The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-08-09


scenery, the enterprising Alaskans,
aided by the Alaska club, of Seattle,
composed of wealthy miners, mer-
chants and sportsmen, are this sum-
mer photographing Alaska inside out.
They are going to show that 1t Is
Switzerland and Norway combined,
the Tyrol thrown in and about all of
the other scenic wonders of Europe
eXcelled.
There are now three electric lighted
cities in the heart of Alaska, Dawson,
Fairbanks and Seward on the coast.
All these have the telegraph and news
papers that print the news of the
world daily, quite a contrast to eight
years ago, when every paper that
reached Alaska was from one to three
months old
Even Nome, the farthest northwest
city" has electric lights, telephones,
three newspapers and one railroad
running northward toward the arctic
circle.
Nome is the least interesting part
of Alaska. 1t has no magnificent
mountains or fertile river valleys. The
region that Alaskans are most proud
of and want the outside world to know
about is the Seward peninsula, named
in honor of the statesman who was in
strumental in purchasing Alaska.
The newly risen port city Of Sew
ard is at the gateway of it. The tour
list approaches Seward through Resur-
rection bay, a ford that would do
credit to Norway. To his surprise, he
finds here a harbor as free from Ice
year round as New York or Baltimore.
North of Seward for 400 miles
stretches the Susilna valley, half as
large as New England, with climate
not as severe in f1uctuating extremes
as we have. This is being opened to
travel and settlement by new rail-
road 1t is from this district that
some of the best agricultural exhibits
will be made at the Alaska exposition.
There will be sheaves of native grass
six feet high and oats grown near the
arctic circle that will make the farm
ers from the states eyes bulge out.
The hardy pioneers that have gone
into the great river valleys of Alaska
since the gold rush of '9S, have dis
covered something richer than her
mines-an agricultural wealth that
promises to be the basis of a great
population. Nearly all the hardy
grains and vegetables of the northern
United States grow in Alaska's shell
tered valleys with luxuriance that
is astonishing. This is due not only
to the richness of virgin soil, but to
summer days that are 20 to "a hours
long, and the thermometer ranges up
to 80 and 100 degrees.
In this region, near the arctic cir
Gle and Mount Mckinley, the midnight
sun may be seen in glory said to ex-
eel that of Norway. Another point
where tourists are beginning to go to
see the midnight sun in Alaska is near
Dawson. An hours climb of the Dome,
at the foot of which lies the little city.
brings the traveller to one Of the great
prospects of the world. The elevation
is 1900 feet, while all about is scene
of the most rugged beauty, rendered
glorious by the rainbow coloring OF
the midnight sun, scene that some
artist will yet make famous on can
vas.
AS far as possible, the Alaskans are
going to represent such scenes as
these by photographs at their exposi.
ton. The fair grounds and buildings
will be on the shores of one of Seat
ties beautiful lakes, with magnifi-
cent mountain background, and Mount
Rainier looming up in the distance,
three miles high. This will be as near
ly as possible duplication of real
Alaskan scenery