The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-27


place is proven by the testimony Of
Lieutenant Walter Il. Gunster, OF this
city, member of Company l. Seventh
United States infantry, who has recent
ly returned, after service of over a
year in that rar-off corner of this coun-
try and who testifies that he gained
over twenty-five pounds during his stay
there, and this despite the fact that
the temperature was at times down as
low as fifty-four degrees below zero.
Lieutenant Gunster left this city in
July, 1901, and was Immediately as
signed to duty with Company at Fort
st. Michael, which is situated on n
small island in the Behring Sea, about
half Il mile west of the mainland. q
small matter of 2.S75 miles north of
Seattle, WASH, and about eighty miles
north of the mouth of the Yukon river.
The post Is on the Ga degree of latitude,
a little bit south OF the Arctic circle,
and is garrisoned by just one company.
Soldier life in Alaska, according to
Lieutenant Gunster, is not one of the
most delightful kinds of life imagin-
able, but it is really not half as bad as
some people paint it. There are only
five companies of infantry in the whole
territory and they are merely there to
be ready in case any emergency should
require their presence. A considerable
number Of the soldiers are at present
engaged in constructing a military tele-
graph line. which will be connected
with the states in q very short time.
At present there is no telegraphic COM
munication between this country and
Alaska.
Length Of the Days.
"The thing that mixes you up most
in Alaska" said the lieutenant last
night, sis the great change in the
length of the days. The shortest day at
st. Michaels is in December, when the
sun rises at II o'clock in the morning
and sets at 1.30 o'clock in the after
noon, just two hours and a. half later.
The longest day is in May, when the
sun rises at 1.30 o'clock in the morning
and sets at II o'clock at night. During
the short interval between it is about
as light as it is in this country in sum-
mer, just after the sun sets. 1t is these
that become monotonous and tell on a
man who has not strong nerves."
During Lieutenant Gunsters stay at
reached a point fifty-four degrees be-
low zero at one time in January. No
one ventured out while the temperature
was at this low point, but when a few
days later it reached thirty-three de-
grees below zero, it was possible to
leave the barracks. 1t remained at
thirty-three degrees below zero for a
period of ten DAYS.
During six months of the year, from
October to May, ST. Michaels is COM
pletely cut off from communication
with the outside world except by
sledges. The Behring Sea is almost
completely frozen over for these six
months and it is impossible for steam
ers to enter any of the Alaskan ports
during this time. 1t requires sixty days
for mail matter to reach the post from
Seattle during these months.
Lieutenant Gunster is enthusiastic
over the wonderful possibilities OF
Alaska.
Mineral Possibilities.
'There are untold and almost un-
dreamt of mineral possibilities there"
said he, but they can never be devel-
oped until railroads are put through
because under existing conditions it is
impossible to do anything but placer
mining. Railroad lines threading prac-
tically the whole of Alaska have been
surveyed. but there is at present only
about $50 miles of railroad in operation
Another line about 400 miles long is at
present in course of construction.
There is gold in Alaska, and coal
and iron and copper, and nearly every
other known mineral. An officer who
has Travelled over nearly all of the ter
ritory told me, shortly before / came
away, that he saw immense masses Of
pure virgin copper nine feet long and
six feet high"
There are some agricultural possibil-
tiles, the lieutenant says, but he does
not at all agree with those persons who
claim that nearly everything can be
grown there. Hardy grains and u few
still harder vegetables can be grown
for few months, he says, but nothing
else.
Lieutenant Gunster is now located at
San Francisco with his regiment, and
expects that his command will go to
the Philippines within q year. He is
thoroughly pleased with army life
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