Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1922-01-26
LOCAL TRAVELLER
TELLS OF ALASKA
Spends Several Months In Cordova
Alaska, With Daughter Wash
ingtOn Included In Visits

Mrs. Joseph Smith, who returned
from Alaska not long ago, has many
interesting things to tell about the
country. Mrs. Smiths daughter, Mrs.
C. w. CaswelI, resides in Cordova, Al
aska, and Mrs Smith spent several
months visiting with her daughter
and family. She left here June 21st
and arrived in Seattle, Washington,
three days later. From there, she
went by boat, the entire trip taking
nine days.
COrdOva is a seaport town OF
fourteen thousand inhabitants and is
in the center of the copper mining
district. The town is known as the
Copper Gate to Alaska. A large
percentage OF the working popula-
ton is employed at the mines and
conditions are prosperous, there be-
ing practically no unemployment.
A1as4<a's Fine Climate
The climate during the summer
months mach resembles that of Wis
consin but there are no great ex-
tremes OF heat or cold, due to the
Japanese, current. This, Of course, ap-
plies only to the coast the interior
being m#ch colder In winter and hot
ter in summer. When Mrs. Smith left
Cordova in November the weather
was much more pleasant and agree
able than that which we were having
here. White there is considerable rain
fall, there is iittie snow and there are
few severe thunder storms but, at
simes, high winds sweep the coast.
Scenery is Wonderful ! '-".'
The scenery around Cordova is
very beautiful, with the sea on one
side and the snow-capped mountains
on the other. Every boat which arriy-
es during the summer brings tourists
and there is q large tourist business
done in every seaport town. When
the boat comes in the stores all open,
if it is after closing hours and there
rs a concert or dance and lively
time in general.
The people are Of mixed nationality
much as in this country, with the ex-
ception that there are few Germans.
Tt is noticeable that few who have
spent tea years or so in the country
care to return to their old homes.
They become SO well pleased with the
beauty, the opportunity, and the pro-
gressiveness of Alaska that they
have no desire to go elsewhere to live
Living is High
There. is an abundance of wild game
and berries and the wild flowers and
ferns are exceptionally beautiful. In
the gardens, potatoes, radishes, let
tuce and all such garden truck is
raised. Living expenses are high be
cause of the fact that so many COM
modities must be brought from the
United States and the freight rates
are enormous. Green corn was selling
in COrdova for dollar a dozen and
milk was thirty cents a quart Be
cause OF the mountainous country sur
rounding the coast, there are few
farms except in the interior.
While there is an abundance Of
gold in che mines, rev are running
This no doubt, is due to the fact that
il costs $3.50 to mine $1OO worth of
gold
Excellent School System
The people are very proud of their
school system, which ranks with
that OF The United States. Teachers
are required to pass examinations
equivalent TO those in the best of our
schools. CoYdoya has four churches,
che Episcopal and Catholic leading
and there is fine theater where the
latest movies are shown. 1t boasts
two hospitals with the best of equip
ment
Mrs. Smith left for the United
States on November nth, having Wis
tied. in Valdez as well as Cordova.