Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1906-02-06

ness, competition, and the degradation
nf the natives have greatly reduced the
output; yet large numbers of skins of
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-
ITCHY for the sake of their pelts, so
that 9 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 $2,250, ,0O0."
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 couu-
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, VINO,
deprived of their salmon by the greed
OF the white man, their 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
knew of the existence of gold in the
sands of rivers of the interior and on
the southern beaches, but little encour-
agement 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 by
neigh ghborhoods successfully worked In
1897, 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 conjure
by, the gold of Alaska puts into
the background wealth of fur and
FISH.
Our government is Justly criticised
for It's Indifferent attitude towards this
one of its possessions, and for years
back the cry has been made that
regular territorial form of government
be granted the neglected dependency.
Just at present the cry is full loud,
congress besieged to set in action ter
ritorial machinery. Some of the men
that rave put capital into the country
and whose enterprises are yet in an ex-
perimental stage declare the cry is
uttered by the carpet-bagger, coast
politicians eager for spoils. They
add they are aware the country ere
long will need different government
from that obtaining at present, but
think the time not yet ripe for change.
On. The whole, Alaska has taken pretty
good care of itself so far as the pres
ervation of law and order is con-
cerned; with the rush to the gold |
fields and accompanying attempts at
claim jumping, difficulties in working |
of the mining laws, etc. there have
been on the whole fewer eXcesses than |
might have been expected, rather re-
markable enforcement of law and or
der
Railroad development will work its |
usual wonders In Alaska; two roads |
now are in process of construction, |
others projected. About year and a
half ago Wall street woke up to the
of the riches of Alaska, and
eastern capital is now engaged in rail-
road building there. Coal fields and
copper districts are attracting atten-
tlon, in addition to the gold regions, |
and there are prospects of oil devel-
opment. Good wagon roads are taking |
the place Of the dangerous trails of |
early days, the hardships OF pioneering |
fast vanishing.
AIERED wHITEHousE.