Congressmen, Here Is
Alaska’s Amazing Record
The beautiful and bountiful Territory of Alaska outspreads a
highly organized empire of productive soil, seas, forests, enterprises
and labor that today holds an enviable place in industrial America
and has before it a commercial future that is certain to be a mar
velous one.
Purchased in March, 1867, from Russia for the United States by
William H. Seward for $7,200,000, Alaska is a superb memorial to the
statesman whose pet scheme culminated in the cheapest bargain in
land in the annals of time—the acquisition of 590,884 square miles
of territory with a coastline of 30,000 miles, (the extension of which
is 17J23 miles greater than the entire coastline of continental United
States) embracing more than 375,000,000 acres at less than 2 cents
an acre!
Alaska is greater in extent than all of the New England States
combined—one-fifth the size of the United States—fourteen times the
size of New York and would make 470 states of the size of Rhode
Island. The Territory is nine times the size of the state of Washing
ton and covers a larger area than England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway
and Finland combined.
FISHING
The fishing industry of Alaska stands first among its branches
of trade with 132 operating canneries representing a capital invest
ment of approximately $75,000,000, employing annually between 25,000
and 30.000 persons. From 1906 to 1930, both included, a period of 25
years, Alaska fishermen caught, prepared and shipped to world mar
kets fish to the amount of $743,975,738, an annual production of
$30,000,000.
MINERAL
Alaska’s production of mineral wealth is growing apace the out
put of which during 1930 is valued at $13,602,000, segregated as fol
lows: Gold, $8,394,000; copper, $4,100,000; silver, $158,000; coal, $609,
000. Other minerals—lead, petroleum, marble, tin, platinum, etc,,
$314,000. From January 1, 1880. to December 31, 1930, a period of
50 years, Alaska’s mines contributed to the commonwealth of the
country the sum of $629,000,000, representing a production of more
than a million dollars of gold and copper per month during that
50-year period. The immense mineral deposits of Alaska have only
oeen tapped. Mining is y.et in its infancy and is constantly growing.
FORESTS
Alaska has two National Forests comprising a total area of 21,
392,0C0 acres, about 6 per cent of the total area of the Territory.
The Tongass Forest of 16,578.000 acres includes the greater part of
Southeastern Alaska, and the Chugach National Forest of 4,814,000
acres covers the shores of Prince William Sound. The National For
est- Service conservatively estimates the stand of timber in the Federal
Reserves of Alaska at 85,000,000,000 feet B.M., which, with proper re- I
forestation, will produce 1.500,000 tons of newsprint paper per annum
in perpetuity, besides merchantable lumber of local and exportation
demands. Little is known about the extent of the scattered forests
outside the several reserves. A conservative estimate places the area
at 50,000.000 acres with a timber stand of at least 10 cords per acre
used extensively for local fuel and structural requirements.
FURS
The annual production and exportation of wild and domestic furs
of Alaska is in excess of $5,000,000. There are over 4,000 licensed
trappers in the Territory, not including perhaps 3.000 unlicensed
Indians and Esquimaus. During 1930, the fur production of Alaska
totaled 465,328 raw pelts valued at $3,145,528, not including seal pelts
from the Pribilof Islands. The source of this wealth is approximated
as follows: 43,365 seal pelts exported to world markets is valued
at $650,305; 7.446 blue fox, $504,700; 821 silver and black fox, $82,644;
15,699 red fox, $556,669; 4.824 white fox, $203,353; 26.299 mink, $252,
935; 337,450 muskrat, $188,521; all other including beaver, bear, wolf,
coyote, etc., is valued at $693,379. Fur farming in Alaska supplements
the wild life resources of the Territory and is a rapidly growing in
dustry of great promise. Official records disclose that there are over
544 producing fur farms raising foxes, mink, marten, beaver, muskrat,
etc., representing a capital investment of approximately $8,000,000.
The total output of Alaska fur from 1906 to 1930, a period of 24
years, approximates $49,539,009. The fur trade is most important to
Alaska, for these trappers are largely prospectors for minerals, and
only use trapping as a means of support while they prospect for
minerals.
REINDEER
At the present time the reindeer herds of Alaska contain more
than 700,000 animals. Reindeer are not indigenous to Alaska. In
1892, one hundred and seventy-one reindeer were imported from Si
beria by the United States government for experimental purposes to
provide sustenance for the natives of northern Alaska whose natural
food supply had become rapidly depleted at that period by white
whalers and trappers. Space here does not permit conveyance of a
real idea of the present importance and future possibilities of the
reindeer industry. Let us suffice to state that the reindeer range
of the Territory can provide food for 4,000,000 animals. During the
past year Alaska exported 1,566,485 pounds of reindeer meat valued
at $157,918; 205,744 pounds of reindeer hides, $35,205; 72,026 pounds
of reindeer offal, $7,434; 42 tons of reindeer meal, $4,711. The indus
try is increasing at the rate of 20 per cent per ai^num. In one gen
eration the reindeer industry has advanced through one entire stage
of civilization.
AGRICULTURE
Compared with countries of northern Europe, Alaska has large
areas of tillable and pasture lands suitable for agriculture. The
warm summer climate has a growing season which is ample for
many of the hardier crops. Though agricultural development of Al
aska is still in its infancy, it can easily sustain a . population of a
million people—possibly ten million people—out of the products of
its soil and waters and game of the forests. Alaska lies between the
i same parallels of latitude as Norway, Sweden, Finlaind and one-third
of Russia. Official surveys indicate that fully 100,000 square miles
are capable of agricultural development, either for the growing of
crops or as pasturage for stock. In her agricultural lands, Alaska is
indisputably the richest. Cattle and sheep thrive here; wheat grow
ing thirty bushels to the acre; hay, potatoes, berries and fruit of the
finest flavor are successfully grown over widely scattered portions of
the Territory with large possibilities in the offing. Raspberries, straw
berries, currants and many, other edible berries grow in the greatest
profusion together with a wealth of Alaskan flowers of the most
beautiful variety. There has not been one crop failure in the 30 years
of agricultural development in Alaska. What section of the United
States can equal that record?
COAL AND OIL
Not all of Alaska has been explored, geologically. * The known
coal fields contain 30,000,000.000 tons of coal ranging in grade from
lignite to anthracite. The U. S. Geological Survey estimates the coal J
area of the Territory at 12,667 miles. These deposits occur in all parts j
of Alaska, from the Pacific to Arctic oceans and analysis of the coals,
ranging from bituminous to anthracite, show that in quality they
are equal to those of similar fields in the States. Some coal veins
in the Nenana River district, adjacent to the Alaska Railroad, are 45
feet in thickness. Petroleum occurs in a number of localities and
especially important are the Naval Oil Reserves of the Territory, de
j posits of which are enormous and have no equal on the North
■ American continent.
I
TOWNS
In considering the commercial possibilities of Alaska, we should
! take a glance of the 806 towns and villages scattered over the Ter
| ritory of which 18 are incorporated with assessed valuation of ap
! proximately $23,000,000, and rates of taxation from 5 to 20 mills, en
j joying every type of modern convenience and blessed with 150 public
: schools with an enrollment of about 12,000 pupils. The farthest
north college in the world is located at Fairbanks, an achievement
of meritorious credit to the home builders of Alaska. There are
i today in Alaska thirteen Territorial and four National banks with [
| deposits totaling approximately $13,000,000. i
COMMUNICATION
Army and Navy cable and wireless service, many private radio
stations and telephone lines, several broadcasting stations and private
receiving sets in many business houses, canneries, mines, camps and
homes coupled with auto, rail, water and air transportation facilities
of the most modern character completes the greatness of Alaska in
her strength and prestige to the Republic.
EXPORTS AND IMPORTS
The production of Alaska fish,, furs and minerals exported to i
the United States since 1867 amounts to the sum of $1,762,968,496 and j
imports over the same period of time to date amounts to more than
$907,873,941, totaling $2,670,842,437—Alaska’s trade value to the United’
States—an enviable record for a population of 59,278 people!
HE OF FUNDS
ITS UNUK ROOD
While the Forest Service of Al
aska recognize the desirability of
constructing a trail up the Unuk
River valley, the Regional For
ester realizes that the shortage
of trail funds will not permit of
this improvement in the imme
diate future. The major part of
the trial funds alotted to South
eastern Alaska are being expended
upon short and urgent projects,
which are particularly important
for mineral development.
C. H. Flory, commissioner, says
that in the Ketchikan region
these projects provide a trail from
Helm Bay to Union Bay across
the Cleveland Peninsula, leading
through a region known to be
mineralized, and also a trail across
Prince of Wales Island, leading
past the high mountain mass east
of Klawak Lake and Lagoon, which
is also known to be mineralized.
According to official figures there
are 128,000 professional fishermen
in the United States.
i
Motorship
Princess Pat
SPEED — COMFORT
Serving All Cook Inlet
Points and Connecting
Weekly with Admiral
Line Steamers
Towing and Special Trips
By Arrangement
CHAMBERS & COLWELL
Seldovia, Agents
FRED M. O’NEILL, Skipper
Miller’s Barber Shop j
Shower Baths |
Seward’s Pioneer 1
and Expert Barber
Fred C. Miller, Prop. I
Let us enlarge your favorite'
snap shot. ALASKA SHOP
OSBO’S ELECTRIC SHOP
House wiring, boat wiring
and repairing. We stock up
to-date light fixtures.
Radios and Radio Supplies
For Service Call
Madison 123
COMMERCE CIGAR STORE
Tobacco, Candy, Soft Drinks,
Cards, Pool
John Anderson, Prop.
Phone Adams 54
i
HI-QUALITY BREAD
All kinds of pies, cakes
and pastries
j Butterhorns—Our Specialty!
|| Ele ctric Bakery
K
THE PALACE
POOL. SOFT DRINKS AND j
CIGARS
Furnished Rooms
John Mattich Paul Svedeen
Proprietors ::
Phone Main 55
ONE OF THE MOST MODERN SHOPS
IN THE TERRITORY!
PLUMBING
TINNING
STEAMFITTING
GENERAL MACHINE
WORK, REPAIRING
AUTO REPAIRING
ACETYLENE AND
ELECTRIC WELDING
FORD AGENT
Agent for The Kohler Automatic. Power
and Light Plant
Oils, Greases and Gasoline
Agent and Installing Engineers for Fur
nace Oil Burners
Seward Machine Shop
^ ALL WORK GUARANTEED — MADISON 56
£38
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