Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-28
FARMING-THE INDIANS.

| july .i.-tafmlng DN
sub-lrriSation and with the moisture
supplied by melting ice is a novel ag-
! ricultural method adopted in the inte-
rior Of Alaska, according to the off
| clal report Of Chief Special Agent Nc
| EenZie who supervised the taking OF
| the recent census in the fourth dis
trict of that territory. The system is
proving surprisingly successful. Many
kinds of vegetables are being grown
thus rendering living conditions more
t"lerable in the far northern country
The future is most promising in this
respect. believes Mr.. Mckenzie.
Not only enumerating the population
but gathering statistics on agricul-
tural, mining and manufacturing con-
ditiOns was the work of Mr. Mckenzie
All the concrete facts Will be giver
In figures which will be given out lat
or. The census agents pema-ks re-
sarding the farming operations are
most interesting. He says that some
homesteads have been taken up and
that on them farming is conducted or
, a considerable scale.
agriculture in this portion of Alas
ka is vet in it's infancy" says Mr. Nc
EenZie. but it has arrived at such
proportions as to he considered almost
wonderful in it's results. If all the re-
turns are taken they will show a very
remarkable condition when it is con-
sidered that it is condition existing
within the Arctic circle"
All the growth is attained between
May 20 and Sept. Il. He attributes the
fact that crops ripen not only to the
fact that the sun shines from 16 to "a
hours per day. but to the correlative
fact that the plants are supplied with
| moisture from beneath, where the
melting ice affords a regular and con-
slant supply.
Rain is practically unknown" he
says but the necessary moisture
comes from below" The thaw never
extends deeper than three feet and Of
taner not farther than Il inches, hat
the thaw is regular and the water
supply sufficient to force rapid
growth.
Celery. lettuce, radishes. cabbages
turnips and potatoes thrive, and. Mr.
Mckenzie declares. they are so much
| better than in "the states that the
! high price charged by the growers is
quite justiiiable. Raspberries grow to
be as large around as 25-cent pieces,
ard blueberries and cranberries grow
lid in great profusion. Experiments
have been made with Strawberries and
grain, and while no great success is
recorded the outlook is encouragingA
The dog is the faVorite carrier
carrier throughout Alaska. The horse
can be used only on the government
trails. and the reindeer has been
found to he unreliable. "As beast OF
burden the reindeer has his limita-
tons" saws Mr.. Mckenzie. land so far
las not proven substitute for the
dog. If the reindeer wants to work he
will do So. but if not SO inclined ne
will quit wherever he may be and all
the driving in the world will not get
ANYTHING out of him. Horses are good
only on good roads. but the dog Will
travel anywhere. The dog will work at
any temperature while a horse cannot
work below 30 degrees
Manufacturing is confined to the
| city of Fairbanks. 1t consists largely
| of making tin stoves, window Sashef
and doors.
The total product of the mines was
| asilv obtained bv Mr. Mckenzie from
| the banks. but it was difficult to get
individual returns because of the lack
of method on the part of the mine
owners. Very few keep books except 10
SHOW the outline of production ana the
| food purchased. "rhey are content
! saws Mr.. Mckenzie, elf there Is gam
| in their bank accounts at the end OF
| the year"