ALASKA EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 305 



therefore be too costly to clear a farm in this region for a long- time 

 to come. 



The Tazlena River may really be considered as the center of the 

 best agricultural region in the Copper River Valle}^ and within the 

 boundaries of the strip we are discussing, although the best portion 

 of that region lies between the Tazlena and Copper Center, as noted. 



From a point 12 miles south of Copper Center to the Tonsena River, 

 a distance of 13 miles, is a rather wet rolling country more or less 

 densely wooded, with small marshes in places, with a heavy coat of 

 moss on the surface and only scattering bunches of grass. It has some 

 value for pasturage, but can not be considered first-class in this respect. 



From Tonsena River to Valdez there is practically no agricultural 

 land and comparatively little pasture land. The trail here crosses the 

 coast range; the best portion is the north slope of the range from 

 Tonsena River to Kim balls Pass, a distance of about 9 miles. Here 

 goats and sheep may find pasture. It is not likely even to become a 

 good range country. The soil is light yellow, gravelly in nature, 

 and abundantly covered with stones as large as one's fist. 



From Kim balls Pass to Valdez the country is simply a succession 

 of ups and downs, interspersed with rugged peaks and many glaciers, 

 deep canyons, waterfalls, and mountain torrents. In short, it is typical 

 of the scenery that may be found anywhere along the Alaskan coast 

 range, and which from the sea looks so strangely grand and at the 

 same time impresses one as a forbidding waste. 



The leading streams which enter the Copper River from the west, 

 and which were therefore crossed by the trail, are the following, in 

 order from north to south: The Chestochena, the Gakona, the Tazlena, 

 the Klutena, and the Tonsena. 



The Chestochena is a considerable stream. At high water near the 

 mouth it is about a mile wide, but, except when swollen, the water does 

 not cover the bed, but runs through in a score of different channels. 

 From this river to the Gakona is a distance of about 25 miles. The 

 Gakona is about 250 feet wide; the bed is filled with large bowlders 

 and the water rushes over them in torrents, which makes it a difficult 

 river to ford, and at high water it is dangerous, if not impossible, to 

 cross it. As a matter of fact this can be said of all the streams. 

 From the Gakona to the Tazlena is about 20 miles. This is a small 

 stream in comparison with the two foregoing. It is only about 60 

 feet wide, nor is it deep, and it can be easily forded at low water. 

 From the Tazlena to the Klutena at Copper Center is a distance of 12 

 miles. The Klutena is like the Tazlena in size and in the volume of 

 water it usually carries. It has been bridged by the Copper River 

 Exploring Expedition under command of Capt. W. R. Abercrombie, 

 who for three years past has been employed in exploring the Copper 

 H. Doc. 334 20 



