Stikeen River journal., 1899-05-27
ALASKA, Its Description and Future.

The speech of Bishop P. Y. Rowe be- fore the Alaska Geographical Society was one of the most interesting and in- structive on Alaska $ possibilities ever made before Tacoma audience. The address was made before an audience in the Chamber of Commerce rooms during the Dewey Day observance of the society.
 Bishop Rowe said it was hard to con- ccivc of the vast extent of the Alaskan territory. He has made two trips to the Yukon. going in by Dyca river ov- CT the Chilcat pass and down river and coming out by way of St. Michael around Boring sea, Cooks inlet and the Aluthian islands. Near St. Mic hael is the old canal or channel where the Yukon steamers find the way to avold the dangcrouscour outside. It is supposed there is d better channel to the south but it has not yet been discov cred Tho mouth of the river is 1o m les wide The Yukon deposits it's mud far out in the Boring sea. Ships and steamers entering the river can go in only at high tide. and then not draw over six or seven feet of water.
 For a distance of 25O miles along the Yukon's mouth ducks and geese abound in great numbers. and before they are able to fly the indians kill them with sticks.
 The tides go up to Andreafski, 25o miles. the site of an old Russian tradt ing post There is but little timber along the river. In the old village there are some old huts and few in- dians, poor looking lot of people.
 The Yukon is not difficult to navi- gate not so di ficult as the Mississippi There are only two places where trou- ble is found-the mouth of the Yukon flats which begin l2CO miles above the mouth of the river. It is an immense river varying in width and of great depth.
 After passing Andreafiki, the noun tains begin to rise on the left. though far away in the distance. At Anvik. i:.,o miles from St. Michael. the Anvil river corir- in from the north The scenery here i, beautiful. Gold has been discovered herc. and that means much. for heretofore the placer dig gings were suppo.cd to have been 1000 miles from Anvik.
 From d point on the river 600 mules above St. Michea! a portage could be built that would be only 15 miles across.
 BIG RIVERS OF ALASKA.
 At Nulato. 64S miles from St. Mic hael comes in the koyakuk. d winding river away up beyond the Arctic circle The country on the koyakuk was little known except to Hendrick Picard and other hardy prOspectors who had learn ed that fish and gold abounded on the river. Some indians came .out and showed gold, and on Bishop Rowe's re- cOmmendation a number of miners. pro bably three or four hundred went up lIlCIc ldSl lttll dllu Nl1ltItu. 1kcDOrlS from them are favorable and encour- aging.
 The scenery in summer .on the hills is beautiful. All along the banks are clouds of pink and blue flowers and rank vegetation. From Andrcafski. north, cranberres are found in abun- dance, also blue berries, salmon berries and red entrants. Potatoes. tnrnips. lettuce, pease and bccts are grown. The bishop ate green peas at NulatO. He mentioned these things as showing the possible resources in the land of the midnight sun. Grass at the Mission grows from four to six feet high. and at Fort Selkirk he saw potatoes growing. but they had been protected from the frOStS.
 WINTERS NOT so LONG.
 The winters are not much longer : than in northern Michigan. but ,4c | moss, which varies from six to eight iG-