Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-04-08

DIS secretary Lane says, a great deal OF
the work has been bound up in red tape,
and there should be reorganization of
the system and the appointment, per-
haps, of development board, which shall
take charge OF and direct it, the results
already accomplished have been of great
value. Take the geological survey. It's
experts have gone over the greater part
OF Alaska, and have made geologic topo-
graphic and photographic studies which
embrace hundreds of thousands Of equare
miles. They have mapped out the miu-
ing districts, and, by writing to Washing
ton, one can find almost where the great
beds OF gold coal and other minerals lie
and just how to go about getting them
out of the earth. Every new mining camp
is investigated the year it is discovered
and the new possibilities pointed out.
There are parties Of biologists going over
new parts of the territory each wear, and
their work is of incalculab1e value.
The experts of the department of aeri-
culture have prepared the way for the es-
Enlistment of am agricultural empire in
the far north. They have been recently
going over parts OF the territory and max
ing soil surveys. They estimate that there
are over oOO,OO0,0OO acres which can be
made available for tilling and grazing pur-
poses. This means that there might be
100000 farms i'll Alaska OF $40 acres each.
he same department has established ex-
pertinent farms in different parts of the
country. 1t has one on the island of Sitka
in southeastern Alaska, from which
twenty varieties OF hardy vegetables nd
flower seeds were distributed last wear,
reaching $500 persons living in all parts
of the territory They are raising fruit
trees at Sitka, and some most delicious
small fruits, such as Strawberries and
raspberries. At Rampant, near the arctic
circle, they have grain farm, where they
are raising rye barley and other cereals
They have been experimenting there on
alfalfas and have found Siberian variety
that will grow in Alaska. There is ano-
Their experiment farm in the Tanana val
ley, near Fairbanks. More than 1900 bu-
shells Of grain were threshed there last
the Alaska Agricultural University has
been recently laid. A cattle breeding eX-
pertinent station has been established on
Kodiak island and is being operated with
success. The department expects to eS-
tablish another farm near the railroad, in
the Matanuska or Susitna valley.
The department of commerce has
charge of the waters of Alaska and of the
fisheries and seal islands 1t is doing
great deal for the safety of navigation,
having established thirty-five new lights
last year and put out a large number #
buoys and beacons. 1t is still making
wire drag surveys of the Inside passage.
This department is protecting the fisher
les, which brought in last year product
valued at about $2l 100000, and it has
recently taken census of the seals, which
shows that there are now three or four
hundred thousand of these animals on
the islands. A large number of sealskins
will be placed on the market this year.
As to military and naval matters, they
are in charge of the war and navy depart
ments. They are establishing naval sta
tions in Alaska, and there are number OF
military posts. The war department has
charge OF the cable and telegraph service
and has recently reduced the cable rates
1t is also building wagon roads and trials
throughout the territory, and it has now
in operation roads and trails almost long
enough to reach from New York to Salt
Lake City. 1t spent 100000 last year,
and wants 100000 year hereafter.
The interior department has to do with
many things relating to the territory. The
public lands, with the exception of the