Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1902-10-29
FACTS ABOUT ALASKA.
Distance from Seattle 90 Its varioua
cpnmereial Cenfers-AErieuI-
tura1 Possibilities, Etk.

various cities Of Alaska and the west
ern ports Of the United States can
scarcely be realized without a care
ful study Of the map. From Seattle
70 the southernmost point Of THAI
portion of Alaska which stretches
enthusiastically along the west
ern coast Of North America the dis.
lance is about $50 miles; from seat
tie to Skaguay, located in the north
ern portion Of the narrow strip which
stretches soutHwardly along the
coast from the main body OF Alaska,
and from which place a railway line
passes northwardly over the noun.
tains into British Columbia TO the
navtgable waters of the Yukon river,
the distance is 1000 miles; from
Skaguay by rail to White Horse, at
the head of navigation on the Yukon,
the distance Is Ill miles; and from
White Horse by steamer to Circle
City, the center Of mining operations
on the Yukon In Alaska, 7s7 miles,
making the total distance from Seat
tie 30 Circle City 1,sss miles.
The distance from Seattle to Una
laska by the most direct line is-1,6s6
miles, and from Unalaska to Nome
about 500 miles, making the total
distance from Seattle to Nome BY.
the most direct line 2,4s6 miles. From
Nome across country to the gold
fields Of the Selwik river, which lie
directly upon the arctic circle, the
distance is about 300 miles, and other
gold fields lie about $50 miles still
farther north on the npikung river,
and only about $50 miles from Point
Barrow at the extreme north Of our
Alaskan possessions.
Thus the distance from Seattle to
the nearest point in Alaska is less
than that from New York Co Cincin-
NATL and from Seattle to the most
distant point in Alaska about the
same MS from New York to San Fran
cisco. The length of time required
for q trip by comfortable steamer
from Seattle to the nearest point in
Alaska is about two days, from Seat
tie to the Yukon gold fields by ocean
steamer, rail and well-equipped river
steamer, about six days; while to
Nome the time required for the voy-
age by steamer is about twice as
great.
Until within a comparatively re-
cent period the agricultural posi-
bilities of Alaska have been consid-
cred of but slight importance. As
the country was explored, however,
and its conditions of climate and soil
studied, its natural products OBJ
served, and experiments made with
various classes of agricultural pro-
ductiOns, it became apparent that
the agricultural possibilities of the
country, and especially of the south
and southeast, where the climate is
modified by the Japan current, were
of considerable importance in view of
the practicability of furnishing at
least a part of the food supply of
the population which the varied re-
sources of Alaska seem likely to sus-
tain and make permanent. These OBJ
servations and experiments lead
those who have participated in them
to the belief that vegetables in great
variety can be produced all along the
southern coast and in the valley of
the Yukon, and by some the POSSIBLE
ity of the successful production of
wheat and oats is strongly support.
ed. The grasses for the support of
cattle are abundant, and the expert.
ments with live stock thus far JUST.
fly the belief that this feature of the
food requirements of Alaska may be
furnished by the development OF
stock farms in the southern sections
In the north vast areas are covered
with a similar to that upon
which the reindeer thrives in other
parts of the arctic regions, and in
view of this fact the introduction Of
reindeer from Siberia was begun a
few years since and has proved ex.
tremely successful, about 5000 o
being distributed through northwest
Alaska, and the experiment has adj
vanced sufficiently to justify the con-
ifdent belief that the reindeer viii
within a few years prove an impor-
tant feature in furnishing both the
transportation and food supply Of
northern and northwestern Alaska.
The timber supplies of Alaska, es-
pecially those Of the extreme south
east are Of considerable value, but
as yet been little developed or
utilized, owing to the fact that the
lands have not been surveyed
or passed from the ownership Of the
government, and that those who at
TO utilize the timber upon gov
eminent lands do so at the risk of
severe punishment under the laws re-
TO the protection of timber
upon them. While a large portion Of
the timber of Alaska viii only be Of
for local consumption, consid-
cradle areas IN the extreme south
east are covered with valuable tim
Der, which win contribute materially
10 the lumber supply Of the United
when It becomes available
through the opening OF these lands
and their transfer to private owner
hip.