The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-23
FARMING IN tLaskS

About 5000 white persons are living In
Alnska. most Of them miners. Tins time
Ia coming when there win be thousands
OF white farmers in TN" Territory and they
will have a home market for all the food
they produce for man and beast.
Al present melons grown in Alaska sell
at dollar apiece. c,Icumbers about N
cents each. hay brought from Seattle and
siedged inland in winter tso n ton. while
potatoes. onions. -four and other such
articles often bring about dollar a pound
over the counter. The cost of all supplies
is so enormous that wages must be very
high. and consequently 1t does not pay To
work any except she richer strikes Of placer
gold. II ia now known that the mineral
prospects, Of lower value aggregate VASTLY
more wealth than the rich claims. but
they must remain unworked until n
cheaper supply of food makes lower
wages possible
II is true that railroads are now extend
ing into m. interior and that they will he
supplemented by good wagon roads, but
IL the base OF supplies continues to be in
the States. 900 To ,.Oo miles away. the
cost OF living and labor will still b" too
high to permit the largest development
Of Alaska's resources.
The remedy IA Alaskan grown food for
the white population. Fortunately back
OF the snow mountains and glaciers that
line the coasts there are many thousands
among the millions Of acres OF the interior
plateau that are adapted for the produc-
ton OF farm crops and meat. This fact
Ia now fully demonstrated. There are
also thousands Of acres OF tillable land in
small areas nearer the sea. conspicuousiy
in the Copper River and Cook Inlet regions.
where there In room and a growing demand
for large farming industry IA an adjunct
TO the expanding mining interest.
The Government agricultural expert
ment station ut kadiak reports thousands
Of square miles OF luxuriant natural
grasses capable OF supplying a large
grazing industry. The experiment sta
ton at Rampant on the Yukon ia ripening
wheat. rye. barley and buckwheat within
seventy five miles of the Arctic circle
The experiment station nj Fairbanks on
the Tanana River and the other stations
are maturing all the hardy vegetables,
cultivated grasses and small grains. Sim
liar reports come from many scores Of
gardens and ranches Of homeateaders
and mission stations. Mr.. Levi Club
buck Of the Agricultural Department. who
spent the summer Of 1919 in studying the
agricultural possibilities OF the Territory
says that the Tanana and upper Yukon
valleys will at no very distant day be
producing from the soil most OF the food
supply Of a largely increased mining
population. He adds that the number Of
homesteaders now in the Territory and
what they are accom- plishing are sum
cient proof Of the feasibility Of farming
IN Alaska.
These encouraging facts do not indicate
that brilliant opportunities are now open
in Alaska for our farmers. They simply
mean that when transportation by rail
and good wagon roads is provided the
crops that can certainly BE- grown will find
good home markets: and that hardy pio
neers who are fitted for this severe labor
Of tanning the wilderness will find their
patient toll rewarded in Alaska. II is the
opinion OF those who know Alaska best
that ~ vet its mineral wealth has only
been scratched. The agricultural. possi-
bilities will also be developed and home
grown food will greatly facilitate the work
ing Of the enormous resources in gold.
,oprar and coal