306 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



River Valley and in constructing a trail. North of the Klutena none 

 of the streams has so far been bridged. From the Klutena to the 

 Tonsena is a distance of about 25 miles. The Tonsena is a little 

 broader than the Klutena and carries perhaps a somewhat greater 

 volume of water. The mountain streams in the coast range have all 

 been bridged. The Government trail has been cleared to the Tanana 

 River. 



The Government telegraph line, which is also under construction, 

 has been completed across the coast range to Copper Center, and is in 

 operation. 



Copper Center is a collection of about a dozen log cabins, situated 

 in a small clearing on the north side of the Klutena River. It had its 

 origin in the influx of prospectors which came into the Copper River 

 Valley in search of wealth, in 1898, though at that time the settlement 

 consisted almost entirely of tents. There was at one time several 

 hundred people here, and during the winter of 1898 and 1899 most of 

 those who wintered in this camp suffered greatly from scurvy and 

 many died of this dread disease. At present most of the cabins are 

 empty. Some few prospectors make their homes here temporarily. 

 The Copper River Exploring Expedition has a storehouse and a few 

 men stationed here, and there is also a road house, or so-called hotel, 

 in the place, kept by two men. 



Aside from Copper Center and the mail stations described by Mr. 

 Jones, there are no other settlements in the Copper River Valley. 

 During the summer season there are from 150 to 200 men in the placer 

 camps of the Chestochena and its tributaries; and a score or more 

 men are likewise at work during the summer on the very rich copper 

 deposits which have been found in this region, but as yet there are no 

 permanent settlers. That the country can produce grain is proven by 

 the fact that Mr. Jones saw ripe oats in a garden at Copper Center. 



In the judgment of the writer, the Copper River Valley has a great 

 future. It will one day be a rich and flourishing country, and perhaps 

 the most populous region of the future State of Alaska. Here are 

 opportunities for thousands of families tc make homes for themselves 

 and gain independence. But before settlers can be attracted to this 

 or any other region in Alaska the Government will have to survey 

 the country and make the homestead law so liberal that it will be 

 possible for poor men to take up land. 



Before closing this subject a word should be said about Valdez, 

 which is the southern terminus of the trail. If the country in the 

 interior is opened to settlement, Valdez is almost certainly bound to 

 become a large and important town. It lies at the head of a bay which 

 is open the year round, and naturally it must become the port for 

 all the traffic going in and out of the interior. Valdez is even now a 

 vigorous and enterprising young town. There are many good houses 



