The Calumet news., 1910-07-27
Melting Of Ice Provides Plenty Of
Moisture in Soil for Agri-
cultural Purposes -Bar-
vest Good Crops
VERY REMARKABLE CONDITION
Special Agent Mckenzie is of Opin-
ion That Alaska Has a Great
Future Fruit and Vege-
tables Are Plenty.

Washington, July 27.- Farming by
sub-irrigation and with the moisture
supplied by melting ice is novel
agricultural method adopted in the in
terror of Alaska, according to the Of
fetal report of Chief Special Agent
Mckenzie, who supervised the taking
of the recent census i'm the fourth dis
trict of that territory. The system
is proving surprisingly successful.
Many kinds of vegetables are being
grown; thus rendering living condi-
tions more tolerable i'm the far north
ern country The future is most
promising in this respect, believes Mr..
Mckenzie.
Not only enumerating the popula-
tion, but gathering statistics on agri-
cultural. mining and manufacturing
conditions was the work of Mr.. Nc
Kenzie. All the concrete facts will be
given i'm figures which will be given
out lyater. The census agents remarks
regarding the farming operations are
most interesting. He says that some
homesteads have been taken up and
that on them farming is conducted on
a considerable scale.
agriculture i'm this portion of Alas
ka is yet in its infancy" says Mr..
Mckenzie, "but IL has arrived at such
proportions as to be considered almost
wonderful i'm it's results. If all the re-
turns are taken they ,swill show a
very remarkable conditDn' when 1T is
considered that it is a condition ex-
listing within the Arctic circle"
All the growth Is attained between
May 90 and September Is. He at
tributes the fact that crops ripen not
only to the fact that the sun sines
from 16 To "a hours per day, but to the
correlative fact that the plants are
with moisture from beneath,
where the melting ice affords regu-
lar and constant supply.
"Rain is practically unknown" he
SAYS, "but the necessary moisture
comes from below" The thaw never
extends deeper than three feet and Of
ten not farther than Is inches. but the
thaw is regular and the water supply
sufficient to force rapid growth.
Celery lettuce. radishes, cabbagcs.
turnips and potatoes thrive, and, Mr..
declares, they are so much
better than I'm "the states" that the
high price charged by the growers is
quite justlfable. Raspberries grow
to be as large around as 25-cent pieces.
and blueberries and cranberries grow
wild I'm great profusion. Experiments
have been made with strawberries
and grain. and while no great sue
cess is recorded the outlook is en-
The dog is the favorite carrier
throughout Alaska. The horse can he
used only on the government trails
and the reindeer has been found to
he unreliable. "As a beast of bur
den the reindeer has his limitations
saws Mr.. Mckenzie, "and so far mas
not proven n substitute for the dog.
If the reindeer wants to work he VIII
do so but if not so inclined he VIII
quit Wherever nc may bt "ii' "'
driving in the world will not get any
thing out Of him. Horses are good
only on good roads, but the dog viii
travel anywhere The dog will work
at any temperature while a horse can
not work below so degrees
Manufacturing is confined to the
citv of Fairbanks. II consists largely
Of making tin stoves. window sashes
and doors.
The total product of the mines was
easily obtained by Mr.. Mckenzie from
the banks. but IL was difficult to get
individual returns because of the lack
of method on the part OF the NINE
owners. Very few keep books except
10 show the outline of production ana
the food purchased. "They are con
tent" says Mr. Mckenzie. iii there Is
a gain in their bank accounts at the
end of the year"