Douglas Island news., 1903-04-01
To Raise Stock In Far
 North

the Aleutian group, at the southern ex- tremiry of the Alaska peninsula, Is to be started. On May the first ship ment will be sent forward by com. pany composed of Seattle business men. It will consist of 500 yearling heifers, ten bulls and 800 sheep. The latter will be kept apart from the cat tie, on the island of Unimak, to the southwest of Unalaska, and separated from it by a narrow strait.
 The island of Unalaska is ninety miles long and forty miles wide, at it's greatest measurements. Its territory is of the undulating character, covered with tall rich grass, such as is admir- ably adapted to the stock raising busi- ness. Through it courses several good sized streams, furnishing fresh water for the stock. The climate is even for the entire year, ranging from 33.5 B eove, in January, to 32.6 above, in March; 45.9 above, in June; 46 above, in Sep tenn Der; BPS above in December, ac' cording to the government reports.
 For many years past cattle and sheep raising in Alaska has been" con- sidered. Almost every partof the far Northland has been exploited with the view of finding place where the con- ditions would be right and the trade profitable. In the interior Sof the mainland the winters are rigorous, and so long that to protect the stoek from the rayages of the cold weather}Swould necesSitate too great an outlay Then again. in most of the interior parts wild animals are monarchs of the plains, so that while the ranges are good enough forthe' purpose in some parts, the interior has never been view ed with favor by those who have look ed upon them.
 In Unalaska the climatic conditions are all that could be desired, and there is pot wild animal on the whole is- land. Therefore the industry is to be started there, small in the beginning, but with the view in few years of being able to supply the markets of Alaska and calling" boats with fresh meat in any quantity.
 Among those who are interested in the project are Lyman 2. Knapp, Fred Page pustin, William E. Parker, Fred Nj. Smith and John Arthur. Capital necessary for the furthering of the plans has been secured, and the ven- ture will be launched from Seattle by the first shipment two months hence.
 To look into the possibilities of the meat industry when established in that part of the world, under tbe favorable condition for its develop meDt, requires knowledge of the country and to what points such a business would be tributary.
 On the island of Unalaska is the calling port of Dutch harbor, which ever since the opening up of Alaska and for many years before that time, by vessels travelling in the Japanese current, has been a port of anchorage. The harbor of Unalaska is uneXcelled in the North, and annually there are hundreds of boats en route from Se- attle to Nome and the western coast of Alaska stopping there.
 Since the establishment of coaling station at Dutch harbor, the number of vessels calling has been increased. Ocean travel between the Pacific coast and the Orient favors the current on the eastward trip. Many of them stop at Dutch harbor to take on additional coal, and many vessels of the North ern fleet winter there.
 This traffic, with the development of the meat trade, would be the means of creating local market for fresh beef and mutton which would be of no r mean proportions. At present vessels are compelled to load their meat, wheather dead or on the hoof, at some of the Pacific ports. To dispense with this would be saving. 1t would obyi- ate the necessity of carrying it on seven-day run, and further, would mean that ships would be assured of a supply of frerh meat on arriving there.
 Then there are the markets of Nome and the vast number of mining dis tricts, which at present cannot get fresh meat, owing to their remoteness from the base of supply. All these things have been taken, into consider ation by the men who dave invested in