The Ordway new era., 1909-08-20

The old saying. Familiarity breeds
contempt" does not hold good with
Alaska: on the contrary. IL begets a
fondness which swells into enthusi.
asm as one fact after another is dis
covered and demonstrated. In some
way or other the country has a draw
ing and winning effect upon most per.
sons who have lived there. II only for
short period. Some are attracted
by the beauty and magntiicence of the
scenery. and Others find rest and re-
turning-vigor in the mildness and even
ness of the climate: some. again. at
tracted by the wonders of the yeget
able and animal kingdoms. and others.
the majority perhaps. delve into the
richness of the mineral treasures.
writes John G. Brady, ex-governor of
Alaska in Independent The adven-
turers into British Columbia. the Yu.
kon territory and Alaska are a hardy
and buoyant stock.
Those who have gotten up our phys
ical Biographies were pumping from
dry wells when they came to treat OF
the northwest coast OF America. Much
that was given was erroneous. For in
stance, Mount st. Elias in one edition
OF the Encyclopedia Britannica Is
spoken of as a burning volcano. Many
well educated people well along in
middle life become impatient when
the deficiency is revealed to them. II
Is well that this is so. for by a reas-
enable amount of diligence they can
make good the loss and have much
pleasure in acquiring information so
much at variance with preconceived
ideas. The Yukon is one OF the mighty
rivers of the globe. Captains who
have had their training on steamboats,
upon the Mississippi and who now
have been a number OF years on the
Yukon believe that during the months
of navigation as great volume of wa
ter is discharged into Berirg sea as
into the Gulf OF Mexico. Its head
waters begin in the mountains east OF
Skagway. in British soil. somewhat
south of the sixtieth parallel. and flow
in a generally northwest direction.
Two branches. the Lewes and the
Pelly, unite at Selkirk. at which point
it takes the name Yukon. On its
northern trend 1t receives the volumes
of other large tributaries before paw-
son is reached, near the mouth of the
Klondike. Keeping a still northerly
course it crosses the boundary line
in latitude 141 degrees. 80 miles from
Dawson. Holding still its main direc-
tion at Circle City. it widens into
numerous channels ana great fats till
a few minutes north o. the arctic cir-
Gle. where it is Joined ny the Porcu-
pine. coming in from the northeast
Here is bend and takes a generally
southwest course. gathering as it
goes the Tanana. coming up from the
southeast. and farther on the Koyu-
kok. a mighty meanderer from the
north. and at last discharging through
numerous channels over an immense
delta into Bering sea. It is nav.
igable for large steamboats, as far as
Dawson. a distance of 1000 miles.
From that point smaller steamers ply
to White Horse. liz miles by railroad
TO Shakway. The summit is but 90
mile from this town and is at an ele-
vation Of 200 feet This river drains
mighty basin
Many good things are stored there.
In. and it does seem as though the
Creator intended 1t for the use OF his
creatures. Gold has been found on
most every stream throughout the
length Of the valley where men have
made an ef!ort to reach bedrock, even
far beyond the arctic circle on the
headwaters Of the Koyukok. The pro-
duction Of this metal. which influences
mankind SO powerfully, Natures mills
have been grinding and reducing and
sluicing in past ages: what has been
separated from the lodes has been
gathered and frozen securely in her
safe deposit vaults. Nearly every camp
has its own peculiar gold. There is
{ wide difference In regard to shape.