Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05
Three Regions Dealt With.

The report deals with three general
areas-the Cook Inlet-Susitna region.
the Yukon-Tanana region and the Cop
per river region.
The most important is the Cook
Inlet-Susitna region, the agricultural
lands of which are comprised, says the
report. Sin the plainlike country and
adjacent bench lands bordering Cook
inlet from Kachemak bay northward
and extending up the Susitna and
Matanuska valleys. The unfavorable
climate and topography of the sur
rounding mountainous country restricts
the farming possibilities of this low
country, the approximate area OF
which is 5000 square miles. At least
one-third of this area, amounting to
little more than a million and quar-
ter acres (1,296,000 acres, the lowest es-
timate), consists of arabic land possessing
topogra phic and drainage characteristics
and chemical and physical properties
quite favorable to farming. About one
half of this good land occurs in the
Susitna and Matanuska valleys.
Land to Be Made Accessible.
The climate and soil make possible the
establishment Of an important agricul-
ture in the Cook Inlet-Susitna region.
Development will follow along pioneer
lines at first, leading eventually to the
establishment of many comfortable
homes, supported largely by the products
OF the farm. The possibilities OF raising
stock and dairying point TO the further
auce of agriculture, eventually. to a posi-
ton of importance considerably beyond
self-supporting stage. The building Of a
railroad through the Susitna and
Matanuska valleys will make accessible
a large area of good farming land, and
unquestionably settlement will follow.
probably at a rapid rate Already l5o
honesteads have been registered along
knik Arm. and others have been taken
up. A number Of prospectors and miners.
most of whom previously had not been
identified with agriculture. are now sup
porting themselves in the neighborhood
of Knik largely with the products Of their
farms, assisted by the earnings OF few
days outside work during the summer"
Yukon-Tanana Region.
The Yukon-Tanana region COM
prises % the lowlands Of the lower
Tanana river. from the vicinity of Nc
Carly to the Yukon river. known as
the Tanana fats; CD the lowlands of
the Yukon river. chiefly comprised in
the Yukon fats and (3) the area Of
highlands or hill country between the
Tanana and Yukon lowlands. the Yukon
Tanana uplands. In discussing the area
as defined above. it is not meant that
this includes all of the agricultural land
of interior Alaska This is simply the
area to which the Investigations were
specifically directed Farming lands
are reported to exist in considerable
areas along the upper Tanana river and
good grazing is said to be available
about the headwaters OF White river, In
the Mentasta Pass section and in other
places outside the limits of the area
described.
On the soils OF the Tanana bottoms
good crops OF vegetables and grain hay
are produced. Immense quantities Of
hay and good grazing can be derived
from the native grasses which thrive on
these soils In addition. large quantities
OF grain hay and root-crop forage can be
easily grown.
Best Soil in Alaska.
In the hills north Of the Tanana bot
toms IS found the best soil seen In
Alaska This is deep. mellow silt
loan Fairbanks silt loam). having good
drainage and moisture holding capacity
1t occurs on the lower slopes. and is
largely susceptible Of easy cultivation.
There are approximately a half million
acres Of this valuable soil This tyre
OF soil is the same as that at the Fair
banks experiment station. where such
good results have been had with grains
and potatoes On the southwark facing
tatoes per acre without fert!lizatio
Early varieties of oats and barley ma
ture in normal years. Wheat and rye
also have nnatured at the Rampant and
Fairbanks stations. All varieties OF grain
give good yields Of hay on this soil
even in years Of early frost. Turnips,
cabbage. beets, carrots. lettuce celery
and several other vegetables are grown
with unusual success both as regards
quality and yield Native redtop grass
springs up quickly Immediately following
the removal Of timber
There are still larger areas Of other
cultivable soils on the slopes Of the
hill country
Copper River Basin.