Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-10-08
AIasIa. "sexard.s Icebox. .

Stewards icebox," derisive appella-
ton formerly applied to Alaska, is rapid
Ily becoming national treasure house.
The present economic status of this COM
ing empire proves this beyond doubt.
Alaska has added $500, 0O0, 900 to our
national wealth in the production OF
gold, furs and fisheries. Our national
treasury has received I'll, 100000 In
revenues alone from the territory pur-
chased from Russia for less than cents
per acre.
The fisheries of Alaska already equal
in importance and productivity our At
lantic coast fisheries, and yet they are
only in their infancy. The vast coal,
petroleum and timber lands, practically
unexpected, still await capital and bet
ter transportation facilities before they
can begin TO- supply us and other ma
tions with heat, light and building ma
terisl. Copper mining In Alaska has
just begun.
Men competent to Judge claim that
Alaska is destined to control the copper
markets of the world. The Guggenheim
interests have recently paid 5000, 900
for single copper mine in southern
Alaska. Seeing the importance and
need of transportation facilities, they
have also purchased three railroad fran
chises, with terminals at Valdez, Katalla
and Cordova. It Is reported that they
control the White Pass and Yukon rail-
road In Canadian territory.
| The j. p. Morgan interests have pur-
chased the Alaska steamship company.
English capitalists are turning their at
II - 81 all a 90 khuo oforn
Alaska, where most promising placer
and ledge tin has been found. A tin
stamp mill, the first on the American
continent, has been installed at Cape
Prince of Wales, and q tin smelter is
being built at Tacoma, WASH, to handle
the concentrates to be shipped from the
mines of Seward peninsula. At present
they are shipped to England to be treat
ed.
These are only instances Of the faith
kings of finance have in Alaska's future.
They think and plan in terms of CEN
turtles, states and continents, and their
judgment can be trusted.
The mineral discoveries of Alaska so
far are very much like those of the Rocky
mountains generally. At the first 1t Is
L
in the rocks, when extensive quartz
mines are established, making possible
permanent and rapidly progressive de-
velopment of the country.
All attention is at first concentrated
on the precious and valuable metals, and
gradually, as the country develops, it is
turned toward such products as coal,
lumber, building stone, clays, farming,
etc. These, one by one, are soon dis
covered and fall in line. The steady
tramp of the sturdy and intrepid pros
pector seems to have aroused Alaska
from an age.long sleep to anew life.
Social conditions In Alaska are Of
course somewhat abnormal. Thousands
of men have left home, farm, store, office
and factory in the states to seek q
fortune digging gold. They expect to
return after few months or a year to
their friends and loved ones with a
fortune. Alas! how few realize this
hope. Discouraged, Inundated, crit.
cised, and misunderstood, they still toll
on, often with VOW to "make good"
and in case of failure to leave their
bones to bleach among the silent Alas
kan hills.
They will not return empty handed.
Homes are shattered, friendships sadly
broken, and life can never again be the
bright and hopeful thing it was. Under
this awful strain, far away from home,
church and social restraints, men often
fall to uncomfortable depths of sin and
misery.
They did not understand at first that
fate had decreed they should remain in
the northland to build an empire for
coming generations. Many are begin
ming to entertain saner view of things,
and now men send for their families and
i young men invite their sweethearts to
come and join them on life's lonely trail
in Alaska.
What we need most in Alaska to-day
is q stampede" of about 10000 good,
pure, high-minded women, who are will
ing to share with men their burdens of
empire building. We have plenty of
women there who are engaged in the
hellish vocation of home breakers, and
what we need is a little army of home
makers to lay the social foundation deep
and firm for the superstructure of q
noble and progressive civilization in
Alaska, our last frontier.
People live just as we'll and can be just
as comfortable and happy there as any
where else. While living expenses are
higher, wages are correspondingly high
or, and the opportunities for striking
it rich' are numerous in mining coun-
Itry,-ChicagO Advocate.