Douglas Island news., 1907-09-04
More About the Icebox.

tion formerly applied to Alaska, is rap idly becoming a national treasure house. The present economic status of this coming empire proves this beyond a doubt. Alaska has added S3o0,000,0 900 to our national wealth in the produc- tion of gold, furs and fisheries. Our national treasury has received 51l, ,000,- 900 in revenues alone from the terri. tory purchased from Russia for less than cents per acre.
 The fisheries of Alaska already equal in importance and productivity our At lantio coast fisheries, and yet they are only in their infancy The vast coal, petroleum and imber lands, practically unexploited, still await capital and better transportation facilities before they can begin to supply us and other nations with heat, light and building material. Copper mining in Alaska has just begun.
 Men competent to judge claim that Alaska is destined to control the cop per markets of the world. The Guggen- helm interests have recently paid S0,- 100000 for a single copper mine in southern Alaska. Seeing the impor- tauce and need of transportation facil- ities, they have also purchased three railroad franchises, with terminals at Valdez, Katalla and Cordoya. It is re- ported that they control the White Pass ard Yukon railroad in Canadian terri tory.
 The J. P. Morgan interests have pur- chased the Alaska Steamship Company. English capitalists are turning their at teutiou to the tin fields of northwest ern Alaska, where most promising plac- or 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 tin smelter is being built at Tacoma, Wash, to handle the concentrates to be shipped from the mines of Seward peninsula. At pres snt they are shipped to England to be treated.
 These are only instances of the faith kings of finance have in Alaska's fu- ture. They think and plan iu terms of centuries, 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 it is placer, which is later traced to it's source in the rocks, when exten- sive quartz mines are established, mak ing possible a permanent and rapidly progressive development of the coun- try.
 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 discovered and fall in line. The steady tramp of the sturdy and intrep- i'd prospector seems to have aroused Alaska from an age-long sleep to new life.
 Social conditions in Alaska are of course somewhat abnormal. Thousands of men have left home, farm, store, of flee and factory in the states to seek a fortune digging gold. They expect to return after few months or year to their friends and loved ones with for tune. Alasl how few realize this hope. Discouraged, humiliated, criticised 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 Alaskan 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 unmentionable 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 a saner view of thing and now men send for their families and young men invite their sweethearts to come and join them on life's lonely trail in Alaska.