The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-29


A general explanation of the won
derful resources and natural elements
of Alaska was made by Julian Wet
eel, Indianapolis printer, and Kiwan-
ian, in his talk to the Kiwanis club,
Tuesday.
Mr.. Wetzel, having made a trip
through the most importnt parts of
Alaska, presented a thorough outline
of the wonders of the cold country by
the aid of map. He explained that
the coolest weather which has been
recorded in the northern country was
II degrees below zero, and that the
natives of the country think nothing of
a temperature of 40 below the zero
mark Although it was cold when Mr..
Wetzel was in the country, he said
that he was comfortable with heavy
overcoat and other apparel adapted to
the climate.
The speaker explained in part, the
general conditions in Alaska as fol-
lows: alaska is a study like that Of
the school boys thesis, The School OF
Earth and What 1t Contains Alaska
is therefore likewise too big to say all
in a short speech. While + was in
Alaska, l travelled over $500 miles,
and was in the most important areas.
Big Gold Resources
"The gold resources, as is known,
were outstanding After the miners
had made their canvas of the gold dis
tricts, dredging was instituted by those
10 hot NH oh loft hxy
the miners. This process washed con-
siderable gold out Of the territory, but
the great difficulty of engineering cost
so much that little was realized from
the work in the long run.
I'm sections near the Arctic circle,
the sun goes down but little over one
hour each day. 1t seemed queer, in
deed, to go to bed while the sun was
beaming in on you through window.
One outstanding fact about this coun-
try is that of the growth of various
plants Rhubarb reaches a height as
high as a mans head, and flowers
grow much larger than in this coun-
try"
Dogs are used in transportation
over the narrow trails, which are i'm
penetrable by other kings of travel.
short of wolves, slightly domesticated.
If the man in charge of these animals,
should happen to fall, the dogs would
take him for prey at once, even though
he was their master.
Value of Dogs.
| It is their instinct to take anything
which falls, as their prey. AS long as
the man is on his feet, he is safe in
| whipping the animals. The leaders OF
| dog trains bring as high as $500, while
others sell for SIS.
Food prices are out of sight, com
pared with those in this country. To
matoes sell for 81 per pound, gasoline
in cans, $1.40; hotel room with bath
Sc; butter, $2.25 per. pound; eggs
$1.25 per dozen. In fact, there is moth
ing less than a quarter for sale il
| Alaska
Mr.. Wetzel stated that newcome,
was rated as one who had not seer
the ice come or go. He, then stated
/ that in some sections of Alaska, thert
were as high as II billions of mos
quitos. He emphasized, however, tina
this existed only in a few sections.
Mounted Police Gallant.
Mr.. WetZel continued to explain
THE Northwest Mounted Police O
Canada are Just as fine as pictured il
this country. They are pomp through
and through. In fact, the ladies WIKI
, go through the country admire tn,
police to such an extent that the EN-
barrassment is almost too much TO
the officers of the law Most of tn,
mounted police are young ex-cervic,
men, all of whom are fine looking
: men.
1.-THE gold region in Alaska wa
r found by an Indian squaw, accom-
panied by another squaw and thei
husbands. The company had campet
in the Klondike region, near a stream
| The squaw took the skillet down Z
the water to wash it out with tn
? water and sand of the stream. In sc
: doing gold stuck to the bottom of tn
. skillet and the news of the great fin
, soon spread over the country, ant
caused the great Klondike rush. Tn
founders of this great gold region
later died in poverty"
!, In concluding his talk, Mr.. Wetze
! said that in an interview with a NAL
3 who had been in Alaska for som
D time, he asked him what he though
J. of the country. The man said
g Everything is made up of dogs, dir
IL and desolation, and the spell of tn
j. YDukOn is inst Y-ll-k-O-Q"