The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-16
A TREASURE HOUSE.
Alaska Proving One of Our Most Val
liable Possessions.
San Francisco Chronicle.

At the outbreak Of the Spanish war
the entire state Of California was
alive with interest in the then newly
discovered gold fields in the Klon-
dixie and in Alaska, but service in the
Philippines seemed to have more at
traction for the adventurous elements
of our population and for a time we
virtually abandoned the development
and commerce Of Alaska to our
neiehbors on Puget Sound, who have
thrieved nightly on the business
which we gave over to them. VI
course. there are great many Cali
fornians in Alaska and we have a
great> deal Of trade with that terri
tory. but our commercial men have
not thus far fastened themselves on
that trade as they at one time gave
promise Of doing.
There is no doubt that the trade Of
Alaska is we'll worth fighting for.
The main body Of the territory lies
between the parallels of so and 70
degress-the latitude of most Of the
Scandinavian peninsula, Finland and
all Russia north Of St. Petersburg.
The Alaskan peninsula and the coast
strip are south Of the si2tieth parallel
that is to say, south of St. Peters
burg and Christiania, in Norway, and
in the latitude of Scotland north of
Edinburgh. When it was purchased,
in 1867, Alaska was thought valuable
only for its furs and fisheries, but
the forests will be found to have val
ne, and while it's agricultural develop
ment has hardly begun, there is no
reason to doubt that the territory is
capable Of feeding large population
from that part of it which is cult
vable.
But the pride Of the territory is in
its mineral wealth. It's gold we know
about. It's copper we have heard
about, but it is probable that it will
be an important producer Of coal, tin
and in fact most of the commercial
minerals. We know as yet very lit
tie of the Alaskan minerals, although
ever since the discovery Of gold on the
Klondike the government has been
energetically prosecuting geologic
and topographic surveys. This sea-
son there are eleven scientific parties
in the territory, some Of which will be
subdivided according to the necessl-
ties Of the work. It is not the busl-
ness of the geological survey to hunt
for mines, but to locate the field IN
which individuals may prospect with
fair chances Of success. The govern
ment is also carefully investigating
the volumes Of water available during
the short season for mining opera
tions and locating the timber. In spite
of the rigor of the climate away from
the coast, it is certain shat all I'M
portant mining districts will be con-
neeted by railroads upon which I'M
portant cities will grow up. The po-
puation is growing and becoming
permanent, and il is not at all unlike
" that within a quarter Ut a century
Alaska will be admitted as state OF
the Union with a substantial repres-
entation to complete its prosperity IS
the discovery of an abundance of good
coal. There is coal in the Yukon dis
trict and in the southeast, and last
year the government began systema-
tic search for coal beds, which Will be
continued until we know all about II.
Abundant coal means profitable rail-
roading and the reduction OF ores win
which the territory abounds. We
heartily commend Alaska as held
we'll worth better study and explolta-a
ton than it has recently recelVeda
from the merchants of this city. I'D
-,,s