Stikeen River journal., 1899-07-01
A Pleasure Trip.

The writer returned on Tuesday last rom pleasure trip to Juneau and otl . er Alaska points to the North. The start was made on board the Pacific Coast steamer Cottage City which left Wran9el June +. There is no o,.ca- sion for extended mcntiO of the sevrr- al stanch steamers of this well known line. or their efficient officers and crew. Their steamers are always the best and the officers understand their duties and perform them in d gcntlcmanly and opl@lng manner Among the passcn- gers on the trip north. was John D. itockufcllar. the head of the Standard oll Company. Mr. Itocilafcllar accord- ed the JOURNAL representa- tive an in tciNlcW ol two hours duration in which he dwelt tt length upon the beauties of the Alaska coast scenery which far surpass his most exaggerated ideas form ed by dcscri ptions. He compared the steamer coarse along the coast of las ka to an immense harbor. within which steamers of the deepest draft could nav igate Hith perfect salty. Regarding the resources of Alaska. Mr. Rockafel- Ter stated that they were misunder- stood by persons in the East. many of whom considered Alash;, d land of per Alaska. continued Mr. Rockefeller. is in it's infancy. and no doubt has d won dcrful future. The climate is mild and healthful and the ground rich in min eral which time and capital will surely develop. The fish and timber indus tries also excited Mr I,ockafeller's keen perception. \ steamer loaded with salmon was hailed and requested to come alongsidc and the sight Was keenly enjoyed by the entire party. Mr. Rockateller wound up the inter- view by expressing his great pleasure at being able to see Alaska and enjoy the pleasures of the trip.
 Another of the passengers was Hon. A. r. SWineford Ex-Governor of Alas ku. and one of the best known men in the territory. The Ex-Governor was returning from a trip to ketchikan, whither he had gone locking after his several mining interests. To the JOURNAL man he said that Wrangel and ketchikan were the coming places in Southeastern Alaska. and that the near future would see d great many properties in this country on il paying basis. There are continued he "bet- ter properties in Alaska than the Treadwell and they lie to the south.' At Juneau the writer was pleased to meet L. $. Senators Fairbanks and Foster, and other members of the Alas ka boundary commission who are in Alaska in the interests of the Ameri- can contention regarding the boundary dispute. This party will be in Wran- gel in a few days, and an account of the interview with them will appear later. The trip to Taku, and the glacier. was made on board the steamer Walcott. the party having been arranged in honor of the Boundary Commission. It was an interesting trip and replete with instructive sights. It was our pleasure to visit other and various places of interest, including the great Treadwell mine on Douglas Island. and meet many old frienns and acquaint- ances. The return home was made on board the Orizaba which reached Wrangel on Tuesday last. Of all places visited there was none which was found to be superior to Wrangel as d place to live, barring only the fact that Wran- gel is bound fast in the grip of a cor rupt gang of grafters in the shape of officials. These grafters are a great detriment to W rangel, and do more to impede its progress than anything that has happened since Alask ka was acquir- ed by the great American Republic.