The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-12-29
POSSIBLE NEW
U. s. TERRITORY
To Separate First Judicial Dis
trict From the Rest of
Alaska.

OhitC4 otohSo o'i9 u ="
presents itself by the announcement
that proposal to separate the First
tud district from the rest Of
Ala. ceived a majority vote in the
November territorial elections.
ALASKA, in the minds of most citi-
zens of the United States, is a coQn-
try of mountains, mines and 0
similar throughout. However, that
section which recently has voted to
become a separate territory is sepa-
rated from the rest of Alaska by a
wall of Ice no living man has crossed"
explains a bulletin from the National
| Geographic society.
"How would the map of Alaska be
changed by the formation of a new
territory
"Land Tair Of 600 Miles.
Alaska presents a great square
block, wedged cornerwise between
North America and Siberia, obstfuct-
ing an open channel of the Pacific
ocean to the North pole. On the south
m corner Of the square block Is
a tail Of and extending down the
coast In the direction Of Seattle. 1t
runs southwark for 600 miles from
the longitude boundary between
| Alaska proper and Canada. This Sec
ton reaches back from the coast to
the watershed Of the Canadian Rock
les, a distance varying from so to $50
miles. 1t is known as the First ju-
didal district, or the juneau district.
"Qf the four judicial districts Of
Alaska the first has the largest popu-
Iation of white men and in most re-
49,
the Third division, along the SOUTH
ern reaches Of hi peninsula looms
larger in many important commercial
factors. OF four Alaskan cities which
had a population of more han LOCO
In 1920, Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka,
the former capital ct Alaska, are 10
Gated In the First division while Fair |
banks. which has a population only
one-ffth rs great A. the Combined
populations of Juneau. and Ketchikan.
is located on the Tanana river, In the
Fourth judicial district.
Ice Separates Districts.
1.-THE wall of ice which separates
lower Alaska from upper Alaska is
made up of hundreds of glaciers NOV
ing down the steep sides OF the Rocky
mountains which tower above the In
land passage. This passage is an arm
of the sea, forming a breakwater be-
tween the ocean and the mainland. So
ruggedly mountainous and wild Is this
section of the coast. particularly be-
tween Skagway and the Copper river
section in the Third judicial district,
that no explorer has travelled by land
entirely over American territory from
Juneau or Skagway to the other dis
trict. S9HF
"Wire communication between the
two parts Of Alaska Is maintained BY
submarine cable and by a telegraph
line through Canada down the Yukon
valley, but physical communication Is
either by boat across the Gulf Of
Alaska or through the Skagway gate
to the luxor and thence to central
Alaska. Even the shortest journey
from Juneau to Seward takes all of
two days, a longer trip than from New
York to Kansas City.
Population distribution bears upon
the recommendation of the Alaska
citizens Of the First judicial district.
The whole territory has now a popu-
Iation of 10000, half Of which are ma
tives. Lower Alaska claims 1900 of
his total, but it has $4,000 whites to
5000 natives. Juneau in lower Alaska
Is the present capital of the territory
md the residence of the governor.
"The conception that Alaska is a
Of mountains Is as erroneous
as the conception that 1t is as cold
as Greenland. AZ Juneau the tenn
oerature seldom goes below zero.
Heat ProstratIons In Alaska.
"At Fairbanks, which is In the same
as Iceland, three mon were
Frustrated by the heat last summer
Fairbanks is the center of a great
which would surprise the in {
livfdual who expected only mountains
n Alaska. Away from the south
'oast, the country back Of the barrier I
# mountain ranges stretches broadly
IS a great inland plateau, rolling !
north to the reaches of the
,ering sea. Tanana and Fairbanks !
re centers Of a growing agricultural
egion which is having considerable
uccess in producing auick-growing :
The big inland plain is inhab-
ted chiefly by huge herds Of reindeer
by native owners. :
"Most of the minerals for which ,
laska is noted-gold, silver and cop :
found in both upper n low :
r Alaska. The Juneau district pro- :,
uces three times as much gold as the :
est of Alaska and 1t has some of the
reat copper mines Of the country. A
1rther contrast between the two Sec !.
ons is found in shipping statistics;
lille 1918 ships cleared at the fish, :,
II port Of Ketchikan, only 800 clear !
lgs were reported fsr all other Alas :
ports in 1922.
Lower Alaska has been the objec-
Of most of the tourists who visit !,
% American Sutherland, The mag :