The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-05-18
Mrs. Kramer On Way
to Attend Federated
Clubs Meet
PROHIBITION A
VITAL QUESTION
Women in the North
Country Enjoy the
Ballot

ueieSAte ~ the reOerateQ CiuOs' Dl
e7nial. Mrs. Kramer Is proud of the
fact that from the IL women's clubs
Of that great state she was the repre-
sentative chosen. Valdez, she says
is a beautiful town of 1000 people
and the most northern open harbor
II boasts two women's clubs, the
Study club. which belongs 10 the fed
GRAFTON. and Civic league, which
looks after the cleanliness OF the
town. fairgrounds for the children
the Identifying OF streets and
squares by setting out trees and
flowers, and everything pertaining to
its health and Improvement.
| "Yes, We can vote" said Mrs. Kra'
mer you know that our first legis.
lature, in 1913. gave the women OF
AlSfka the ballot without her even
asking for II. The prohibition ques.
tion Is as vital a one. there as here
and will come up at the next state
election. Many people think II will
carry. or course, liquor always runs
riot in a new country, but il is not
as bad in Alaska as 1t used 10 be.
I'VE consider that pioneering IL
practically over. along the coast. The
new people viii have 10 push inland
and that will be done as soon as the
railroads open up the country The
new government railroad expects to
make great Roadway this summer II
Is only started now. II begins ut a
place called Anchorage. which has
grown since the building of the road
began from 1000 10 10000 inhabi.
tants. This road will open up the
vast coal fields which are now be-
ginning to be operated, but which
have no transportation outlet. AZ
present We bring ali our coal on
boats from Washington and pay
enormous prices for II.
THE greatest industry along the
coast Is fishing and canning. and OF
course the greatest wealth, at prese.
ent, is In the copper mines. Cordova
Is the town which ships from the
greatest copper mines in the world.
These are controlled largely by the
Guggenheims, but many Alaskans
hold shares. There Is $4,000 900
worth OF copper a month sent from
Cordova 10 Tacoma smeIters. where
n Is now being held In large guam
titles for Germany.
I'VE are well pleased with Gov.
Strong, who lives at the capital. Ju.
near. Mrs. Strong eypects TO he in
New York at the Federated clubs
convention. Mrs. Percy Pennyback-
er. Of Texas. president OF the fedora
ton. visited us in Valdez and was
very much pleased with our town
about US IN the Ladies' Home Jour
nal for November. and II was so
complimentary that we scarcely rec
ognized ourselves.
Valdez is beautifully located on 4
fine harbcr and with a glacier just
behind IL. From II to Fairbanks Is q
splendid road. built by the govern
n, mt. and 400 miles long. An auto
mobile service operates on this road
and H. il all OF our mail Is brought
during the summer. but otherwise we
are cut Off except by water routes,
anf The greater part OF Alaska is un-
known to its own people.
~ am not down on the capitalist.
and would be only TOO glad II some
OF them would come up and open up
the country, since the government
does not do II.
Yes. living Is high" continued
Mrs. Kramer, "but wages are high
also. The men who work in the
mines are nearly all Slavs from
southern Europe; we have very few
Asiatics. Nearly all Of our food
comes up from Washington, for we
are not yet an agricultural district.
The summers are too short for corn,
but wheat and oats can be raised on
the inner plateau and grow TO q
great height. We have beautiful veg.
etable gardens and flowers. The
winters are long and steadily cold.
We do not have the changes you
have here. Last year was the most
severe winter 7 have known. The
thermometer went down to IS below
and Stayed there.
"The towns OF Alaska vary In ac-
tivity. Just now valdez Is hot espe-
cially active, while Cordova, on ar
count of the great copper industry,
Is booming The mines ere 100 miles
from there and special railroad
runs from them TO the city.
There are no houses TO rent; one
has 10 build one for himself. Ce.
ment is being used great deal In
place OF wood. The lumber OF Alas
ka is not OF good quality. We have
TO hiring IL from Washington.
Poor people" exclaimed Mrs.
Kramer. we haven't any poor peo-
pie. That Is We nave NO real power.
~. There are some Indians near by,
y cross between tue Aleuts aad he
Thlingets. but even they make 4
fairly good living fshins."
Mr.. Krsmes owns and opsrsass .