The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-11-12
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great length of the days, that growing season is
worth about 200 Of our days. So that they are
enabled to grow crops suitable to take care Of
large population and take care Of the stock that
they may produce. The crops are wheat oats,
rye. barley hay, and they have produced an alfalfa
which makes a good cror Its vast forests Of tim
Der suitable for paper pulp are awaiting a ready
market while its fisheries the greatest on this
continent.
Mr.. Miller of Washington have been over
nearly all Of Alaska l have gone into the hills
with my pack on my back. I have teamed what
Few provisions had 200 oe 300 miles with a dog
team out to my diggins. The greatest copper
mines on the face of the earth are within the
territory Of Alaska. You know how we searched
the world for metals during the war. We have 90
per cent of them in Alaska. They are there await.
Ing the hand that will develop them
Something has been said here of the reindeer
situation. There is prettier sight in the world
than to see thousand head of reindeer grazing
on mountain side. The Aleutian islands are full
of them. There 10000 or 10000 reindeer in
Alaska. They are a godsend to thu natives They
go out with their little herds. An Indian or an
Eskimo may not have over % or 80 reindeer but
he herds them careful husband1aan takes care
of his little flock of sheep. Incidentally they are
cleaning out the wolves and lynxes and the other
predatory animals that infest the country The
reindeer support the natives. And truly believe
that with the great grazing lands that there are in
Alaska. the future development of the reindeer
as a substantial source Of meat supply for orr
country is one Of the most promising that We have
before US.
Now, the climate there is not bad Over IN n.
Interior, In the Yukon valley, the atmosphere ia
dry. and with the temperature 25 degrees below
zero you can wear an ordinary hat all dav lono
and your ears will not get cold. When Won On ont
to the coast you get the moisture. Going away
from the coast into the Yukon valley Won o.
a maintain chain 4 foo
when you get over that chain you are in the great
arctic slope. have come out Of that valley with
the thermometer AZ degrees below zero whore =
could stay out doors all day without discomfort
and have dropped over that mountain chain univ
80 miles and come out to the coast whore ~.
thermometer was degrees below zero and how
nearly persisted with the cold. The interior 10 =
cold, dry climate Animals can forage all winter
In the interior country.
It would surprise some Of you to know tho+ q,
that country the ground is 'eternally frozen. NJ
one has ever dug through the frost and thev h..
been down thousand feet.
The fields Of barley and rye and wheat ~.
grown on the top of ground that Is frozen fo- -
thousand feet beneath. It thaws on the s,rr.
in the summer time. 1t gets very warm Tho.
is daylight 16 IS and "a hours in the dav .na
crops mature quickly. They come right mn ovo.
night OF course in the winter the nights ara ,on,
and dark and cold. but the summer seasons .re az
lightful The thermometer goes up to 80 on .ra
95 in summer, but in the winter 1t becomes ercaa.,
ingly cold. The coolest weather ever saw IN ~.
Yukon valley was 6S degrees below Zero That 10
cold weather, and 1t Is dangerous weather h. hu, -
you go down the Yukon river, and perhans IN,
miles from the mouth there is Catholic mission
the Holy Cross mission. There is one of the mos,
beautiful apple orchards have ever SEEN perhans
50 acres of the most beautiful young apple trees
just coming into bearing. And grazing over broad
acres of clover was one of the finest herds Of Tor
CNtt1o have thokf v
Is frozen 1t Is queer country. Every rule Of the
biologists is reversed when you get to Alaska.
And tell YOU. gentlemen. just as sure as God
the future w'l unfOltkor Alaska and the Ameri.