Evening star., 1901-09-28


$4,000. OF whom 1000 were Russians and
2s,Ve0 Indians. The Russians were traders
and the Indians hunters or fishermen. When
the soldiers Of the car pulled down their
nag and sailed away the most of their
countrymen followed them. Only few re-
NAMED behind TO look after the affairs OF
church and state, The Alaska Indian at
first looked upon the change of masters
with Indifference. He had worn the yoke
of servitude until his neck was well brok-
en- TO it, and IL was a matter of small con-
sequence to him that a new flag waved
over him. But he soon became conscious
or the advantages OF the new order Of
things, and has turned out to be one OF
the most valuable chattles in that remark
able sight unseen bargain Uncle Sam
drove with the Russian czar
This northern Lo is wonderful fisher
man and works at the trade industriously.
He wears the white mans clothes has
moved into frame house, and taken very
readily to. the customs and habits of his
new master. Without going farther into
the subject. II is only fair to the Alaska
Indian to say that he is in every way su-
perior to the plains Indian Of the states.
The latter IS loafer and a shirk, who
makes a beast Of burden out of his wife
and lords II over her like a king, while
the Alaska red man treats his wife with
consideration, advises with her about every
thing, and works hard to support her. The
census OF 1900 shows that the population
has more than doubled since the purchase,
there now being g. 592 people in the coun-
try. or these 30,J07 are whites. - ,536 In
dams and ), $40 a mixture of Japanese, Chi
nese and negroes.
Agriculture has never taken a place
among the pursuits OF the people of that
country. 1t is stated on good authority
that there is not a single man in that en-
tire region who derives a livelihood solely
from tilling the soil This is due to un-
favorable climatic conditions, a soil which,
in the main, is not well adapted TO cultiva-
tiOu and 9 hpfOra stafad iuSmffiriapt and
unpracticable homestead laws Until quite
recently no effort was made to encourage
the farming industry, but the Department
of Agriculture has established experiment
stations at Sitka, Kenai, Rampant and Fort
Yukon. The Investigations are being con-
Quoted under the directions OF Prof. c. c.
Georgeson. an agricultural expert, who,
when asked for a statement, said:
The Farming Lands.
There are no accurate data as to the
total area which can be used for farming
and pasture. Probably 5 per cent of the
southeastern portion is suitable for agri-
cultural purposes. The Kenai peninsula
and the region bordering on Cook Inlet
have thousands of square miles which can
be cultivated or pastured. but It is chiefly
the vast region in the Interior which can
furnish the agricultural land of Alaska Al
a conservative estimate the tilabie and pas
ture land Of the territory VIII amount TO
10000 square miles. / do not mean that
there are 100000 square miles which can
be settled and brought under cultivation,
with the same ease that our extensive west
ern prairies have been broken and culti-
waited. 1t is not likely that there Will ever
be bonanza farms In Alaska Il Is not q
place for capitalists to invest In land ana
expensive machinery, with view to de-
irving large returns from the investment;
but rather place furnishing homes for the
poor man.
''The statement that farming won't pay in
aelra fe frf,ra he Gtl md mol n
the bonanza farmer. The farmer who VIII
do the most of the work with his own
hands can secure good wages for his labor.
He can produce the beef, pork, poultry,
vegetables and grain necessary to the sup
port of himself and family, and have
enough surplus to derive a reasonable In
come in cash from their sale, If he is 10
Gated near some town or mining camp.
This is the style of farming that will be
best suitable to Alaska, and II is this style
Of farming which will make poor men in
dependent and give to the future state a
class of thrifty. industrious and self-reliant
citizens"
Raising Small Grains
Just what Alaska soil will produce is q
subject upon which there has been much
debate. 1t is certain that most all kinds OF
vegetables thrive well. and IT is equally
certain that corn. the staple American pro-
duct, cannot be successfully cultivated. on
account of the short seasons and cold nights.
When it comes to the cereals. such Al
wheat oats and barley the authorities
differ. 1nasmuch the government 10
spending large sums of money to demon
strate that these small grains can be sue
cessfully raised it is only fair to suspend
Judgment until Ii has had an opportunity
to prove its case.
The mining resources Of Alaska have
given her the greatest fame. The gold dis
coveries there have taken her name around
the world. These discoveries came at an
opportune time. The pioneer had persist
emily fought his way across the continent
until he found himself checked by the Pa
cific ocean. Civilization was crowding close
upon his heels and he was becoming rest
less. His opportunity came when a bearded
miner staggered down a gang plank at
Seattle with a fortunes weight of Alaska
gold upon his back. The trail swerved to
the north. and the frontier was thrown out
a thousand miles in day. The pathfinder
took up his pick and pack and turned his
face toward the land of the midnight
sum-" In breaking down the way In Alaska
he has had terrible time Of Ii. The condi-
tions have all been against him; but with
gold as the prize at stake he has fought
hard, and under the pressure of his effort
the wilderness Is beginning to bend.
In the succeeding articles in this series
will be told in detail the story of the de-
velopment of this wonderful land. whose
possibilities are so great that even the
wisest can only guess at them.