The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-27
ALASKAN FARMS.
Nearly 100000 Acres Soon to Be
Opened to Settlers.

At a distance of some fifty miles
south of the Arctic circle 2,98O,O0o
acres of land will be opened for set
tlement in Alaska on September 80,
| by a recent order of the secretary of
the interior. This great tract has been
held in reserve for a national forest
around Norton bay, but the project
was aban doned, SO many were the de-
| been found more suitable for settle
ment. The spring rush for Alaska
| overwhelmed steamship accommoda-
tions and filled up the wharves at
Seattle with household freight, but
| the order of the secretary is expected
to- prolong the rush up to the APP
proach of winter. Alaska has been in
| the throes of a general strike and tie
up, but as usual in such cases, this
feature is wearing itself out. These
| troubles were caused by the shortage
of labor in southeastern Alaska, ow-
ing to the activity of railway building
and the development of new mines,
eliminating in general demand for
/ higher wages.
Agriculture is proceeding hand in
hand with the efforts of government
experiment stations. which are con-
stantly determining what will grow
which heretofore has been exotic to
the soil. So far all the harder vege-
| tables have been made to thrive, and
in the large valleys Of the interior ex-
periments are being made, with every
|
grain and stock feed capable of main
| tanning work animals. The great val
| ley along the Susitna river in central
Alaska, extending north from Cooks
Inlet and Resurrection bay, it is de-
| clared, has mild climate all the wear
owing to the warm currents of the
ocean, and will grow almost anything
that is raised in temperate zones.
Nest important to Alaska has been
the improvement of the TRANSFORMATION
facilities
way lines In the Susitna valley the
Alaska Central railway last year had
471k miles of standard gauge track in
operation north from Seward and its
roadbed in excellent shape. The series
of tunnels and heavy grade work for
the next 61s miles were 80 per cent
completed last year, and are now about
to be opened. The seven tunnels on
this section are $500 feet long, and
with their completion trains will have
81 miles of track. The line aims for
Fairbanks. Monatuska coal fields and
| the Yukon, 400 miles northward. The
Copper River railway had completed 20
miles of road from Cordova, and it's
grade was done almost to Copper river
at the close Of last season. Much of its
| heavy rock work through the Aber-
cromble canyon of the Copper river
was completed.
The Tanana Mines railway had in OPP
Grafton when the snowfall began last
autumn SO miles of road, from Chenato
Gilmore through Fairbanks. The Cop
per River & Northwestern railway had
| about completed 90 miles of grading
J north from Valdez and surveyors were
| laying out other routes, including one
| from Catalia to the Kayak coal fields,
| and thence parallel with the Copper
River railway. The Valdez and Yukon
! railway had completed it's wharf and
| offices, laid one mile Of standard gauge
| track and graded part of its roadbed
The Solomon River railway had ex-
tended its line to Casadepaga and push
| ed construction to reach Council City.
The Nome and Arctic railway had
purchased the Wild Goose railroad and
pushed its line toward Kougarok. The
| Alaska Shore Line railway, with termi-
nus at Illiamna Bay, proposes to push
on to Nome Most of these lines are
anxious to build into the Kayak coal
fields, where coal Is. plentiful and or
high grade for cooking and general use.
The permanent white population OF
| Alaska is now 5000, with 5000 nomads
at work here and there. The increase
now averages $500 souls a year, hg-
ure which the coming opening of lands
is expected to swell materially. These
people shipped to the states last year
$29, 339. 2S6 worth Of gold, silver, copper
and merchandise in the form OF hsh
products Gable, telegraph and mali
connections are being generally ex-
tended. and already Alaska is ambi-
tious to become a state.-New YORK
Tribune.
"You say your son is fond of long
A~O