Stikeen River journal., 1899-04-22
THE NATURAL GATE.
To the Great Inland Empire of Omenica, Cassiar and
 klOndike.

23 minutes, and l4m seconds west from Greenwich.
 This gives Wrangcl about the same latidude as Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Copenhagen.
 The town is situate on the north end of W rangel Island, a strip of land '32 miles long with an average width of miles. The island is mountainous, the highest elevation being 5000 feet above sea level.
 thick forests of spruce, hemlock and yellow cedar. The forests are almost smpcnctrable by reason of the thick growth of trees, interspersed with Il vilianous vegetable growth called the Devils Club,' which is neither a bush nor tree It's spines greatly resem- ble those of the Mexican cactus.
 THE HARBOR.
 Is magnificent body of water, near lv circular in form, and about fifteen miles in diameter, protected on all sides by tall snow capped mountains. The harbor has four entrances, but only one, the Stikeen strait, is deep enough for the largest vessels to enter at the lowest low waters. Ordinary sea-yoing vessels can enter through the other channels at any time. Once in- side of Etolin Bay. the local name of ~, ,rl, every wind and storm, and have good anchorage.
 THE CITY.
 The city was built originally around and along the shores of Etolin bay. The main thoroughfare. known as Front street. extends along the water front At present it is unimproved except in the matter of sidewalks. and only about 300 feet is pasSable for q wagon.
 The houses are all of wood. with many good residences, quite number being of two stories. The buildings occupied by stores and shops are most ly one story frames. but several, like the McIiinnon block. have two stories. There are several hotels. among which is the large three story Fort Wrangel hotel, which would be an ornament to any town.
 THE PLAZA.
 The government plaza is just to the north of Etolin bay, and is the histor- ical part of the town. On the east side is the large two story court house. On the west is the custom house. On the north side is the old barracks building and the old block house. or fort later used as post office. and at peasant as the U. $. jail. The buildings are said to have been erected in the year 1868 one wear after the American Occupa- tiou. There was formally a stockade surrounding the government reserve, but only few stumps now remain.
 The klinket indians have some re- markedly good houses, several having two stories and are we'll constructed.
 HISTORY
 The place is called after General Wrangell, an official of the Russian government. The orthography has been changce by Americans to Wran- gel. The official name of the post is Fort Wrangel.' The port bears the name of "Port of Wrangel The old indian town of Wrangcl, now deserted. is 20 milea south of the present town, on the same island. The klinkct in dians living there. moved here about l79S. and nothing is left at Old Wran- uel but few decayed log houses and totem poles.
 The Russian government maintained a post here for many years. A few traces of their occupation remain on the south point of Etolin bay. In 1867 at the time of the American purchase, an American army force was stationed here. and about that time custom house was established.
 The first American settlers began to come in about 1878. For many years it was an almost exclusive indian town. In 1874. the town had boom from the Cassiar mining exitement.. and later the big boom caused by the general rush to the klondike. This last boom began in December 1897, when white people began to flock in, and is still fresh in the minds of all.
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