Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-04
FARMING IN ALASKA
Report Of Com missioners Appointed
to Investigate Conditions.
CROPS AND ANIMALS MAY Be RAISED
The Present Area of Cultivation
Very Insignificant.
THE SUGGESTIONS MADE

The preliminary reports of DR.. w. H.
Eyans and Benton KILN, commissioners
appointed to investigate the agricultural
possibilities of Alaska during the past sum-
mer, have been submitted to the Secretary
of Agriculture, through A. c. True. director
Of the Office of experimental stations.
The reports agree that while compare
lively little agriculture exists in Alaska, it
is possible that enough of certain crops and
animals may be grown to sustain a con-
population, provided proper meth
DDS are pursued. While it is not regarded
as feasible by Director True to establish
agricultural experimental stations there, he
Is Of. the opinion that experiments may be
carried on in a number of lines with great
success.
On Southern Coast.
The two inspectors spent three months in
investigating the southern coast region of
Alaska A number of points were visited
in southeastern Alaska and other places
west of Sitka. The two returned to Sun
Rise City, where they parted company DIR.
Evans went to the westward while Mr..
k1ilen visited Yakutat and the Copper
river delta. In this way nearly every coast
village of southern Alaska was visited. The
southern coast region is divided by Mount
St Elias and other mountains into the
southeastern timbered region. and the
southwestern or treeless area. The south
eastern portion is heavily timbered on its
lower elevations. and sometimes / 800 feet
or more above the sea level were found
spruce, Alaskan cedar and hemIock. Some
or the trees. especially the spruce, attained
diameter of ten feet
w neE drained, the soil in southeastern
Alaska usually proved very rich. In the
southwestern section it appeared of a bet
ter nature
Grasses Readily Grown.
In both regions grasses grow to great
perIectlon Alaskan red top is the most
common This with a species of wild
timothy grows to height of five feet or
more. At Wrangel. Sitka, Juneau and else
where attempts have been made to grow
red and white clover with some success
as well the timothy Alaska is pre-
eminentiy country of small fruits and
berries, but little attention is paid to the
cultivation of any of them. The flavor is
excellent, and the report states that some
of them might be introduced into the
states with profit. Cultivated areas in
Alaska are confined to small kitchen gar
dens, In which are grown many of the
Garner and harder vegetables of the gar
1ens here.
But little was seen of the cultivation Of
cereals. Al Wood Island and Kodiak the
latter part of August mature oats were
observed which had come from seed scat
noted about fifteen inches high. but not yet
r:pe. Wheat was also inspected. but
showed no inclination to head. Samples
OF flax were successfully grown.
Stock raising is carried on to a very
limited extent. milk cows being most COM
monty seen. They were all in good condi-
zion, showing the nutritious character of
the grasses which make up the pasturage.
Hay Is bought from San Francisco at SIS
per ton, 1t being claimed that 1t is cheaper
to buy it than to put it up. No grain is
grown for fowls. Their diet is of fish
refuse In winter.
An Abandoned Farm.
The cultivated area of Alaska at present
is very Insignificant. At the mouth of
Stikeen river is an abandoned stock farm
of more than thousand acres. Lack of
winter forage was responsible for the
failure of the venture.
The possible extension of the area de-
voted to pasturage and gardening Is quite
considerable. although the coast region is
for the most part very mountainous. Esti-
mates are made of the cost of $500 per
acre for preparing the soil for cultivation.
The land laws, or rather lack of them.
will probably prove serious drawback 10
any extensive development of agriculture
until some provision is made other than
that of squatter rights for the possession
of land.
The report states that the white pcpula-
great rapidity. and may reach 200, 1000 with
IN the next year. The food for ali these
people. aside from few vegetables,
little meat, game and fish, must all be
shipped a thousand or more miles. Wheth-
er the natives would take advantage of
new opportunities developed by sta
lion cannot be foretold. The climatic con-
1itions of the coast regions are not greatly
unlike those Of northern Scotland, where
much has been accomplished, AMI DIR.
Evans thinks something could be done for
Alaska.
Location of n Station.
The report states that either in the vicin-
ty of Sitka or Kodiak would be a good
location for any station that may be estab-
ished. Some lines of work that suggest
themselves as Immediately practicable are
proper preparation of the soil, culture
methods. stock raising. silo making, adap-
liability of various vegetables and crops to
and grasses.
In recommending the establishment of a
station or stations in Alaska, DIR. Evans
says he would not advise an extension of
the so-called Hatch act to provide for them
Alaska is not a territory. but district
All the officers are appointed, and are re-
to different departments of the
government at Washington. There Is no
way except by private contribution to sup
piement work of the station, no matter
how desirable and necessary additional aid
might be. There Is at present no organiza-
ton capable of providing a governing board
for station, and no college in connection
with which to operate the station What
seems TO be more practicable plan would
be the appropriation by Congress of a sum
OF money, $4,000 or more to be expended
without any restrictions, under the direc-
ton OF the Secretary of Agriculture in
the foundation and equipment of the sta
tion or stations in Alaska as he NAV deem
proper. After few years 1t would prob
ably be possible to organize the affairs of
the territory in some way, so that the act
OF March =, 1857, would be applicable to
the case.
Makes n Separate Report.
Mr.. Benton KILN makes a separate rc
port of mis- observations. which extended
over the country from the southern bound
aug of Alaska to Kodiak and Long Islands.
and from the Pacific ocean to the Coast Or
Alaskan mountains. He gays the bed rock
TORI IA.