Alaska is the Treasure House of the World
Announces Seattle Times in Recent Issue;
Last Year's Products Valued at $61,317,370.
Seward is Western Doorway to Vast Territory Said to be
Treasure Vault of United States—Territory is
Forging Ahead Very Slowly
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT FISH PROTECTION
Revival of Mining Activities and Expansion of Numerous
Industries Assure Future Prosperity of Land
Which Long Has Been Lying Dormant
Alaska a treasure house of the
world, marvelous mecca for tourists,
whose brilliant future has only begun
to unfold, has its gateway from the
United States in Seattle, announces
the Seattle Daily Times.
This year with the revival of mining
noticed some months ago, with plans
for the expenditure of approximately
$9,000,000 in Fairbanks by a new gold
dredging company and of $10,000,000
for a paper mill at Seward, with the
outlook for fisheries improved and
increasing timber business, is expect
ed to set a record in Alaska trade.
The bulk of it will move through Se
attle.
Since Alaska was purchased in 1867
up to January 1, 1925, the Territory
has exported products valued at
$1,236,469,345. Last year its products
were valued at $61,317,370, a slight
decrease of the total of 1923.
Tourist travel through Seattle to
Alaska this year reached into 20,000
persons, eclipsing all records.
The expenditure of $11,000,000 by the
government for the development of the
Alaska Railroad during the next six
or seven years is the program advo
cated by Noel W. Smith, new general
manager, The first million is now be
ing spent for steel bridges for the en
tire system.
Palladium Mine Operates.
Last year the first pallidium mine
opened on Prince of Wales Island,
shipping $111,911 Worth of the pre
cious metals. This year Mr. Smith be
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Seward
Grill
Open
DAY and NIGHT
PRIVATE DINING
ROOMS
Rare Dishes
—Chop Suey
Noodles
Oysters and
Shell Fish
Where Everybody Eats
i
MEL. HOLBEN
Proprietor
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...............
lieves the first birchwood shipments
will be made to the States over the
railroad for furniture manufacturing.
In mineral production last year cop
per was foremost with a valuation of
over $11,241,264, a reduction of nearly
$2,000,000 over 1923. Gold was sec
ond in value with $6,500,000 showing
a slight decrease over 1923. In the
Fairbanks district where the new
dredging company will operate more
extensively this year the gold output
exceeded last year’s.
Revenue of the Alaska Railroad for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924,
was $907,173.88, compared with $785,
031.38 for the preceding fiscal year.
Expenses for the 1924 period were
$2,727,612, including river steamers.
Twenty-five dredges produced $1,
565,000 worth of gold in Alaska last
year, fifteen of them being in the
Seward peninsula district. Twenty
quartz mines produced $2,750,000 gold
an increase of $400,000 over 1923.
Oil drilling by the Standard, Gen
eral Petroleum and Associated Oil
companies continues with promises of
success in the very near future as gas
has been struck in wells already in.
The drilling by the large companies
is in the Cold Bay district where test
wells have gone more than 3,000 feet
deep with showings of gas and oil.
Protection Given Fisheries.
The outstanding achievement of
1924 to the territory, as seen by for
mer Governor Scott C. Bone, was en
actment of congressional legislation
to conserve and protect the fisheries.
As a result increased activity was no
ticed when the closed period was over
in February this year. Former Gov
ernor Bone recommended other ligis
lation for development of the terri
tory, including: Grant of 160 acres of
land in Alaska to Alaska ex-service
men, extension of the Federal High
way Act to Alaska, turning the surplus
revenue from the Pribilof Islands seal
industry into the Alaska Fund.
Noel Smith, manager of the railroad
has recommended opening of land to
settlers along 350 miles of the rail
road, covering a five mile strip on
each side, and a bill to provide more
: liberal rights to reindeer herders on
the public domain.
Many Men Used by Alaska.
i During the season, from April to
November of each year, Alaska re
quires and uses 17,000 men in the fish
ing industry, 5000 in mining and 5000
in other industries. The fisheries pay
roll last year is estimated at-$8,160,
000, 'and the mining at $6,380,000.
Fishery employes increased 16 per
cent over 1923 and the wages paid in
creased 19 per cent.
For the tourist there is unlimited
opportunity in Alaska. In or near Mt
McKinley National Park are the
brown bear, moose and caribou, moun
tain goats and sheep. The hunting
season is from August 20 to Novembei
15, the best fishing from July 1 tc
August 15, and the water fowl seasor
from September 1 to December 15
The National Park with its 3,00(
square miles of marvelous, almost un
explored beauty has a hotel of nativ*
spruce logs at the railroad entrance
and many miles of new trails ant
roads were constructed last year.
"I am thoroughly charmed with tin
country, especially between Moost
Pass and Hope,” said C. H. Squires
inspector for the forestry service
Washington, D. C., during his visi
in Seward the past summer. ‘‘We die
not expect to find such natural beau
ty in Alaska for, somehow, we ha
gained uie idea that the topograph;
of this district was dull and unin
teresting. This is not true. Mi
Squires is connected with land work
such as classifications of lands fo
the forestry department, and in hour
The Valley of Ten
Thousand Smokes
I ' Trip Is Recalled
I TOURIST MANAGER WRITES OF
IMPRESSIONS GAINED IN
1923 TOUR.
IS PLANNING ON ANOTHER TRIP
Has Made Consistent Effort to Have
Geographic Harbor Surveyed.
FOREWORD—The following contri
bution was received from L. G. Fol
som, who in 1923, was in charge of
a tourist party which explored the
Katmai volcano region. Since his
trip into the Valley of Ten Thous
and Smokes, Mr. Folsom states in
his letter, that he has been endeav
oring to have Geographic Harbor
surveyed. Some progress in this di
rection has been maade, he writes. He
also states that it is quite possible
he ■will return to Alaska again soon
with another excursion party, and is
planning to re-enter the famous val
ley:
The Most Beautiful Place I Ever Saw
The famous “Inside Passage” to
Alaska has charmed us. The mar
velous volcanic phenomena, Katmai
and the Valley of Ten Thousand
Smokes, have thrilled and awed us.
But, returning to Seward, thru Hard
ing’s Entrance to Resurrection Bay,
we are to be “forever changed” by
the magic touch of a divine master
piece.
Assembled in perfect blending of
color and form are all the features
of most beautiful landscape. Majes
tic mountains, snow-capped, snow
draped, in August, rise from the sea.
Across a grassy slope, resembling, in
the distance, a huge white caterpillar,
a dozen unscared mountain sheep
trustfully follow their leader.
Touch of native life is found in
a suburban hamlet of rude cabins,
l (Porcupine City,) nestled under the
edge of Marathon Mountain. The
gray ribbon of road, a sort of lane
to the Land of Enchantment, leads
past a sawmill with great piles of
spruce logs, slabs and sawdust; on
past Grouse lake and Bear lake,
where salmon come from the sea to
spawn and schools of Dolly Yarden
trout crowd like boys’ and girts at
bell-time.
We climb a steep hill path to flow
ering tundra and Summit lake where
are little gravel beaches, fringes of
ferns, cottony sedges, festoons of
moss on shaded boughs, patches of
luscious blueberries, salmonberries,
red currants and elderberries. In the
clear water speckled trout play among
rushes and waxy pond-lilies while
water-striders skim over the glassy
surface.
As if the charm of rushing river,
roaring falls, tumbling brooks, dash
ing rills, fruit and flower were not
enough, we are entertained by scream
ing eagles, barking ravens, scolding
magpies, warbling birds. A curious
.black bear cub appears and hastily
retreats. A porcupine shuffles along
the road and hides in the grass. Vi
brant life everywhere.
With ecstatic joy, under spell of
scenes felt to be a manifestation of
Nature’s tenderest heart-beat, sweet
est smile, most alluring appeal, we
study Nature, dream with Nature
and enjoy to the limit her intoxicat
ing charms.
Over all, the dome of typical Al
aska blue, splashed by master artist
as if by trail of brush through pink
and mauce and gray; tucked in be
tween hills and sprucecovered is
land gems, edges of blue sky blend
with blue sea folded, together by
jealous hand to be sure no rapture
of beauty may escape. Perfect pic
ture! Perfect day!
Bay of Islands is an arm of Nak
nek Lake, lying to the north of Kat
mai National Monument. It is a beau
! tiful body of water studded with
! more than one hundred forest-clad
> granite islets.
t Fultons Falls, which occur on the
l tributary of Katmai River, have been
- so named in recognition of the work
l of Bentley B. Fulton, entomologist
' of the Oregon Agricultural College
- at Corvallis.
, Civilization is teaching the Aleut
r Indians arithmetic, but they have al
- most completely forgotten their won'
derful art of basketry.
CHUGACH GAINS
SPRUCE STANDS
TO WESTWARD
ADDITIONAL ELIMINATIONS OF
FOREST LANDS ARE ACT
ED UPON, STATED.
ISLANDS TO BE INCLUDED
More Areas To Be Opened To Home
steaders for Farming
Purposes.
Two hundred thousand acres of '
land have been added to the Chu
gach National Forest and 670,000
acres of land have been withdrawn
by executive order issued last sum
mer upon recommendation of the sec
retaries of agriculture nnd the inte
rior. The land withdrawn was de- i
dared more valuable for agriculture
than for timber purposes and. will
be homesteaded. It is declared that
preference will be given to war vet
erans.
The largest items of elimination
are 284,416 acres on Knik Arm, north
of Anchorage, and 419,021 acres at
Chickaloon Flats on the south shore
of Turnagain Arm. At Eyak 46 acres
■were taken away by boundary read
justments. The total is actually 703,
483, while the additions total 209,757,
the discrepancy of figures represent
ing alienated land.
Seward District Fortunate
Thru the addition of 156,000 acres
on Resurrection Bay, near Sew
ard, the forest gains a large stand
of spruce. Two islands now used as
fox farms are also gained these being
William Island of 1500 acres and
Wooded Island of 700 acres. Kayak
Island with its 19,128 acres was also
added. This is the island at St. Elias
light. Other gains were as follows:
1,261 acres through the Ellamar boun
dary readjustment, 670 acres through
the Kiniknik boundary readjustment,
1010 acres through abolishment of
the elimination at Nchek, 52 acres
thru the Latouche adjustment, 1200
acres through abolishment of the Or
ca elimination, 54 acres on the Tati
tlek boundary, 28,262 acres on Valdez
arm.
Most of the eliminated land was
sparsely timbered and had little value
for forestry purposes.
Largest Tie Camp In
Territory, Knight’s Isl.
At Knights Island, a short distance
from Seward, Oscar Anderson, prom
inent Alaska business man, began
cutting ties last fall for the Alaska
Railroad. Mr. Anderson has had a a
large crew of men engaged in turn
ing out the ties, which are in turn
loaded aboard a huge hull and tow
ed to Seward, the railroad terminus.
His contract calls for 100,000 hem
lock ties.
wm
Pool, Cigars,
Soft Drinks
and Candy
“Where Good Fellows Get
T ogether”
FURNISHED ROOMS
Clean and Comfortable
John Mattich
PHONE MAIN 55. SEWARD, Alaska