The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1922-08-11
Pet Writes WI
/. From Alaska Camp
Summit, Mile 313, Alaska,

4 . 3vA3 1AASVS39S? .SSUo~H
Summit Mile 313, Alaska,
T.. -. 80 July 10, 1922.
Washburn Leader, Washburn, N. D.
My dear Friends: -: 81
r 1 have promised to write a good
many letters to Washburn which I find
will be impossible for lack of time.
/ am taking this method, then, of tell
ing these who might be interested, Of
some of the conditions that exist here
at present If fail to mention some
|of the things which might be Of es-
pecial Interest," to some l will be glad
to supply the deficiency later on, in
dividually, if you will indicate the
omission. .,.
One cannot help but feel impressed
at the size Of Alaska after taking such
a trip as have taken-seven days out
of Seattle. by steamer, 300 miles into
the interior by train and. still I have
seen but a small part Of this vast
country.
l have finally settled down for the
summer up here in the mountains, 313
mile from Seward, and within sight Of
Mt. Mckinley which rears it's lofty
summit over 10000 feet, the highest
peak on the continent. am with the
General Land Office in survey party.
Mil will reach me if addressed to-
Anchorage, Alaska, care of Guerin's
camp. a. -. IS
To>be complete in my remarks
should make some mention of the
Canadian Rockies. They were won
derful. stopped off at Banff and
Lake Louise. At Baaff climbed a
mountain and swan in the hot sulphur
lo+ I,1Io ~, Se
mendously interesting and one would
like to spend a week there.
Lake Louise is a spot of exquisite
beauty. The jewel of the Canadian
Rockies, l feel, although other lakes
are mentioned as being equally beau
tiful. "
The days spent on the steamer were
ideal. We had keen, clear, cool wea-
ther until we reached Juneau and then
we ran into fog and rain belt. When
we left the islands beyond Juneau
we encountered a moderate ground
swell which sent many people to bed,
but to me the sensation was nothing
but delightful. -s
The Alaska Railroad is marvel of
engineering skill: The part from Sew
2rd to Anchorage was especially pic
turesque. In one place we ran through
a tunnel which was covered by gla-
cier In descending the mountains to
Anchorage we made several loops on
spider-like trestle work After leav-
ing Anchorage we crossed the Hurri-
cane Gulch, which is described in the
August Popular Mechanics" as being
one of the greatest engineering feats
in the world. a
l saw the site of, the great bridge
across the Tanana at Nenana while on
the way to Fairbanks, where our party
picked up it's equipment. It will be
built this winter when the ice will fur
nish temporary support.
The Industrial conditions in Alaska
at present are very dull shall not
attempt to comment on them in de-
tailed way. Sherman Rogers, a writer
for the Outlook Magazine, came, up on
the boat with us to spend some time
in Alaska. He will also make study
Of industrial conditions here and give
out his views in the Outlook, IN Sep
tember. He is a man of incisive per-
sonality who has come very rapidly
into fame as writer and lecturer in
the last few years. Whatever opinions
he garners concerning Alaska will be
said in a fcrceful if not attractive way.
geographically, Alaska seems to
be land Of mountains and forests.
One is particularly impressed with the,
amount of water everywhere. 1t falls
in copious showers; it stands every
where in stilly pools; 1t brawls down
the mountains in trickling runlets; it
pours down the mountain valleys in
tumultuous torrents; it rolls majes-
tically on to the sea in the valleys OF
the Tanana and Yukon. Everywhere
there is water in abundance and one
need not want for drink aywhere-
! IL you care for water.
Even though you have greater asplr-
ations in the way of drinkables, Alas
8a still has possibilities for you.. It
. mas one advantage that 1t shares with
North Dakota-it is located next to
\ Canada. Home brew is manufactured
in quantities II ! were to make my
fortune in Alaska, instead of trying
q little still at the foot Of the hill and
rest Of the wealth go by.
The foreman Of the section just came
to our quarters and called for volun-
teers to tactS on coroner's jury. A
miner was killed last fall back in the
! hills about four miles from here. They
Lust found his body yesterday He
! was thought to have about $4,000 with
him and it is surmised that his part
sfner murdered him for it. AZ Il & ysy
There are strange things done
Meath the midnight sun
4 BY the men who smoil for gold. = @
We are close to Mel Kinley phrk
4, here and one Of. the best game regions
i In Alaska There ares black 5S brown
and grizzly bear, scaribcu, mountain
sheep and moose. There is no closed
season on bear, but caribou, sheep and
moose are protected about ten months
lin the year. 4 hope to get into some;
good hunting before leaving Alaska.
Alaska has most OF the. necessities
but few Of the conf forts Of :home..ss We
have two trains a week. No store
within ten miles. Daily papers from
the States are two weeks old. pub
HE libra ry nearer than Eairbankas We