31 H UKl'OKT OK OFFICK OF KXPKKIMKNT STATIONS. 



of tlu' ri'yioii, Ix'twoL'ii Eaglo, on the Yukon, iind X'iilcU/, on Prince 

 William Sound. lie found larj^e- bodies of a<;ri(ultural lands, and 

 there was every indication that l'ai"niin«( could he made successful in 

 many places and o\-er lar«^e areas in this i-ej^ion. 



At the Kenai Station a lo<^ iiouse was huilt for a station huildin^, 

 1^ acres ol" land were cleared, makin*^" the cleared land at that station 

 about 7 acres, and a number of <;rains and ve<(etabies were j^rown 

 successfully, tlioujjfh the grain did not mature as satisfactorily as 

 could l)e wished. 



At the Sitka Station a l>arn 25 by 50 feet, 2 stories high, was partly 

 completed, and a cottage ;^0 by 14 feet, 1^ stories high, was built on the 

 farm. It was not completed. Much work was (expended on draining 

 and improving the land already cleared. We matured spring wheat, 

 barle}', and oats, and winter rye on old ground, and some varieties also 

 on new ground. 



Seeds were distril)uted to about 500 residents of Alaska. The 

 supervision of the weather service was continued, as were the taking 

 of observations on soil temperatures. We began cooperative work 

 with Mr. C. P. Coe, of Wood Island. 



Our main efforts during the year 1902 were directed to establishing 

 and etjuii)ping a station in the Copper River Valle}-. To this end 

 Messrs. F. E. Kader and J. W. Neal were sent to Copper Center in 

 Juh% where a tract was selected for a temporary station and clearing 

 begun. Mr. J. W. Neal was emplo3'ed as superintendent of the 

 station. He wintered at Valdez, and as soon as the trail was broken in 

 the winter he began hauling in the e(|uipnient. It was an onerous 

 task, ver}' hard upon both men and horses. 



At the Sitka Station a stone foundation was put under the head- 

 quarters ])uilding; we never had money to complete it, so a little work 

 was done year by year. A blacksmith shop was l)uilt, and the barn 

 and silo were (completed. 



At Kenai a cow was purchased as a beginning in live stock and 8 

 acres of new ground cleared, making 15 acres in all cleared at that 

 station. 



The season for grain growing was unfavorable all along the coast, 

 and the grain did not mature well either at Sitka or at Kenat. Vege- 

 tal)les on the other hand grew satisfactorily. 



The cooperative work at Wood Island was continued. For this the 

 station supplied fertilizers and implements, and Mr. Coe carries on the 

 work and reports the results. 



THE OUTLOOK. 



These investigations have proved that Alaska has agricultural capa- 

 bilities be3'ond the most sanguine expectations entertained live years 

 ago. We are also gradually learning to what lines of work each sec- 

 tion is best adapted. In southeastern Alaska and as far west as Prince 



