The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, January 28, 1934, Page 15

By PROFESSOR G. W. GASSER Diversification of occupation, of appetite, of climate, and of crops is the foundation structure upon which is built a busy world. In terms of farming its significance i not lost but rather accentuated because of being narrowed down to the family group. Alaska with its widel climate, topography a' wide range of diversified soil offers to those bent on farming one of the major c rns of the majority of t world's popula is to satisfy the bod such as food, clothing, and she To se- eure these with a modicum of hon- est effort is the desire and should Be the privilege of each. A by such motives new coun: been explored and new homes es- tablished in the wildernesses. No one region in the worid and no climate is able to satisfy all people. Those who have come to Al to farm and others who have turn- ed to farming from other occupa- tions have been able to satisfy more than the essentials of a bodily existence. They have done and are @eing much hard labor. Pioneering entails just that. But fortunately, or circumstantially, with the work and privation co s the satis tion of having tried and accompish- ed that which had not been done before at that place. The lure of Seeking, whether for gold or for an agricultural spot where golden erops can be grown, is not to be denied the human race. Farming Opportunities Increase Today, due to the high price paid for gold, the opportunities for profitable farming in Alaska are greatly increased. The Alaskan farmer is concerned, -incidentally onl with world markets. His By DIRECTOR ROSS L. SHEELY work in and Home Economics is the newer departments of the Col- Extension lege. It was organized on July 1, 1930. It is supported cooperatively by Federal and Territorlal funds. ‘The Federal funds are derived from |ed All funds | agriculture are taken care of by the |this department. the so-called Smith-Lever which go to each State in United States and to the Territories to which this act has been extend- | circulars s | from the headquarters ed by ‘act of Congress. Alaska W the last to receive this extension. In 1930 when this department was organized it consisted of Cattle at Matanuska Station | population Agriculture to the farm one of |eners the | Director in charge of Home Econ- | valleys and low - Agriculture in Alaska — DEVELOPMENT EDITION—THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE, SUNDAY, JAN - dairy and fur farming is carried on in this marginal strip and on near- | by islands. Furthermore, the tem- perature mean (40° F.) of much | of this region approaches very | closely that believed by some scien- | tists as most conducive to highest | human achievement. 1 Wide Range of Climate Alaska, then, offers the pioneer i farmer a wide range of selection as | to climate and topography and a { SR T | ; ,'3;\,/' B PR ey B | diversification in crop- production e }“ < - R | simoe ‘in- most regions a variety of Fairbanks Agricultural Experimental Station ‘\crops thrive and animal husbandry | may be carried on profitably. To aid the pioneer in his choice of farm and crops agricultural ex- | periment stations have been oper- | ated at seven widely separated @ _ | places, viz, Sitka, Kodiak, Kenai, probiem is to prc e economically those crops for which there is local need, such as for: vegetables, milk, crops, cereals, butter, eggs, poul- and small fruits. These are produced now but in volume short of the needs of the Since diversification is the theme of this column it is in order to state, or the benefit of those not aware of the extent of at crop prod on is less at by topo- , good at Wiseman the Arctic interior the hils are potential, and Circle. Thro cul ted fields and pastures for dairy and beef cattle. The south- western portions of this great Territory with its thousands of | square miles of treeless, grass cov- ered land, will, when the need arises, supply a large population with beef. And last, but not least, is the long coast line of the South- eastern part with its narrow strip Field Stafj Travels L. sneeity, n cnarge of agri- makes personal visits dairymen and gard- over the Territory, helping them with their w . Better seed is located for the farmers. Proper fertilizers are recommended. Infor- mation as to the methods of treat- ment of disease of seed is publish- questions pertaining to Ross cultural wor! Government and bulletins, mimeographed and letters are sent out at the Col- ollege lege. Lydia O. Fohn-Hansen, Assistant Director, of our college, and two-part time field employees. At present there are three full-time employees in the work, the Director, who is also the field worker for agriculture, an Assistant Director for Home Economics Work, and an Extension Veterinarian who works chiefly with the fur producers and dairy- ‘men. The function of this ‘exten- sion service is to put the best in- ‘formation to be héd into the hands of the people living in Alaska. who was the President | i PLANT-—Port Alexander, Alaska ] KARL HANSEN MILD CURED SALMON GENERAL MERCHANDISE omics, makes periodieal visits to the communities all along the coast and railroad belt. Informa- tion and demonstrations on cloth- ing and nutrition are given. Moth- ers are given information on diets for children. Weaving, rug mak- ing, knitting and other home in- dustries are taught to show how to use materials available to ad- vantage. Letters and circulars are sent out from headquarte: Both agricultural and home econ- omics workers help SEATTLE OFFICE—1911 Smith Tower Eliot 2378 | of ti either native 4 | Copper Center, Rampart, Fairbanks b nnt n;,lfiiif:soz"“ 2 and Matanuska. The results ob- the ‘mauy indenbures of the coast | 4ned are recorded in the annual into sizeable areas. Many excellent | 'CPOTiS covering. the years 3 4 2 . the gardens are found in this regmn1 ‘1:1? '&;he&:&;inmksofmt:esem producing the finest quality O‘\College and- the om; near Mata- vegetables and bush fruits. Also| O TR R e continued, Service 1s Doing, or white residents in any of thm‘schoo]s are helped with their work work. Natives have been taught|of teaching fur farming to native to weave, sew, can foods, garden, | boys and girls. 4H clubs are car- work coppe: and many other ried on with both white and native things. | boys and girls in gardening, poultry, The Extension Veterinarian, Jule | C00King, sewing, and room improve- B. Loftus, works chiefly with the | ™ent. fur producers. They have many | Hundreds Farms Visited problems which he helps them to| In the past year the extension solve. When feeding practices arc |Workers have made visits to not what they should be, recom- |farms, fur farms and homes. Four mendatipns are made as to better | hundred ninety days were spent in methods. Diseases are diagnosed | making these visits. and relief treatment is prescribed | Seventeen thousand circular news Sanitary practices are explained in |letters were mailed. Four thousand disease. control. Dairy cattle. are { nine. hundred ninety-four agricul- tested for tuberculosis. Native |tural and home . economics bulle- Cannery: Seattle Office: COLMAN BUILDING WRANGELL PACKING COMPANY SALMON PACKERS ® F. S. BARNES, President R W. T. HALE, Secretary-Treasurer {tins were distributed. This service offered by the ex- tension department of the college is free to all residents of Alaska. At any time agriculture or home economics is desired, write to Extension Service, College, Alaska; and for informa- tion about fur production write to Dr. J. B. Loftus, Juneau, Alaska. ALASKA LINE The Alaska Steamship Company has announced that it is mow in modernizing its entire fleet of pas- (senger vessels in préparation for the coming season. ‘Work on the ships is being carried ‘en -at the company's yards in- West Seattle, according to T. B. Wilson, “vice- president and general manager. The work which is being ‘done on the Alaska Steamship vessels is in accordance with the cempany's stated . policy of maintaining its service second to . mome im the Alaska trade. Among the ships which have al- ready been improved is the well- known $. S. Victoria, upon which more than $40,000. hasbeen’ iex- pended this ‘winter. ‘Regularly in the Bering Sea route, she has been equipped’ with ‘a hot: and ' cold running fresh water system to ‘ev- ery cabin. She will enter ‘the Southeast Alaska run on January 20 to allow for work to be done on the vessels on this route, fol- lowing which she ' will - return to the Nome service in' the Spring. 'PLANE ASSISTING IN | ORE TRANSPORTATION James Finley, a former Kenne- cott mining engineer, is developing ithe Glacier mine in the Valdez | district. It is said there seems to || be little doubt regarding the wealth {of deposit, the difficulty lying in | the transportation problem. This has been partly overcome by plane ‘jjbut Mr. Finley has practically hit on a tram method that will sup- plement the flight transportation. -, | TO SEEK AIRFIELD Operators of the Clyde Brenner ‘and Harry Barrenberg gold mining properties on Crow Creek, near Girdwood, are to ask for an air- field which would bring the lo- | cality within less than one hom's 50 | flight from Anchorage. { information ~ about " the process of overhauling’ and 4 The Alaska Railroad Mt. McKinley Route TRAVEL IN ALASKA Become intimately acquainted with the Romance, Scenic Features, Industrial, Agricultural and Mining Activities, Resources, and Hospitality of Interior Alaska. The way to see Interior Alaska is via THE ALASKA RAILROAD Mt. McKinley Route Choose the tinte that best suits you, Winter or Summer, at all seasons of the year you can ride in comfort on The Alaska ‘Railread. "Plan your trip now, whether for business or pl;afiure. The Alaska Railroad maintains all year _rgil gervic(e, $Fward to Fairbanks, and river steamer service, Nenana to Marshall, during the season of navigation on the Tanana and Yukon Rivers, carrying PASSENGERS MAIL Round-Trip Week-End Excursions at fare of one and one-third first class fare between' stations on rail line, available every week-end FREIGHT PASSENGER OR FREIGHT RATES WILL BE QUOTED APPLICATION TO THE NEAREST AGENT OR oh‘&emt THE THE ALASKA RAILROAD ALASKA RAILROAD ALASI 441 Federal Office Bldg. Anchorage 338 N Beattle, Washington Alaska THE RAILROAD Michigan Ave. Chicago, 111. 1B | Sebastian-Stuart Fish Co. COAST