South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-28
UNTOLD WEALTH
HIDDEN IN NEW
alaska DELTA
Discovery OF Channel in Kus-
kokwin River Hoped to Open
Way For Commerce to Vir-
gin Territory.

government committed 20 the con-
struction of $35.0O0.000 railroad in
Alaska land whose wonderful re-
sources are just beginning 20 be APP
preciated 10y the nation which ac-
quired There Is unusual interest in
the announcement from the depart
ment of commerce of the discovery of
q channel into the kuskOkwim river
which opens To commerce the second
greatest stream in Alaska.
Secy Redfeld makes the official an
uouncement that a practical navigable
channel from the Boring sea into the
mouth of the Kuskokwim river has
been discovered 10y Capt. Lukens. OF
the coast and gOedetic survey. More
than Il, 600 sOundings were taken IN
the chartering OF this stream and the
official bulletin issued by the depart
ment of commerce is "a human inter
est story OF the work accomplished
and what il seems to the commerce
of the extreme northwest OF the
United States.
Nine Miles Wide
THE KuskOkwim is the second
greatest river in Alaska SAYS the an
nouncement of the department or
commerce. 1T is nine miles wide at
its mouth and navigable for 600 miles
inland The great submerged fats of
the delta OF this river extend 100 miles
out to sea. and IL was through this
uncharted delta that the surveying
steamer yukon" made the discovery
of the channel which means SO much
TO the commerce of that section OF
Alaska.
THE Kuskokwim is one of the three
great Alaskan rivers emptyinE into
the Boring sea which has been open
ed to commerce as a result OF the
charting separations Of the coast and
geodetic survey. The mouth Of the
Yukon was surveyed in 1898 and that
river soon became one Of the greatest
commercial arteries of Alaska
I'm 1909 and 1910 Nushagak bay
was charted and now the KuskOkwim
by far the most dreaded and unknown
OF these rivers viii no longer be
menace or a mystery 10 the navigator
who has one Of the new charts of its
entrance.
Start Survey i'm 1911.
THE survey of the Boring sea in
the vicinity Of the Kuskokwim was
started in 1911 and continued the fol-
lowing summer OF 1912 and 1913. but
il was not until the past field seaon
that a surveying vessel succeeded I'm
tracing and charting channels through
the great area Of the submerged mud
fats which make up the delta Of the
Kuskokwim.
I'm making the survey. Capt Du-
kens reported he took 1926 sound
ings covering an area Of 100 square
miles. This in itself is quite an
achievement, when considering in
connection with the customary bad
weather in Alaska and the fact that
in some instances it was necessary to
locate sOundings by observation OF
mountain peaks more than 60 miles
distant. The whole working season
was confined to SO days and i'm July
alone % IL of these days were lost
rnnHa
either bad or not sufficiently clear ID
see the distant surveying marks
Untold Wealth Awaits.
When the new coast and goedetio
survey charts showing the newly dis
covered channel is issued it viii Do
possible for steamship companies To
send vessels TO the Kuskokwim and
thus initiate the development Of the
latent mining. fishing and agricultural
resources Of that region. The kusko-
kwim valley covers many thousands
Of square miles and no one can pre-
dict what this virgin territory may
develop when IL Is thoroughly pros
pected. but il is not unreasonable IN
suppose that the near future viii see
the KuskOkwim river OF commercial
importance comparable with that ~
Yukon"
The announcement says that Kus-
kokwim territory contains mineral
lands OF great value the successful
development Of which has awaited
only a reliable means OF transport
ton such as the new channel now
promises. That the ultimate con-
sumers" OF the United States NAV
some day enjoy reindeer meat shipped
from this section is the virtual prom
Use held out in the following para
graph OF sec'y Redfeld's announce
ment regarding the Kuskokwim;
Great Reindeer Grounds.
Contiguous to the KuskOkWim
valley there are many thousands 90
square miles suitable for reindeer
grazing" Capt. Lukens reports that
alreadys the small initial government
herd has grown until new there are
about 5000 reindeer in this vicinity
He SAYS tLat the cost Of raising rein-
deer is very small. Three men can
take care OF 900. The animals sub
sist on the country the year round
! Even in the winter. when the ground
is covered with snow. no extra teed
is required. The meat OF the reindeer
/ is comparable with that Of our western
beef. Even with a small market ar
fOrded az present the native nerd
owners are becoming prosperous ana
now that better transportation ls
promised by ships that viii use the
new channel there is every reason 70
believe this country viii furnish many
thousands OF pounds Of this excellent
meat for shipment 10 the United
States
Like other large rivers in this part
Of Alaska. the kuskokwim has =
large salmon run. Capt. L.ukeus
states that now reliable transporta-
ton is al hand the canning compan-
les are arranging 20 extend thir OPP
erations into this region. but that tha
extent OF this Industry cannot Dee
found until after year OF actual
| fishing
SHELBYNTLLE.-T hours after
/ his arrest. William HarrelL "a years
/ old or Columbus, was sentenced ID
| the state prison for stealing a re-