The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-02-08
ALAskA'S FINE CLIMATE.


NliUtF u. ftTtltt >sttu to - fsSf
reporter yesterday: ~ intend tn live and
die In Alaska. and ~o solicit no sympathy
for my lot"
He il here as the representative of busi-
ness men of Alaska and millions Of capi-
tnl to ask of congress immediate and
proper legislation for that territory.
us a fact that you are organizing a
colony"
ut is not. nor do I know how this inn
preston originated, unless my
mission has been COMPOUNDED with the
interests of Bruce colony in Nebraska.
founded Ivy my father IL years ago, which
is to-day ON" Of the most popuious and
prosperous. i'm the state. l am here sim
ply a. delegate of the Alaska Pioneer
business association tn urge upon CON
gress legislation for "A long neglected
territory. While did not come
down from that north country
tn bosin H.. Ia Organize "a colony. nor even
to encourage emigration. ] do feel like
publicly proclaiming my personal salts
of thai splendid territory. I wish. also, To
express my amusement AT thc Ignorance
f"sInu in IN" states concerning this new
wonderland which has belonged to- us
for over ~ years"
Sand You think white. men ran live in
that country -"
I think white men can live Here ="
said Mr., firir.., rather disd.ipfni "f re-
Iportnrial intciligcncc. "Whku once the
t~oundie~~ possibilities of mines and fish
ssrics, tt" resources of her timber axriCuI-
| ttlrtI ana xr.tkltlK Eli1t>. Mns.1I tttN once
realize the warmth aud uniformity Of
temperature. you will see an exodus nm
like ANYTHING in the history of western
"But you cannot expect much attention
from the government until there il at
l:as, a cor,'"rai's guard Of white men in
the territory"
9Th" corporalts guard. a. You term il.
numbers about ..un. and nothing hut the
lack Of proDcr and just legislation pre-
vents that population doubling inside of
two years. There are capitalists. farmers
and siockraiscrs from the arid. blizzard
Dakotas, who would gladly abandon the
prospect Of slow starvation for the ccr-
..Th. hill which has passed the senate
committee and has been favorably re-
ported q" the senate provides that land
can he taken either 10y citizens or Corpora
tons in tracts of lGD acres. at S2.25 per
acre. IL includes also a request for "a
modification OF existing timber laws.
Alaska * now governed 10y the laws az
Oregon which, considering the essential
differences of climate aud area, and of re-
sources, are wholly Inadequate for the set
tlcmcut and development of the Terri
tory. So long as "a man cannot pre-sinpt
a homestead nor buy "A foot of land. eN-
cept under the expensive mining laws.
there can I've no settlement nor Improve
Inent. Under the present law there can
Ia no eN~portatiou of the abundant timber
nor manufacture, of the same ia the ter
ritory. In short we want Alaska To- h@. ar-
corded .i,e pr,v,,cg.s granted other West,
will invite capitalists and guarantee "a
home Ia poor men. When il - possible Ia
take up lGD acres of land at SD an acre,
yon will hear ~" more IF the ""rp"rafs
guari-"
eating nat ves survive the winters:
"The fallacics concerning Alaskan eli
mate and temperature are universal ans
, determination. Many statements CON
|, corning the comparatively mild ten,lera
,urs. hays l.'n me. WITH ,=nr -. by IN p.
uorancc 10y their ost-of-the-way questions
Now, in reality, Alaska il very muci
warmer than Montana, and not subject q
the high winds. sand storms aud blizzarsls
, and IL il very much mors' agreeable thai
> Orcg"n. whs.r', the continual cold rains
; Tie only serious drawback to TIA,
: Alaskan climate IL tii. frequency Of rain
but. uulik. Oregon. the rains are warm
: and. Will. th" atu,"-pl.r, IL moist. IL !
: also ts,liny aui b.slthfui. The wints'
~HIs~ about zero, and eight ar tc'
. - a. the very rare exception
: - T.,S .v.rytssly know
that tie OAK. aud Montana pla
pranks ~ midLwipt"r with the mercury al
!. tti. way frptu "a, itspy. Ia ~ and ~ degree
below"
.NnI will r--nii.ct. 81 course" contir
. ned Mr.. Brus-.. '.that I now speak of tiIa
portion 81 Alaska with which ] am fami
lar aud that r-Iorte'h upon by rs.i,able q,
piorrrs and huut:rs: From Fort Wrangl
Ia Sitka. and from Sitka to the great tls
cier Bay. ! have personally examined I'll
- country and observed climatic cxsIditiori
I. The rigors of the climate have been emo
3 mou-iy exaggerated. bu, no, INTENTIONAL,
l. The climate of Alaska il n~ndoubtssi
undergoing great changes. Take. for IL
" to-day in reports, and likely to affect a
woilsl-be settler. Vancouver refers to Il
.n'ra,r. 81 "iac'rr nay say n Irs, n. wh;,c
AZ have talked with several of the old nati'
Indians. who claim that within th'
- memory the solid ice came down fiftrs
ir miles farther than it does now. and a
H. about this vicinity are the drifted r'Gl
that mark the tracks Of ancien, glacicr~
49,. Y Iaf s.arn Nsssr rrs.kA -