Value of merchandise shipped from the United States to the different divisions of

This commerce is carried on by vessels which ply between Alaska and west coast ports. Its importance is indicated by the records of clearances and entrances of vessels.

Number and tonnage of vessels entered and cleared for the year ended Dec. 31,

Number. Tonnage. Number. Tonnage. Number. Tonnage. Number. Tonnage.

The

The mineral wealth of Alaska is at present its most important resource. developed mineral resources of Alaska include gold lodes and placers, copper, tin, antimony, and silver deposits, together with petroleum, marble, and gypsum.

1 The United States Geological Survey has issued many reports dealing with the mineral resources of Alaska. For list of these publications address Director, United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C.

There are also extensive fields of subbituminous, bituminous, and lignitic coal and some iron ores, which are practically undeveloped. In addition to these, silver-lead, zinc, antimony, quicksilver, and other ores, and peat, graphite, asbestos, tungsten, and mica have been found.

Gold lode mining has been carried on in southeastern Alaska since 1882, and is a large and well-developed industry. The value of the total lode production is about $74,850,000, of which $6,200,000 should be credited to 1915. Copper mining began in 1900 and has made rapid strides during the past few years. The total copper production is about 217,250,000 pounds, valued at $34,150,000. Of this, 83,850,000 pounds, valued at about $14,400,000, represents the output of 1915.

Placer mining, begun at Juneau in 1880, was extended to the Yukon Basin in 1886. No very important discoveries of placer gold were, however, made in Alaska until after the Klondike rush of 1898. This brought a large number of people into the Territory and led to the finding of gold at Nome in 1898, at Fairbanks in 1901, and in the Innoko-Iditarod region in 1908. Meanwhile the other smaller districts were developed, notably those of the Yukon, the Copper, and the Susitna Basins. The total gold output of all the placer mines has a value of about $186,200,000, while the placer-mine output of 1915 has an estimated value of $10,500,000. Silver has been recovered, incidental to gold and copper mining, to the total value of about $2,650,000. The value of the output of tin, marble, gypsum, petroleum, lead, etc., to the close of 1915 is about $2,150,000.

The exploitation of coal deposits on Cook Inlet in 1854 by the Russians was the first attempt at any form of mining within the Territory. Though public attention has for several years been focused on the coal deposits of Alaska, no coal mining has been carried on except that of exploiting lignitic deposits for local use, which was begun 13 years ago. Prior to the withdrawal of all coal lands in Alaska large sums were spent on surveys, development work, etc., in the Bering River and Matanuska fields. No shipments were made, however, and the total output of coal in the Territory up to the close of 1915 is insignificant, being less than 43,000 tons. During this period upward of 1,750,000 tons of coal have been imported into the Territory.

To sum up, Alaska has produced to the end of 1915 mineral wealth having an aggregate value of $300,000,000, of which about $32,000,000 is to be credited to the year 1915. This output is remarkable, considering that large mining operations are practically confined to the coastal region, easily accessible to ocean transportation, and that the vast mineral wealth of the interior, except the richest of the gold placers, is almost untouched.

The resources of the entire Territory having been briefly considered, it remains to deal more specifically with those of central Alaska. Gold placers, copper, antimony, and gold-lode mines have been operated in central Alaska, and silver has been recovered incidentally to gold mining. There has also been a small output of quicksilver, coal, and petroleum. Of the kinds of mineral deposits which are practically undeveloped, there are extensive coal fields, silver-lead ores, and tin deposits, etc. In addition to these, some iron-ore deposits have been found, but their commercial value remains to be proven.

Auriferous gravels are very widely distributed in central Alaska, and their exploitation has yielded gold to the value of over $120,000,000. Most of this has been taken from deposits which were very rich, for the high cost of operating here prevented the exploitation of the more extensive deposits of lesser gold tenor.

The high cost of mining in the interior has in a large measure deterred the prospector from searching for auriferous lodes, as only the richest and most 14949°-16- -4

favorably situated of such deposits could be profitably exploited under present conditions. Gold lodes have, however, been found in many parts of the province and have been successfully mined in the Kenai Peninsula, in Willow Creek district of the Susitna Basin, and in the Fairbanks district.

The copper deposits of central Alaska are among its most important resources. The only developed copper districts are in the Chitina Valley and on some of the islands of Prince William Sound. Considerable development has also been done on copper deposits which lie in a belt stretching from Nabesna River to White River. This field gives promise of becoming an important producer when rendered accessible by a railway. Copper deposits have also been found in other parts of the province, but about these less is known.

The coal fields of central Alaska are extensive and include some of the best coal of the Territory. High-grade steaming, coking, subbituminous, and bituminous coals, as well as some anthracite, are found in the Bering River and Matanuska coal fields. Much of this coal is crushed and will furnish a large percentage of slack, and in many instances the coal beds have been so deformed as to prevent their profitable mining. Satisfactory coking tests have been made by the Bureau of Mines. While the percentage of the coal beds that can be profitably mined can only be determined by actual exploitation, yet the fact remains that these two fields contain much workable coal of a higher grade than any now known in that part of the North American Continent tributary to the Pacific Ocean. Though the high-grade coals, so far as known, are limited to these two fields, lignitic coal is widely distributed. The Nenana field, lying about 60 miles southwest of Fairbanks, is the largest of the known lignitic coal fields of the interior, but a similar grade of fuel has also been found in the Susitna Basin and reported in the upper Kuskokwim Basin.

AGRICULTURE AND STOCK RAISING.1

Publications giving the results of agricultural experiments and on stock raising are issued by the Department of Agriculture, and information concerning them may be obtained by addressing the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., or Prof. C. C. Georgeson, agronomist in charge, Alaska experiment stations, Sitka, Alaska. The following summary of agricultural conditions was made in the Department of Agriculture:

The area of Alaska capable of agricultural development has been variously estimated, some of the estimates being as much as 100,000 square miles. The principal areas where it is believed agriculture can be successfully conducted on an extensive scale are in the valleys of the Yukon and Tanana Rivers in the interior, the Susitna and Matanuska Valleys, which extend from Cook Inlet toward the interior, the west side of the Kenai Peninsula, and parts of the valleys of the Copper River and its tributaries. There are also many relatively small areas along the southern coast where some kinds of agriculture can be successfully pursued. Considerable of the southwestern part of Alaska is believed to be suited to grazing for at least a part of the year. But little is known of the agricultural possibilities of the valley of the Kuskokwim River, as this region has never been agriculturally explored.

Much of the area of possible agricultural development is rolling in character or is composed of gently sloping bench lands, nearly all of which are more or less heavily wooded with spruce, birch, and alder, with the ground covered with

1 The following publications may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.: Bulletin No. 50 of the Department of Agriculture, Possible Agricultural Development of Alaska, 10 cents. Soil Reconnoissance in Alaska, with an estimate of the agricultural possibilities, 35 cents.

moss. The timber and moss must be removed before agriculture is possible, and this requires much labor. The soils are not usually deep and rich except in the immediate vicinity of the rivers, but most of them have a fair degree of fertlity, and they readily respond to the use of fertilizers and proper cultivation. The settlements of Alaska are usually situated near mining, fishing, or transportation centers, and it is upon these local markets that agriculture will have to depend for its support. No one should think of engaging in agriculture in Alaska without first giving careful consideration to the topography, climate, soils, crops, population, markets, transportation, and mining development. It would be unwise for the prospective agriculturist to rush into this country without some preliminary knowledge of the true conditions. The same is true of all new regions.

It must be remembered that in many parts of Alaska 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, and that home markets are restricted to the present small population.

Every indication is that agricultural 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 economic conditions which prevail in Alaska have prevented speedy settlement of the Territory by farmers. The only markets available are local ones, and transportation has so far been too expensive to seek outside or distant markets. The question of transportation of the farmer and his family, together with his equipment, is a very important one and charges are so high as to make it too expensive for the poor man to go there and take up land, while farmers who are well to do are not seeking a location in this Territory. Farm labor is scarce and in many places very high. The cost of clearing land of trees and the removal of moss is so great as to seem almost prohibitive when compared with the ease with which farms were brought under cultivation in the plains region of the States. Under a special homestead law for Alaska, citizens of the United States with homestead rights are permitted to take up 320 acres of agricultural, nonmineral lands for homestead purposes, but in the absence of complete land surveys, in most cases the locator must pay the cost of surveying, which often amounts to several hundred dollars.

Under the direction of Prof. C. C. Georgeson, agronomist of the Department of Agriculture at Sitka, an experiment was carried on in crossing cultivated varieties of strawberry, which were too tender for the climate, with the wild Alaskan berry, and as a result a large number of hybrids have been produced, many of which are not only hardy and thrive well in the climate, but are very productive and yield large berries of excellent quality. There have also been produced at the Rampart station a number of hybrid barleys made by crossing varieties which were excellent in themselves, but required a longer growing season than the Alaska climate usually affords, with early maturing varieties which are undesirable because of their being small producers or have other undesirable qualities. A number of hybrids resulting from these crosses have been produced and have proved early enough to mature in the interior of Alaska in normal seasons. Some of them having no beards can be used for hay and feed for farm animals without having to be thrashed. This is of importance, for it seems probable that grain growing in Alaska to be a success must depend

upon the development of varieties which are better suited to the climate than those which are introduced from more southern latitudes.

Winter rye and winter wheat can be successfully grown in the interior of Alaska wherever the snowfall is deep enough to protect the grain from severe winter temperatures, say from 2 to 3 feet. Rye has proved hardier than wheat and therefore has been more successful, and it is hoped that varieties of these grains will be developed that are suited to the climatic conditions. Grains, such as oats and barley, have been successfully grown at the interior stations every season since their establishment, and in some seasons spring-sown wheat and rye have matured. Hay is successfully made every season from native grasses wherever they are found in sufficient quantities and from grain sown for the purpose. In a number of localities silos have been successfully employed, the silage being made from native grasses or grain sown for that purpose. Grain growing and hay making have proved difficult along much of the coast region, as weather conditions for curing them are often unfavorable. Experiments with some of the Siberian alfalfas, obtained by Prof. N. E. Hansen, of the South Dakota Experiment Station, and with Grimm alfalfa from northern Minnesota, and some other varieties have been in progress at the Rampart station for several years, and in 1913 several varieties matured seed, indicating that they were at least partially adapted to that region. If these leguminous forage plants should prove that they can maintain themselves, a very important problem in agriculture will have been solved, as plants of this character are needed, not only to supply feed for live stock, but to aid in the maintenance of the fertility of the soil.

The growing of the hardier vegetables has been demonstrated throughout most of Alaska south of the Arctic Circle. Radishes, mustard, turnips, kale, and lettuce can be grown nearly anywhere. Carrots, parsnips, parsley, peas, cress, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, onions, spinach, beets, potatoes, rhubarb, and such herbs as caraway, mint, catnip, sage, and thyme may be grown along the coast region and in the interior of Alaska if garden sites are selected with reference to shelter and exposure to the sun. Corn, beans, cucumber, tomatoes, eggplant, melons, etc., can not be grown under ordinary garden conditions so far as present experiments have shown their possibilities. There are four agricultural experiment stations in Alaska, located, respectively, at Sitka, Fairbanks, Rampart, and Kodiak, the first and last being in the coast region, the others in the valleys of the Tanana and Yukon Rivers. The headquarters station is at Sitka, and the experiments there are largely devoted to horticulture, such as hybridization of strawberries, above mentioned, testing varieties of vegetables, etc. In 1903 a test orchard of apples and other fruits was planted at Sitka and in 1911 the fruit of five varieties matured. It had previously been considered doubtful whether apples could be grown in Alaska, but this experiment has shown that some varieties at least will mature.

The climate of the coast region is modified by the proximity of the Pacific Ocean. The winters are comparatively mild, while the summers are cold and moist. The lowest winter temperature at Sitka seldom reaches zero, and the highest temperature on record at the same place during a period of more than 75 years was 87° F. The maximum frequently does not exceed 75°, and sometimes it does not reach that high during an entire growing season. The difficulty with apple growing has been not the winter cold but the fact that the summer temperature was not sufficient to ripen the fruit, and the temperature in the autumn was such as to not cause the wood to thoroughly ripen before freezing. In the interior of the Territory the summers are warm enough, but the winters appear to be too severe for the trees to survive without potection.