Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-02-05
Many Difficulties Must Be Overcome
by Person Brave Enough to Face
Climate of Far North.
SMALL FRUITS AND GRAINS
RAISED IN SOME PLACES
Where Climate Is Mild Tillable Land
Is Scarce and Elsewhere Winters
Are Long and Cold.
UNITED PRESS LEASED wrRu.I


the matter, Alaska has probably 100000
square miles of area on which there
are possibilities for farming and graz
ing. The larger portion Of the farm
ing land is in the interior, in the Yu-
kon drainage, according to the Depart
ment Of Agriculture g new bulletin en-
titled fPossible Agricultural Develop
ment of Alaska.
Currants, raspberries, gooseberries,
strawberries, blueberries and cranber-
ries are plentiful in Alaska Varieties
of wheat, oats, rye, barley, potatoes
and many other vegetables have ma
tured every season since the Depart
ment started its work at its two most
nothern experiment stations The De.
partment has four stations; one is on
the Yukon within rs miles of tho Arc
tic circle, another is also in the interior,
while there is one in the southeastern
and another in the southwestern por.
LlOn OI Ino lerrlJory,
II has been positively demonstrated
that forage crops may be grown in the
southwestern and central portions as
well as potatoes and other garden vege-
tables. Chicken raising is also proving
feasible. II has also been estimated
that great number Of farm products
are shipped in that might easily be
raised on the ground
Many Difficulties.
The new bulletin of Alaska, while
citing so many optimistic facts, also
warns the homesteader that there are
many difficulties to be encountered.
On the south coast, where the eli.
mate is mild, tillable land is scarce, be-
cause Of the proximity to the noun
tains to the shore line; elsewhere in
Alaska the winters are long and very
cold and frost proof buildings must be
provided for shelter of family and
stock.
The ground freezes to great depth
and there is but short period during
which this can thaw, and the surface
is covered with an accumulation Of un-
decayed moss and other vegetable ma
terial serving as protection to the
frost and reservoir for moisture. The
frost line under natural conditions
sinks but few feet during season,
and the thawed layer is usually mo.
rass Of muck in all portions Of Alaska
where tillage is possible. This condi-
tion makes land travel almost out Of
the question during the summer until
wagon roads shall have been built, and
these must be largely of the corduroy
type, Meantime the farm home must
generally be located close to navigable
water.
Mosquitoes and Gnats
Tho swampy character Of much Of
the surface of Alaska makes Il great
breeding ground for mosquitoes and
gnats, which are almost mtolerable
pests TO both man and beast. 1t also
makes drainage u prerequisite in order
to remove the surplus water NO that the
land can be worked raise the tempera.
turo Of the surface soil lower the frost
line, facilitate the decay Of the accu.
mulated organic matter and bring
about chemical changes which viii
transform the soil from very acid
condition to one much less so Nature
requires much time for this last pro.
coss.
Where the vegetable accumulations
are largely moss, this must be destroyed
either by burning or by cOrting It from
the land, for IL plowcd undor It decays
very slowly and seems to have an in.
furious effect on most crop plants.
The timber growth, which occurs on
practically all the land suitable for
tillage, must, Of course, be cleared from
tho land,
All this work..-buildmg houses and
barns, draining, clearing land Of moss
and timber--is very slowly accomplish.
cd in the short outdoor working season
IL done single.handed by the homestead.
or, and costly, almost prohibitively so
II hired labor is used, because Of the
high wages and living expenses.
transportation Lacking,
Lack Of general transportation which
would open up the country, of local
wagon roads, schools, churches and
other features Of present day life and
Of tho markets in which TO sell farm
products aud from which to obtain home
supplies and farm equipment are deter.
rent features at present, but they will
disappear in time
Tho Federal homestead laws extend
70 Alaska, excepting that, instead Of
l6O acres, 500 may be filed upon. Very
little Of tho available land has been
mryoyed but that work is now in pro.
grcw. One may locate on unmryeyod
land, file claim, and establish lines
by metes and bounds, but he can not