Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-01-27
EXPERT SEES FUTURE
FOR ALASKAN FARMING

important Statement by Govern
nlent Agent Just Returned.
There are many thousands or 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, who
has just returned from the northlam.
Mr. Chubbuck spent the entire sum-
mer making general reconnaissance
of agricultural lands that may be sur
veyed for homesteading by the general
land office. The chief areas examined
were the Sushitna basin north of Sew
ard. The Copper river and the Tanana
valleys Concerning agricultural prog.
ress ant possibilities In Alaska he
makes statements that may be consid.
cred Elost 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
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 nutrl
tive value of which for stock seems
well established. The grass often
stands six and seven feet high and is
of the most luxuriant growth; also il
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
thrives, and the market with the de-
velopment of roads would seem rs.
sured. At present every pound of meat
consumed must come from Seattle, and
meat is Of first importance in the diet.
airy of so cold country as this. In
many parts of the, country also IL costs
the consumer 81 pound. All dairy
products. too, are brought in by steam
err ut high cost. and this is certainly Il
dairying country.
There need be no speculation as to
some present possibilities. Farming
has just begun in Il few localities In
this region, and local conditions are
most varied. but oats and barley are
being successfully grown. timothy
flourishes. and the root crop is of high
excellence.
Found Many Fine Farms.
Il have been astonished at the
amount of farming under way around
Seward | had expected practically
none. and instead | lind half a dozen
fiourishing ranches on commercial Da'
sis and dozens of home gardens. Pota'
toes of first quality are being grown in
half a dozen neighborhoods, excellent
| turnips grow freely. and there seems
no difficulty with beets, carrots. rad.
ishes. beans. peas and lettuce. Cab
bage and cauitiower are a surprising
success in some localities. believe
this list can be extended almost indeti,
nitely with careful selection of varie.
ties. a study of soil requirements and
acclimatiZation by selectye breeding,
The possibilities are still practically
unknown, but we do know that they
are far greater than most people even
here in Alaska imagine Some of the
most promising parts OF this area
have not been tried at all, and the
most successful tests have generally
been in the least likely locations.
Regarding climatic conditions
have been somewhat surprised. With.
in thousand feet of sea level i'll fairly
open country the growing season is not
shorter than in the mountain region OF
New Hampshire. Peas are safely
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
have more rain. but there is compeu.
sation in the fifteer to eighteen hour,
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 ali
example generally applicable. is still
| impossible even To estimate. us much
! of the territory is uninhabited and still
because of it's nndeveloped state rath-
err than because it is inaccessible.
| There is total area of about 1900
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 inferior of the peninsula. l
roughly estimate the rest. which in
cludes the Knik Arm region and Ma
! tanuska valley To the eastward. the
| Yentna TO the westward the main
| SuShitna valley aud smaller tributaries
running northward far into the in
terror 1T say. $50 square miles. but
It MIGHT exceed this considerably.
Relatives and friends hereabouts have