
Pacific, and evidences of the activities OF
| the entire human race will be most ap.
| parent there, as the activities of the ma
tions of today are manifested upon the
Atlantic.
World Will Face About.
The world will. in fact. have faced about
i A looking xua nd mr.
Asia looking eastward. The relations OF
L CO.. JlolEi