The Press., 1911-01-25

where gold is still being taken out, but from the view of it on the river a person cannot judge much. The miners have cabins back from the river, and we failed to stop long enough to visit. Just put off a sack of mail and some papers.
 From Eagle we continue down river to Rampant, small town where large northern commercial oompany's store is established, and this same company have stores at all the prin- cipal towns all over the country. A small town called Rapids next, aud nothing there but small village of log cabins chiefly erected for the signal corps test station. From Rapids we enter the Tanana valley, and the Tanana river empties into the Yukon few miles below Rapids The town of Tanana is the headquarters of the signal corps, and has garrison of four companies of infantry and dis tributing centre for signal corps men. Modern buildings, with 8 gymnasium and library, and the stores can supply most anything that the country de. mands. A large Indian mission on the outskirts of Panama, sometimes called Fort Gibbon, either name cor- rect. with all the dogs and other equipment, make very interesting place to visit to see the natives.
 From Fort Gibbon I was assigned to duty at tho largest telegraph station in Alaska, and after a week at Gibbon sailed again for the Tanana points The Panama river passes through a large valley, and the ever changing channel of the river makes it worse for navigation than the Yukon. Small stations along the line help to break the monotony of the trip, and the stops made up this river were at signal corps camps and wood piles for fuel Nenana is another Indian mission town, and from here on it's one and the same thing, as on the Yukon. Large blocks of ice are seen on the banks, and tue ground baing under mined by the river, shows the ice for. nation under the mosses. In places the ice appears to bs seven and ten fest thick under the earth, and the actlJn of the water causes large pieces to drop If into the water, carrying trees, and at one place the remains of cabin were ab ut to topple over in- to the river Navigation on these rivers is very difficult, and at places the boats have to use large policing beams to gain 8 passage-way over the sand bars. .... .. Arrival at Fairbanks was a great l'change from the small towns along the way, and to say that we were sur prised. is putting it mildly. Fair banks is one of the largest towns in Alaska, and the mining interests make it headquarters of the business inter- ests of the Tanana valley. Modern hotels and electric lights. W With 8 railroad to the diggings. with autos lon stage line, mail three times 8 week. Hospitals, library and a tele- graph communication with the outside Isworld that is hard to beat. I work in that telegraph office, no wonder it's good.
 We'll. will have to go to work now as it is three-thirty, and go on duty at that hour working until 7.30 p. m., telegraphing Three-thirty now and we have to use the lights. Days are growing very short, and the win ter has set in for good and cold Eweather. This morning registered 20 degrees below and the sleighing is most excellent Navigation closed on the rivers on the 18th of October, and all steamers are now ine winter quarters on the banks of the rivers.
 Dog teams carry the mails to the in- terior points. and a stage line horses
 make the trip in relays to the coast | (Valdez) for our winter mail service. | Twill write you again soon and Igive you further details of the country and mail you more post cards. Give my bt st regards to all. and if any of
 the winders want some post cards tell them to address me, as we have some of the finest scenes in the world. Got my eye on a gold mine up here and
 will tell you about 1t later.
 | Yours truly. William Shaffer.
 Fairbanks, Alaska.