New-York tribune., 1897-08-22
THE PRICKLY MOSS or ALASKA.

Ir Is WORSE, THAN CHIGGERS. SAYS MIR. JUNEAU.
From The Kansas City Journal.
Nothing ever happens anywhere in this old
world Of ours unless Kansas man is mixed up
in it in some important way. Just now the
papers are filled with accounts OF Juneau, the
metropolis Of Alaska, and this Is to"h 'ha'
was founded by and named after man VINO Is
now resident of Dodge city. Kan Mr. H.
juneau is the man, and for many years ne mas
been a resident Of the SunflOwer state, AT one
time being engaged in the lumber business at
wellington and later removing to DCdSe City'
which has since beer his residence, with the ex-
ception OF the time passed in Alaska. The goid
discoveries in the ncighborhood OF Juneau were
made by George Juneau, a cousin OF the Kansas
man. in company with man by the name OF
Harris The little settlement that was then
started was called Harrisburg. but later the
miners changed its name to Juneau. in honor or
the Kansas man. who had gone there on the in
vitatiOn of his cousin and established IadIns
house. This in 1881. and the Kansas Juneau
remained in Alaska until 1SSo. when he re-
turned 10 SuniiCWerdom.
In the course OF an interview with The Dodge
City Republican" Mr.. Juneau says:
II cannot see the reason for advising travel
by the Yukon River route distance OF Z.1Do
miles or more from juneau to the klondke gold
fields. when there is a shorter route. perhaps
more difficult. hut practical which is over the
Chkoot pass "A distance Of four hundred miles
from the town II Juneau. The passage over the
Chlkoot pass is nOvel. but has been performed
many years. This pass is about hundred
miles from Juneau. Indians. Doth men and
women, employed in making the ascent OF
the pass. They carry goods on their backs from
the head Of Linn Channel to the nearest point
where you strike the Yukon River. a distance of
about seventy five miles and charge SD to $2O
per hundred pounds Two weeks is required to
make the trip An Indian will carry a hundred
pounds besides his own clothing and provisions.
weighing thirty pounds more. About two hum
dred Indians We're at time employed in
carrying goods over the pass but the number
engaged in the traffic must be greater now.
Mules and horses good in this mountain
climbing; and besides grass grows in that
country and hay and feed shipped in there
would be great luNuries at enormous figures.
Only moss grows there The country is too
rough for animal travel.
THE country is covered ~'ith moss, a vine that
sawlke edges. with the edges reversed point
ing to you They get into the flesh and stick
deep. These pricks with the back barb break
you pull them out of your flesh. and portion
remains in the flesh The only way to get them
out is to dig them out The prcks make a sore
These Internal pricks about one and one-half
to two inches long. and there is excruciatng
pain when you pull these barbed pricks from
your flesh. The chigger is nowhere in compari-
son to the moss prick. Except where the water
wears the surface Of the earth the country is
covered with moss. That is one Of the difficulties
Of travel Where there is ice there Is moss
and devils club. the latter vine that winds
around anything it clutch. Persons walking
become cntwined in network OF and
devils club. and passage is extremely difficult
and tOrtuous."