The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1921-01-13

part OF Alaska will be IN the Atlantic
ocean opposite Charleston; another part
of Alaska will be in the Pacific ocean OPP
posite San Francisco, another part of
Alaska will be in the gulf of Mexico
south of New Orleans; and another part
of Alaska will be in Canada, north of
the Great Lakes. People have no concep-
ton of the vastness of Alaska, and there
has been disseminated throughout the
world more misinformation regarding
Alaska, and its resources, and its people,
than about any other matter of public
moment in the history of our country.
Let us examine this map of Alaska.
Southeast of Mt. St. Elias is called South
eastern Alaska; West of St. Elias and
South of the Yukon River is called South
western Alaska, and north of the Yukon
is called Northern Alaska. These divisions
mark the natural divisions of Alaska.
Nature made them so. In straight line
from Cape Chacon, in Southeastern Alas
ka, to Point Barrow, in Northern Alaska
is about 5000 miles. In straight line
from Cuba to Greenland is less than 5000
miles, and there is nearly as much diff
ference in the climatic conditions in
Alaska on the Pacific coast as there is be-
tween Cuba and Greenland on the At
lantic coast. The climate of Alaska is
governed almost entirely by the wonder
full Japan current, and that inexplicable
current is much greater than the Gulf
Stream.
Southeastern Alaska has mild climate.
The summers are cool. The winters are
warm. The mean temperature at Sitka
is the same as the mean temperature at
Washington, D. c. Southwestern Alaska
has a climate similar to the climate of
Southern Canada. North of the Yukon
river to the Arctic ocean Alaska has
cold climate in winter and a hot climate
during the short summer months.
Southeastern Alaska is composed large
ly of beautiful islands. 1t is mineral
and fishing country, rich now, and
destined to become more so. Some of
these islands in Southeastern Alaska are
heavily timbered with valuable spruce,
hemlock, and red and yellow cedar.
The timber resources of these islands in
Southeastern Alaska are invaluable for
wood pulp, and thus far they have never
known the sound of the woodlands ak.
They are virgin forests.
The fishing industries in Southeastern
Alaska are becoming the greatest in the
world. According to Government reports,
there are over thirty different kinds of
food fishes, and only recently the United
States Fish Commission found the habitat
of these fish on the great banks off the
coast of Alaska-the home of the cod, and
the salmon, and the halibut and the
herring, and the mackerel. This part of
Alaska will furnish for years and years
to come enough food fish to supply the
wants of the people of the United States.
Southeastern Alaska will never be an agri-
cultural country, because it is too noun
famous. 1t has no valleys and no rivers,
but it has an ideal climate, and it is going
to be the sportman's, and the poor mans,
and the sick mans paradise. 1t is say
ing up there that "When the tide is out
the table is set" because no man need 60
hungry in Southeastern Alaska. He can
live on the products of the sea.
Southwestern Alaska, from the interna-
tional boundary line to the Aleutian is
lands, is a wonderful country and quite
different from Southeastern Alaska. This
part Of Alaska is rich in mineral wealth,
Incompatible in its possibilities for cattle
and agriculture, and part of it is well
timbered and exceedingly fertile. There
are great valleys in this part of Alaska
the Copper River Valley, the Susitna VAL
ley, the Yetna Valley, the Tanana Valley,
the valley of the Kuskokwim-all await