The Washburn leader., 1915-08-20

proper. Here there was a bed
with blankets hung on three sides
to protect the sleepers, in the
center of the room was fire
on the ground where meat was
being cooked, and on the opposite
side was a low bench. Over it
ali hung lines and lines of salr
mon to be dried. 1t was about
the dirtiest, smelliest place i'm
aginable, but still there was a
touch Of home about it-crocheted
lace trimmed the pillow cases.
1t is needless to say anything as
to their color.
No other stops were made
the first day. The inside pas
sage" the route followed, is be-
tween many small islands and
there was always something new
and interesting to see so the time
did not drag. Only three times
were we on the open sea and
noticed the big waves but it was
for such short time that it was
not uncomfortable. The days
were very bright and the captain
delighted in telling the distance
to the snow-covered mountains
and glaciers. Bouys and light
houses marked the passage all
along the way. In some places
it was so narrow that the en-
gines would be stopped and the
boat left to glide through, while
in other places land was seen
only in the distance and on one
side. While watching from the
stern of the boat in the channels
one could more easily see the
crooked route taken to avoid
the sharp rocks under water. The
high, tree-covered mountains ris-
ing abruptly out of the water
were always interesting and
very few daylight hours were
spent any place but on deck.
We landed at Prince Rupert
the second morning. Some in
teresting facts were learned here
about the dry docks that are be-
ing built by the Grand Trunk
Pacific company; they are said
to be the largest on the Pacific
coast. When completed the tea
and silk from the Orient will
reach New York two days earlier
than that shipped through Seat
tie. This road will also take in
the Alaskan fish to market two
days earlier. The railroad from
Prince Rupert to Winnipeg has
only been completed year and
has proven a paying investment.
The freight.and canneries are the
main support of Prince Rupert.
More men are said to have been
sent from this town to the front
than from any other city its size
in Canada. Many buildings were
vacant as the wives of the sold
iers had moved south to larger
cities where they could get the
war news earlier. The wives and
children live on a separation
fee" given them by the govern
lnent. o., :
On Monday night we reached
Ketchikan, our first stop in
Alaska, and the stars and stripes
looked good to us after seeing
so much Of the Union Jack.
Ketchikan is built on the side Of
a mountain, much the same as
Juneau where We stopped the
following evening. The houses
are almost directly above each
other in some places. The streets
east and west are up and down
hill while those in the opposite
direction are mostly stairways
No one needs to take anti-fat in
these cities. At Ketchikan we
went through a large salmon
canning factory. While waikiki z
the length Of the building we
saw the fish taken out Of the
boats, cut and packed into tin
cans, sealed, then baked in big
ovens and at last put in wooded
cases ready for shipping. Only
JAps were employed in the
factory here while in most plac-
es Indians were said to do the
work. One Of the most interest
ing things to us, at this place,
WAS to watch the salmon jump
ing up the rapids into the river.
The spawning season does not
begin until September but many
were going up stream now. A
couple Of months later there is
more water in the river and the
salmon 70 up in swarms. AT