The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1911-08-28

Of having discovered the region. and
it Is true that from the time he
crossed the divide between the Birch
and MCNanus creeks and came down
t. the edge OF The Tanana and found
gold there in Cial quantities
the region has been KIN wn 10 the
world
But. like most disCOvsrers. Pedro
did no, really know what he had
found Columbus thought that he
had merely discovered another route
to the Eas, Indies and dreamed not
Of new continent and Pedro
thought he had found a new mining
region and did not consider for an
instant the fact that the region had
great agricultural possibilities
Harvester Rivals the Sluice Box
He saw only the wealth in min
erals. but those who have come after
have seen tit TO put the pillow into
the earth and the Tanana valley is
now known for its farms. as well
as for its mines, and the
harvester rivals the sluiCe box i'll
gathering in tn" yield Of the region.
To many who have never been in
the far North the idea of Alaska
beng country ior 'he lai me -
'he 'N"l "Pi't"'S '' III '' -
'F"Us' p"' mere "'' ''"9'ii9 -
make Alaska ifo"' ny 'nS VEL ''
that /, IS close 10 me pore
Inc valley Is over t"''e ""iiui ,u
miles long ana contains P'P"i"
non vi uP"'iu VI rai.a.i.,
clpai city OF the region - al N9
"hl'h Is %" "l'IeS imam" VI"
deH. In ms chalihlhE N"'ieH 'he'
are some zen mini III dcreS Vi
cultural Iahds' lahuS VI ma. NJ
degree OF iertlIlF ana an on la
Of the United states aefleai' afai ue-
partment Is authority LOT ,ht STATE
mcnt that in h" north OF Europe
there are upward OF 'hree Hiil'io''
people residing on ana setlhs theh
living from land thai Is not one
bit more fertile or productive
Proud OF Three Crops.
There are three crops OF when me
citizens of the Tanana valley are
exceptionally proud thelr eau
bages. their potatoes ana 'her oats,
These are never lalilns crops ana
the product is such as is not eqnal.
ed elsewhere with any degree ol
regularly. brlSloi caop"seS ma a'
solid to the core. potatoes that run
eleven tons to the acre ana "hlch
sometimes reach a weight OF TWO
pounds. and oats that runs - oush-
els to the acre; these are things tha'
bring JOY 10 the heart Oh the Alas
ka farmer.
But While these me htloheu "'e 'hS
principal crops OF the region anu
the ones TO when the son ol 'iie
valley is peculiarly adapted the
other crops are by no means poo''
For green vegetables me aiana
needs no help from the OUTSIDE
world and her table Is suppled with
the best during 'he Nnole VI w,
summer. Tomatoes that are soihe'
tunes nara 10 ilPel as '"i
Washington. ripen outdoors IN the
Alaskan valley.
TWenty-tour Hours OF oun''9n'.
The reason OF TINS IS 'he wy
fact that the lana Is so lar 10 'lie
north that during the summer 'he'e
is no night. Twenty'four hours ol
sunlight means "a hours Oh s'o"'i
every day ana - nouns Vi
when the fruit has reached 'hat
stage.
Hay is PLENTIFUL ana hatl'e nay
is replacing that "hl'h useu "
imported at cost OF sloo 'oi'
and ii has FOUND by common tNpe
enCe that the hlllslue lahu -
than that OF the natter surfaces AZ
that it gets the more dlrec' ray vi
the sun ana 'he ni"'' - 80
later in the year. me DarleE Vi 'ne
region is excellent ana 'he NC;
is as good as 'hat Oh Nlhiie'o''
consin and the DakotaS'
But one great dlneIeh'e 49,,
the Tanana ana other asi al
iesloh9 10 '"''' 49,, ,,o,ov
the man who comes win NIUE 'iioies
has as much chahce as the one WIN
much.
One Farmer NO" worm ~@o'oo
There is one man WHO ~en. ~,
five years ago WIN Ho'a'ns ,;sl
some tools, ana py ioilo"ins w
OF the farmer anu "i'iiou: - no
in the rlch mining r'ope'. % ,his
region 10 ausii1eh' i'' ""pr n..h oyer
worlds goods Is iio" "o'
$2o,ooo' .ho raoian
The excessive '"'u VI sn Tha
is rather d my III 'i'''i j., tbo
thermometer uoeo 81 w Gov
winter once me- .;,, mo win.
a fe" hours p"' Vi ull''i DC ha,ow
ter temperature Is aoo"l ,,,,,
and in the summer tlle iliCl WI ; 40