The weekly Alaska citizen., 1920-01-19

erable bays and inlets of the Alaskan coast there are beauties in colorinG of sky land and sea that even Nenic" or the Bay of Naples cannot duplicate. Well can MT. Hartman say There is one word of advice and caution to be given those intending to visit Alaska for pleasure, for sightseeing. If you are old, go by all means; but l if you are young, wait. The scenery of Alaska is much grander than any thing else of the kind in the world, and it is not well to dull ones capa- city for enjoyment by seeing the best first"
 To describe the climate of Alaska adequately is just as hard as if would be to describe the varied range along the Atlantic Seaboard, for instance from Key West to the northernmost point of Maine. with the added diff culy that the Alaskan climate is even more diverse The entire southern and southeastern coast is profoundly influenced by the warmth of the Japan Current which is de1ected to these shores by the long chain of Aleution islands. Even in midwinter this region Is frequently warmer than | Philadelphia or New York. North of the Alaska range which encircles the Gulf of Alaska and shuts off the warmth of the Japan current, the win ters are cold. it Is true but it is a dry cold that is less keenly felt. per haps at 40 degress below zero than temperature of only zero in the humid atmosphere of Boston And as an added compensation the summers are made glorious by long hours of sunlight For north of the Arctic Circle. which crosses this area, is the land of the midnight sun: as a consequence the greater part of Alas ka is bathed in 20 22. or even 24 hours of continuous sunshine daily turnout the summer months Tenn the usual thing. and even 90 to 95 degrees are not uncommon.
 To the long hours of sunlight may be directly ascribed the profusion and riotous growth of vegetation of every ,t 'union hours": and they work three shifts" under the compelling rays of the midnight sun. It has truly been said that list of wild flowers in Alaska would be list of the beauties of the floral kingdom. Practically all varieties of the temperate zone are to be found here; many of them, like the wild rose. larger and more fra grant than any place else. As for domesticated flowers. hedges of sweet peas 12 to II feet high climbing mas. turtiums that completely cover Alas kan homes. pansies larger than coffee cups, these facts are as difficult to believe for persons who have never been to Alaska as were the facts about Santo Domingo that Columbus and the early explorers prot back to the Old World centuries ago.
 The agricultural possibilities in a country of such piofuse vegetation are naturally enormous. Perhaps the greatest development along these lines has been made in the broad val leys of the Tanana and the Yukon rivers The variety of produce that is now being raised there is amaz- ing. Celery, which requires a cool moist soil combined with rapid growth, attains a crispness and deli cacy that cannot be equaled. and il is to be had on the market earlier than at Boston. Almost every family has garden supplying lettuce, rad ishes, beets, turnips and carrots. Gu.
 cumbers, tomatoes and melons are grown under glass and attain size and flavor that is almost unbeliev- able. Alaska's caulifower and cab bage are famous. The Tanana valley has been self-supporting in the matter of potatoes ever since the discovery
 that the sandy soil of the hillsidee l is more favorable for this crop than the rich loamy soil of the river bot 7 toms. Oats, rye, barley and wheat thrive on the alluvial soil however , and prove that this country will be able to raise all the grain 1t may } need.
 The old days of choas and disorder ] incident to the rush of gold-mp ddenef : adventurers to this land of fabulous , promise have disappeared Gambling B and the dance-hall have long r'nct I been prohibited. The entire terri tory has been "dry" since January I ) 1918, with a dryness that can bt g euualled in but few states. For here 1t Is not only illegal to sell intoxi . eating beverages but 1t is a fedora y offense even to have them in one; n possession. Schools, churches of al | lo~ osVo hon fa1anhnnac ac