Show expect to add petroleum to rich alaska products wealth of commodities flow from ter territory r atory washington D C ever since seward pushed to a successful conclusion the purchase ot of alaska his critics have been forced to eat their words alaska cost an oversize sum for an ice box in 1867 but few investment united states dollars in land have given better return recently tons of oil drilling equipment were dispatched to new oil fields of southwest alaska in the hope of adding petroleum t ty the long list of commodities now flowing from the territory alaska spells it salmon without oil figuring in the role of an export alaska last year shipped to the united states products valued at nearly nine times the amount paid to russia for the territory says the national geographic so society clety alaska salmon canneries transported worth ot of their supplies these as well as hides of hair seals from which purses are made and fur seal skins which become popular durable wearing apparel the bilof islands in the bering sea are the breeding grounds ot of four fifths of the fur seals in the world the seals are protected by the government and only immature males are killed last year fur seals were taken nearly 1000 blue fox pelts also were produced on the islands alaska has great forest resources ot of hemlock and spruce that have been only partially parti hIly cut over vast acres in the territory worthless for agriculture or forest are used as grazing grounds for fo reindeer herds about 1280 reindeer were dispatched to alaska in 1891 1902 from lapland and siberia in 1938 1930 there were although many were killed to supply eskimos with food and clothing last year the united states imported worth of surplus reindeer meat and hides alaska good market alaska is a good market tor for american goods importing 42 worth in 1937 largest single import was more than worth of tin cans for salmon canneries A million dollars worth of fish canning equipment and quantities of machinery and vehicles also were purchased by alaskan industry american ships brought to alaskan ports meat and dairy products nearly dozen eggs grains vegetables and fruits including cl for the first time canned peaches and pineapple farmers pointing to self sufficiency imported pounds of field and garden seeds for alaskan housewives mode made in the U S baking soda sewing machines and brooms fancy soaps perfume and cosmetics and pianos were imported products to the united states and fresh and cured salmon shipped were valued at catching and canning salmon Is by far alas kas most important industry it employs people every year salmon are rapidly cleaned by efficient machines called iron chinks because they have replaced chinese workers nearly every bay and inlet of alaska has its waterside salmon cannery watch the shiploads ship loads of fresh fish pour in at one end and come out theother in a continuous stream of 0 silvery cans and you will realize that alanskas factories produce more than half the canned salmon on the worlds pantry shelves because it is shipped to seattle and distributed from there alaskans Ala who want canned salmon usually import it from the united states last year they ordered worth mineral wealth ranks next to fisheries in the territory last year alaskan miners shipped to the united states nearly worth of copper about three times as much gold and worth of silver the territory has extensive high grade coal deposits but costly transportation has hindered their exploitation ask 4 a woman what alaska means means to her and she will answer awer in one word furst luxurious mink sable soft muskrat and beaver and fluffy 11 affy fox furs blue red whitt black and silver allver ale alaska aska |