Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-13

ness, competition, and the degradation . of the natives have greatly reduced the output; yet large numbers of skins of 1 foxes, martens. ermines. beaver and similar furs are still collected; and on
 several of the Aleutian islands blue foxes are being reared in semi-domes-
 ticity for the sake of their pelts, so
 that regular industry in that direc- ton is arising. The annual market
 value of the fur product of Alaska was
 estimated in 1880 by Petrow, United
 States census agent, at g 225o, ,00o.'
 Then the wonderful wealth in fish
 attracted attention, and now Alaska is noted for her enormous fisheries and
 canneries. and also noted for the vast sfulness with which the former in-
 dustry is carried on. The fisheries have brought small benefit to the coun- try. labor and materials come from the outside wages are paid and spent out side; and the ruthless manner in which the waters have been swept has meant much hardship for the natives, who. deprived of their salmon by the greed of the white man. rheir wild game driven to the mountains by the en- croachment of the white man, have fallen victims to devastating famine. their numbers fast decreasing.
 Long ago Russian and fur trader 7 knew of the existence of gold in the sands of rivers of the interior and on the fouthern beaches. but little encour- sgenent was given the prospector. But along In 1870 the prospector pushed his way in and the town of Juneau was put up, and mines in that and near py neighsorhoods successfully worked. In 1ss7, rich finds were made in the Yu- kon district, and then followed the widespread contagion of the Alaskan gold fever The names Yukon and Cape Nome now are words to oonju-e by. the gold of Alaska puts into the background wealth of fur and fish.
 Our government is justly criticised for its indifferent attitude towards this one Of its possessions. and for years back the cry has been made that a regular territorial form of government ] be granted the neglected dependency. Just al present the cry is full loud. . congress besieged 10 set in action ter ritorial machinery. Some of the men tha; rave put capital into the country and whose enterprises are ysi in an eI- perimsntal stage. declare the cry is uttered by the earpe;-bzsgsr. coast politicians eager for spells. They add they are aware the country ere long will need different government from that obtaining st present. but think the time not yet ripe for change. On lhs whole. Alaska has taken pretty good care of itself 70 far as the pres ervzsi n Of law and order is con- osrned. with the rush 10 the gold fields and accompanying s;ismpts sf claim jumping. dI.euitiss in working of fhe mining laws etc. there have been on the vhols feuer exeesses than might have been exported. a rather re- uzrkabis enforcement of lsr and or der.
 RsiIroaa development will pork i,s usual uoB5srs in Alaska. fuo roads now are in process of construction. others projected. About a year and half sEo Wan stree. sos. ut 10 the realization of the ricksz of Alasks- snd eastern capital is nov enEzE.d in rzf- road buiI5inE there Coal fsi6s and ocpp,r sskfricts are strrsrtirE srten- tion- in sdsius1 10 ths goI4 reri0rs. and ths-e are prospects of oil esrsl- opzsat- Good -sEon roads s-. tskirE ths psses of the dszrsross trails os ssrIr days the hsr6ships os psoas--fng fss- ssnishi-E
 ALFRED VIII TEsHoEsE.