The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20

lldCElucIlL Ol J,LUU tOIlSs
The steamer stopped at many vii
ages and town along the way in
'rder that the passengers might see
he sights, enter the shops and study
he grotesqne totem poles or to walk
along the streets paved with heavy
wooden planks.
The business sessions of the group
we're held in the ballroom during the
cruise. Aside from matters of pro-
fessional interest to the group was a
variety of entertainment including
cards, movies, group singing, and
various other types of social affairs.
HUGE COUNTRY
The area of Alaska is one-ffth
that of the United States with a
population of only 10000 people, one
half of which consists of whites.
of Alaska is in the
temperate zone, only one-fourth be-
ing north of the Arctic circle in the
frigid area.
When United States bought Alaska
from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000
the country was little known by the
popular mind except there were ice
bergs, polar bears, walruses, Mid
night Sun, Eskimos and the North
Pole up there. But even today, the
average American knows all too
little of Alaska, our national store
house of natural and scenic treas
ures.
INSIDE PASSAGE
The route from Seattle to Skagway
is known as the "Inside Passage" be-
cause of the fact that the ocean pas
sage way is parallel by natural pro-
lection from the open sea. 1t winds
through smooth lakes and narrow
passages.
Voyagers who have made this trip
report that the beautifuls cenery de-
fies description. The "Inside Pas
sage" is dotted with forested islands
which are really mountain peaks jut-
ting out above the water, and is
fenced by towering mountains. some
so tall they are forever dotted with
snow.
The ship sailed 500 miles through
Canadian waters before reaching
those of Alaska.
The principal cities along the way
were visited and the heartiest of wei
comes were tended by the various
communities enroute.
The first major stop in Alaskan
water was Ketchikan where we wer,
met by the Shrine band and a larg,
turnout of the populace. Among th'
many places of interest are the larg'
salmon canning factories and colo
storage plant where millions O
halibut are canned and stored.
This city is also a mining cente
for copper, gold, platinum, silver
lead and marble. Ketchikan is sit
uated at the base of steep noun
tain side rising up from the water
The climate is comfortable and ther
is an abundance of rainfall. Tn
city has many up-to-date stores
homes and hotels and appears to b
very modern in many respects.
We were especially interested i
Ketchikan as Mr.. and Mrs. Ere
Mitsch, formerly of Bluffton, reside
at that place several years ago an
were connected with the canning in
dustry. Mr.. Mitsch is a Bluffto
high school graduate of the clas
of 1908 and wrote several interestin
letters to the News.
From there our group motored t
the Indian village of Saxman wher
the United States government is Gre
ating a national park for the presel
vation and erection of totem poles,
number of which are already erected
Two churches and an Indian schoC
under the supervision of the Unite
States were objects of local pride.
Our next stop was at the villag
of Wrangell where we were priv
legged to visit the great canning faC
tories and cold storage warehouse
The big feature in this visit was tn
| unveiling of a 60 foot totem POI
erected in memory of past Thinglt
| chieftains. An Indian chief e,
planned the intricate designs on til
pole to our group. 1t was explaine
to US that totem poles were a sol
of reminders to the Indians an
| people who lived in this countr
hundreds of years ago. Totem pole
are grotesque figures carved
wood. They range in height from
to rs feet and from l to A feet
diameter. The figures are then o.
namented with native paints whic
presents highly ornate and imagil
ative figure. The carvings are syn
bolic of family history and are r.
garded by the natives with reve
entail awe.
JUNEAU
Returning to our boat for ii
night we arrived in Juneau, the ca
ital of Alaska. Our visit here prove
to be one of the banner days of Il
trip. The town has population
5000 people. The harbor is open Il
year around and more than a dozs