The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-10-06
WRITES LETTER
FROM ALASKA


September 4, stating that he was then
aboard the steameg St. Paul, which was
to land him ut Dutch Harbor in time to
catch the Dora for Kedick, where he
was to secure ~hidarka and q native,
and go around the KeHai peninsula.
Here" he continues, 81 expect to
get some moose, caribou and big bears.
When it freezes up am going into the
interior with the dog team for the win
ter, and next summer win work with
Canoes. returning TO the office In the
fall OF 1905 when | will have nearly
covafed Alaska"
Al the time Of writing, Will was
recovering from a severely cut foot.
Mr.. Langile has been in Alaska since
the days OF the first gold excitement
nine years ago. He has covered nearly
every foot OF the country, and. probably
knows more about that region than any
other man. Will has taken notes dur
ing all his travels which will later be
published in government reports.
Continuing Mr.. Langille says:
IL found the Yakutat region very
interesting. 1t has some good timber
and, 60 far as have seen, Is the most
promising for limited amount Of agri-
culture Of any place visited. Lying
between the towering st. Elias and
Fairweather ranges is a strip OF land
madeHp Of allugiAlltloDd plains almost
level Much Of il is gravely, with
areas OF finer sedimentary deposits,
which seem very productive. There is
also much swamp land.
at is crossed by number OF prolific
salmon streams, teeming with fish in.
season, now being tHkeHby Fred Stew
ens0ns Co., who, have i1cannery on
Yakutat bay, and a logging railroad
running southeast along the coast,
crossing the streams, which they int8nd
to extend 10 itlls Alsek, fthey find II
proftahie 80 far az they have gone.
They also have sawmill, using the
road TO get logs, though the road is not
laid out through the best timber, as the
direct route to the best fishing was
their object.
81 made quite an extensive canoe
trip IN theglacier region, where there
is nothing but barren rocks, ice and
snow. Great grey and dark masses OF
rock protrude through the Ice, devoid
OF any kind Of vegetation, and stand out
In the utter nRkadness Of the pfiineval
world. We pushed our way through
masses of glacial Ice, which filled the
bay from small slush to pieces half q
block in area. 1t ground and crushed
together ina manner To jar one 'smerves.
II visited the oil regions OF Koyak,
but came away very little the wiser.
There is oil there, as | saw them filling
the tanks from the English company's
we'll, the only flowing one there. Every
one was waiting the result Of the Maho-
ney well, which was then down 100
feet, their expectation being to strike
oil at $500 to 5000 feet.
"They have excellent coal in that
vicinity, but there are no harbor facil-
tiles at all. II isan open coast, with
miles OF sand spits formed by the Cop
per and Chilkoot rivers. / had launch
while IN that region and made good
time, bat 10 10 very expensive, and the
chance OF getting oil very small, when
away from the home port.
IL have not yet Visited,the game sec.
tion, there being none In the Yakutat
or Controller bay regions. / was on
Montague island, where the brown
bears are supposed 10 be so plentiful
that they drive away all comers, but |
didn't see track.
= got TO Nome early in Jfty, bat was
unable to get into the field until nearly
the last OF tho month, and then had
only short peFiodsol fine weather until
the time / cut my foot, which spoiled |
oil OF August, The doctor took care of
1t five days in Nome, and it promises
we'll now. had ain utterly incompe-
tent camp hand on whom could not
place bit Of dependence, which still
further hindered me, but | finally got
TO the Tubuptulik, built raft, and
when out Of grub, struck fish camp at
the mouth Of the river, was storm
bound week, and finally got in in
time to catch this steamer, which will
land me In Dutch harbor in time to
take the Dora for Kodick.
''The Nome camp Is quiet this year
quite contrast 10 the rush OF last sea.
son. Some think the gold output will
square the last season, while others
don't. The early summeriwas very
dry, there being no rain until the storm
which kept us at sea five days, when
went there, Later II rained too much
for even the miners, while the shipping
was more lhindeFed than -is usual in
September,
"The introduction of hydraulic ele-
vators has reduced the number Of men
employed greatly, and is cheapening
the cost OF the gold materially. This
of course affects the town, and business
men complain of its being quiet.
"There have been no new or startling
discoveries in the outlying districts, but
the immediate vicinity OF Nome has
opened up some good new ground, as
has also the Solomon and Council dis
tricts. There is more or less talk of |
quartz in the Solomon region, and
Lsnes are working their property stead
lily. The tin OF the York region prom.
lses better each year, and from 60 to
20 tons OF ore will be shipped this fall,
which will giyeit good test.
Captain Watson came into Nome on
this ship, and has about given up the
Midas creek proposition. When / got
there the whole Of Nome was anxiously
awaiting the cue to start. 1t never
came, and the promoters of the scheme
have disappeared as completely as ii the
earth had swallowed them. The divi-
zion judge and court clerk were mixed
up in 1t, and that created no end of
scandal, and comment thought II broke
10Th Of them. The public still blame
hem for countenencing it by giving 1t
their support at all.
"As usual, will miss the fruitseasun
but am partially even by theruuantity
Of blue berries | had while laid up in
the Norton bay region, and will prob
ably get more ON the kenai, | have |
been much on the move, and have only
had mail three times since coming
north, and win get less in the future. |
They have the wireless In operation
from st. Michael TO Nome, which gives
direct connection with the outside |
world, and the completion Of the cable
from Sitka to Seattle will reduce the
rate so that people can use it,"
N.aaaznhIA