Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-08-13
THE TERRITORY IS so LARGE

and transportation overland so near
impossible that the work seems all
most without end. Owing to the pc
culiar nature of the soil, the work of
surveyor will be very troublesome
indeed, and in some places almost
impossible. The ground is entirely
covered with thick moss and fallen
underbrush, thus forming a dense
coating owe. the entire surface, and
the constant rain keeps it IN a condi-
ton very little better than a swamp,
so that even on side bills walking is
very tedious indeed, and the use of
horses or oxen impossible. After
leaving the coast but little level coun-
try can be found, for throughout the
entire territory the mountains shoot
up at every point, and give such
rugged appearance to the country
that nothing but the gold fever seems
to tempt white people to penetrate to
any great distance.
Several exploring parties will soon
start into the interior for the purpose
of reaching the head waters of the
Yukon river and prospecting along
the valley of the great river, where it
has been reported that good placer
mines have been found. An army
exploring party left here March Is
for Nuchek, at the mouth Of Copper
liver, VITA the intention OF ascending
that river to its source, and then
crossing over TO the
HEAD WATERS OBJ THE ToUNENoH,
a branch of the Yukon, and following
down that river and the Yukon to its
mouth. The party consisted of Lieut.
n t. Allen, U. S. A t. w. Ticket,
United States signal corps, and
Sergt. Robertson, U. S. A. They ex-
pect to return in about two years.
Within about three month the
great Troadwell mine on d ouglas is
land will be put in operation, as the
100 stamp mills will be ready for use
by that time, and the result of their
first work will be looked for Hsrd to
with great interest. The placer mines
of the territory can not be worked be-
fore May on account of the snow on
the mountain sides, thus leaving but
short season before the rains and
SHOWS ID the fall.
Contrary TO the generally accepted
opinion, the climate here is very mild,
when the latitude is taken into con
sderation, and doubtless many people
will be surprised to learn that the
coolest weather at Sltka this winter
was Is degrees Fahrenheit above zero.
This of course only applies TO the belt
Of country near the coast, where the
effect Of ocean currents can be felt.
This mild temperature is OF benefit to
those keeping cattle or any kind of
animals, for it is not necessary TO feed
them for more than three months of
each year, thus opening a new and
important business for Alaska, es-
pecially as fine hay can be secured in
large quantities on some Of the large
islands near the coast. The great
trouble in the cattle business would be
the rain, which falls most of the time,
thus preventing the drying of hay.
The rain fall during the year ending
Jan. 1, 1885, was 10 inches. This is
not as great As az many other places.
but the rain is SO constant that a place
could scarcely be found whore there
are Moro rainy days during the year
This constant rain is great draw
back, for it prevents the proper de-
velopem mt OF fishing industries. and
is great stumbling stone for all en-
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