The Glasgow courier., 1916-09-29
Letter from Alaska

Here you meet men that have been in
every mining camp from Peru to Point
Barrow. The first who came in here
were more than heroes. There is al
ways the man who bears in his breast
especially if he is a true American,
that strange spirit of unrest, like the
ancient Norsman which impels him
on and On to things unknown and be
yond all dreams, the seekers after the
wild and far-away, who are unable
to resist the call to wander and to
blaze the trail for their more patien,
followers. The lure of the unknown
beckons with remorseless finger and
entices them with siren voice into the
wilderness.
"After short rest in the town of
Mccarthy. l loaded up the Alaskan
jitney, which consisted of grub and
hedding and after placing same on ny
back, mushed (walked) Is miles TO
Chititu Greek where | met my old
friend Jack Grove, formerly of Glas-
gov. He was just completing tele
phone line from Mccarthy to Chititu,
which | helped him finish. Then, to
entertain me royalty, he took me on
hunting and fishing trip, accompan-
led by his friend Nick, one of the best
shots in the north After three days
travel, we arrived at the summit be
tween Young and Chitina rivers There
from my lofty eyrie could see herds
upon herds of moose, caribou, goats,
sheep and bear. Game was every
where, not for single hour for all
that two weeks were we out of sight
of it, Scattered over the Sward,
like deer in park the beasts graz
ing placidly in two's three's or in
great bands. We only shot what we
could eat and take home on a pack
horse, the same with trout and grey
ling. That being the great grizzly
bear country of the north, we often
saw the great beasts, summing them
selves atop the Rocky Mountains,
walking with dignity, across the open
country in their magnificence, the
stalked abroad lords of the forest.
My finger often itched for the trg-
ger, but Nick and Jack being more
cautious bear hunters, advised me to
wait for tho opportune time and at
last it came, but the pleasure was all
theirs, not mine. One morning |
started up the side of mountain,
through the timber, to get our pack
horses and when about two hundred
yards from our camp l came face
to face with huge grizzly bear. My
descent was sight to behold, and |
now claim to the hold the worlds S
title for the 10O-yard dash, and thanks
to Nick and his accuracy with a
Springfield, for when / was within 100
yards Of the camp he fired, at the roar
of his gun, the grizzly collapsed, 60
ing down under his successful spine
shot, completely without quiver or
a struggle. | want to say for ex-
citement and pleasure Alaska is the
hunters paradise. Alaska is really
land of opportunity, for those that
fear no hardships. Her mineral re-
sources are unlimited and only waiting
for capital to develop. The greatest
drawback has been through ncom-
petent promoters misrepresenting the
value of mines.
Farming is proving to be very pro-
fitable in the vicinity Of Mccarthy
Sam Cook, practical farmer, who
lives about seven miles from McCar-
thy raised this season, four tons of
potatoes to the acre, two tons of
timothy and thirty bushels of wheat
and for the benefit of the farmers in
the vicinity of Glasgow, herewith
give the market price he received for
same. Potatoes, 500 per ton; oats
and wheat at 85c; hay, $40 per ton;
eggs, average about 20 cents per doz-
en- and butter about so cents per
pound. Anyone desiring any further
, information may get same by writing
sam Cook at Mccarthy, Alaska, by
enclosing two-cent postage stamp
Those contemplating locating in Alas.
ka should write for pamphlets and
. literature and thoroughly acqua nj
themselves before they start, as
freight rates are very high and prices
of food are the same. rever wish
ed more for powers Of eloquence to ex.
, plain as to the great drawbacks ant
, mismanagement of this delightful
; land, comprehending these things, as
. do, and by the significance underly
ing them, it is special regret that
DO not possess any such power o
speech as : l-:t:sarv on this occa
sion, and l will therefore leave It L