Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1898-03-25
AN ALASKA LETTER FROM
MRS. PERKINS.
Dyea, Alaska, Feb. s. 1898

My DEAR Mrs. BENNETT: -Leav
ING Juneau after Q pleasant ant
profitable stay of four months, W
oame to this new town. SO pleasant
Iy situated on an island at th'
mouth OF the Dyes river. The ap
pearance OF the town from th'
shipsfs not inviting, as al Skagua,
the best and busiest part OF tf'
town being some distance frou
where the passengers and freight
are transferred from the ships tC
scows, from which the landing ID
made. The excellent new wharf
under construction will be appre-
ciated. The poor facilities for
landing seem to be no impediment
to travel. Every vessel coming in
60 port has a full load OF passen :
gers and freight, They do not re-
main here long. Many have their
sleds with them and commence at
once to move their out6ts to Canon
City. Sheep Camp, or the Lakes on
the other eide Of the summit.
There ars many good stores and
markets. Living Is DOT expensive,
considering the distance from
source of supplies. The populace
is conglomerate. Every national
ity has a representative here. The
only church 10 that OF the M. K
Society. The building was dedi
GATED recently. The minister, Rev
Charles J Larsen, preaches In the
morning in the English language
and later 10 the day to the Scande-
pavian people, the latter congrega.
ton being much larger than the
former. These: hardy Norsemen
are fine specimens of men they
are temperate and provident and
will greatly assist IN subdDing the
Alaskan wllds. The cold weather
is vet in the future although we
hear OF cold nights and frozen feet
on the "Trail." There are many
fine evergreen trees on the island,
These trees having pitch in sbun-
dance make good fire wood, even
when freshly cut. This is unfortu
nate, as the wooded island is besu-
tirul and nothing can fill the place
with charming attractivenees like
these fine coniferous trees. The
telephone wire connecting Dyea
and Lake Bennett is rapidly being |
put in place,
We get The ADVOCATE occasion
ally and note, with pleasure, the
prosperity Of Hillsboro and vicin-
ity. We have not decided to re
main here many months. The OPP
for business are good. |
We send the "Skagusy News" and
the "Dyea Trail" The weather is
very good, much better than at
J uneau. only one hundred miles
The people are coming
10 Alaska IN vast numbers. The
two ships arriving in the last two
days brought eleven hundred.
These are cosmopolitan, well
dressed, well hammered, up. to. date
people. They cannot all be com
ne for gold. Many seem to be
rery rich not only IN money but
n all that tends to make first. class
people.
The voyage from Juneau TO
3ksguav and Dyea is one to be re-
nembered wi b ever increasing
pleasure. Among the most attrac.
i've sights was the "Mundephalp"
glacier near juneau. The pretty
Stands and nearness to the coast
,ive one sense of not being far
rom land, always appreciated by
he timid traveller There 10 a fine
glacier in distant view from nv
window, the portions not covered
With snow have that beautiful
DIOR known TO ladies' who are ex
Ict abont colols az gendarme blue,
IT sea green The general appear {
nee OF these beauties Is decidedly
ool, but the sight is enjoyable.
Many ni ihs houses are built of
ngs These are much more com