Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-06
A TREASURE HOUSE.
Alaska Proving One Of Our Most VAL
liable Possessions.

liable Possessions.
At the outbreak of the Spanish war
the entire state Of California was alive
with interest in the then newly discov-
cred gold fields in the Klondike and
in Alaska, but service In the Philip
pines seemed to have more attraction
for the adventurous elements Of our
population and for a time we virtu-
ally abandoned the development and
commerce Of Alaska to our neighbors
on Puget Sound, who have thrived
nightly on the business which we
gave over to them. OF course, there
are a great many Californians in Alas
ka and we have a great deal Of trade
with that territory, but our CONNER
cial 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 be-
tween the parallels Of 60 and 70 de-
grees-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 sixtieth parallel
that is to say. south of st. Petersburg
and Christiania, in Norway, and In
the latitude Of Scotland north Of Edin-
purgh. When 1t was purchased, In
only for it's furs and fisheries, but the
forests will be found to have value,
and while its agricultural develop
ment has hardly begun, there Is no
reason to doubt that the territory is
capable of feeding a large population
from that part of 1t which is cultiva-
BILE.
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 1t will
be an important producer Of coal, tin
and in fact, most Of the commercial
minerals. We know as yet very little
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 season
there are eleven scientific parties In
the territory, some Of which will be
subdivided according to the necessi-
ties of the work. 1t Is not the busi-
ness of the geological survey to hunt
for mines, but to locate the fields 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 operations
and locating the timber. In spite OF
the rigor Of the climate away from
the coast, 1t is certain that all import
ant mining districts will be connected
by railroads upon which important
cities will grow up. The population
is growing and becoming permanent,
and 1t is not at all unlikely that with
In a quarter of a century Alaska will
be admitted as a state Of the Union
with a substantial representation In
congress. All that is required to COM
plete its prosperity is the discovery Of
an abundance of good coal. There Is
coal in the Yukon district and In the
southeast, and last year the govern
ment began systematic search for coal
beds, which will be continued until
we know all about It. Abundant coal
means profitable railroading and the
reduction Of ores with which the ter
ritory abounds. We heartily COM
mend Alaska as a field we'll worth bet
ter study and exploitation than 1t has
recently received from the merchants
Of this city.-San Francisco Chroni-
Gle.