The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-29
ID IDEAS OF ALASKA. |
e. ~,sE RrRAL NEW ENGLASDER
~nsxIxs OF THE VAST NORTH.
-sne MSsconcrpt1en Of Distances
seatfIe the Mecca Whence 0Sse
s.~kers May stroll Over 70 kssn-
81. a.d Piuck . Few Ksggets.

= have last completed q trip which
s-t me into the cities and towns OF
saai New England states" said H. ".
..~ssst.. OF Juneau. yesterday. Il was
,.<,.seasorlng 10 enlist interest and capital
an Alaska transportation proposition.
3 - had cause to talk OF the Klondike TO
ss~.sy different CLASSES OF people. In spite
Y Al that has been said and written
skus Alaska / found the mast surpr.s-
- and amusing niseonception Of the
I xeunsry, us topography. resources and
-.xrezse, 10 exist III the msld Of the rural
! xew Eagsander. OF course, in the larger
<<1iss the comprehensive press reports
sssss from Seattle and published, column
me. column, in the big caliies. had gwen
80 people as clear an idea Of the frozen
xsrth a. have the people Of this city. But
the small towns many strange ideas
snnys developed unchecked.
s'rhe most noticeable misunderstanding
:. = shown IN regard to distances. In a
y,ene sort Of way many Of these people
ttiak that after reaching Seattle they PUT
81 q few sandwiches aud some pumpkin
: - u a lunch basket and take a ferry
~ Dawson. They figure on where they
aan gp. 10 Dyea or Skagway. S.. Mi
fh8ss. Juneau or Dawson, much as they
posId ehooso a picnic ground. They be-
Z Erss that when the gold runs short IN one
nisse they can Eleander over to another
~ boy seeking out the blackberry patch
hat Yields the largest results with the
Rs4 expenditure of energy The isolated
s.f Afsa1 xu-fS .. tLat.
{ ~ areas OF snow-ocevered mountains ard
piSins are thought of by many New Eng
lard farmers as lying close together. From
~ way they talk Of these places Ii
uEuid seem that they expect TO stand In
pawson and shake hands with every New
Iseiander arriving In Dyea or Skagway.
7hs great point with. these people is TO
: sach Seattle. This city has been so thor
eaxhiy advertised In the East that by
some Il Is really regarded as the Mecca
Of all gold-seekers, who must incidental
- take a stroll before breakfast TO the
KsoHiike and pluck few nuggets.
Another legitimate source of amuse-
neat to the experienced Alaskan visiting
h the East Is the character OF the out
dts gathered together in various sections
) d ssaid New England by the Intending
gcld-seeker. The Seattle outfitter mas
gained a knowledge OF A:sska enabling
him 10 understand and cater TO the
needs OF the prospeetor. but the New
England merchant. in carrying out mis-
I Gxtorted impression or life In the North,
! pats ep an equipment that is Impractical
be cumbersome and absurd. There are
fsods canned, dried. egaporated, cancen-
usied and desiccated and the garments.
reeammended FOR an atmosphere supposed
s 70 hold the mercury of the Thermometer
; tserlassingiy out of sight, are as varied
( And Picturesque as the wardrobe OF a
wealthy Indian chief There is one thing
l -ihe eloshes may be marvels OF arehi-
ssesnse and entirely lacking any elements
l Of nifty. bar they are always plentiful.
! The Sir Oracle Of the New England ham
/, ks always snpressss his clients with the
necessity IL keeping warm.
= II was IN Connecticut that / saw a
wenderfuf Invention fer the transportation
" freight ever ice and snow. Ii was ar
! fn bicycle with steel spikes on the
WEES instead Of pneumatic tires, and at
al I'D to II were two sleds. Just how
t.. the Inventor expected an ordinary
nan 10 propel such u machine. even with
oas freight. / cannot imagine. Probably
i III idea was to haul the train 10 the top
: u hill and then slide down the other
ade Into a gold mine The combined
Ned ioeoggan. canvas boat and ice boat
: playing 10 crowded houses throughout
View England. There are pack-straps.
saew shoes. flying machines and every
potsihie ard impossible contrivance to
iess man through TO the interior with a
minimum OF labor.
J 4 have heard complaint since Veaching
MS city OF an apparent siackening in the
sash Of people from the East Ii Is very
nssnrai. IL is pretty wei. understood now
" those whose intention 20 go north has
III 70 a careful study OF the situation,
/ mat the season when the passes can be
creased ON the snow and ice Is over They,
gre waiting now for the ali-water route
va 81. Michael or for the advent of
spsihg 10 clear the passes Of the siush
nat rev inpedes progress About the
, ~ OF May Seattle vii, ha again ,ieiuged
WITH Fasteners and the rish for the next
nv months viii De greater than that al
seAdf Witnessed