Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-25
Alaska Rich in
Ores That Need
Development
Congress Will Be Asked to Aid
Northern Peninsula -
Copper and Tin
Present.
Bv HOLLAND.

When William II. Seward, secre-
tary of state in the administration OF
President Lincoln and President
Johnson, agreed with the represen-
tatives of Russia that $200,OOO should
be added to the $7,000,0o0 that this
country was TO pay Russia for SOW
ereignty over Russian North Ameri-
ca which is now Alaska, he did so
because Russia had given certain
concessions for fishing and at least
100000 was needed to buy these
CONCESSIONS.
Good Investment.
That 100000 has been so greatly in
creased by our Alaska fisheries as to
amount to many millions of dollars since
the flag Of the United States was raised
in Alaska. This far northwestern terri
torial domain OF the United states and
tho far southeastern territorial domain
which is the Philippine archipelago, are
Mt this time commanding attention from
congress.
present condition in Alaska the opinion
Is strongly held that great as is the need
Of wisdom in dealing with the Philippine
situation the need is equally great OF
adequately legislating so that the now
recognized stupendous resources of Alaska
can he made OF avail We have taken
out Of the Alaska gold mines since the
Chiefly since 1900, gold Of the money
value Of nearly $2is000,0o0.
Rich Copper Mines.
Where copper Is. gold Is usually found
although not always. Some OF the copper
mines OF our northwestern states and
nearly all of our silver mines yield gold
as a by hy-product. We are chief among the
nations of the world as a producer Of
roper and In the course of year or two
- al 80 httt nV,e, ,or r.
we shall be selling and exporting many
million pounds.
The prospectors found copper in Alaska
and some OF them were inclined to be of
the opinion that with full development
OF Aiaska's copper resources the aggregate
money value would be greater than the
sss ga. Of Yaas the hs n..
copper Of the value Of $l3,ooo.ooo and
that was $5.oo0,o0O more than the value
Of the gold which was taken from the
mines. Seventy million pounds in all
were taken from the copper mines and
sent to the United States.
Need Congressional Aid.
We can build up very large trade
with the Philippines and at the same
time we can, not by trade. but by pro-
wealth IL only congress could be persuaded
to aid Alaska In exploiting its resources.
Few persons realize that Aiaska has
mines q total Of s462.O0o, 900. 1t is pro-
ducing gold copper. silver. coal. lead,
platinum and some petroleum. There will
be more petroleum by and by. In con-
tinental United States there are no tin
mines excepting one or two Of very small
capacity in the northwest 1t is the only
mineral In which the United States Is
lacking or would be II 1t were not for
Alaska. For they have discovered tin
in Alaska and In 1919 took out nearly
$4,000 pounds.
When the immediate questions Of taxa
tion and tariff are acted upon by congress
strong effort will be made to persuade
that body to give careful consideration to
that great peninsula in the northwest so
that in due time there may be full ex-
ploitation OF it's resources, which on the
whole. are not surpassed by any like area
IN the world