The Chitina leader., 1915-12-21
ROWE ON
THE alaska
TRADE

unUL
There is no reason why Portland
should not get a good share of the
Alaskan trade. The people of Alaska
look with favor on the possibility of
gaining commercial intercourse with
Portland. l am expressing no pre-
JUDGES. l am stating the feeling of
the Alaskan commercial men," These
three potent assertions came from the
past 90 years bishop of Alaska, head
of 81 Episcopal missions in the North
land, and who bears the distinction of
being more familiar with Alaskan af-
fairs than any other man in the most
northerly province of the United
States. The bishop of Alaska is in
Portland, accompanied by his wife.
They have just returned from a trip
to the San Francisco exposition.
Il heard it stated in a meeting of
the Seattle Chamber of Commerce re-
GENTLY" continued Bishop Rowe that
there passed through Seattle every
year from Alaskan ports commercial
products aggregating in value be-
tween $5O,000.0O0 and $50 1000. 900. OF
this amount the fisheries alone supply
shipments valued at $25,000.000. This
figure is bound to increase, as Alaska
is just beginning to develop
Country Is "Awakening."
81 have watched the growth of
Alaska for twenty years and | have
discovered that it is just beginning to
justify the hopes that | have enter
tanned for it for many years. The
building of the government railway
has started to open up the immense
territory of the southwestern section
-7-rich in possibilities, both industrial
and agricultural. The mines in the
region of Juneau are just beginning
marvellous development, and the
entire country is awakening to it's pos
sibilities.
1T has been estimated by managers
of the three largest mining properties
in the Juneau section Treadwell,
Juneau and Alaskan-G astineaux-that
they will crush enough ore in coming
years to send the United States $780,
100000 worth of gold annually That
figure is based on the engineers es-
Inmates.
. due to the promise of prosperity
in the Juneau section the city has
increased from town>of $500 in
habitants to more than 10000
THE building of the government
railroad has produced the town of
Ship Creek, or Anchorage. its more
modern name. When the railroad was
first conceived there were but few
hundred persons in the town, and now
Anchorage is thriving city of 5000
inhabitants, with plenty of substan-
tial resources lumber, fish, agri-
cultural products, etc.-to insure
steady and permanent growth"
Long Trips Taken.
Bishop Rowe is stamped with the
spirit of the north country. For 20
years he has battled with the north
ern winters, prosecuting the work he
loves and has been so successful
with. Every winter he starts out
with dog teams to make the round of
his mossion stations. Two thousand
miles by dog team every winter for
20 winters is part of the travelling he
has done in the interest of the Epis-
copal church.
Last summer he completed a 5000
mile trip over the entire Alaskan
country, going as far north as Point
Barrow, working among the whites.
Indians and Eskimos He even went
to the Siberian coast.
Bishop Rowe claims Seattle as his
United States home. although he has
headquarters in Sitka. The supplies
for the missions are purchased every
year and sent to Alaska from Seattle.
Bishop Rowe will celebrate the goth
anniversary Of his conservation to the
bishopric at the Trinity chapel this
morning at 10 o'clock. The clergy of
Portland and friends. especially resi-
dents of Alaska who are in Portland
are invited to attend.
The bishop and Mrs. Rowe will
leave tomorrow. for. Seattle. where
they will sail for Alaska. Portland
Oregonian.