The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-05-01
THE DEVELOPMENT or Alaska.

s-&a-
WASHINGTON, April SO.-AlaAka is prob
ably the most satisfactory disappointment
In the history Of the United States. Score
tay Seward bought II In 1851 for 100000.
His action Was sanctioned, but there were
few indeed who approved II. There was
a national conviction that the country
would not even get It's seed back The
Territory has already paid into the national
treasury some 81, 100000 In revenue, and
has yielded gold, fur and FISH OF a value OF
more than $500, OOO 5000.
When the matter Of the purchase was
under confederation in Congress Mr.. WASH
burn Of Wisconsin, speaking In the House,
referred 10 Alaska as "a country where
none but malefactors will ever live and
where we are likely TO be at constant war
with the savages.' The country now has
a population consisting Of some 5000
white men and about $1,000 quite harmless
natives. Mr.. Washburn said:
Persons well Informed as to Alaska are migrate.
full enough TO hint that we could have bought q
much superior elephant In slam or Bombay for one
hundredth part Of the money, with not a ten thou
sandth part Of the expense Incurred In sesplnE the
animal In condition.
II there are any moro elephants Of the
Alaska species 10 the market we would do
well TO secure them without delay. The
Congress Of 1897 appears 10 have known
less about Alaska than the Congress Of
1893 knew about the Philippines. and that
was lamentably little. A minority report
submitted by the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs declared, In May, 1858,
that -the right 10 govern a nation or nations
Of savages in a climate unfit for the habita-
ton Of civilized men Is not worthy Of pur-
chase The native Alaskan may not be
Of a high order Of civilization. but he Is by
no means a savage and his country Is
eminently qualified TO be the habitation OF
civilized men,.
The census OF 1890 reported the population
Of Alaska as 32,O52. The returns for 1900
show e5,592. and the present population is
not far from 5000. This is not exactly a
phenomenal growth, but 1t Ia a long way
from stagnation. The trade returns indi-
cate a considerable social and industrial
activity Purchases from the United States
proper during the last few years are re-
ported as follows:
1904 ..........S 81, As,4.3 1903 ... S7. S7s.Oa0
1909 .....,.... iA,29j,Sb 1907 ........... n,5iS,Sst
The nature Of Alaskan interests and to
some extent the social life Of the people
are indicated by the commercial returns.
For instance, the people Of the country
bought, in 1907, : ,7OI worth Of agricultural
implements and 1891 sos worth Of mining
machinery, exclusive Of engines, boilers
and sundry other appliances used in mining
processes. They bought tSi5 worth Of
paintings and statuary and tls2 ,27S worth
Of rubber boots and overshoes. They
bought three automobiles, $4,000 worth
Of railway cars, and tl4 900 worth Of wheel
barrows, p~ushoarts and hand trucks. Their
books and other printed matter est them
tl4l 900; their wines and liquors, 1752 900;
their tobacco and cigars, 800 900; and their
bill for fruit and nuts a 94SS, 1000. They
are addicted TO the wearing Of ready made
garments. Their bill for cotton and WOOL
len wearing apparel was about 81. 100, 200,
while purchases Of cotton and woollen
cloths show a value Of only some t25 900.
These substitutes for the "malefactors- and
"savages' pictured by the statesmen Of
forty years ago buy soap and watches and
jewelry, bicycles, %typewriters, cash regis
tiers, fire engines, boot blaoking, patent
medicines. and numerous other appurten-
ances Of modern civilization, including tele-
phones, sewing machines and laundry ma.
ahtnory O. far aa AlaaLa Ia A.-..l
Mr.. Seward is easily at the head Of the seers
of his time. The joke is on those who ridi-
him.
Alaska's present justifes the predictions
OF her coming greatness. In a recent
speech in the Senate Mr.. Piles Of Washing
said that gold is not the sole wealth
Of Alaska. 1t has copper. mountains OF it,
tin, marble, gypsum, lead, iron, silver and
coal. not only in veins but in extensive
Of great depth and Of the very finest
besides its forests and fields OF
petroleum. The deep sea fisheries Of
are Of enormous value. The day is |
probably not distant when Alaska will
wrest from Massachusetts, her proud title
Of the land Of the sacred cod Govern !
.ent reports claim for Alaska some 1876, 900 f,
square miks Of cod bank: along her coast.
Alaska'S salmon and halibut are important
OF our fish supply. Nor NAV
Alaska's claims in the domain Of agriculture
be safely disresarded. The Secretary Of
Agriculture Ia the authority for a statement
hat its agricultural lands exceed in their
iotal area the combined area Of New Eng
and, New York and Pennsylvania.
There is no doubt that Secretary Sew
lrd's Ice box will yet become a rich store
mouse. When it has a few thousand miles
II railway we shall be as proud Of its indus
nal achievements "a we now are Of those
II Texas and California. In another fifty
years II will probably count its population
- .ininnn I'D frnnAion. Ah.r |