Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-08-12
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Juneau's Picture of 1t.

FL. juneau of Dodge City, Kan, who,
with his brother J.. Juneau, founded
the town Of juneau, Alaska, now count
ed as the leading citizen of the famous
territory, has an interesting story to
tell of the dark side of life on the Upper
Yukon. Mr.. Juneau spent several
years in Alaska and helped lay out the
streets of the town which now bears
his name.
Mr.. Juneau says he sees no reason
for advising travel bY the Yukon route,
which is over $500 miles longer than
the Chilkoot pass road to the Klondyke.
He tells plain unvarnished tale of the
hardships which must be encountered
and adds his voice to the cry of warn
ing coming from experienced men
everywhere against leaving the seacoast
for the interior without provisions and
supplies ample for at least year.
He says practically all the packing
across the pass must be done by
Indians, as the use of horses or mules is
impossible because there is nothing in
the hills for them to eat and hay is cost
ly.
In speaking of his early experience in
Alaska Mr. Juneau said:
II helped lay out the town in 1881
and have been there several times since
We first named the place Harrisburg,
but the people changed the name after
a year or two. l have found the coun-
try full of disappointments and don't
want to paint the picture too bright.
Enough has not been said of the dark
side.
''It il no place for men of weak CON
.stitutions The hardships to be encoun
tered require the strongest hearts and
sinews as well.
II have seen nothing published of the
fact that large portion of the country
is covered with moss and vine which
contains sharp thorns, like porcupine
quills, with saw edges. These will pene-
trate leather boots, and when once in
the flesh nothing but knife will remove
them. These are worse than the mos
quito pest.
''Another thing which must not be
over looked is the total lack of law in
the interior. When only Indians and a
few prospectors were in the country
there was little need Of courts, but with
the great influx of mixed humanity law
lessness is almost sure to break out.
When / was there the laws had ex-
listed in name only. The miners adopt
ed tne laws anu put tueu III lOIce.
Alaska was in about the same condition
os No Mans land before it was put into
Oklahoma territory The people had to
agree to establish law 1t was 80 order
ed and proclaimed. One feature of the
law was that the Chinese were to be exi
cluded and that law holds good in
Juneau today.
along the seacoast Alaska presents
grand aid picturesque view for miles
in extent. from an ocean steamer. 1t is
good idea to get acquainted with Alas
ka and enjoy its scenery. 1t is a grand
country to visit, and its scenery sur
passes any mountainous scenery in
the world Travel OH water can be pro
vided for in comfort and be enjoyed
without great risk of danger
Alaska is a country on edge. 1t is sc
mountainous. Baisins are mainly filled
with ice The weather is always hard
in great extremes. Where there is nc
ice there is moss and devils club, the
latter vine that winds around every
thing it can clutch. Persons walking
become entwined in a net work of moss
and devils club. and a passage is so ex
trsmely difficult and 'torturous.