Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-06-27
Alaskan Colonists
Are Busy Making
Their New Homes
Continued from Page -


so many colonists do) is very like
any small northern Minnesota town
very much like Carlton) except that
it is surrounded by mountains, north,
south, east and west.
Tells of the Trip There.
Now back to the trip. The morn
ing we entered the mountains of Cali
fornia, we ran into a beautiful snow
storm. Huge fir trees were laden with
snow as we made our mountainous
ascent. Upon descending, it turned
to rain, gradually showing that we
were approaching a warmer climate,
as vegetation became more and more
advanced. green trees, creeping vines
"a blOom-then blOssOming trees
and more luxurious underground
of blossoms in the fields. California
peoples grow in that section of Cali
fornia as dandelions do in Minnesota.
We were gloriously entertained at
San Francisco. Free tickets to ride
on the municipality owned street cars,
wonderful sightseeing tour which
would require a newspaper column
alone to describe, free theatre tickets.
etc. The eating place, which was the
transient mems shelter was rather
objected to by many, but we received
plenty of good food even though it
may not have been served la Black
stone.
Black and Yellow cabs took us to
the dock where the st. Mihiel was
still being loaded, preparatory to de-
pature. The voyage would have been
as we had expected if it hadn't been
for the scores of camera and news
papermen, and what have you, who oc-
cupied the first class quarters. while
many of the women and children tear
fully had to go to take up their quar-
tiers in the matches (down in the hole
two flights. One newspaperman oc-
cupied quarters for seven people,
which the women and children were
permitted to take when those men
left the boat at Seward to come in
land. We remained on the boat from
May 9Th, to the 10th.
Enroute to Palmer, we were invited
to spend three hours at Anchorage,
a prospecting town of 5000 souls,
where the Women's club served din
ner, for us all. after which we en-
jOyed the surrounding country in
autos driven by Anchorage owners
The little city also boasts 90 privately
owned airplanes, and does a great
deal of commercial flying, due to lack
of roads to Canada and the states, and
also mountainous stretches here.
The valley here looks like any we'll
wooded northern Minnesota land ex-
cept that we haven't the variety OF
trees. Only birch. spruce and cotton.
wood balm of Gilead). We are sur
rounded on all sides except the south.
west by snow-capped mountains which
they tell us will lose their snow dur.
ing July and August.
Homes Not as Represented.
We didn't see the blue prints anG
plans of the houses we were to have
, here but were assured by the county
case workers that the rest of the
Carlton county group was well salts
: fed. These houses were to be log
, full easements and running water
etc. We now find this isn't just talh
} but directly from Mr.. Troast, head
architect and Mr.. Irwin, in charge oil
this project) that our full basement
is to be ~ by - hole. stabbed ur
; inside. because cement won't stand uI
in Alaska. No foundation. just logs
set on the ground, and our runnine
water will be a we'll. It just doesn'!
set well with the Tri-State people tC
think of homes without a foundation
Then. too. we have wondered about
heating systems for our brand new
homes. We are to have so gallon oil
drums-a boat is to pick the drums
up at ports between here and Nome
) and in case enough aren't located
the kitchen range gives lot of heat
we are told.
The Washington D. c. group made
a list of articles for each family
clothing. bedding, kitchen utensils
etc. and set price allowed for each
article. St. Louis county is one OF
the few counties that got all they
were allowed. The rest of us were
talked out of so many things which
we find we need here and should have
had. And that money should have
been spent in our home counties be-
fore we left. Only two Carlton county
families saw the list and learned
later that they weren't supposed to
see it. Why it was such a secret
don't know. l do know. in our case
we spent money for so many things
which we should have been provided
with that we are very handicapped
now. For instance. childrenS shoe:
are about gone. overalls. coveralls
ditto. and no money to replace them
at Alaskan prices.
High Prices.
We have a charge account at the
Commissary and have never eaten sc
much out =. of tin cans in our lives