Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-05-05


yerted picture. these lofty ridges,
smooth aud dimplcd slopes tapering
tn hills. The mirage Frequently
makes promontories lean out from,
the jntting mainland like mammoth
cantilevers hiilt over tho water.
With the growth OF Southeast Alas.
ka many fine steamers will carry the
tourist to these scenes. Comfortable
hotels viii accommodate the traveller
so he can larry and dwell upon these
wonders.
Ketchikan Is the first port and the
gateway To this archipelago of scenic
Alaska; then Wrangell: then Sim.
dunn. from which place trip up Ell.
dicott and Tracy Arms brings before
the traveller scenes nowhere excelled:
In turn Juneau ana Treudwell, where
the worlds largest golu mine exists;
Skagway then Sitka.
From these stopping places Il Will
he possible to take side excursions
to particular spots of interest aud
beauty. The mountain climb. hunt.
Ing and fishing. can be had. The
mines, glaciers. iccbergs and forests
In all their aspects can be seen. Dy
lingering the traveller can find Alaska
free from the cloud aud fog which
80 often mar continuous trip.
The climate of Southeast Alaska is
controlled by the warm Influence Of
the Pacific winds aud waters. The
extreme rise and fall OF the tides
flush the interior channels with the
warm water of the ocean and thus
make these inside COASTS almost MS
mild as the ocean front. The cliarac-
teristic eQunhillty and mildness of
Puget Sound Is therefore found among
the islands of Southeast Alnska
though thousand miles further
north. The January mean tempcra-
ture at Sltka Is "a degrees, which
corresponds to places on Puget Sound,
Northern Arizona. New Mexico, Okla.
homa. Kentucky and Washington, d.
c. Moro remarkable still Is the fact
that Sitka's corresponding GOODNESS
for July Is not found within the Unit.
ed States. except ut points on Puget
Sound and vicinity. The Irregular
high mountain masses serve 10 con-
dense the vapor of the ocean In al
most lncessant fogs. drlazles or rains,
hut when the clear continental eli.
matte Influence prevails the trnnspar.
ency of the air Is most striking 1t
Ia at these times that the pleasure
of the imaginative tourist Is great.
est.
The contrast of The warmer air
and cold water often produce The
mirage. This looming of tree.covered
islands. points of land and distant
icebergs. eXaggerate their size and
multiply their number into many mon.
strous l!odies that seem bracketed
from the mountain walls or suspend
ed above the water horizon. The
moving icebergs through this loom.
ing assume shapes often kaleidosco.
pic.
At times when cold clear antiny.
clonic weather over the continent
dominates, the outflow of cold air Ia
obstruc,ed by the high mountain bar
rters. However, where CUPS in the
mountain chain occur. as ut White
Pass the caiipns OF the Tnki and
Stikine Rivers, the cold air sweeps
through like stream. These dreaded
air streams are known as 1.-THE
Taku"
We crossed one Of these air streams
at the opening of Taku inlet in De.
cemDer. The temperature was 90 de.
erees at the time. The waves before
this wind were high ana white, Inc
spray was in great globncs which
froze wherever they touched.
The towns of Southeast Alaska are
usually built on steep slope leading
down to the shore or unon n delta
from small stream. When viewed
from the water. they seem 10 rest
against the mountain side. like pic.
ture suspended against n wall. This
effect is particularly striking when
the approach Is made during low
tide, and when the atmosphere dis.
ioris distant objects. in which event
the tall piles seem like stills support
Ing the platform upon which the en-.
tire town rests.
The houses are mainly frame build.
inss, On the principal streets most
or The stores have high square fronts
with signs calculated to attract at.
tention. The Indians have built vii.
lagos adjoining the towns. which are
always strung along the beach. Pc
cullarly carved tree trunks, usually
representing the figures of animals
one above another, stand before the
CHIEFS house or that of the PRINCIPAL
man OF the village. These are the
totem poles which, when the carved
parts are painted in striking colors,
become rs significant as the various
orders of mandarin poles one secs
before the great residences in China.
The industry of the Indians is mostly
ftsh and fur. The Indian, 1t will he
observed. relies upon nature for his
supplies and never applies cultiva-
ton. His canoe Is everywhere. The
indian women make baskets Of all
towns. All these Indians appear to
be enduring with stole fortit,ide the
agonies OF sayagery. You are repelel
by the unsayory fishy odor that SIR
rounds them In their nnicaru tha,r