The marble deposits, gold and copper ores, and other mineral deposits were sufficiently exhibited to warrant the assertion that they were worthy of the fullest investigation.  The large deposits of low-grade gold ore in the eastern part of Alabama, according to exhibitors, will undoubtedly prove immensely profitable to anyone who may establish a system to extract the gold economically.

Owing to the failure of the State to make an exhibit, the authorities of the exposition recognized the Birmingham committee as the State commission of Alabama and extended to them the courtesies due to a State commissioner.  The exhibit was maintained through the period of the exposition, and many thousands of souvenirs of the great statue of Vulcan were sold at the exhibit.  An electric picture machine was installed, which gave a large series of moving pictures representing the scenery and life of the Birmingham district.  The business of the exhibit was under the direction of J.A.  MacKnight, of Birmingham, throughout the exposition, and he had his office at the exhibit.

ALASKA.

Members of the Alaska commission.—­Thomas Ryan, First Assistant Secretary of the Interior, chairman; Governor John F. Brady executive commissioner; Joseph B. Marvin, resident representative; Mrs. Mary E. Hart, hostess.  Honorary commissioners:  M.E.  Martin, mayor of Ketchikan; Peter Jensen, mayor of Wrangell; O.H.  Adsit, mayor of Juneau; Frank Bach, mayor of Douglas; John Goodell, mayor of Valdez; L.S.  Keller, mayor of Skagway; D.B.  Miller, mayor of Eagle City; W.H.  Bard, ex-mayor of Nome; Anthony Tubbs, mayor of Treadwell; H.P.  King, mayor of Nome.

The district of Alaska appeared at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition as an exhibitor in a national exposition for the first time.  The conception of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition and its plans were presented for the consideration of the Congress of the United States at a time when the reports of the committees of Congress sent to Alaska to investigate its resources and needs had aroused the Congress to the duty of enacting legislation for the development of this great region.  In appropriating the large sum of $50,000 for an Alaska Building and an Alaska exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition it was the purpose of Congress to afford an object lesson as a means of education to the millions of people who should attend the exposition as to the extent and resources of this country or territory.  The sequel showed that the money was wisely expended, as the Alaska exhibit had the distinction of being regarded by the thousand of its visitors as forming one of the most interesting, instructive, an surprising exhibits shown at the great World’s Fair.

When the United States, thirty-seven years ago, paid to Russia the sum of $7,200,000 for the almost unknown territory of Alaska, the purchase was not generally approved; and even members of Congress denounced it, regarding the acquisition as a region of icebergs and glaciers.  Later, when gold was discovered in Alaska, the region was regarded as being one of ice and almost inaccessible gold, and few had the hardihood to venture within its precincts, even with the possibility of finding gold as an inducement for the venture.