The San Francisco call., 1906-11-04

49, 6SP0 NdStS are uOW lldQc III cA-
tracing gold from paystreak averag-
ing less than IS TO the cubic yard.
The increase from net returns from
mining ventures is declared to be
greater than ever before and to account
in a large degree for the present pros
perity OF the industry.
The total shipments of copper ore
from Alaska in 1906 were more than
double those OF 1908. bringing the value
Of annual copper production up TO $780,
coo. The annual production of silver
incidental TO mining for other ores is
about 500. 900
Work on tin deposits has not yet
reached a productive basis The coal
fields in Alaska have not yet been
much exploited the entire production
in 1905 being estimated at less than
1000 tons. The only other developed
mining industry is marble quarrying.
which the customs returns show to
have had an export value of about
$4,000.
The engineers of the reclamati SER
vice. in deciding that the work of irri-
eating the Shasta Valley. California,
should not at present be undertaken,
pay a high tribute TO the enthusiasm
and enterprise so characteristic of the
farmers Of California, of the land own
ers of the valley. practically all of
whom expressed a desire 10 organize
a water-users' association, and to CO.
operate in every way possible with the
Government if the project should be
undertaken.
The engineers did not deem it wise
TO recommend consideration of the
work until the klamath project should
at least begin 10 return revenue The
large acreage cost of the Shasta work,
and the present state of the reclama-
ton fund, made il evident TO the en-
gineers that the project should not now
be taken UP. They declare that there
are many opportunities for reclama-
tion work in the Sacramento Valley,
and in case a small. economical project
should develop it would be manifestly
unfair TO the State to begin work
which for lack of funds might not be
completed for many years when other
work could be taken up and completed
quickly.
The estimated cost of the Shasta
project was s3.7S4.23s. or at the rate OF
s65 an acre.
A further extension of the cable sys-
in Frederick Sound. by way of Wrangel
and Hadley to Ketchikan, and the
early laying of the cable is assured
according to the report of the chief
signal officer of the Department of the
Columbia, Lieutenant Colonel ". A
GlassfOrd, just submitted TO the War
Department The present submarine
cable system from Seattle TO Alaska
with branches, has a total length of
2255 miles Colonel Glassford says that
the volume of business transmitted
over these cables. especially the trunk
portion from Seattle TO Sitka, has be-
come so great that steps have been
taken to accomplish its duplexing,
which will make the capacity of the
cable equivalent TO two wires.
The total mileage of the land tele-
graph system is 1912 miles. Arrange
ments have been perfected by which
communication is had beyond Fair
banks and Nome by telephone systems
on the Seward Peninsula, operated by
commercial companies.
When the Alaskan telegraph lines
were first constructed" says Colonel
Glassford. they were made to follow
routes then best but inadequateIy
known. 1t has been the work of the
army ever since, as knowledge of the
country increased, to improve upon the
courses taken by the lines. Such
changes as affect a great shortening of
the line, also which follow more trav-
eled routes, are in prospect. The most
extensive of these changes is the one
LDA-ELA-lS lAlt upper IAlNGI WIFI the
Tanana- It is proposed to construct
cutoff from some point on the Copper
River, running north to the headwaters
Of the Delta River, and following that
stream to the Tanana- This cutoff
viii be about go miles in length. 1t
had been arranged TO complete this
stretch of line during the present sum-
mer and officers and men of the signal
corps and two companies OF the Third
Infantry are now engaged thereon
Officials of the Departments of State
and OF Justice are expecting the most
beneficial results TO follow the estab-
lishment OF the United States court at
China, provision for which
was made by Congress at its last ses-
sion. There has been for some years a
strong demand for the creation Of such
a court. especially from the vast busi-
ness interests of the Pacific and Allan
tic coasts. whose commercial relations
with the Orient are most important and
extensive. The conferring of judicial
functions upon American Consuls in
that part of the world has not in the
past produced the most satisfactory So
luton or the important questions that
have come before those officials. Many
OF these Consuls have been men with
out any legal training and in other
ways were united for the discharge of
JUDICIAL duties Inc necessity Tor an
American court there became long
since apparent. In the consideration
of the principal features of the Con-
sular reform bill, which became a law
last spring, this necessity was brought
home to the members of the foreign
relations and foreign affairs commit
tees Of the Senate and the House of
Representatives. with the result that
a measure was passed practically with
out opposition.
The new court will be presided over
by Judge L. p. Wiley, who for the
last FIVE years has been Attorney Cen
eral for the Philippine Islands. His
service there had been so successful
and satisfactory that his peculiar quail
fcations for the new post in China
were at once recognized by the ad-
and his appointment was
urged by Secretary Taft,
who had had particular opportunity of
knowing Judge Wilfiey's good work in
the Philippines.
Besides sitting at Shanghai, the court
viii hold sessions at Canton, Hankow,
Tientsin and at other points in China
and will have Jurisdiction in all civil
and criminal cases involving American,
citizens.
Judge Wiley is young man, a ma
tive of Missouri. graduate of Yale