The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-01-03
EXPERT SEES FUTURE
FOR ALASKAN FARMING
Important Statement by Govern
ment Agent Just Returned.

Inent Agent Just Returned.
There are many thousands Of miles
OF good tillage land In the valleys OF
the southern coast of Alaska, to say
nothing OF the great interior, accord
/ ing to Levi Chubbuck. special agent
for the department OF agriculture, VINO
has just returned from the northlnnd.
Mr.. Chnbbilck spent the entire sum-
mer making u general reconnaissance
OF agricultural lands that may be sur
veyed for demonstrating by the general
land office. The chief areas examined
were the Suslitna basin north Of Sew
ard. the Copper river and the Tanana
valleys. Concerning agricultural prog
resS and possibilities In Alaska he
makes statements that may be consid-
cred most conservative. but that will
be amazing to the great majority OF
those outside
THE most obvious fact concerning
nearly all the valleys of this area 1
have seen from tidewater northward
100 miles Is that they are natural
grazing lands. There are certainly
thousands Of square miles Of very
high quality Of wild grass. the nutri-
tive value of which for stock seems
we'll established The grass often
stands six and seven feet high and is
OF the most luxuriant growth; also 1t
can be cured and is of good keeping
| quality.
A Great Dairying Country.
Nearly all of this land except some
side hill areas has more or less stand
ing and fallen timber on it. but much
is Immediately available for grazing
With adequate winter protection stock
thrlyes. and the market with the de-
velopment OF roads would seem as
sured. At present every pound of meat
consumed must come from Seattle, and
meat is of first Importance III the diet
airy of so cold country as this. In
many parts of the country also it costs
the consumer 81 a pound. All dairy
products. TOO, are brought in by steam
err at high cost. and this is certainly a
| dairying country.
There need he no speculation as to
some present possibilities. Farming
has just begun in few localities III
this region. and local conditions are
! most varied. but oats and barley are
being successfully grown. timothy
1 ief to- ~ n
| excellence.
Found Many Fine Farms.
Il have been astonished at the
| amount of farming under way around
/ Seward. had expected practically
none. and instead find half dozen
flourishing ranches on u commercial ba-
| sis and dozens of home gardens. Pota-
1 toes of first quality are being grown in
half dozen neighborhoods. excellent
turnips grow freely. aud there seems
no difficulty with beets, carrots. rad
ishes. beans, peas and lettuce. Cab
1 bage and cauIitiower are surprising
/ success in some localities. believe
this list can be extended almost indeti-
! nitely with careful selection of varie-
ties. study of soil requirements and
aeclimatization by selective breeding
The possibilities are still practically
| unknown. hut we do know that they
are far greater than most people even
| here in Alaska Imagine Some OF ti...
most promising parts OF this area
/ have not been tried at ali. and TIE
/ most successful tests have generally
been III the least likely locations.
Regarding climatic conditions
/ have been somewhat surprised. Witt
In thousand feet of sea level III fairly
open country the growing season is not
shorter than i'll The mauntain region OF
/ New Hampshire. Peas are safely
i planted in May and danger from frost
| is considered over after the first few
days in June. IN the fall the first
/ frosts are rarely before the second
week In September Ii Is true that the
summers are cooler than in the north
| ern states and on the immediate coast
4 have more rain. but there is compen
sation in the fifteen 70 eighteen hours
! of sunshine daily and the continuous
daylight for nearly three months.
THE exact area of the tillage lands
in the Sushitna group of valleys. as ar
example generally applicable, Is still
impossible even to estimate, MS much
of the territory is uninhabited and still
because of its undeveloped state rath
er than because it is inaccessible
There is total area of about 2,50(
square miles along the western edge
of Kenai peninsula bordering Cook in
let, the greater part of which is prob
ably available and some small valleys
in the interior Of the peninsula.
roughly estimate the rest. which in
cludes the Knik Arm region and Ma
fanuska WILEY to the eastward the