676 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



so the observatory erected in 1901 was 

 placed in the outskirts of Sitka, and there 

 a continuous photographic record of the 

 variations of the earth's magnetism has 

 been obtained since January, 1902. In 

 addition to providing the means for cor- 

 recting the field observations made in 

 other parts of Alaska, this observatory 

 has contributed an important part to the 

 general study of the earth's magnetism, 

 and in 1906 was visited by Captain 

 Amundsen on his return from the vi- 

 cinity of the Magnetic North Pole, for 

 the purpose of restandardizing his mag- 

 netic instruments. 



The observations along the Alaska 

 coast indicate the existence of areas of 

 local magnetic disturbance, of sufficient 

 magnitude, in some cases, to be noticed 

 by the captains of passing steamers. In 

 1903 a detailed magnetic survey was 

 made of Douglas Island and the vicinity 

 of Juneau for the purpose of investigat- 

 ing one of these locally disturbed areas. 

 A spot was found where the compass 

 needle entirely lost its directive property 



and the dipping needle stood vertical, 

 showing it to be a local magnetic pole. 



In the summer of 1907, in order to 

 supply in part the need of results in the 

 interior, a party was fitted out for mag- 

 netic work exclusively, which went down 

 the Yukon River from Dawson to the 

 mouth and secured magnetic observa- 

 tions at numerous places en route. The 

 U. S. Geological Survey and the Alaska 

 Boundary Survey have also contributed 

 to our knowledge of the distribution of 

 declination in the interior. 



At the present time we have a good 

 knowledge of the distribution of the 

 magnetic declination along the coast and 

 interior passages from Cape Muzon to- 

 Kiska Island, and less detailed data from 

 there to Saint Michael. In the interior 

 we have little information except along 

 the Yukon River and the overland route 

 to the Klondike. As fast as the set- 

 tlement of the territory advances and 

 new routes of travel are opened, the 

 magnetic survey will no doubt be ex- 

 tended. 



AGRICULTURAL CAPACITY OF ALASKA 



What Population Can the Territory Support? 



By C. C. Georgeson 



Special Agent in Charge of Alaska Investigations 



THAT Alaska has agricultural pos- 

 sibilities of a sufficiently high 

 order to make it self-supporting 

 is no longer open to dispute. The range 

 of products which can be raised there is, 

 of course, confined to the hardy grains 

 and vegetables of the kind grown in 

 similar latitudes in northern Europe. I 

 am aware that there are still many who 

 doubt that agriculture of any kind is pos- 

 sible in Alaska and for their benefit I 

 will adduce a few facts. 



The Government has maintained agri- 

 cultural experiment stations in Alaska 

 for ten years. The stations, six in num- 



ber, have been established at different 

 times and in different localities in accord- 

 ance with the means in hand and the re- 

 quirements of conditions. Each has 

 been devoted to one or more lines of 

 work suited to the climate and soil. At 

 these various stations all the hardy vege- 

 tables have been grown successfully 

 every year. By the hardy vegetables I 

 mean those which are usually grown in 

 northern climates — Brussel sprouts, bari- 

 cole (kale), broccoli, beets, cabbage, car- 

 rots, cauliflower, celery, endive, horse- 

 radish, kohl rabi, lettuce, mustard, onions, 

 parsley, parsnips, potatoes, peas, radish, 



