The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-02-02
THE SkAGUAY NEWS.
A DisseminatOr Of Information Con.
cerninE Alaska.

Skaguay, Alaska, the youngest town in
the world, and which bids fair to become
within a year a great center Of population,
is the proud possassor Of a newspaper
THE Skaguay News made its modest
bow to the world a few weeks ago, and
has already enjoyed such prosperity that
it has seen fit to come out III Il special
number. The issue of Dec. 81, which is
No. 12 Of the first volume, was received by
=. H Hopes, proprietor of the National
Hotel, a few days ago. ami is q produce
ton Of which any editor might well be
proud. In point of mechanical and literary
excellence, 1t surpasses many of the jour-
nails of older towns which profess to be
up-to-date publications. There is a strong
suspicion, however, that it was printed in
Seattle, for it contains IS we'll printed
pages, illustrated with many fine half
tone cuts. NJ. L. Sherry is the editor and
proprietor. In opening editorial the
writer says: "Skaguay, the child that is
to be the giant Of Alaska. Not very mel
Hfuous cognomen, it is true, but the i'm
mortal bard has told us that there is nit
IN a name. Skaguay would get there by
any other appellation. She is a child of
fate, born of necessity and rocked in the
cradle of the stirring times that begat
her. Geography is her sponsor, and has
pointing with unerring finger to the site
where she sits and grows and fourishes
like q green bay tree in the summer time
"A few short months ago her site
q virgin Wilderness whose echoes were
awakened only by the soughing of the north
wind and the gurgle of the waters where
the river meets the sea.
To-day the screech of steam, the CLEAN
of electric light, the roar of exploding dy-
Mantle, the catter of builders tools, and
the multifarious other sights and sounds
that accompany the march of commerce.
startle the new conner and echo back from
the long, silent Alaskan hills.
This is Skaguay. And why?
''She sits at the gateway. Her pass key
is the one that opens to the world the
storm-lOcked treasure box of the Yukon.
For after all has been said and done, the
stubborn fact remains that hither must
come and go the all-year round traffic to
and from the interior. IIther may come
nearest the heart of the country the ocean
going steamer; and hence may go to the
shortest line of rail or other road to the
gold fields
The same natural force that placed
upon the map other commercial centers
are at work building Skaguay. The
world goes after it's wealth and to its mar
kets by the shortest possible routes. In
the economy Of well getting time is money,
and while money may not be of much
value in Klondike, the days that stand be-
tween the gold seeker and his Mecca are
often worth their millions.
''Skaguay realizes to the full extent the
value of the hand she holds. She is play
ing it boldly, but in doing so cherishes
naught but charity for it's neighbors and
a pax vobiscum for all the world. She
tends not only the open hand, but also
the gladstone heart to all comers There is
room for ALL and Will be business for
everybody. Come and help us build the
San Francisco Of the North Pacific"
That the new town is already afflicted
with aldermanc authority is shown by the
No. iii he ircf
election Saturday, Dec. 4, when seven
'cCuncilmen were elected TO look after all
matters appertaining to the welfare of the
town. 1t will be the duty OF the council
men to originate measures for the material
and moral welfare of the town, to arrange
fer police and fire protection; look after
the sanitary condition of the town and in
short, to discharge every DUTY falling upon
the shoulders of a city council OF any IN
cOrpoTated city or town. In discharglng
their onerOus duties the seven wise men
of Skaguay will have their staff and
comforter the moral ana financial support
of the citizens, and it is safe to say that
their edcts and ordinances though lacking
the legality which law is supposed to give
them will be strictly enforced and OBJ
served.
A well written and finely illustrated ar
ticle is a description of ''Skaguay's New
Wagon Road" This is the road which is
being built by George y. Bracket, of this
city. In Skaguay he is known as the gen
eral superintendent Of the Sk&guay 4 Yu-
kon Transportation & Improvement COM
pany. Other articles of interest in the pa
per are: The True Story of Skaguay, the
Gateway to the Yukon, "Skaguay as 1t Is
Today-a Record of Three Months. ALAS
ka From a Woman's Standpoint Winter
and Summer Trails
Law and order prevail says the editor,
yet it would not be a truth to say that
no violations of the law occur. The mai
esty Of the law is represented by a United
States court commissioner who alternates
between Skaguay and Dyea. and a United
States deputy marshal besides it's own
councilmen
The town has wide streets, as yet un-
paved, with good sidewalks in the business
thoroughfares. 1t has church and a