The daily Alaskan., 1918-01-10
A DESCRIPTION
 OF SKAGWAY
(By E. \. RasmuSon)

The following article on SKagW"y was written by E. A. RaSmuson, U. S. commissioner, for the New Years edition of The Daily Alaskan. It is in no way an attempt to cover Skagway in general, but merely points out some of Skagway's most attractive features.
 Young man go West" was the advice given by one of the great est men this Nation has produced. Thousands of those who came west heard the Lure of the North" True some were of the type who longed to live north of line 5S where it is said ''The law of neither God nor man extends" But as class the corners had 8 purpose in common, they were brave and true, ready to make sacrifices, to aid, and to endure the hardships levied by Nature upon those who come here to wrestle the treasures from her bosom which she in the North land holds in trust for those who do not "fall by the wayside," but after each reversal with new deter imitation press toward their goal. These are men among men, as true and brave as to be found, who Imeasure square to all winds, whose words are their bond, who in man
 Illness are surpassed by none, and who yield only to either love or death
 Alaska has many towns settled by such men together with class of women exceptions do exist here as among the mem so good, so fair so lovely, so fascinating be- youd measure they are more like elves and fairies, for the win ming of which man is is willing to offer besides himself, his mine as well, he this gold or coal. Our ing a spell of weather as we have had lately, coal is the better.)
 Such a town is Skagway. Here were at one time 15,OOO people, This has dwindled to about 1000. Perhaps the theory of the sur 5ivaI of the fittest" has been at work. Skaway is only hours ride Cexcept when the north wind 5lows) from the capital of Alaska. It is ths gateway to the Interior. Here the sails meet the rails. Ths winters Lere are mild, hardly ever below zero Cexceptions again); the summers are delightful. The aver age annual rainfall is less than 23 inches. The townsite is conced- cd to be the best in S. E. Alaska. Its streets are broad, lined with sub stantlal sidewalks, and for miles have not sufficient elevation to be noticed. Its city water is the best and pureSt to be founE anywhere. It has a good police system, an eff ficient fire department, and a modern electric plant. That its public school is up to date is evil denced by the teaching of manual training, domestic science, etc. Its stores are well stocked with goods of the best quality obtainable, Among it's quasi public fnstitu- tions Bank of Alaska has one of the most substantial and up to date office buildings in the North. Here is the headquarters of the institu- ton whose name the building bears and from here the business of it's branches located in other towns is directed.
 The federal government main tains here a cable office, an immi- grafton cfEice, a custom office, a deputy marshal, a commissioner and a deputy clerk of the district court. Skagway is the recording office fir all land and mineral claims north of the Juneau district. It has the oldest daily newspaper in Alaska.
 Skasway is religious and social. The Catholics, Presbyterians, Episco palian. NIethodists and Christian Science have the most adherents and each have large church build ings. Ths ElkS, Masons, Arctic Bro 'herhood and Eagles have commodi-