The Ketchikan miner., 1909-08-07
KETCHIKAN WOMAN IN MAINE
 WRITES DESCRIPTION OF ALASKA
Mrs. J. ". Young Has Illustrated Article n
 Daily kennehec Journal

Hennebec. Maine, is boosting for Alaska in the east. The following arti- Ia written by her and illustrated with two large views Of ketchikan recently appeared in an issue of the kennebee Journal
 The climate of Alaska and her resources is widely misunderstood. The climatic conditions are very nearly as varied as all of the United States lying east of the Mississippi. The eli mate of southeastern Alaska is nearly semi-tropical. The Japanese Cult stream flows so nearly the coast that it diHuses its warmth all along these shores. The winters are warmer and there is less snow fall than as Wash ingtou. D. (. In this part of Alaska the green grass and weeds. though so far north. may be seen all through the winter. The climate is very equa- ble. as the extremes of heat and cold are no. so severe as in the northeast ern states. The enormous rainfall along the coast has great effect on vegetation.
 The mean annual temperature Of southeastern Alaska is about 4S degrees. The month of August is usu- ally the hottest and ranges rom D degrees to s7 degrees. February is the coldest month, rarely below zero. said to be due to the active gales of the glaciers.
 The climate Of the interior, near the southern part is similar to that of northern Montana and Dakota. Very little snow falls during the winter. and sometimes .lot any until after New Years. Summers in southeastern Alaska have many long sunny days which make the yield of certain crops enormous During the longest days daylight begins as early as ? q. n. and one can see to read as .ate as 10 or II ?. n.
 Most of the southeast coast is densely .imbered with forest, chiefly made up of spruce and hemlock with some red ard yellow cedar and other species. Shruhbery ard all plant life grows rank and large in proportion to those grown in the States. The dense growth of trees and shrubbery shields the ground from the suns rays and the moisture from the heavy rain ia is long preserved in moss covered. spouge-liae soil Even at the top of most of the mountains and high hills the grounds is continually wet and
 
 boggy.
 A heavy growth of moss covers the ground. This dense growth of shrub bery is in strong contrast 10 the open forests of most Of the interior and the .reeless region and barren grounds of the northern rart.
 h the interior, i. is said. that wheat is being raised. The land is iuexhaustlble in fertility. All small fruit and much of the garden produce grow more luxuriant than in any of the states.
 Those who have never visited Alaska and seen her in her richest dress in midsummer. will never know how much of life they have missed. l. possesses a chtrm so compelling in it's influence that he who has once resided there is never quite c0ntedt in other localities. The climate is exhil- eratiug and many hare wondered what 1t sas in ,be air Of Alaska that stim- plates peonIe and sets their ambition on fire, what il was in her environ ment tha; inspires her people to light the candle of hope and love and happi ness. Life in Alaska impresses new features on the character.
 The scenery is delightful and fas- cinating. Pen cannot describe it strange beauty. Tie green foliage is seen in every direction. The mountain GUS islands of various sizes covered with beautiful shruboery, wild flowers and evergreen trees, stretch away all along the coast.
 The mountains are furroEed by land slides, showing deep scars bear ing silent testimony to the mighty power of the avalanche. They vary in width from small narrow ones to hundi eds of feet wide and thousands of feet in length. Al some places a new growth of trees and shrubbery [ uk rfD~c.