The mineral wealth of the Province is very great, the chief source being coal. On the mainland and Vancouver's Island large deposits of bituminous coal are found, and on Queen Charlotte's Island a fine grade of anthracite. Gold is found in various localities. In ten years the yield in the Province exceeded $22,000,000.
ALASKA.A-las´-ka.
At the time of its discovery by the Russians, it was called by the natives Alayeska, which has changed through Alaksa and Alashka to its present form. Largest possession of United States; discovered by Vitus Behring, 1741; purchased from Russia, 1867.
Area, 531,409 square miles: Arctic division, 125,245; Yukon, 176,515; Kuskokvim, 114,975; Aleutian, 14,610; Kadiak, 70,884; Southeastern, 28,980. Extreme length, north and south, 1,100 miles; extreme breadth, 800 miles. Yukon, the great highway through the country, navigable in summer about 700 miles; coast line, exclusive of smaller indentations, over 4,000 miles.
Climate of Pacific coast much modified by the Pacific gulf stream and the long days of summer: mean annual temperature of Yukon country, about 25°; at Sitka, about 44°; winter temperature at latter place about that of Washington, D.C. Rainfall copious, and foggy weather common on coasts and islands; Sitka one of rainiest places in the world outside the tropics, the annual precipitation being 65 to 90 inches, and number rainy days 200 to 285.
Sitka is seat of Bishop of Greek church, and headquarters of the Governor, who assumed official control, December, 1884. Pop., 995: white, 163; creole, 219; Thlinket, 613. Other settlements next in importance are Fort St. Nicholas, Cook's Inlet and Fort St. Michael, Norton's Sound. Harbors at Port Clarence, Michaelooski and Captain's Harbor.