The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-04-14

of from 1000 to 1000 feet in height,
follows the coast at q varying dis
lance of from ten to fifty miles in
land from Oregon to the extreme
southwest end of Alaska, which forms
the boundary between the equable
and desirable and cold bleak and
rigorous regions of the territory.
This warm current and the genial
humid winds do marvels in ameliora
ting the rigors of the naturally bleak
northland, but somehow when they
have warmed the islands and coast,
on rising to the summit of Chilkoot
Pass, seem to lose courage, to let go
their grip; as if they should say on
meeting the north wind, "Please ex-
cuse us, we came up thinking to be of
some help to you, but as seemingly,
we are not welcome, We will retire
after leaving with you, in the form of
snow flakes, the good cheer with
which we came laden" Having
found that Alaska has two distinct
climates, we will in this letter consider
only the realm of the Queen of the
South, leaving the territory of Boreas
for subsequent consideration. The
strip of territory inside the coast
range has an annual rainfall of 40 to
60 inches and temperature in sum-
mer warm enough to make the grow
ing of vegetables of the ordinary kinds
successful, the only drawback being
the heavy rainfall and cool nights,
which tend to keep plants growing
and retard maturity. This feature is
seen in western Washington, where,
owing to the same causes, tomatoes
will not ripen. Oats, barley and rye
grow we'll and yield abundant crops,
while the natural grasses take hold of
every clearing and open space with
vigor that shows they are at home.
Small fruits and berries of every kind
grow plentifully if only once given an
opportunity to get a foothold.
Almost the entire land side of Cook s
Inlet was used for farming and stock
raising by the Russians, who furnished
the trading posts with the vegetables
they consumed, as they were without
any other source of supply. In
answer to the question, then, whether
we can utilize the Alaska purchase,
we find that on the islands and the
strip of the mainland inside the Coast
Range the ordinary vegetables and
small fruits can be grown in abund-
ance and that coarse grains and the
grasses thrive as we'll as in many
favored States. With all this, how
ever, it must be borne in mind that
strictly speaking, this is not an agri-
cultural district and never will become
one, owing to many limitations aside
from the climate. In the first place
most of the land is covered with
heavy timber, which is expensive
to clear off, and again, the land is
level only here and there so that the
clearing, as rule, must be small and
the product confined largely to the
needs of the Immediate community
The outlook now being that for long
time any surplus of the farmer will
be taken by those engaged in the
mining, lumber, fish and other in
dustries just now opening up all along
the coast.
The reader may say "Why bother
about all this, nobody will go tc
Alaska to raise potatoes -"Spuds" in
the miners vernacular. I suppose
not, but again it may come about that
in Alaska as we'll as in California when
the country is filled up with other in
dustries the ut-of-luck miner may
strike rich lead in raising something
for his neighbors to eat.
admit that have begun the state
ment of the industries of the county
at the small end and will go back and
present the list in the order of the
relative Importance of the industries
named. OF course, gold must stand
at the front, and although, up to this
time no great discoveries have beer
made near the coast, yet enough is
known already to give the district 6
place among the gold producing
countries of the world.
In distinction from the Circle CITY