Iditarod pioneer., 1915-10-16
THE TRUTH
 ABOUT ALASKA"
Excerpts from Articles by Colonel Schleicher Now Appearing in Leslie's, Which Are Cre-
 ating Much Interest
(John A. Sleicher in Leslie's Weekly

(John A. Slecher in Leslle's Weekly Alaska is the most misunderstood and mIs represented section of the United States l People generally, and sincerely, believe that the name Alaska is synonymous with snow and ice, and couple it accordingly with ice cream free2ers and cold drinks. Yet the principal cities of Alaska along its southern | coast line Juneau, ketchlkan COrdova, 1 Valdez and Seward-dO not average as cold 1 in midwinter as New York, and are seldom ! as cold as Baltimore and Washington dur 1 ing cold waves.
 Alaska is oneffth the size of the whole l United States, and its prodlglous area ot ! about 600,O0O square miles, nearly three ! times the size of the German empire spreads | from the temperate zone to the Arctic cir | Cle Not one-quarter of 1t IS ln the latter Below the circle lies magnificent belt ot i fertile soil It Is estimated by government authorities that the agricultural area of 1 Alaska's fertile valleys and plains, on many | of which cattle can be Wlntered without 1 feeding aggregates 30,000 square miles, with a climate like that of northern Europe | Norway, Finland and Sweden. This land Is richer and more productive than that Of any i other country in the world, well watered, 1 fairly we'll timbered and 320 acres are open | free to the settler if he wishes to take up a homestead.
 In the great central valley of Alaska the 1 cOldest days of winter are not as cold as re- pcrted from time to time in the prairie states of the United States, like Nebraska | Montana and North Dakota Stock raisers and farmers are going to Alaska on every steamer from Seattle to look the country
 ,,-i+ nol i government reports on Alaska that can be had without charge by writing to the depart mert of the interior at Washington or from any member of congress Visitors to Alaska are surprised at what they find when they reach the Interior Nor do they need to suffer hardship in making the trip, for tlrSt class steamships to the principal ports, With unusually reasonable rates, are running out from Seattle nearly every day, and railroad and automobile lines to the Interior are readily available Nor is it necessary to go far, for every valley leading from the coast Is waiting for the husbandman.
 Thus far the astonishing mineral and in dUstral wealth of Alaska has been Its at traction. Wlde-awake capitalists have in vested millions in fisheries ln gold and cop per mines and in railroads in oil wells. 1 They were preparing to open Alaska's enor nous deposits of coal and to do development work on every hand on the largest scale, when suddenly scnseless outcry, panicky scream" that Alaska was being despolled, ! checked the advance of prosperity Signs multiply that public opinion Is experiencing a decided reaction and that 1t will insist on giving men and women the freest chance to open Alaska. subject only to fair and square regulation such as everybody will be willing to accept
 Alaska's immenslty impresses one beyond belief It embraces the picturesque the sublime, the material and the beautiful. It reveals to the visitor, multiplied one hun dred fold, the beautiful Thousand Island region of the St. Lawrence, the snow cov- cred Alps, the fords of Norway and the vol canlc and glacial wonders of Iceland. It has the sweetest flowers the most luxuriant vegetables the finest grazing and timber lands, the richest fisheries and mineral de posits, and most healthful climate, with the warmth of the Middle States in winter along Southern and Western Alaska, and the dry healing cold of the Arctic in the highest latitude of the territory. Extending from our Pacific coast 5000 miles toward the Orient, Alaska is the glittering diamond of Americas diadem The United States has expended for Alaska including its pur- chase price of s7,2Oo,0OO, its courts terri torial officials, roads, etc, S3S, 100000, and has received from Alaska customs, pub lie lands and taxes, s1S,OO0,O ,O0O Meanwhile Alaska has produced fish, gold, copper, furs, etc, worth s5OO,000,00O. Was it good l bargain