320 UEI'OKT OF OFFICK OF KXI'KKIMKNT STATIONS. 



Hay and iiraiii ai'c sliii)po(l to Alaska in ^Toat (|iiauliti('s, aii*l could 

 jiisl as well l»(> produced here, with iiiucli profit to the producers. But 

 tlu'ic arc uiaiiy dia\vl»acks to success that must not he overlooked, the 

 most serious of which is at present the lack of ade<piatc transpoitation 

 facilities. While this condition makes prices for faini [)roducts abnor- 

 mally hiiih all over the Territory, and particularly at interior points, 

 it also i)revents the mai'ketiny" of any produce at all o\er extended 

 reyions. 



The austere nature of the climate is another obstacle. This is so 

 evident as to retjuire no connuent. Attain, there ai"e the hardships 

 incident to pioneer life everywhere, intensitied in a measure by the 

 isolation of the Territory, sparse settlements, and dillicult comnmni- 

 cation. These, however, are 3^early diminishing. Many of those who 

 nov, make their iivin*^ in whole or in part from the soil are single men, 

 live in cabins, cook their own meals, and in the usual sense of the word 

 have no home life. 



The conditions are so diverse in rej^ard to markets, and the crops 

 most profitable to raise, that intendine- settlers should first come to 

 Alaska and look over the countr\' for themselves before the\' make a 

 move of so oreat importance. It is impossible to advise anyone intel- 

 lij^entlv as to where he had better locate, and what he had l)etter do 

 on arrival, and one shrinks from the responsibility, so much depends 

 on the individual. But with industry and a thoroui^h understanding 

 of conditions farmers can not only make a living in Alaska, but a com- 

 petence, with greater ease and certaint}^ than in many parts of the 

 States. 



PLANS FOR SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS. 



The exigencies of the situation in Alaska have been such that nearly 

 all the time and attention of the employees, both at Sitka and at the 

 substations, have been required for pioneer work. The clearing of 

 land on which to make experiments, the erection of buildings, the 

 purchase of equipments, and the (udtivation of experimental crops 

 have absorbed the appropriations made for the Alaska stations. 



We have spent nnich time and energy in collecting information from 

 settlers in the Territory, and in encouraging them to undertake 

 agricidtural work. It is now^ time that work of a more scientific 

 nature should be undertaken, without in any way abating the pioneer 

 work. The high cost of labor, material, and of everything connected 

 with work in Alaska makes it impossible for the station, with the 

 amount of money allowed for its work, to hire specialists. I would 

 therefore respectfully point out that much useful scientific work could 

 be done if specialists now in the emplo}' of the various bureaus and 

 divisions of the Deoartment could be assigned to investigations in 



