The daily morning Alaskan., 1899-05-19
Enterprising Idaho Man De-
 ceiving the Public.
CROPS NEVER ]
FAIL
Comments Made by m Oid-Timer on the Possibilities or AIaskR ana HIs Experiences What Can He Grown in skag- way and the valley.
JUNEAU, May I6, 1899.

JONLNOi Wo1 iSt wy
 White selecting some magazines at a news stand this momlag. typical "Ju- neau old-tlmer" called my attention 10 the following article in the Alaska Miner:
 "The following advertisement Is noth' ing less than fraud on the public. It Is nothing less than criminal to hold ont ln' dueements to 100 families that they can find government lands in Alaska upon which there has been no failure of crops;
 "Alaska Government Lands-A soil of very deep, dark oam, will grow all kinds of vegetables, grain, hay in abundance Climate splendid; crop failure unknown; adapted to the raising of cattle, sheep and hogs, dairy and poultry industries. In mining district providing an excellent mar ket for all produce, and where labor Is always in demand at 8 and up per day and board. Rich cranberry lands; magnif- leent chance if taken al once; only 100 families wanted; time limited. lnelose stamp for book giving full particulars, or call on ]. Ed. Cabaniss, Woodland hotel, Cen.ervllle, la.-St. Louis Republican. !"
 lt had got tired raining and was snow ing a little for a change, and the old man had come into the store to get warm. He was as much amused by what the miner calls "a clear buneO scheme" as was at his comments. Cheerful as a waterfowl he soliloquised;
 Agricultural lands In Alaska Yes, of course; and cheap enough, too. You only pay for an acre but you get two and can work both sides of lt. as it staDds up on end. All you have to do is to shoot the seed into the sides of the hill with a gatling gun. and there you are ! You don't need to rrigate in Alaska, not much. Just pipe your cliffs to help run off the extra water-and there you are Swing vour- self from the top Of the hill by travelling pulleys. cut your wheat and let it fall. By the time 1t reaches vour wagon it is well threshed, and the wind has blown off the straw. But if you are forehanded 1t will be all nicely rieked up against the wire net you had stretched across the eanyon-and there you are
 Vegetables in Alaskan Well, should ouaekl Plenty of them. And all nicely done up in cans and sacks, just as they left Seattle.
 "Plenty of cattle, sheep and hogs (both blped and quadruped) here, too All come on same boats with the vegetables.
 "Ot course crop failure ia unknown here cause the Lynn canal never freezes up so boats can't run. That J. Ed. Ca banlss is a cute euss. He knows that the bigger the fake the quicker suckers grab It."
 By that time it had stopped showing and the old argonaut went out into the rain again, ehuckling to himself and look ing as "peart and spry" as great northern diver.
 He reminds me of the African king who thought his northern guest the greatest liar on cath, because of the statement that in scotland water got so hard men, horses and tame elephants could walk on 1t with out sinking, The kings belief was merely limited by his small experience. Now the old argonaut's ideas may be all right so far as concerns the land around Juneau. Still, since they have cliff houses in Ju' neau, why might not Juneau have hanging gardens and in time become the Babylon of Alaska? Quien sabe'
 But Skagwav people know that deliel- ous vegetables can be raised in Skagway and for miles up the river, and that large areas of land in other places in Alauka are suitable for agricultural purposes. Alaska Is a vast domain in which Nature has done much of her varied work. Many surprises are in store for the "impeecable eonserva- tive" who insists on judging Alaska's future by the past of very small section of Alaska. WALTER CHURCH.