The Alaska daily empire., 1915-08-17
ALASKA VISITOR
 is BOOSTER FOR
 THE NORTHLAND

Echoes are coming back already from the great number of turlsts who have made the trip through Alaska this year and who are giving inter views both as to its commercial and industrial possibilities and its scenic attractions.
 The following is from the Detroit Times of August 9th
 'Dr, !. B. Kennedy, just home from @ trip to Alaska, cannot say enough in praise of the beauties of that coun- try, its vastness and wealth of pro. ducts.
 'When Alaska was purchased by the United States for $1200,00O in 1867, 1t was considered a very bad bargain" said Mr. Kennedy The Treadweli mine alone has paid in di- vidends nearly 10 times the amount of the original price. The products of the country gold silver, coal, lum- Der, fish and furs have paid dividends of 1000 per cent on the original in- vestment.
 Juneau is the capital with a pop ulation of 5000. The temperature there reaches 99 degrees in summer. Flowers of every variety bloom in rich profusion and are unusually beau tiful. The water supply is the purest, coming directly from the mountains.
 "The United States government has established schools and has ap- propriated money for an agricultural college and a college of mines.
 Experimental agricultural stations under the supervision of Mir. George son, to the number of 30 are estab- lished all over the country, and straw berries, raspberries. rhubarb, and Q great many of our vegetables grow luxuriantly. One strawberry vine had 200 strawberries on 1t. Oats are main crop in the Yukon valley, and 1t is estimated that 6IOOOOOO acres are for agricultural purposes.
 "The Thane mill spent SS,00O,0O0 on work and equipment before one tone of ore was taken from it. Before the end of the year 1t is expected to yield 10000 tons per day at an average of s15O a ton.
 Fairbanks is Q thriving town, and bids fair to become the Chicago ofl Alaska. The next worlds fair will be held there in 1918.
 Alaska has a wonderful river sys- tenn with 6.0O0 miles of navigable wa ter. The United States intends to adopt the German method of utilizing the rivers in conjunction with the railroads, and has appropriated SS5.- 0OO,0OO for railroad construction. The Yukon is the fifth longest river in the world, having 2,0OO miles of water which are navigable
 The salmon industry is growing enormously. There are 70 canneries in some of which 70 pounds of salmon is canned per minute.
 Trade between Alaska and the United States last year amounted to S65.OOO.OOO and present indications are that these figures will be exceed ed this year.
 "'The forest service estimates that SOO.OOO,OOO feet of lumber can be 'cut each year without exhausting the sup ply this to go on forever as the trees grow rapidly. The price paid is S1O per 1000 feet. at which figure the forests would yield each year $SOO,- 900 more than was paid for the whole country
 "Dr Kennedy visited the unique little town of Metlakahtla, which was built by Father Duncan, an Episcopal can missionary from London. England. for his Indian flock. Father Duncan has been in Alaska 2S years and has had great success with the Indians. A cooperative plan was evolved. by which theybuilt for themselves a mod el town with first class water and sewer systemrs. lighting, housing etc.
 "'As Alaska is 18 times the size of New York state, with virgin soil and virgin forests; as the 21,OOO,OOO acres of coal lands are to said to horde enough coal to supply the United States for $500 years, and as there are as yet but 65.OOO people in the whole country, there is a future before it, which it is impossible to estimate. added the doctor.
 "Dr Kennedy was member of party of several prominent Detroit l people, including Mrs. Kennedy, Dr. l Albert McNlichael, president of the Board of Education; Dr. w. l.. Babcoc. of Grace Hospital; Dr. | F. Hana, r. J. Kennedy, and Edwin l.. Miller, principal of the Northwest ern High School All returned except Mr. Miller, who stopped off in Chi eago."