When you have seen Washington, the vast territory of Alaska awaits you.
Alaska, the last of the undeveloped free empires! This region is so
extensive that even the state of Washington would be lost in its midst,
for its area is equal to that of the original thirteen colonies, with
Maine, Vermont, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Michigan thrown
in, or one-fifth of the entire United States. It has a range of latitude
of 1,100 miles, while its extreme longitude would reach from the
Atlantic to the Pacific.

In proportion to its vastness, so are its wonders. Stupendous mountains
reach to three and nearly four miles in height, loftier than any others
in the United States or its possessions. The Yukon River is 2,300 miles
in length and its nearest rival, 1,000 miles. The biggest glaciers in
North America are here, which make those of Europe look like mere
pygmies, and volcanoes still in eruption may be viewed from a safe
point. The scenery produced by the green rock-bound fiords with the
snowy peaks beyond is truly magnificent.

It is also a great treasure house. By the end of 1914 there had been
produced, $540,000,000, or about 75 times the price paid for its
purchase, representing over $15,000.00 for each white person now
inhabiting it. Almost half was from gold mining and within the last
twenty years. The rest was from fisheries, seals, furs, copper and
silver--permanent resources of region.

Alaska is not cold and bleak like Labrador, although its latitude is
similar. The Japan current acts as it does on Washington and as the Gulf
Stream affects England. Both plant and animal life flourish and about
100,000 square miles of land are available for agricultural purposes.

To partially realize its glories take the inside passage trip from
Seattle--a thousand miles of calm sea.

[Illustration: MAP OF WASHINGTON]

[Illustration: SEAL-OF-THE-STATE-OF-WASHINGTON]

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Transcriber's Notes:

Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

Page 22, "occurences" changed to "occurrences" (occurrences that so
often)

Page 32, "stupenduous" changed to "stupendous" (the stupendous sum)

Page 49, repeated word "of" removed from text. Text now reads (waters of
Puget Sound)

Page 49, "State" changed to "States" (pinnacle in the United States)

Page 67, "panaroma" changed to "panorama" (unfolds a panorama)

Text uses both historic and current spelling of Whidby/Whidbey Island.

Thi