Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-05-28

cleared to the ground you can often
walk between the legs of a multiple
Of roots that support the trunk above
the point where its seed began to
grow.
1T will be readily seen that these
mountain slopes from the line of per-
petual snow to the edge of the sea in
clude different climates, and conse-
quently varied vegetation from Arctic
to almost tropical. The interest this
fact presents affords a gratifying
study. An autumn visit to southeast
Alaska is at time when the vegeta-
ton from snow line to sea level has
taken on the glory Of the leaves and
life. With the rapid progress of the
winter. the frosts first begin to color
the leaves Of the growth near the snow
line and from day to day descend.
showing stripes Of color from the
white. then brown, then red, then yell
low to the green. AS the season ad-
vances the white snow descends till It
covers all. The view Of this extensive
timber covered broken country at any
season is always wild, solitary and
pleasing. but in winter It's sublimity
seems at its height.
South Of Wrangell the wooded as
|pect becomes more pronounced and the
views widen. The high mountains are
more distant, with white peaks multi
plying beyond. They become chains
of every altitude and from an undu-
lating line against the sky and from
the waters edge to far away crest;
the gulches and converging spurs are
a dense mass Of hemlock, spruce, fir
and cedar, tall and straight, fit for
masts and spars in the worlds marine.
Upon the smooth and frequently wild
ened waters nature seems to repro
fiecting upon their CLASSY surface in
an inverted picture these lofty ridges,
smooth and dimpled slopes tapering to
hills. The mirage frequently makes
promontories leap out from the jutting
mainland like mammoth cantilevers
built over the water
with the growth of southeast Alas
ka many fine steamers will carry the
tourist to these scenes. Comfortable
hotels will accommodate the traveller
so he can tarry and dwell upon these
wonders.
"Ketchikan Is the first port and the
gateway to this archipelago Of scenic
Alaska, then Wrangell, then Sumdum,
from which place a trip up Bndioott
and Tracy Arms brings before the
traveller scenes nowhere excelled; In
turn Juneau. and Treadwell. where the
worlds largest gold mine exists;
Skagway then SitkaD
From these stopping places 1t will
be possible to take side excursions to
particular spots Of interest and beau
ty. The mountain climb, hunting and
fishing can be had. The mines, gla-
ciers, icebergs and forests in all their
aspects can be seen. BY lingering the
traveller can find Alaska free from the
cloud and fog which so often mar a
continuous trip.
controlled by the warm influence Of the
Pacific winds and waters. The ex-
treme rise and fall Of the tides flush
the interior channels with the warm
water Of the ocean and thus make these
inside coasts almost as mild as the
ocean front. The characteristic equa-
bility and mildness Of Puget sound are
therefore found among the islands Of
southeast Alaska, though 1000 miles
further north. The January mean
temperature at Sitka is "a degrees,
which corresponds to places on Puget
sound, northern Arizona, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Kentucky and Washington,
D. C. More remarkable still Ia the
fact that Sitka's corresponding coolness
for July Is not found within the Unit
ed States, except at points on Puget
sound and vicinity, The irregular high
mountain masses serve to condense the
vapor Of the ocean In almost incessant
fogs, drlzzles or rains, but when the
clear continental climatic influence
prevails the transparency Of the air Is
most striking. 1t is at these times
that the pleasure Of the imaginative
tourist is greatest.
1.-The contrast of the warmer air and
10 iro 90
This looming of tree covered islands,
points Of land and distant icebergs ex-
aggerates their size and multiplies their
number into many monstrous bodies
that seem bracketed from the noun
tain walls or suspended above the wa
ter horizon. The moving icebergs
through the looming assume shapes
often kaleidoscope.
AT times. when cold, clear anti-cy-
clonic weather over the continent DOM
mates, the outflow Of cold air Is OBJ
structed by the high mountain bar
riers. However, where gaps in the
mountain chain occur, as at White
Pass, the canons Of the Taku and Sti-
kline rivers, the cold air sweeps through
like a stream. These dreaded air
streams are known as the 'Taku.'
I'VE crossed one Of these air streams
at the opening Of Taku inlet in De-
cember. The temperature was % de-
grees at the time. The waves before
this wind were high and white, the
spray was in great globules which
froze wherever they touched.
1.-The towns Of southeast Alaska are
usually built on a steep slope leading
down to the shore or upon a delta from
small stream. When viewed from
the water they seem to rest against
the mountainside, like picture sus-
pended against wall This effect Is
particularly striking when the ap-
proach is made during a low tide, and
when the atmosphere distorts distant
objects. in which event the tall piles
seem like stills supporting the platform
upon which the entire town rests.
1.-The houses are mainly frame build
Ings On the principal streets most OF