EXPLORING ALASKA. 725- 



wheats are deficient in nitrogen, while Texas produces a grain rich in nitrogen, 

 but injured by too small weight per loo. Minnesota has a much larger grain, not 

 quite so well supplied with nitrogen. It is Colorado which leads in the produc- 

 tion of a large grain containing a large amount of albuminoids. That State, Prof. 

 Richardson says, shows what the possibilities are of raising a perfect wheat. 



EXPLORING ALASKA. 



The country seems to have settled down into a conviction of the unwisdom 

 of wasting money, anxiety, health and life upon arctic research. Even Mel- 

 ville's specious proposition to journey to the pole by the comparatively safe way of 

 Franz Joseph Land has met no encouragement either frorn public prints or pri- 

 vate capitalists, and the young yachting swells of New York, who in *he roseate 

 warmth of after dinner enthusiasm last autumn were promising their fathers' mill- 

 ions to send the daring engineer north again, are now discreetly silent. It will 

 be some years, probably, before the Government will send men into the icy 

 regions merely to extend geographical knowledge, and it may be that the dread- 

 ful results of the Greely expedition, though its purpose was a better one, will put 

 a stop to the national encouragement of this sort of adventure forever. The 

 Government is, however, encouraging explorations in our own territory, in regions 

 not difficult of access, of great geographical and commercial interest, and yet 

 comparatively unknown. 



Four expeditions have been sent to Alaska within two years, and have suc- 

 ceeded in giving us a knowledge of the magnitude and possibilities of that once 

 despised possession which is inspiring lofty dreams of national and private wealth. 

 Its fisheries have returned the Government an interest of nearly five per cent a 

 year on the $7,200,000 which Secretary Seward paid Russia for Alaska in 1.867, 

 as a delicate acknowledgment of our gratitude for that nation's firm friendship 

 during the rebellion, and now it is found that the possession which we then did 

 not especially want contains vast rivers, mountains, forests and mines of un- 

 dreamed of riches. Private companies are contemplating the exploration of the 

 country; there are rumors that they are already being carried on in secret and 

 for dishonest purposes ; while a fifth Government expedition is nearly ready to 

 sail from San Francisco under the command of Lieut. George M. Stoney. 



This young officer has already headed two expeditions to Alaska. He was 

 one of the Rodgers party, who after the burning of that steamer were greatly- 

 aided in their retreat southward by the Tschoutche Indians of Alaska. The Gov 

 ernment sent him back in 1883 with presents for these Indians, and while with 

 them he heard of a great river that emptied itself into Hotham Inlet, south of the 

 Yukon. With two men and a dingey and ten days' provisions he explored it 

 fifty miles, and found it could be navigated by large steamers for that distance. 

 Last year he explored the river — named Putnam River, in honor of the young 

 officer of the Rodgers who was lost on the ice near Siberia — for nearly 400 miles, 



