BRINGS ALASKA
TO ATTENTION
OF MLERS
The Alaska bureau of publicity, in
charge of E. J. White, has issued Vol.
I, No. 1, of a monthly bulletin devoted
to exploiting the resources of the ter
ritory. It is chock-full of interesting
data, and as it is intended to circu
late 5,000 copies of the document, it
is not doubted that practical results
■will be accomplished. The following
is from the bulletin:
All things considered, the year 1918
was a prosperous one for Alaska, re
gardless of the fact that the war con
ditions were responsible for greatly
reducing the iftan power of the ter
ritory and to such an extent that
many of her industries were materi
ally crippled while others entirely
suspended operations.
Outlook for 1919.—Never was the
future of Alaska brighter than at
present. Before the ink was dry on
the armistice terms the eyes of thou
sands of soldiers and sailors were
turning to this country with the view
of casting their fortunes with “The
Land of the Midnight Sun,” and every
steamer from the south now brings to
Alaska many young men who enlisted
or were drafted from here and who
are anxious to return. The same
steamers bring hundreds of letters to
the Alaska bureau of publicity from
others who have never before been
here but who are averse to returning
to the prosaic city, small town or
country lives they formerly lead.
The Mining Industry-*—The year
1918 was particularly one of disaster
to the mining industry, the output of
the past year being $13,000,000 less
than in 1917 when it was $42,000,000.
The decrease in the output of last
year was due to various causes, prin
cipal among them being the scarcity
of labor and the high cost of supplies
and material. Of the mineral produc
tion in Alaska for last year about
$10,000,000 was gold, $17,000,000 was
copper and the remaining two millions
were silver, lead, tin and coal. The
output of coal during 1918 was 60 per
cent greater than for any previous
year, due to the opening of the vast
coal fields contiguous to the govern
ment railroad and north of Anchor:
ase. v
The Fisheries.—By far the greatest
industry in Alaska at the present time
is that of fishing. While the com
plete statistics for the year just closed
are not yet available, there is no
doubt but that the returns from the
fishing industry in Alaska for 1918
were largely in excess of those of
1917 when they aggregated $51,000,
000, there being no less than fifty-two
new canneries and forty salteries op
erated last year for the first time.
Halibut fishing in Alaska waters is
continuous the year round and the
canneries operate about eight months,
from March 1 to October 31. It is
estimated that the fishing industry
employ from 12,000 to 15,000 persons
from six to eight months in the year
and 5,000 persons all the year round.
Lumbering.—While yet in the early
stage of development, the lumber in
dustry in Alaska is destined to be
come a mighty asset of the country.
The year 1918 was a highly profitable
one to all the sawmills, not only that
there was a steady demand, locally,
for all the lumber that could be cut,
but the fact that the finest spruce for
airoplanes found in the world is right
here in Alaska, kept the mills all run
ning to their full capacity and at that
the demand for lumber for home con
sumption was many millions of feet
in excess of the output. The manu
facture of wood pulp is also being in
augurated and bids fair to become
one of the many substantial indus
tries of the territory.
Agriculture.—The possibilities of
Alaska front an agricultural ftoint of
view are practically unlimited, the
only drawback to their development
being lack of markets. Everything
from potatoes to strawberries grow
luxuriantly and mature perfectly
here, some communities being better
adapted to their growth than others.
In the Tanana and Matanuska valleys
wheat, oats, barley and rye ripen as
perfectly as in the Mississippi valley.
The first Hour mill in Alaska was in
stalled at Fairbanks last year. It is
the vanguard of many to come.
Stock Raising.—Wherever attempt
ed, stock raising in Alaska has been
successful, the result being a much
hardier breed of horses and cattle
than their progenitors imported from
the states. In all communities where
stock-raising has been attempted, an
ample supply of native hay is found
for winter use.
Reindeer Farming.—The theory that
reindeer thrive only where there is an
abundant growth of so-called “Rein
deer Moss” has been exploded, as it
has been proven by many now en
gaged in the business that reindeer
thrive where any of the native wild
game, moose, caribou and deer exist.
At present there are from 110,000 to
120,000 (the official report, not reck
oning the number of fawns, showed
92,500 last spring) reindeer in Alaska
and they are a mighty asset to the
localities where raised, principally the
Seward Peninsula and the lower
Yukon and contiguous valleys, where
they are largely used for food, the
skins taking the place of broadcloth
and Scotch tweed in the manufacture
of clothing by the natives. Being very
hardy and able to rustle their own liv
ing, reindeer culture in Alaska bids
fair to become both extensive and
profitable in the not distant future.
Home-Seekers.—There Is room for
hundreds of thousands of homes in
Alaska, yet the Alaska Bureau of Pub
licity does not advise home-seekers to
.come here fit large numbers and Ex
pect to secure for themselves self
sustaining homes at once either by
the homesteading or purchase of land
to be worked exclusive of other
sources of income. As stated else
where in this bulletin, the markets for
agricultural products are limited and,
while practically all a family eats can
be produced here, there are other
needs that only money will provide;
therefore, and person locating on land
should arrange for employment at one
of the many mines, fisheries or some
other industry for a portion of the
year^ thereby insuring an income
other than exclusively from his farm
while improving and developing the
same. Also, much of the rich lands
suitable for homes in Alaska are lo
cated too far from schools and other
conveniences to be considered by
many families. However, a farm near
any city, town or even small com
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munity in Alaska where outside work
can be obtained at intertfftls through
the year and where schools and other
advantages exist, is very desirable.
Educational.—The Alaska govern
ment is remarkably liberal in the mat
ter of establishing and maintaining
schools and any community that has
half a dozen school children is gen
erally provided with educational fa
cilities. Prtctically every. town in
Alaska has a high school that will
rank with those of towns of even
greater proportion in the states and
none but competent instructors are
employed. Nearly all the high schools
in Alaska are on the accredited lists
of the leading colleges and universi
ties of the United. States. At Fair
banks the Alaska Agricultural College
and School of Mines has just been
completed at a cost to the territory of
$60,000. It will be opened this fall
with a complete, equipment and full
corps of instructors. The federal
government maintains this institu
tion, $50,000 per year having been ap
propriated for that purpose.
Returned Soldiers and Sailors.—Of
the nearly 5,000 men who enlisted or
were drafted from Alaska into the
army and navy it is conservative to
assume that fully 80 per cent of them
will return to Alaska. In the case of
nearly every man who heeded the
call of his country from here his for
mer position will be open to him on
his return. Many others released
from the service are considering com
ing to this country and every effort
i^ill be made to place them in some
profitable and steady employment, but
returned Alaskans will be considered
and provided for first. Within sixty
days there is no doubt but that many
former residents of the territory who
have been in the service will have re
turned and many others who come
with them will be absorbed by the
various industries of the country.
There is a sentiment here favorable
to those who offered their lives in de
fense of their country and returning
soldiers and sailors will be well treat
ed in Alaska.
Climatic Conditions.—The climatic
conditions of Alaska are varied, but
when it is considered that the area of
Alaska is more than twice that of the
fourteen original states, variations of
climate may be expected, It all de
pends on the location. In Southeastern
Alaska and along the Gulf of Alaska
the mean average temperature is prac
tically the same as that of Kansas
City, Mo, Thus far the present winter
the coldest weather eJ Bienced In
Southeastern Alaska 10 de
grees above *ero. Inthe Interior of
the territory 40 degrees below zero
has been experienced. There is con
siderable rainfall on the coast at all
seasons of the year but in the interior
there is seldom any rain between the
middle of October and the middle of
April following.
Business Opportunities. — Alaska
presents a broad field for business op
portunities and investment Her min
eral resources having been merely
“scratched,” the field for prospectors
is unlimited so far as both placer and
quartz is concerned. Here the pros
pector can always obtain work in
some developed mine while acquiring
a “grubstake” and game abounds to
supply his wants while in the hills.
Capital is seeking investment and
once a promising discovery is made,
little difficulty is experienced In elicit
ing both interest and money for its
development. Also every city, town
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and hamlet In A'lhska offers some- |
thing in the way of business enter- |
prise to the man who does not quit , j
while ‘‘making the: grade.”
-»-.
REGISTRATION NOTICE
The registration book of the town
of Cordova will be open at my office, |
in the corner store, Michelson & Cur- j
rier building, First? street, Cordova,
every day from 12’ o'clock noon until 3
8 p. m.
The registration Book will be closed |
at 4 o’clock p. m. Saturday, March
2!), 1919.
C. H. LAMPREY, Registrar. j
-♦-r
The Daily Times Job plant is
well equipped for all classe of com- 1
mercial printing.
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Mr. Business
• i
By the recent addition of many new
type faces and other equipment we have
made of our JOB DEPARTMENT one
of the finest in Alaska. We are now in
a position to handle your orders with
even more neatness and dispatch than
before. How about that order for sta
tionery you were wanting right away?
Just step to the phone and call us—
we will do the rest.
Prices? Well—, you will find them
always RIGHT.
pSSSiliiiiii
| Alaskan Hotel I
“The House of Comfort.”
THE BEST EQUIPPED HOTEL IN
ALASKA
BARBER SHOP IN CONNECTION.
Hot and Cold Water, Electric Bells,
Electric Lights, Steam Heat, Suites
With Bath. ■
CORDOVA
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1 MINING MACHINERY MARINE HARDWARE CANNERY SUPPUES /
S-MARINE ENGINES-i
1 IN CORDOVA STOCK 1
1 NEW PACIFIC NEW CLAY ANDERSON MILLER j
I The World’s Recognized Fishermen’s Engines, Medium and Heavy Duty, Four-Cycle, Extended Bases I
1 NOTICE.—We are making new additions to our Machine Shop in Cordova, which before April the first will be complete, and comprise the fol- I
jj lowing new equipment: One 18-inch Monarch Lathe, 16-foot bed; one 13-inch South Bend Gap Bed Lathe; one Wilmarth & Morman Universal 1
Grinding Machine; a Vulcan 60-ton Hydraulic Press; one Buffalo Boiler Plate Slitting Shear; a Buffalo 4-inch Furnace; one Oster Pipe and Bolt
I Threading Machine; a Becker-Brainard Milling Machine, 20x80-inch table; one Baker Key Seater; two Buffalo Upright - Geared Drilling and
Reaming Machines; a Universal Wood-Working Machine, and many other electric and universal hand machines, including an Ox-Weld Acety
I lene Welder and Detroit Electric Hardening Furnace. ,
HARMON MACHINERY COMPANY, INC.
I CORDOVA. ALASKA