Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1916-08-10
WHALE FISHING
ALASKA WATERS
OLD INDUSTRY
Continued from first page.)

fish and at last concluded to climb
tree and try to shoot bruin. One day
when he was hidden among the leafy
boughs the bear came stumbling
along, but the animal was so large the
settler was afraid to shoot. After the
bear had returned to the woods a
thought struck him. He obtained
some meat and filled the pieces with
dynamite. When the bear came again
he gobbled down the food The man
in the tree hesitated not moment.
He screwed up his courage and let go
bang at the monster. There was ter
rife explosion when the bear was
struck, and when the hunter climbed
out of the tree he could find but few
small pieces Of bruin. In conclusion
the story-teller stated that the remark
able rug on the cabin floor was one Of
the fragments.
Great Land for Furs
Alaska is a wonderful country for
furs. Ermine skins not tanned are
worth from so cents to $3.50 skin.
Years ago they could have been
bought for few pennies each.
Good mink in the rough are worth
about $500 each.
Lynx in the rough bring SO to SIS
each. When first caught the hair of
the lynx is light cream and brown,
and of exquisite softness. When dyed
black and made into muff, the article
is worth from $50 to SIS.
Otter skins, when dyed to initiate
the seal and ready to make up, are
worth about $25 each.
At Juneau we saw two silver fox
skins offered for $1,000 for the pair
1t is difficult to get furs that exactly
match it being necessary to catch the
animals in the same locality. A few
miles away there may be a difference.
The boa Of white fox is worth from
$35 to $40.
From the hair seal beautiful moe
casins and table covers are made.
Agriculture in Alaska
Berries, root crops and some cereals
do well in Alaska. 1t is too cold for
chickens, cattle and other domestic
animals. Grain is very high and feed
is expensive. The long days at Fair
banks and other places on the interior
produces a wonderful effect on the
vegetation. Grass grows in a short
time as high as horses back and other
vegetation keeps crowding along every
hour in the day. The ground is frozen
thirty or more feet deep and never
thaWs out Since some of the land has
been cleared it thaws deeper than be-
fore, but Jack Frost is forever hiding
below. The days are hot while they
are long, but the season is decidedly
short. Besides, these disadvantages,
the interior is two thousand miles
from Seattle, and the demand for veg
etable and cereal crops is not great.
If one desires to farm, the best oppor-
tunities are in the Mississippi valley
or elsewhere in the United States.
While some things can be successful
ly grown in the north, the agriculture
department of the federal government
advises engaging in the business in
the territory with extreme caution.
AS to Opportunities
There are still opportunities in
Alaska, but one should understand
conditions in order to make a success.
There is money in fishing, mining and
other lines, but one should remember
there are big corporations on the
ground. Big gold strikes may be made
in the future, but this is very uncer-
tain. Thousands are prospecting all
the time. Men are busy buying furs,
trading, in transportation and other
business ventures. Some are succeed
ing, others are not. Much depends on
the individual and on his experience.
If one expects to be successful bank
er, farmer, merchant or manufacturer
he is supposed to know something Of
the people with whom he is to deal,
and surrounding conditions. The laws
of business or enterprise hold the
same in Alaska as in Baraboo.
In thinking of Alaska we should re-
member the chief resources are seal
skins, salmon, gold, coal and copper.
From 1887 to 1913 the first three of
these paid over 4SO million dollars.
The copper last year amounted to over
Is million dollars.
One should also remember that Alas
ka is ten times as large as Wisconsin
and there are less than 500 miles Of
railway in the territory. This means
that transportation must be made by
sea or river, by dog team or pack
train, by reindeer or on mems backs.