CHAPTER XXIII.

ALASKA-1741 TO 1889.

LASKA was first discovered in 1741 by Russians, and became an important trading and fishing point before the close of the last century. In 1778 Captain Cook, in search of a northwest passage, coasted along Alaska and established the fact, not known before, that Alaska was attached to the North American continent; he also reported having seen large numbers of otters along the coast, which stimulated the Russians to establish fur-trading stations in that faraway land. One company, known as the Russian-American Company, secured a grant to Alaska from the Emperor Paul I. in 1799, for a period of twenty years, and two years later a settlement was permanently established at Sitka. The charter of the company was renewed again and again, and only expired about five years before the United States (in 1867) purchased the country from Russia for the sum of $7,200,000, which, in the light of the present day, seems an insignificant sum for such a valuable and extensive country, although at that time the amount was considered a vast sum, and the Government was censured for the purchase.

Alaska boasts of the highest mountains on the North American continent Mount St. Elias, 19,400 feet; Mount Wrangle, 20,000 feet. The territory contains an area of 581,000 square miles, laying between the 130th west and 165th east meridian, being 4,500 miles east and west, and between the 55th and 70th degrees of north latitude, being 1,000 miles north and south.

The Aleutian Islands, about 150 in number, with several active volcanoes, form an insular continuation of the North American peninsula of Alaska, in the shape of an arch or bridge, between the American continent and Asia, enclosing the Behring Sea, over which the United States claims control, and which is disputed by England. The subject will probably so complicate our relations with England. as to require considerable diplomacy to steer clear of an open rupture. Should war result with England over the seizure of English ships in Behring Sea, for violations of the regulations established by the United States Government for the protection of the fisheries of Alaska; then will this Government proceed to annex the territory once claimed by the United States and now known as British Columbia, and owned by England since the treaty of 1846. By right, we should own that territory now; it would then give us uninterrupted

connection with Alaska and land communication to within twelve miles of Asia, enabling us to accept Russia's proposition to meet us there with a railroad, and thereby form a continuous rail route from New York to St. Petersburg and Paris. Governor William Gilpin, of Colorado, has for years advocated just such a rail connection, and we hope he will live to see the work completed. It only requires about 7,000 miles of road to be built to accomplish the Governor's proposition-4,000 in America and 3,000 in Siberia. In the light of successful engineering in the Rocky Mountains, the task of reaching Behring Strait is entirely feasible; that railroad would open up the great territory of Alaska, which is in size equal to one-seventh of the entire United States. If war should not afford us the pretext to seize British Columbia, then should the United States endeavor to purchase the same from England, or, better still, create a sentiment in British Columbia favorable to annexation and have them make a request of Congress to permit their coming peaceably into the Union.

Alaska is valuable for its immense forests, and salmon, cod, halibut, and seal fisheries, and for precious metals; one mine alone, on Douglass Island, is turning out $200,000 in gold per month; other valuable mines and placer ground are known to exist, but not as yet much prospected, Coal is said to be found in the territory; the last report of Gov. Swineford describes several marvelous veins, varying in thickness from 2 to 15 feet, and quality equal to the famous cannel coal. Some of the islands are said to abound in the finest quality of grass for grazing purposes. It is said some San Francisco parties have frequently shipped large herds of cattle up there, in the spring of the year, to fatten on the native grasses, slaughtering in October for return shipment, any quantity of ice being obtainable for preserving the beef

in transit.

Regarding commerce, Gov. Swineford has to say:

"The commerce of Alaska is at present such only as grows out of and is intimately connected with, its fisheries, fur trade and mining interests. Its extent may be inferred from the following carefully estimated statement of the market value of the products of her several industries the present year:

"The indications are that the output of gold will be trebbled, if not quadrupled, the coming year, while there is every prospect that a large amount of capital will be added to that already employed in the fisheries. The fur trade is at its maximum, and aside from the fur-seal

industry, may be expected to diminish in volume just in proportion to the development of the other natural resources of the territory.

Alaska is the only novelty left for the tourist and sight-seer in all this great world; every other place of interest has "been done" by the tourist. During the past two years, Alaska has received some attention from pleasure seekers, and the Pacific Coast Steamship Company has placed additional boats upon their Alaska route, and in various ways so improved the service that a trip from San Francisco or Port Townsend to Alaska is but a charming pleasure trip, with every luxury known to ocean or river navigation.

The excursion fare is extremely low, say from San Francisco to Alaska and return, $130, which covers nearly a month's time, about 4,000 miles of transportation, besides meals and sleeping accommodations on board the steamer. From Portland and return, $110. From Tacoma and return, $100. From Port Townsend and return, $95. Excursion tickets are sold only during excursion months, viz: from May to September inclusive.

CHAPTER XXIV.

OKLAHOMA, APRIL 22, 1889.

KLAHOMA is the smallest and newest territory of the United States, is situated in the midst of the Indian Territory, and contains less than 2,000,000 acres of area. For years a persistant effort has been made to open up for settlement this valuable tract of land, which Captain Payne and thousands of his followers believed was public land without the formal act of Congress, and consequently at short intervals invaded the territory with a view to settlement, and was each time ejected by the United States troops. For several years this invasion and ejection play (sometimes very serious play) was continued and had the effect of turning all eyes to that coveted spot, whose virtues had become magnified into a veritable Eden; the consequence being that, when Congress passed an act permitting the President to proclaim the country open for settlement, there was a grand rush of probably 100,000 people to that territory. The President wisely, or unwisely, fixed a definite day upon which settlers might enter Öklahoma, the effect being to concentrate this immense concourse of people upon the frontier several days in advance of the date fixed. Upon that day, April 22nd, 1889 the whole number, (twice or thrice the number that could possibly get a quarter section of land), made a mad rush for the supposed Eden. In one day the entire area of public land was seized; towns were created, and large cities formed, Guthrie, the capital, sprang from nothing at noon of that day, to be a city of 15,000 people before sunset of the same day. Such an event never before occurred in the history of the world. Probably the greatest lesson taught by this rapid absorption of public lands was, that the public domain is being so rapidly settled upon, that "Uncle Sam is rich enough to give us all a farin," will die with the Nineteenth Century.

CHAPTER XXV.

EX-GOVERNOR WILLIAM GILPIN'S MAP OF THE WORLD.

AS fitting close to our review of the Western States and Territories,

we feel like describing Governor Gilpin's new Map of the World, but in doing so we must tell our readers who Governor Gilpin is. He was one of the earliest explorers of the Rocky Mountain region; he has spent about fifty years of his life in the Great West; was the first Governor of Colorado; afterwards visited England, and presented his revised map of the world to the greatest scientific societies of the world, and explained his plans, so that great attention was paid to his theory of the future rail connection between Europe and the United States; he was elected a member of the English scientific society, and was royally entertained by the greatest men in England. He returned to Colorado, and has since resided in Denver. He is a man of large fortune and very learned. His hobby is to build a railroad to Behring Strait, to connect with one to be built by the Russian Government through Siberia to Behring Strait. Governor Gilpin still lives, though much advanced in years; he may be seen walking the streets of Denver any fine day, greeting his numerous friends, happy in the city's fulfilment of his oft repeated prophecies, made when Denver had but a few straggling huts to indicate its

existence.

Governor Gilpin's map is the reverse of Mercator's Projection; instead of the center of the world being in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, he makes that point to be at either end of his map, his expression being, "I have wiped the d-m Atlantic from the face of the earth," his projection being a great improvement over Mercator's, in that he makes land communication take the place of a dangerous

ocean connection.

Our American Continent was peopled thousands of years ago, and no doubt exists at this time, that it was peopled from Asia by the Behring Strait route, they having crossed into America by means of the ice bridge which forms every winter over the strait. After crossing they gradually worked their way southward and eastward until the country was occupied by the aborigines, found here by Columbus in 1492. It is now quite certain that Governor Gilpin's hopes will, before many years, be realized, and we will have one more evidence of