Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-05-31
MIKE RICE WRITES
 FROM FAR ALASKA
POET LARIAT" OF THE SOUTH WEST GIVES SOME INTEREST ING FACTS ABOUT THE NORTH COUNTRY.

from the sublime height of prospector down to that of legislative attache, says tho Gazette.
 For while he laborcd as n member of the Gazette staff, at time when his poetic ability was peculiarly acceptable and was keenly appreciated by his em- ployer and the public. Latterly he has been up in Alaska. From Valdez he has just written an old friend in Phoenix. It would appear from the letter that he has not amassed great wealth, but that contcntment abides with him now as in the past. Concerning his new home he is enthusiastic, as the following ex- tract witnesseth,
 "Don t suppose that this is an epistle from spirit land, as its author is ma terially animate; although somewhat an tiquated, and some the worse of wear; otherwise in the best of health, with the 'wanderlust' as strong as ever. l have been so long expatriated from the land of sunshine and silver that it is only the recollection of old and loyal friends that impresses me with the truism that old Arizona is still on the map. For five north-land, and yet my appetite for ad. , venture is just as keen as the day I punched the first burro over the torrid trails of the verdureless desert.
 "Alaska is wonderful country, un. limited in area and exhaustless in re- sources, the frontier of futurity and the cradle of great achievements. There is something indescribably fascinating about the Land of the mid nil ght sun : while the long and dreary winter nights sometimes have a depressing effect, there is ample compensation in the nightless summers. To an old Arizonan the first year s residence in Alaska is like awakening in new and Wondrous world and the charm of change is in- tensely fascinating.
 "A cruise along the meande' of her coast line, her labyrinth of fai.homless bays and inlets, leaving the base of precipitous mountains and wpnderful glaciers, is an experience never to be forgotten.
 "I often marvel why Americans will seek sureease of cares amonlst the musty and unsanitary countries of the old world, when they could enjoy so much undefled natural beau .y and grandeur beneath their own flag, and all from the decks of palatial steamers. making it possible for the most seden. tary and feeble to enjoy Alaska's sub limity. That anyone should lioast of knowledge of Paris, Venice and Rome, and plea ignorance of Alaska E present. ments, is shameful. and unpatriotic. If is the paradise of the sportsman. the Mecca of the ambitious, the workshop of the artist; and a paradox for all elimes beneath the Armament.
 cit is unnecessary to cross the ocean 70 visit a Vesuvius, Maelstrom, a Matterhorn, Windermere or Lomond, as they are mere miniatures of what Alaska can present in her catalog of Alpine views, eruptive volcanoes. sub lime cataracts and exhaustless fields of translucent glaciers. i have gathered the most luscious wild berries, and Odiriferous flora. where thirty days be. fore the snow lay ten feet deep and at the immediate base of a glacier thirty miles long, a mile wide and 300 feet in height.
 "The time is near when the tide of tourist travel will be to this fair land of the north and the fortunate excur- sionist will not be disappointed. An adequate description of the excellence of Alaska is impossible in a mere letter, and l would suggest that you could give yourself no greater treat than a summer jaunt through the inland passage, as far north as Valdez.
 The fact that Alaska has mines is not unknown elsewhere, but it would | appear that predatory wealth is or. gani2ing raid upon the greatest of the mineral fields of the territory, where | copper is said to lie in virgin masses, in quantity for the supply of the world | On this point, Mir. Rice speaks his mind | freely, as always.
 CT forward you some geological maps | of the great copper belt of central | Alaska. l have been over considerable | of this region and could have secured | some of it, but to me locations would be l useless, as at present it is | inaccessible. The great combines are securing the cream of the country, and | in time will push the coast railroad for | it's development. Only immense cap tal can do anything with this incx haustible deposit of copper, and the and locator is fortunate in iisposing of their prospects for any req ,onable sum.
 Every fair-minded man here ap. proves of the presidents s action in re- yards to the coal lands of Alaska. Only ,he land thieves arc in throes of indig- nation against his decision. Were g election to third term con- ingent on the Alaska suffrage, he would get there 'pronto,' irrespective of pol tics. His every act in regard to Alas xa has the approval of the mind and muscle of the n0rthland.
 "There are many things obtaining ,ere that would receive a whack of he 'big stick were he absolutely con yersant of the state of affairs, as the Monopoly Lodge is held in full force md playing bold game for control of his territory"