The San Francisco call., 1897-11-05
ALASKA'S AGRICULTURE.
Certain Kinds of Crops and Animals
May Be Grown to Sustain
Consid able POpuIa ion.

WASHIN GTON, Nov. 4-Dr, w. h.
Evans and Benton KILN, commissioners
ap; ointed TO investigate the agricultural
possibilities of Alaska, have submitted
their report to Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson. The reports agree that while COM
parativeIy lit lie a riculture ex SITS there il
is possible that enough Cf certain crops
and animals may be grown 10 sustain a
considerable population, provided proper
methods are pursued. While Direct OF
True of the D. vision of Experiment Sta
tions does not regard as feas bic he estab b.
lishment OF agricultural Experiment sta
tions he believes that exneriments may be
carried on in a mum Der Of lines with great
success.
The two Commissioners spent three
months inyesu- ating on the southern
coast region of Alaska. The reports say
cultivated area in Alaska are confined tC
small kitchen gardens, in which are grown
many OF our earlier and harder vegeta-
bles. Stock-raising is carried on to very
limited extent. The possible extension OF
the pasturage and gardening area is quite
considerable. Estimates are made of an
expense OF 500 per acre in preparing the
soil Tor cultivation.
What agriculture will be in Alaska will
be subsidiary to fishing and other indus
tries, according TO Mr.. Killin's special re-
port. Fishermen will locate on Alaskan
lands and make homes. At the present
raie, Mr.. KILN says. the salmon will soon
be destroyed. They are being fshed for
in the spawning waters TO such an extent
that they have no opportunity TO propa-
gale. Halibut, cod and herring will last
forever. Timber will not go into the mar
ket until the yellow fir, or Douglass pine,
OF the Pacinc Coast is exhausted, as it is
superior to the Alaskan spruce or hem
Jock. Alaskans will not feel the want of
agriculture, as freight from the coast agri-
cultural districts is by sailing vessel and
very cheap. 1t now costs but 80 cents a
day 10 provide food for miners at Turn
again Arm, the most remote part of
Cooks Inlet. He says that the Agricultu-
raj Department can 10 nothing in the way
OF experimental stations i'll Alaska, but
can furnisa Information.
Mr.. klllln says from that country Will
be drawn sailors Tor the merchant m arin e
und navy. 1t can be done, he thinks bv
granting to every American citizen who
shall establish himself i'll a home for five
years on the public lands, and who shall
engage in some occupation on his own ac-
count for the same period, 20-acre tracts OF
LAND with about 900 feet OF water front.
the latter will make il possible for boats
10 be landed and nets to be drawn. The
tim Der OF twenty acres of land will build a
boat, house and furnish fuel. AS last as
the Der is taken off the land small
fruits and green vegeta bes can be grown,
and grass will be furnished for the uomes.
tic animals.
Grasses grow 10 perfection. Little was
seen of the cultivation of cereals and small
fruits. Berries abound, though practically
no attention IS paid to their cultivation.
As tn the country from the southern
boundary 10 Kodiak and Long Island and
from the Pac fic 10 the Alaskan noun
tains the climate is extremely wet, but not
cold; winters are very long, and the feed.
ing period will be at least seven months.
The cereals Will not ripen and the vege
IL blcs will not mature.