The Nome nugget., 1942-03-11
Seattle Folk Read Facts About Alaska

SEATTLE - The Japanese threat to the Pacific coast has put the of Alaska with it's many inles and harbor in the backout region of possible attack So deeply ndened is Alaskas coast that with it's many bordering islands, it has estimated coast line ot 15000 miles, says the National Geographical Society.
 For all practical purposes, a thin strip along the coast especially the southern part for than century Alaska Russian America The Russians maintained government headquarters at Sitka on the west coast of Baranof Island slightly than 1000 from Seattle
 At Stka, on Kodiak Island, at the Prbilof and Aleu- tan Islands, and at several other points, particularly along the south coast the Russians had trading posts to handle the fisheries and the great fur trade in otter and seal skins
 The interior remained unexplored Settlements rose where rivers met the The Yukon greatest of these river highways, flows 2,100 miles westward across Alaska from Canada. Several of it's tributaries are navigable by steamer for 100 to 75O miles each mak- n3 the Yukon vast transportation system in sum- months.
 In 1922 occurs the 75th anniversary of the Alaska purchase by which William H. Seward, secretary of state under President Johnson, created a memorial to himself long known as Stewards Foy' The terri tory bought for $ 100000 Alaskas 600 000 square miles thus cost less than cents The folly has returned in gold, salmon furs lumber and other products about 200 times the purchase price
 The famous Klondike area on the Canadian side of the boundary the scene of the frenzied gold rush in l89798 It did not reach peak production of $22 000 900 worth of gold until 1900 Without sensational head lines, Alaska in 1940 reported new high in gold pro- duction of over $26,0000 900.
 In 1888, Alaska mined some $3 0O0 900 worth of cop per more than $1 100000 in platinum metals (patin- um, iridium, osmum, ruthenium, rhodium and paa- dum) with lesser values in silver lead tin and coal
 Wealth in Rivers
 Tin ore has been produced in small uauntties for the past 20 years, but the total output has amounted to less than Slo0OO0O worth It sent to Singapore for reduction AlaSkaS copper mines date have yield ed total in of $225 000 0OO but known depos It's are about exhausted. Alaska has abundant water power Fifty hydroelectrc plants are now in operation
 The real pay dirt of Alaska from the rivers Salmon IS the most valuable single product Each year the value of canned salmon exported has been from 100000 to $50 900 900 year with some S5 900 900 in other fish and fish products
 Railways to aid mining have been leading factor in the development of the interior of Alaska The Seward and Anchorage line to the heart of Alaska at Fairbanks began operation in 1923, but shorter lines had been built much earlier Now there are nearly o00 miles of railways in the territory.
 All Alaska has not more than 2,500 miles of wagon road, some l500 miles of sled roads, and $500 miles o permanent trails Over these trails in central and northern Alaska, sleds still drawn by dog teams in winter Because of the inadequacy of surface trans portaton over such vast territory aviation developed rapidly and now is referred as Alaskas taxi service There are 155 arfeds in Alaska and passenger miles flown reach 5000 900 annually
 War Brings Boom
 Wartime work is proving greater boom to Alaska than did the gold rush New Army and Navy bases highways and arfields, have brought in thousands of people and the population of Alaska, with one-ffth the area of the United States expected to pass the 8O,OOO mark The l940 census listed 72 524 persons Juneau the capital Anchorage and other cities are expected to double their populations
 Most foodStuffs for Alaskan consumption are im- ported from the United States nearly $5,000O O0Ol worth annually Aaskas total purchases in manufac- tured and other products has been the neghborhood of $4O,O00,O00 yearly.
 There are slightly more than 623 farms in Alaska aggregatng 1775752 acres but less than onehalf off percent is in crops The territory is estimated to have 65000 square miles suitable for agriculture