The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-05-23

IN last winter, which may be
permanent. The change was
caused by the switching Of the Japan
current toward the shores of that
country. This is likely to cause a
great change In the raising of agricul-
tural products and viii, perhaps, open
up new fields Of e%ndeavor. Records
show that 1t was Alaska's warmest
winter. Capt. Harry s. Knapp, the
governments chief photographer, de-
clares that the Japan current probably
has been switched from it's former
course to a position very near the
Alaskan coast by recent earthquakes
In the Aleutian islands. Scientists are
now at work on the problem endeav-
oring to ascertain whether their sup
positions are correct.
The Alaska known to the tourist,
says the Philadelphia Record. is a
strip of land and a fringe of islands
about AIS miles long by 100 miles
wide. This extends north to Mount
Saint Elias and Is about one-twelfth OF
the country. The main territory, be-
ginning at Saint Elias, stretches north.
ward about 700 miles to the Arctic
ocean and the same distance west
ward to the Boring sea. The total
area is probably about 590,8S4 square
miles.
Heretofore, the climate of Alaska
has varied in different parts OF that
country. The impression Is general
that the Alaskan climate is arctic In
its severity, but this impression Is
misleading. There is no typical Alas
kan climate any more than there is a
typical European or American climate
The extremes of latitude and longi-
tude In Alaska find their parallel In
Europe between Norway and Sicily.
EquabIe Climate.
The Aleutian isles are favored by
most equable temperatures through
the influences Of the Pacific ocean.
These modifying oceanic influences af-
feet the northern Alaskan coast to the
peninsula, and at Sitka and the coun-
try whereabouts is found a northerly
extension of the temperature condi-
lions of the California and Washing
ton coast region. The Sitkan archi-
pelago has a humid equable climate.
with cool summers, warm winters and
frequent fails OF rain and snow. OF
the coast stations Sitka is typical, It's
mean Of 33 degrees for the coolest
month, February, is practically iden-
teal with the January mean Of Saint
Louis. Extremes are rarely known
there.
In the Saint Elias region westward
to the Alaskan peninsula the winters
are usually considerably colder. Earth
er to the northward the coasts are
washed by the Boring sea, a cold
body of water with an average tenn
perature of about SO degrees. In con-
quen of the cold sea and It's ad-
verse winds, 1t is natural to find a
harsher climate On the northwest
coast.
In the interior of Alaska the climate
becomes continental, with great
ranges of temperature between the
short, comparatively hot summers and
long, cold winters. Within 100 miles
Of the coast the oceanic influence
largely disappears.
Whether the greater nearness of the
Japan current would change this In
terror Is not known. The southwest
coasts of the territory would be af-
fected most. The agricultural supply.
which would be Influenced by a milder
climate, has In the past been valuable
only for supplying the local market.
Heretofore views Of all kinds, opti-
MYSTIC and pessimistic, have been adj
vanced on the possibilities Of success
full agriculture in Alaska. A number
Of successful farmers live there. all In
well-choscn socaiities, in the vicinity
Of towns Of considerable size.
On the outlying islands, such as Bar
anof, where Sitka Is situated. and Ke-
nsi. grain has teen a failure for the
most part, except when cut for hay. At
sitka. where potatoes do well for some
years, they fall OF IN size and quality.