The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-02-23

copyright. 1906. by Joseph B. Bowles)
(Mrs. Henrietta N. Greedy. wife Of Gen.
"A w. Greedy, the distinguished arctic ex-
plorer, has travelled widely and as re-
suit Of her observations has written for
publication with considerable success)
From the nations capital to Alaska
Is q far reach. Crossing the Alleghe-
mics through the mining regions of
Pennsylvania, so picturesque except
where defaced by mans grimy pur-
suits; through busy Chicago; rushing
over the western plains; across the
Rockies and we find ourselves on the
evening of the fifth day at Seattle,
embarking on the steamship Humboldt
Tor the famous inland passage.
Here on the ship I am surprised
to see how many women are travel
ing to Alaska. OF course, the inland
passage has been favorite trip for
rs years or more, but the large pro-
portion of women among the excur-
sionists, many Of them in parties Of
two or three without escorts, in6i-
Gates that conditions have materially
Improved in this part of the world
In fact, the ease and comfort with
which we travel greatly astonish me.
We we're fortunate In having per-
feet weather through the three days
and four nights of the voyage from
Seattle to Skagway, Alaska. deplore
the limited space which forbids my
dwelling upon the surprisingly i'm
pressive scenery. With the exception
of occasional passing steamers and
still rarer collections of rough build
fngs on the shores, usually salmon
canneries, we saw little of human life
nntil the third day, when we passed
several boats loaded with Indians.
In one instance they had rugged an
tmpromptu and very primitive sail to
their rowboat, which contained some
~ persons, men, women and children.
THESE Indians, the larger proportion
women, were going to work in the
canneries. The only occupation for
the natives is the catching, drying and
canning of the salmon and new in
dustry is greatly needed.
Late on the third day we reach
Juneau, opposite which is Douglas is
Hand and the great Treadwell gold
mine. 1t Is remarkable that the larg-
est stamp mill in the world should be
found in this wild. An act of con-
gress made Juneau the capital of
Alaska. The town Is built on the side
of hill so steep that the houses seem
10 be hanging from it. Back of this
rises sharp range of higher hills
that form a barrier protecting the
town from the frequent snow ava
1anches of the great mountains, which,
In turn, rise perpendicularly behind
this natural wall.
AS illustrating the weather of Ju-
neau. it is said that an old Indian
woman, on being asked If 1t always
rained In Juneau, after a moments
hesitation, replied: Sometimes it
SHOWS" 1t was raining as we entered
the harbor. but we were not deferred
from a stroll through the town. We
found good plank walks and saw some
quaint, artistic little houses and sew
eral churches with an effort at archi-
lecture. was struck by the frequent
evidence of woman's hand In the pot
ted plants in many windows, while
the women and children whom we
saw surprised me by being quite like
those one would meet In any small
western town. A few Indian women
were selling curios, among which bas-
kets we're the exception. The native
women are retrograding in basket
making. They have largely discarded
the vegetable dyes, which produce the
tender, mellow tints for which Alas
kan baskets were formerly noted, for
the aniline dyes with their crude,
bright colors. The supply of local bas.
kets does not equal the demand and
many are imported from the United
States, to be brought back by trav-
elers.
In a most readable article on bas
kerry of the northwest. Mrs. L. L. Nc.
Arthur, of Portland. tells US that "in
the little sea grit island of Attoo, the
most westerly Of the Aleutian islands
and The most remote and isolated Of