The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-01-13
NEWSY LETTER
 FROM OUTSIDE
 COMES TO HAND

celNeQ rom w. F. Wnltely, 1Ormerly of Fairbanks but now of Portland which is of much interest as it prac tically reviews the whole situation as presented on the outside, present and future. A perusal of the letter will show that Alaskans in the long run are better situated than those in the states and those who remained in the country will be farther along than they who will ultimately return to the north. MT. Whitely's letter follows:
 Conditions on the Coast are very unsettled. The wooden ship indus try has been eliminated by congress and the lumber mills are wondering where they will get off,
 The spruce corps of about 5O,OOO are being mustered out and the trains are crowded with demobilized men.
 The steel ship industry will thrive however, and there is plenty of work for all machinists who can deliver the goods. but they are wedding out the lncompetents and the unskilled labor will have to go back to pre-war basis. This should be a good thing for Alas ka, and in my opinion there should be an influx of people into Alaska this summer. Wherever any Alas. ka boys have been they have boosted the country, and many of the drafted men are now filled with wanderlust, and if prooper steps were taken RIGHT NOW Alaska would soon be repOpulated with men who are fit physically and who will develop the country.
 The profiteers hate to let go of their golden opportunities and prices are still out of proportion. However, the meat markets had a taste of what is coming. Thanksgiving they boosted turkeys to 50 cents per pound and the people baked Result, the markets were begging for customers the day after at 25 cents and few takers.
 Carnation milk sells at cans for 35 cents, butter is 70 cents per pound, eggs, 75 cents. Storage eggs are 55 cents per dozen, beef 25 to 40 cents, mutton 30 cents, pork 40 to 50 cents. ham 40 cents, bacon 45 to 70 cents. So you can readily see that commodity prices are up, and besides, this means packing your own basket, and you miss the ser vice of such accommodating grocers as Fairbanks has.
 The restaurants still observe food regulations-not because they have to out because they are profiteering. One is now allowed all the sugar the.i want, and white flour is all the rage, but the eating places still serve two slices of bread and one pat of butter.
 The department stores are in for a fig slump after the holidays and expect to see them sell at pretty low figures.
 The influenza knocked business in October and November 50 percent, and the coast is still in grave danger. Seattle had to close their schools and I think they will have to do likewise here.
 Met Mrs. Goodfellow, Mrs. L. T. Erwin and sister, who are now To- cated here. Lieth Russell, looking every inch the soldier boy in his navy uniform, came out Thanksgiving. Victor Sholseth was made sergeant of the Spruce division and is now at Vancouver Barracks waiting to be mustered out of the service and will go north this next summer.
 Miss Clara Held is in business with her sister selling automobile acces. sories and doing nicely. Mrs. Balton is with one of the large department stores here. Charlie Joynt is here for the winter and is looking fine. He has been working for the South ern Pacific for sometime. Miss Flor ence Poucher passed thru yesterday en route to Denver, Colorado, where she will be married and after an ex- tended tour will settle in Houston, Texas.
 We are nicely located, but the kid dies complain of lack of snow and miss their friends very much indeed. We had time getting suitable quar- ters; they don't want to rent or lease to people having children, but we have nice place conveniently located and are just getting settled.
 The Northland is the best after all and we are goin back again some day. The. people are different and one doesn't make the close friends outside that we have at home-in fact we are all homesick.
 We read The Citizen with avidity and pass it on to some of the other sourdoughs who eagerly read it from "kiyer to kiver."
 The whole country is seething with unrest and labor troubles are almost bound to come. The high wages