The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-02-28

believes IN IL ana, what IL more 10
Inc point for the reader, he knows
IL. In the following he tells of many
things in connection with his home
land that are unknown to the aver
age man and also gives voice to
hopes that may NEAR great things
moi only for Alaska but for the en-
tire nation as well.
Comparatively few people know
Alaska. Fewer still comprehend il in
all its greatness.
Alaskans themselves. in major
number, have seen little of Alaska.
Eight out OF 10 of them have
gllmpsed only small sections OF the
territory.
The average citizen of the popu-
lous communities along the coast
thinks OF Alaska in terms of Ketch-
kan, Juneau, Cordova, Valdez and
Seward. To him this average Alas
ka citizen-Alaska as a whole is al
most as unknown as It is to the
average citizen of the outside world.
The tourist who visits these
shores is overwhelmed with the
scenic beauties presented to the eye
on every side. from Dixon's En-
trance through the panoramic In
side Passage TO Skagway at the head
of Lynn canal and, perchance, on
over the White Pass, in the Yukon
territory, to Whitehorse. But, IL his
journey ends there, he does not
know Alaska. He has seen only the
( beginning of Alaska.
Alaska lies beyond.
or Great Magnitude.
The magnitude of Alaska-600, 900
square miles, or nearly one-fifth the
dimensions of the American union
precludes in the unopened stage of
the territory the possibility of a gen.
eral and intimate knowledge OF
Alasga
Illustrative of the prevailing mis-
information is the instance OF the
fine young soldier, who, returning
from overseas. visited a school,
friend in Boston and, at n social
gathering, vas pointed out as hall
ing from Alaska. Does he speak
English ?" asked Miss Highbrow, ad-
justing her glasses and inspecting
him interestedly.
Vilhdalmur ~Stefansson, college,
bred, is an illuminating discussion of
The North That Never Was" gives
approval to the idea OF a Cambridge
preacher that the country needs a
national university Of policte IN
learning. Stefansson himself would
fit into the Alaskan chair of the in
hllNullOu. vi tpudlIy So III. AlLItu
Brooks. the eminent ~geologist, or
Mai. j.. c. Gotwals, pratlcal O
builder. who has mushed the terri
tory and knows 1t from A TO u.
So profound a statesman as Dan
lei Webster, who visioned Americas
future greatness, could see nothing
worthy of consideration west of the
Rocky Mountains. Therefore. we
may be patient with a twentieth
century denseness that still ignorant
ly v~isualizes Alaska as a country OF
ice ana snow, its mountains and hills
laden with precious metals and It's
glacial scenery unsurpassed, but
really fitted for habitation only by
polar bears.
Those misconceptions.
Something moro potential with
the masses than a national uniyer-
sity of polite u%nlearning is required
TO correct and dispel these ridiculous
popular misconceptions about Alas
ka and force upon public mind n
fair and accurate knowledge of this
great %northland.
Alaska isn't n monumental iceberg
or glacier. 1t is not s~nowbound and
in the grip of bitter, biting elements.
1t Is not cut off fro mite world. Its
ports, save those in the region of the
Arctic Circle, are open the year
around. Its temperature in the in
terror, in midwinter. is no more Sc
we're than in the northern and far
western states. Its climate on the
is generally mild and equable.
with much rainfall, but comparable
TO the climate of Portland and Seat
tie. Billiards such as rage In MIN
nesota. the Dakotas n Montana
and occasionally in New York and
the east, are sometimes experienced
in the northernmost part OF the
territory. but are uncommon, IL not
unknown, to coastal Alaska and
Alaska as a whole.
Millions of people live happily and
thrive in Norway and Sweden and in
sections OF our own country under
climatic conditions no more favor
able, IL not more severe, than the
general climatic conditions OF
Alaska.
Alaska's are ideally
pleasant and delightful OF the coast
and ~gloriously bright and beautiful.
and often hot, in the interior. Tenn
p%erature ranging from so to 80 de-
grees is frequently encountered ~
the Arctic Circle. Throughout the
territory flowers and berries grow in
%profusion. Long days and warm sun
a shine give sturdy growth to plant
life. Fairbanks is a verltable floral
bower in June. July and August. The
midnight sun IN the Yukon is worth
travelling thousands of miles to see
especially when It eliminates Mt
Mckinley, the towering peak OF the
American continent.
Has Farming Lands.
Alaska possesses 100000 square
miles of agricultural lands and today
numbers hundreds OF occupied
homesteads under successful cultl-
Walton. Farm products OF the esti'
mated value of $250,000 were grown
and sold In Tanana Valley alone the
past season. Year after year there
Is increasing cultivation.