FAVORABLE REPORT
Cn the Ccpper River Country bjrJ.
W. Keal, of Agricultaial
Department.
We l.ave been |>ermitted through
the emir esv of J. \\ . .Ne.ii, t! e
agent in charge of the government
agricultural ex|ieriment station at
Co| ;.r t enur, .o lake the nillow
ing items frout his first annual re
|M»rt:
“Having lieen appointed to the
Department of Agriculture in Al
aska. I sailed from San Francisco
for \ aide., via S.tka. where I was
joined by Fred Fh Rader, and ar
riving at Valdez, wc hired three
horses and an experienced packer
and arrived at Copper Center, 103
miles distant, on July 17.
“The trail from Valdez to the in
terior passes through a country as
beautiful as any in Switzerland,
and as grand as any among tl.e
Alps. Hit* tirst land of interest to
the farmer is seen in the Tonsina
valley. However there is an abund
ance of grazing land all along the
trail, profusely set to red top -nd
hunch grass, also there are many
flow* rs and Iwrries «>f various kinds.
“Approaching the Tonsina val
ley. We came into a broad Hal coun
try, ulxiiii eight miles from the
river, covered with small timber.
The soil seemed shallow, though
rich at the surface, and in many
clear places covered with grasses of
several s|Kfies. The remainder of
our journey to Copper Center, was
simply through a continuation of
Hat country, and as we advanced
the soil deepened and the vegeta
tion became more luxuriant.
"On July lXth we began the task
of selecting suitable grounds for the
promised station. After exploring
the country for several miles, we
selected a tract of 775 acres, which
seemed the most desirable, consid
ering soil, elevation and exposure,
irrigation and accessibility to the
government trail.
"After establishing the East line,
we liegan clearing for full seeding,
and a small place for buildings.
The station is ltetwcen the Copper
and Klutenu rivers, aliout half a
mile Northwest of Copper Center,
and embraces part of the military
road. It is 103 miles from tide
water, 140 miles from the mouth of
Copper river, and 104 miles front
its source.
“ Toe valley is a braid table land
of slight relief, sloping with the
river and extending from the Mat
uiutska plu'eau at about 300(1 feet
elevation, for more than 100 miles
down the river to Wood's canyon,
tvi.i re ’hi valley lh < r is aliout 1200
lie above sea level. This plateau
comprises about 35,000 square
miles of agricultural land.
"The s a: ion consists of a succes
sion of benches, irom a few feet
almve the river, to 200 feet, each
liench rising abruptly to its regular
height. The altitude of the station
is 1050 feet.
‘"The prevailing vegetation
throughout the valley is spruce for
est. It is said these trees frequent
ly reach a diameter of three feet,
but near Copper Center the timlier
is small. There are some birch,
abler and willow, and occasionally
the balsam |MipIar. liut all these
occur as shrubs or underbrush. In
the \ icinity of Ml. Drum, I am told,
the birch attains a considerable
size. There are two species of wil
low in all marshy or swampy
places. We also tind the wild cur
rant, both red and black, the low
bush cranberry, grouse berry, blue
berry, swamp lurry, moss berry,
and some others, the names of
which I do not know, The ml
raspberry is found for ttO uiiltB
along the tiail out from Valdez.
‘"While we lind few natural mea
dows near Copper Center, pros
pector- rejK>rt a number further up
the river. There is also a meadow
of a few acres along the Klutcna,
four miles from Copp r Center, and
that, with probably three acres in
the reservation are aliout the only
meadows available for the station.
‘"The station has been surveyed
with a pocket compass, corners re
sc. and lines brushed out. Three
small tracts on different terraces
have been cleared, fenced and seed
<■«! to nine varieties of grasses, six
of winter wheat ami four of winter
rye^ni «st of which were duplieat d
on different henehes. There was
about two tons of grass hay made
from the meadows on and adja
eent to the station, whieli was put
under cover. We n{lw have Sj
acres ready for the plow, aside
^ from the ■. ra:ii true s itlrcadv settled,
j ‘‘A: Viiltlez I saw a nuuiis r of
ganitns con.ainilig nil the hardy
Vegeta I des. apj ar« otiv as gi«Ml as
we are accustomed to set* in the
States, li is nt>t unttimnion to see
turnips weighing six anti seven
|siniills. Catilillovvrr anti cabbage
matured and ditl fairly well and
|H>tatoes yielded well. I saw some
good garth ns at Tonsina, 24 miles
Ironi the (.'upper river station. Lct
tuee, railishfs.spinneh. peas, onions,
potatoe-. turnips anti rutabagas
were tloing well.
."eventI gar*lens were seen at
Copper Center where many hardy
vegetables were growing very satis
factorily. I found in Mr. Blix’s
garden, the Windsor bean growing,
and yielding well. Besides other
vegetables be bad a Imx of carrots
and one of turnips, which he was
j putting away for winter use. They
were very good si/e. sweet and
highly flavor* d.
“Along the military trail we
found oats headed out when we ar
i rived, July 17. Also a few stalks
I of wheat and hurley, just heading,
| The oats were in the milk bv Aug.
! •», and all that escaped the loose
stock, matured good grain. 1 saw
some wheat along the trail that
matured, and the grain was hard
and plump. I found several stalks
of timothy, two to three feet high,
hut the heads seemed unusually
short. Also several stalks of red
clover in full hloom, Aug. 1st. and
well covered with foliage.
"I saw in Mr. Blix’s garden, Fin
land hiuck oiits. Burt’s extra earlv
oats and Marshury hurley, all doing
well. Thev were seeded May 17
and matured by Aug. 25. Orchard
grass, broom grass, fescue and tim
othy were seeded May 17,and made
a fair growth and formed a good
stgl. The timothy headed some
and looked very encouraging.
“The Copper river valley is a
vast area and although somewhat
difficult to get into at present, 1
believe the time is near at hand
when thousands of happy homes
will be established there. With her;
oroau acres oi alluvial sou, teeming
with vegeta ion of untold value;
heavy forests and great areas ot
rich grazing land, only awaiting
the advent of the dairy herd, and
the many possibilities still unde
veloped, we dare not presume to
say what changes may .ake place
in the near future. I have seen
enough already to conv ince me that
wheat, barley and oats can lie suc
cesstuily and profitably grown,and
that meadows ean he made here
the same as in the Eastern states.
Red top is native and grows five toj
seven feet high, seemingly when
ever the seed may full. Timothy,!
as seen along the trail, or wherever j
horses have been fed, would indi
cate that it should become one o::
the meadow grasses, and i believe!
red clover ean l<e successfully
* I
grown.
‘‘I should recommend stock rais
ing and dairying as the most prof
itable industry. The farm should
comprise 320 acres. This would
admit of a small reserve, wherein
(
fuel and timber for home pur|n>s< s j
i might lie perpetuated. There is i
also need of good sized farms, as:
’stock will have to lie sheltered ai d
.fed seven months .n the year.
With the advent of the railroad
land more liln-ral land laws, the
home seeker ean gratifv his desires I
by settling in the Copper river val
ley.
Did you ever see a ln*ar laugh?!
Well that old she liear and her;
young ones, must have laughed till
j their sides ached, as they sat for
half a day looking up at the two
fellows in the tree on Young creek.
Swiftwater Bill and Tonsinu Billy
don’t seem to have any use for
I bear.
If you have any.lung for sale or
‘trade list it with the Oopjier River
i Mining, Trading «fc Development
i Co
Pacific Clipper Line.
The Fast and Comfortable New
Steamship Santa Ana
Sails from Seattle on the loth of each
Month, and from VALDEZ to
on or about the 30th of Each Month.
The Santa Ana is the LARGEST and FASTEST BOAT on this
run and Carries Mail and the
ALASKA PACIFIC EXPRESS
Ship Your GOLD DUST by This Boat.
LOWEST RATES.
For Further Information Apply to
JAMES FISH <fc CO., PACIFIC CLIPPER LINE.J
Agents, Valdez. Seattle.
Felix's Restaurant |
Regular Meals.
Short Orders
A Specialty.
McKinley St Valdez.
Arrivals.
The Bertha arrived here last
Thursday. For some unknown
reason she laid at the Post for four
or five hours, before coming over
with the mail. She had a good car
go of freight and al>out 35 passen
gers.
Following is the passenger list of
the Bertha,
N V Harlan. K V Harlan. Cha* K Hathaway,
Alvah Earn—. W A !»• Ian. W A kyairoir*, II L
Ayer- and wife. K«» Whitehead. I W Hr lining.
Herb Johnston. Mi-- J I*, a-, Mi— <• Watiiev.
Mr* .1 C I*-«igheriy. F MHI r. J A Stewart. W
keif, Carl C liiinlap. OflW Indh •r*t, A S Brad
lev Jr. C M Coiitt-. John Ander-on and wiie. li
O Stromdahl, Mr- Kinmn He*-g-trom. Mi—
E-tber B-rg-troni. Mr- V C WV-l y, Mr- Mover.
K Berg-tr* in. Jim Hibbard. C OsUnd. r’ha*
Cam. Haul ’arn. W T Kaake. S Halvor*< n. B
Ci.ekril, A B Mokae, A Bergstrom. L If Crainer.
I. M Cramer.
The Santa Ana arrived here last
Sunday with a large consignment
of freight and thirty passengers for
this place. This popular steamer
is now sailing under the colors of
the P. P. ifc N. Co. G. S. Sj ragee
formerly of the Discovery is the
new purs r of the Santa Ana.
A J Johnstone and wife, Andy Hone, J II
Keam-e, J Harrison, W II B C. Ie.*B-nard Fri — .
J W Higgins Mr- and Mi** k chard-. Mr* ko-*
I. -lie and Child. F Gillespie, Ben Vodiue. W
Howard. J Sarella. from Seattle. Elmer E
Smith, s I. Howe. \V I. How-. Jn*> -am!in Mr*
AinvNi' ol.Th - Murphy and wife. Mr- ri»a*
Crawford. I> C Brown- 1. G-o Green. L Aud-r
• ii. J Sargent. Cha- IIIItv. fr« in Juneau. J (.
cha-e from Seattle toSaldovia.
CHURCHES SOCIETIES ETC.
Endeavor Cono. Ciiriim—Cor.
Glacier Avenue and Hobart
Street. Rev. D. W. Cram. Pastor.
Services every Sunday at 10:30 a.
m. and 8 p. m. Prayer meeting
Wednesday night. Christian En
deavor Society meets Sunday even
ing at 7 o’clock. Melvin Dempsey,
President.
Chi rcii of tiie Epiphany—Cor.
Glacier Avenue and Hobart
Street. Services on Sunday at 11
a. in. and 8 p., in. Rev. F. S. Tay
lor, Rector.
Order op A i. ask a Moose, Pionc-er
Tent No. 1. Meet in their own
Hall on Kt-.-i r
vation Avenre.
every Thursday
evening at 8
o’eloek. J. L.
Steele. Ruling
Spirit; Fred J.
Ita.e. K<* per of
Wa Wa.(See)
A mnc Bkotiikkhood—
Valui/ C'aii>i> No. 10.
Meets at Moose
Hall every Tues
day evening.
A. M. Edwards.
A retie Chief. J.
(j. Snyder, See
reiary.
Brotherhood of Alaska Pioneers
Arthur Kohgal. Chief, \V. J.
McDonnell, Secretary.
Headqnarters, Afognak. Alaska.
ValdkzCiiamhek or Commerce
Meet on the first and third
Friday night of each month. J.
(ioodell, Pres. A. \V. Roehford.
Sec’v.
WHERE
ft ? Who?
STOP
Everyone From Valdez.
; AT THE
FRANKLIN
OF COURSE.
Only First Class European Hotel in
JUNEAU.
John T. Spickett Proprietor
HOTEL MLLER.
Headquarters for VAI.DEZ People
120 Rooms. Rates 50c. $1.00 and j
$1.50 per day. First class re.— !
taurant in connection. Fret J
1ms. Opposite U. S. Postottiee.
W. (». POTTS, Manager. |
Cor. 1st Ave. and
University St. SEATTLE
Cameron GoldenI
15?} PioiimToiisonalPaflor 1595
The Oldest and Most
Reliable in Town.
Ladies’ Shampooing
a Specialty.
Ladies* and Gents* Baths
Porcelain Tubs. Fresh
and Salt Water
Baths. Rooms Sep
arate from the Shop.
All MjLrn Improvements
Jack Verret
Wagonmaking, Black
smithing and General
Jobbing.
n i mu.
i
| GLACIER St. and MrKIXLE Y Av.
I
For Assays Send Your Ore To
L R. CAMPBELL
PKICEIt.
Gold, Silver and Copper 13.50
Gold and Silver - 1.50
Ci»pj>er .... 2.00
land - - - 2.00
LLLAMAR ALASKA
I
I
Pacific Parity J flatyation (o.
Successors to PACIFIC STEAM WHALING CO.
EXCELSIOR '
Z. S. MOORE, Master.
AND
N EWPORT.
F. S. MOORE, Master.
r EXCELSIOR Sails from Seattle about 25th of Each Month for
5 akutat, Kllamar. \ ALDKZ. Illiamna and Cooks Inlet Points.
Sails from \ ALDKZ al<out Pith of each month for Juneau and
Seattle.
N h \\ POR r sails from Juneau about 1st of each month for Valdez and
Western Points.
Sails front \ ALDKZ alout 25th of each month for Sitka and Juneau.
GOLD DUST INSURED TO SEATTLE.
For Information and Rates Apply at Oftice of
PACIFIC PACKING A- NAV. CO.
G1«»U- Building. Seattle, Wash. J. C. Martin, Aft.
.10 California Street. San I ranciseo.
STRICTLY AMERICAN
AND
FIRST CLASS. EUROPEAN PLAN.
Hotel Northern
Only Billiard Hall In The City.
St Clair & Layer. Props.
The Bohemian Saloon
Liquor and Cigars,
None Better.
McKinley St. Between Keystone and Glacier Ave.
New Process Steam Laundry.
Located on Third Street, one block beyond
Reservation Avenue, on the Annex ground,
is now open for business. Shirts, Collars
and Cuffs given a
High Gloss or Domestic Finish.
This work is done on a First Class Shirt
Machine of the latest improved pattern.
Give us a trial. We can please you.
WM. WORKMAN P. MAGNESON
Workman’s Road House
First roadhouse built on Government
Trail, fan accomodate 50 people, has large
warm barn for 20 horses anti good quarters
for dogs. Good meals and everything the
musher desires.
Twenty Miles From Valdez.
THE COTTONWOOD INN
On Tasnuna Trail, at Cottonwood Camp. 45 Miles From
Valdez and 25 Miles form Workman’s Roadhouse. AH
Accommodations for Man or Beast.
WORTMAN and MAGNESON, Proprietors.
. <>N THE AII.-AMKKIcAN TRAIL 33 MILES FROM VALDEZ.
Best of Accommodations
For Man and Beast.
Reopened under New Management.
>
► FIRST STOPPING PLACE AFTER CROSSING SUMMIT.
I
Donalson Roadhouse
TOftJINd DR1DQC.
Outfit» Cached Free of Charge Free Horse and Dog Stahles.
Distance From Valdez, 77A Miles, via Government Trail. Best
Accomodations for Travelers.
CHAS. C. YAGE*R. Faoe, 77 Mtu? Fhom Valdm