Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 224, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1915 — POSSIBILITIES OF DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IN ALASKA [ARTICLE]

POSSIBILITIES OF DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IN ALASKA

Bureau of Soils of the United States Department of Agriculture Makes Reconnolssance Survey of the Vast Area—Climate, Soils, Crops and Other Conditions Bearing Upon Agrioulture Are Described—Pioneer Conditions Prevail.

Washington, D. C.—A reconnoissance soil survey of a vast area in Alaska to investigate the agricultural possibilities of that territory has recently been made, and the results of this work will shortly be published in a report by the Bureau of Soils of the United States department of agriculture. The report comprises 202 pages and contains 38-page plates and four maps. It describes the climate, soilp, crops, and other conditions bearing upon the possibilities of agricultural development in Alaska, and in addition discusses such incidental subjects as settlement, natural resources, physiography, drainage, means of communication, and a comparison of Alaska with parts of Siberia and Finland. The report says in part: “The existence of a vast mountainous area along the southern, coast of Alaska, with numerous lofty, snow-cov-ered peaks and huge glaciers, necessarily unfit for human habitation, is apt to give one unfamiliar with the complexities of the topography and climate of the country as a whole the impression that Alaska is a region of inhospitable mountains, glaciers, and snow, without farming possibilities. In a measure this is true, for there are in the territory immense areas of rugged mountains, including the loftiest peaks upon the North American continent, and great wastes of snowclad and precipitous laud, wide stretches of bleak tundra and mountain skirting the Arctic ocean, innumerable bodies of water-soaked muskeg, and many glaciers of almost incredible magnitude. Nevertheless there are millions of acres of relatively low, smooth land and gentle slopes In various parts of the country which are topographically and climatically suited to farming. That this is true is not a matter of conjecture, for many valuable food products both for man and animal are now being successfully grown. Farming in a region so far north may seem astonishing until one is acquainted with the equable summer climate, the long hours of summer daylight, and the good quality of the soil.”

Pioneer Conditions Prevail. It is pointed out, however, that while the development of a successful agriculture throughout an enormous area in Alaska is possible, it must be remembered that “as yet strictly pioneer conditions obtain, that settlement is largely confined to communities in the vicinity of mining camps, that much of the country is inaccessible owing to the absence of roads and railroads._ “Every indication is that agricul. tural development must be gradual, must grow with the construction of highways and railways, with the development of mining industries and accompanying increase of population. If large numbers, without sufficient capital, should ‘stampede’ to these lands with the idea of immediately establishing profitable farms for themselves. it is believed that there would be only disappointment for many. A careful study of the conditions before undertaking farming operations here is therefore urgently advised. The prospects of success for farming depend, so far as sale of surplus products is concerned, upon finding a local market among a population attracted by mining resources and fisheries. In other words, these regions of Alaska will probably not for some time export agricultural products, at least not on an Important scale. Exportation of such products must await the building of a system of failways and highways and probably, also, the establishment of cheaper transportation.”

The report deals with three general areas, the Cook Inlet-Susitna region, the Yukon-Tanana region, and the Copper river regions. Cook Inlet-Susitna Region.

The most important is the Cook In-let-Susitna region, the agricultural lands of which are comprised, says the report “in 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 surrounding mountainous country restricts the farming possibilities to this low country, the approximate area of which is 6,000 square miles. At least one-third of this area, amounting to a little more than a million and a quarter acres (1,296,000 acres, the lowest estimate), consists of arable land possessing topographic and drainage characteristics and chemical and physical properties quite favorable to farming. Aboufone-half of this good land occurs In the Susitna and Matanuska valleys.”

“The climate and soil make possible the establishment of an important agriculture 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 furtherance of agriculture, eventually, to a position of importance considerably beyond a 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 150 homesteads 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 supporting themselves in the neighborhood of Knik largely with the products of their farms, assisted by the earnings of a few days’ outside work during the summer.”

Yukon-Tanana Region. “The Yukon-Tanana region comprises (1) the lowland of the lower Tanana river, from the vicinity of McCarty to the Yukon river, known as the Tanana Flats; (2) the lowlands of the Yukon river, chiefly comprised In the Yukon Flats; 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 tie 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.”

“In the hills north of the Tanana bottoms is found the best soil seen in Alaska. This is a deep, mellow silt loam (Fairbanks silt loam), having good drainage and moisture-holding capacity. It occurs on the lower slopes, and is largely susceptible of easy cultivation. There are approximately a half million acres of this valuable soil. This type of soil is the same as that at the Fairbanks experiment station, where such good results have been had with grains and potatoes. On the southward-facing slopes it yields over 200 bushels of potatoes per acre, without fertilization. Early varieties of oats and barley mature in norpaal years. Wheat and rye also have matured at the Rampart and Fairbanks stations. All varieties of grain give good yields of hay on this soil, even in years of early ffost. 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, following the removal of timber.” “There are still larger areas of other cultivable soils on the slopes of the hill country. These are not so deep as the Fairbanks silt loam, but they produce good crops of excellent potatoes, various vegetables, grain, and grass. Probably 1,500,000 acres of such land exists in the country between the Tanana and Yukon rivers. Copper River Regions. The Copper river regions are the Copper river basin and the copper river Delta. The Copper river Delta occurs where “Copper river enters the Pacific ocean a short distance north-

west of Controller bay, through a labyrinth of channels, dividing and reuniting to form an interminable network of passages, “sloughs,” with almost countless intervening islands and bars. The low, flat delta through which these numerous distributaries flow, is somewhat triangular in shape, with its apex about thirty miles inland, between the fronts of Childs and Miles glaciers. There is a large extent of country in the upper Copper river basin, northward from the vicinity of center, which has a quite favorable topography for agricultural operations. The principal soil here, however, is not so favorable, being predominantly of a clayey character, and so stiff and probably coldnatured that it would be difficult to till, and crops would likely be slow to reach maturity on it. Heavy teams and tools would be required to work such land. Furthermore, the climate of the region appears to be not so favorable as that of either the Cook In-let-Susitna or the Yukon-Tanana regions. Vegetables and grain-hay, however, are being successfully grown on the bottom-land soils, and the more loamy types of the uplands. Some cattle have been raised at various places in the region along the ValdezFairbanks road. Stock raising and dairying would likely be found the most remunerative types of farming.” “Practically the'entire delta is unsuited to agriculture, owing to the poor drainage, the liability to disastrous floods, and the inferior character of the soil. Near the glacier fronts the glacial plains, covered with freshly-dis-charged glacial debris, are mostly bare of vegetation, but farther away there is much alder and scrub willow and a variety of water-loving grasses.”