valued at Rx 294.605, and exports Rx 217,236; imports of Candahar were Rx 329,917, and exports Rx 263,884. The trade of Bokhara with Afghanistan amounts to about 4,000,000 rubles for imports, and for exports the same. The Ameer gave his attention not only to the military organization of his people for defense against either Russian or British aggression, but also to the economical development of the country. Under the direction of an English engineer canals and other irrigation works have been constructed. Forts have been built along the Oxus, and heavy Krupp guns have been imported. The arsenal at Cabul turns out small arms in quantities, and smokeless powder.

ABDURRAHMAN KHAN,

LATE AMEER.

ALABAMA. (See under UNITED STATES.) ALASKA, a Territory of the United States, in the extreme northwestern part of the North American continent. It was ceded by Russia to the United States in a treaty concluded March 30 and proclaimed June 20, 1867, in consideration of the payment of $7,200,000. Its gross area, according to the census of 1900, is 590,884 square miles. The main body of the Territory is bounded on the east by the one hundred and forty-first meridian west from Greenwich, on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the west by Bering Sea and Bering Strait, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. It includes also the Alaska peninsula and the Aleutian Islands, trending southwestward for more than 1,200 miles, and a strip, known as Southeast Alaska, 600 miles long, bounded on the south by Dixon Sound and Portland Channel, and on the east by the summit line of the mountains parallel to the coast; and where such a line is at a greater distance than 10 marine leagues (34 statute miles), by a line drawn parallel to the windings of the coast, which shall never exceed 10 marine leagues therefrom. The position of the boundary of this southeastern extension is now a matter of dispute between Great Britain and the United States.

Government.-Alaska was without civil government from the time of its purchase till May 17, 1884, when it was made a civil and judicial district." Although frequently designated as a Territory, it is not so legally. In the act referred to above it is expressly stated that there shall be no legislative assembly in said district, nor shall any delegate be sent to Congress"; but in the same act it is referred to as the "Territory of Alaska." The original laws prohibited the importation, manufacture, and sale of intoxicating liquors, except for medical, mechanical, and scientific purposes; and although liquor was openly sold in Sitka, Juneau, Wrangel, and other cities, public sentiment was strongly against the sale of liquor to the Indians. In January, 1899, Congress passed an amendment providing for a high-license system in the Territory with a species of local option. Liquor dealers by its provisions are to pay a license of $1,000 a year, and the consent of

a majority of the white citizens residing within two miles of a liquor-dealer's establishment must be obtained before a license can issue. All license fees are to be devoted to educational purposes in Alaska. The former prohibition is continued against the sale to Indians, minors, and habitual drunkards.

The new code of criminal procedure went into effect on July 1, 1899, and it has been of the greatest advantage to the Territory. It gives the court much more liberty in obtaining juries; has enabled the enforcement of the liquor regulations; and has made smuggling an unprofitable occupation. The only sections that have met with serious complaint are those relating to the taxation of businesses and trades. A Territorial convention. met in Juneau in October, 1899, and submitted a memorial to Congress petitioning for two additional judges of the district court; for a delegate to Congress; for probate judges having, in addition to the usual probate powers, jurisdiction in certain civil and criminal cases; for commissioners having the jurisdiction of the justices of the peace and magistrates with like powers for incorporated cities and towns; for education of the white children of the district; for a civil code and a code of civil procedure; for amendments to the criminal code; for a general municipal incorporation law; for the extension to the district of homestead, timber and stone and coal land laws, with provisions for special individual surveys, and for modifications in the mineral-land laws to stop the wholesale appropriation by a few individuals of the public mineral lands.

Gov. Brady in his annual reports has specially urged the extension of the land laws, the adoption of a code of civil procedure, and the necessity for roads, telegraphs, and the erection of lighthouses upon dangerous points of the coast. The temporary seat of government is at Sitka, formerly the Russian capital.

The following were the officials of the Territory in 1901: Governor, John G. Brady. United States Judges-Melville C. Brown, District No. 1, Juneau; Arthur H. Noyes, District No. 2, St. Michael; James Wickersham, District No. 3, Eagle City. United States Attorneys-Robert A. Friedrich, District No. 1; Joseph K. Wood; A. M. Post. Clerk, District No. 1, Joseph J. Rogers. United States Marshals-James M. Shoup, District No. 1; Cornelius L. Vawter, District No. 2; G. G. Perry, District No. 3. CommissionersEdward de Groff, Sitka; Hiram H. Folsom, Juneau; F. P. Tustin, Fort Wrangel; L. R. Woodward, Unalaska: Philip Gallaher, Kadiak; C. A. Shelbrede, Skagway; W. J. Jones, Circle City; Charles H. Isham, Unga; Lenox B. Shepard, St. Michael; Sol Rapinsky, Haines Mission; J. P. Smith, Kechikan; L. R. Gillette, Douglas. Officers of Marine Barracks, Sitka-Capt. Joseph H. Pendleton, commanding, Lieut. George H. Mather, Surgeon Henry B. Fitts. Customs Officers-J. W. Ivey, Collector; Walton D. McNair, Special Deputy, Sitka: Deputy Collectors-F. E. Bronson, Sitka; John M. Tenney, Juneau; J. H. Causten, Wrangel; John R. Beegle, Kechikan; Claude B. Cannon, Kadiak; Frederick Sargent, Karluk; J. F. Sinnot, Unga; William Gauntlet, Unalaska; E. T. Hatch, St. Michael; Charles Smith, Circle City; G. A. Waggoner, White Pass; John Goodell, Orca; C. L. Andrews, Skagway; S. T. Penberthy, Homer; Matthew Bridge, Wharfinger, Sitka. Department of Agriculture C. C. Georgeson, Special Agent: Superintendents: Fred E. Rader, Sitka; H. P. Nielson, Kenai; Isaac Jones. Buof Education-Sheldon Jackson, Agent; William Hamilton, Assistant Agent; W. A. Kelly,

reau

Superintendent of Schools. Post-Office, SitkaMrs. A. M. Archangelsky, Postmaster. United States Land Office, Sitka-W. L. Dustin, Surveyor-General; John W. Dudley, Register; A. J. Apperson, Receiver; Clinton Gurnee, George W. Stowell, Clerks. Deputy Marshals-W. H. McNair (special), J. W. Snook, Sitka; W. A. Staley, Juneau; William D. Grant, Wrangel; John McElheny, Douglas island; Edward C. Hasey, Kadiak; Lewis L. Bowers, Unga; James C. Blaine, Unalaska; Josias M. Tanner, Skagway.

Population. The native population belongs to two great stocks, the Eskimo and the Indian. The former inhabit some of the Aleutian Islands and the shores of Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean; the latter occupy the interior and southeastern portion of the Territory. The greater part of the Russians emigrated at the time of the transfer of Alaska to the United States. The development of the gold-fields of the Yukon basin and the Cape Nome district has brought a large increase in the white population in recent years. Where the natives have come into contact with the whites there are many half-breeds. The total population of the Territory according to the census of 1880 was 33,426; in 1890 it was 32,052. The census of 1900 was taken under much more favorable conditions than had been possible before, owing to the greatly increased facilities for communication, and to the energy and special knowledge of the agents in charge of the work. The total population was 63,592, an increase of 31,540, or 98.4 per cent., over that of 1890. This was distributed according to sex, race, and nativity as follows:

Of the 78 settlements named in the census report, 37 have less than 200 inhabitants; 31 have more than 200, but less than 500; 6 have more than 500, but less than 1,000; and 4 only have more than 1.000-namely, Nome, with 12,486; Skagway, with 3,117; Juneau, with 1.864; and Sitka, with 1.396 inhabitants. Other important centers of white population are: Wrangle, 868; St. Michael, 857; Douglas, 825; Unalaska, 428; and Kadiak, 341.

Banking. The only national bank in Alaska is the First National Bank of Juneau. Its condition, as reported to the Comptroller of the Currency at the close of business, July 15, 1901, was: Resources: loans and discounts, $54,319.91; United States bonds, $87,500; banking-house, furniture, and fixtures, $2,480; due from other national banks, $4.075; due from State banks and bankers, $19,034.72; specie, $37,207.60; other re

sources, $21,823.24; total resources, $226,440.76. Liabilities: capital stock, $50,000; surplus and undivided profits, $3,069.79; individual deposits, $105,125.60; United States deposits, $36,726.97; deposits of United States disbursing officers, $26,668.40; other liabilities, $4,850; total liabilities, $226,440.76. At the corresponding date in 1900 the total liabilities were $169,840.85, distributed as follow: Capital stock, $50,000; surplus and profits, $1,964.88; individual deposits, $64,710.22; deposits of United States disbursing officers, $46,231.14; other liabilities, $6,934.61. The resources: loans and discounts, $53,457.21; United States bonds, $62,500; due from banks, $17,565.60; specie, $20,245.30; other resources, $16,072.

There are no official statistics for banks other than national. The American Bank Reporter for May, 1901, reports the following banks in operation in the Territory: Juneau: B. M. Behrends (private), capital $50,000. Nome: Bank of Cape Nome (incorporated), capital $200,000; Alaska Banking and Safe-Deposit Company (incorporated), capital $75,000; First Bank of Nome (organizing). Skagway: Bank of Alaska (private), deposits $20,000; Canadian Bank of Commerce (agency).

Commerce and Navigation.-Alaska forms a single customs district of the United States, with Sitka as its port of entry. The following are classed as subports of entry: Dyea, Eagle City, Wrangel, Mary Island, Juneau, Kadiak, Unalaska, Circle City, Cook Inlet (Homer), Orca, St. Michael Island, Skagway, Unga, Karluk, Kechikan. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900, 26 sailing vessels, of 5,235 tons, and 390 steam-vessels, of 207,645 tons, were entered by the district of Alaska, of which 5 sailing vessels, of 3,037 tons, and 237 steam-vessels, of 143,082 tons, were American; during the same period 26 sailing vessels, of 3,511 tons, and 317 steam-vessels, of 151,893 tons, were cleared, of which 5 sailing vessels, of 2,012 tons, and 170 steam-vessels, of 94,388 tons, were American.

The total exports for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900, were valued at $566,347, and the imports at $385,317. The exports for the nine months ending September, 1901, were valued at $1,881,627; the imports at $390,225. These figures are for the foreign commerce alone, and do not include the values of merchandise shipped to and from ports of the United States.

Mineral Resources. Although coal, copper, silver, cinnabar, lead, tin, arsenic, antimony, manganese, corundum, petroleum, slate, clay, and many varieties of building stone are reported in paying quantities, gold is the only mineral that has received the serious attention of the miners. The gold is mined chiefly by placers; but several quartz-mills are building, and some in successful operation, notably the great three-hundred-stamp gold-mill, the largest in the world, at the Treadwell mines, near Juneau. The great centers of the placer gold-mining industry are the Yukon valley and Cape Nome. Some coal has been taken out at Tyonek, on Cook Inlet, for use on a small local steamer, and at the agency of the Alaska Commercial Company, and an English company is making an attempt toward the development of the surface indications of petroleum near Cape Yakutat, Cape Martin, and Kachewak Bay.

The output of precious metals from Alaska in 1899 was estimated by the Director of the Mint to be: Gold, 264,104 fine ounces, value $5,459,500; silver, 140.100 fine ounces, value $181,540; total value, $5,640,640. The value of the gold output in 1900, by the same estimate, was $8.171,000. These figures are for Alaskan territory alone, and

do not include the output of the rich Klondike mines in British Columbia. Alaska imported $9,137,608 of this Canadian gold in the nine months ending with September, 1901, against $13,115,389 in a similar period in 1900. The golddust receipts at the Seattle Assay Office for the year up to Sept. 30, 1901, from all Alaska and Klondike districts, amounted to more than $25,000,000, and the total receipts for the three years this office has been in operation exceed $50,000,000. The last steamers sailed from Nome on Oct. 24, 1901, bringing out more than $1,000,000 in treasure, and the lakes and the Yukon river were expected to keep open for traffic out of the Klondike till the middle of November.

While the mines of the Klondike have come up to the estimates made last spring of the probable output, Nome has been disappointing, although the yield is in excess of $6,000,000. The estimates for Nome made last spring were $10,000,000, but by reason of the late and unfavorable season, causing the ground to remain frozen until July 10, the output was cut nearly one-half. Interviews with many well-known miners who have returned to spend the winter confirm all the statements regarding the disadvantages and discouragements in nearly all the Nome districts and camps this season.

The year has been a prosperous one for Dawson, and the frontier mining-camp has rapidly blossomed into a handsome capital city, with all the modern conveniences, beautiful homes, and wellgraded thoroughfares. Many men who have dug fortunes out of the earth are staying in the city and spending money in building it up. While the placers have proved rich and predictions have been made that they will hold good for ten years more with extensive hydraulic plants to operate them, additional attention has been given this season to quartz-mining, and several hundred locations have been made in the Dawson district. These properties will be prospected and developed this winter, and the winter diggings that were neglected last season will also be made to contribute to the wealth of the country this winter. The first gold stamp-mill ever built on the Yukon is under construction near Dawson, and it will operate on ore that gives gold values of $20 a ton. There has been everything to encourage business men and miners in the Klondike region this year. Fisheries. Cod, halibut, and herring have long been the food of the natives, and are now being taken in paying quantities by vessels from San Francisco and Puget Sound; but while Alaska possesses what are probably the greatest cod-fishing banks in the world, estimated to be 125,000 square miles in extent, salmon canning is the only great fishing industry. The first canneries were erected in 1878, and the industry now has between $11,000,000 and $12,000,000 invested in buildings, machinery, tackle, boats, and steamvessels. The total pack in 1898 was 974,601 cases, 20,518 barrels, and 4,300 half-barrels; total value, $3,544,128. The estimated pack in 1899 was 1,000,000 cases and 15,000 barrels, and for 1900, 1,250,000 cases. Until 1899 there were no laws or rules regulating the location of these canneries or the manner in which the fish should be taken; each canning company built where it pleased, and the slaughter of fish went on without let or hindrance. On the best streams, as the Karluk, Kadiak island, many canneries have been built close together, and there is the sharpest rivalry as to which shall put up the largest pack. In consequence the rivers and inlets are being rapidly depleted, and an industry now yielding more than $3,000,000 annually is threatened with extinction.

The pack at Karluk river in 1894 was 229,284 cases, in 1896 226,428 cases, and in 1897 154,262 cases. In 1898 the pack had dropped to 60,000 cases, and in 1899 to 40,000 cases. Ꭺ hatchery has been for several years maintained by the Alaska Packers' Association, but so far there is little sign of replenishment. In speaking of the decline, Capt. Jefferson F. Moser, of the United States Fish Commission steamship Albatross, says: The output of salmon for a single year in 1897 was about 43,000,000 cans, SO one does not wonder that the streams of Alaska are becoming depleted. This depletion, already serious, is caused not by overfishing alone, but by barricading,' a process instituted before the acquisition of Alaska by the United States, a means whereby the fish are actually prevented from ascending the streams to spawn and are compelled to remain practically impounded in the lower waters, awaiting the pleasure of the packers. Although this practise is punishable by a heavy fine and imprisonment, the laws are not enforced." The new code of 1899 made it necessary for the packers to erect hatcheries after Jan. 1, 1901. This was strenuously opposed by the packers and fishermen, as were the following sections, placing restraints on illegal taking of the

fish:

"It is forbidden to lay any seine, gill, or other net within 100 yards of the mouth, on either side, or immediately abreast of the mouth, of any river or stream, whereby, in the setting or hauling of said seine, gill, or other net, it may drift wholly or partially across and operate to close the mouth of said river or stream."

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Traps, whether 'fixed or stationary obstructions' (built on piles or webbing) or constructed of webbing and boats and susceptible of removal from place to place, are declared to be obstructions which impede the ascent of salmon to their spawning grounds,' and their use is hereby forbidden.”

Sealing. Not including a few sealskins brought directly into San Francisco from the north, the total catch in the Arctic in 1901 was 24,127, most of the skins going to Victoria, the rendezvous of the sealing schooners. The Bering Sea catch was 10,314, the Copper island catch 3,838, the coast catch 8,985, and the approximate Indian catch 1,000 skins. The world's catch of fur sealskins for the year 1901 is approximately 54,000 skins.

Timber. The whole coast of Alaska, including the islands from 54° 40′ to the eastern part of Kadiak island, is covered with timber to the snow-line of the mountains. Hemlock and spruce prevail, but in places there is the yellow or Sitka cedar, and upon Prince of Wales island the red cedar attains large size. Young timber springs up very rapidly, and the great amount of rain falling upon the ground carpeted with moss that holds the water like a sponge, preserves this great timber from destruction by fire. Forests of conifera exist along the rivers of the interior, the Yukon, Tanana, and Koyukuk, trees on the latter stream attaining a size of two feet in diameter. The Government has not put these lands on the salable lists, and every man who builds a fire to cook a meal or builds a house to cover his head is a trespasser on this great timber reserve. The early disposal of these timber tracts is a matter of great concern to the people, for they would at once enter into the lumbering business, and in the near future could build up a very profitable trade with Japan and China. The great facilities for water transportation will make the southeastern coast very desirable for lumber shipments.

According to the report of the Governor of Alaska, there were 12 small mills operating in southeastern Alaska in 1899. These only manufactured lumber for use in the Territory. The prices charged in Sitka were: Rough lumber, $13 a thousand; flooring and rustic, $20 a thousand; selected boat lumber, $25 a thousand; and clear cedar, $50 a thousand. Most of the lumber and timbers used in the great mining enterprises and in the rapid building up of Dyea and Skagway, and in the construction of the White Pass Railway, were imported from Puget Sound. Nearly all the timber taken in southeastern Alaska has been put in the water by hand loggers, and has hardly ever been more than 300 feet from salt water. During the year many men who went prospecting upon the Koyukuk, Tanana, and other Yukon tributaries, and who were reduced to their last dollar, found that they could maintain themselves by cutting cord-wood to supply the steamboats. They obtained $7 and $8 a cord, and some offered their wood at $5 a cord on the last trips of the steamers. This they did without molestation from the Government officials except in one or two instances. The wood was cut chiefly from dead trees, and it was far better to use it on the steamboats than to let it rot on the ground. Military, Railways, Telegraphs, etc.-Alaska was erected into a separate military department in January, 1900, and placed under the command of Col. George M. Randall, of the Eighth United States Infantry. The headquarters of the department was at St. Michael, where the military reservation embraces the territory included in a circle described by a hundred-mile radius from the flagstaff at that place as a center. Troops are also stationed at Fort Wrangel, Skagway, Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet, Cape Nome, St. Michael, Fort Gibbon, Rampart, Circle, and Fort Egbert, near Eagle City. The Department of Alaska was discontinued, Sept. 15, 1901, by an order issued July 25, and merged into the Department of Columbia, Gen. Randall, with his personal and departmental staff proceeding to Vancouver Barracks to take command of the latter department.

In Skagway, Juneau, and Douglas companies of militia have been organized, and in 1899 Mr. F. D. Kelsey, of Juneau, a member of the Alaska bar, who is experienced as an officer of the National Guard of Oregon, was appointed adjutant-general with the rank of colonel.

Major Francis Greene, of the signal corps, is in charge of the construction of the military telegraph line from Nome and St. Michael, via Eaton and Nulato, to Eagle City, in the Upper Yukon valley. At Eagle the line will connect with another to Valdez, on Prince William Sound, and with the Canadian line via Dawson to Skagway. Between Nome and St. Michael a cable has been laid and is in successful operation. The laying of the cable from Juneau to Skagway, the first link in the system that is to connect Seattle and Skagway, was completed in November, 1901.

With Col. P. H. Ray, for two years in charge of the meteorological station at Port Barrow and afterward in command of the troops on the Yukon, originated the plan for a road into central and northern Alaska by way of Valdez and Eagle City.

The progress on these important works is indicated by the following reports, the first from the annual report of Gen. A. W. Greely, chief signal officer of the United States army, issued in October. 1901, and the second from the annual report of Gen. George M. Randall, commanding the Department of Alaska:

"It is not generally understood that the Alaska telegraph systems, while placing all the Alaskan posts in connection with the commanding general of the department when completed, would not afford means of communication with any other part of the world. To increase the value of the Alaskan system, the chief signal officer of the army conferred with the authorities of the Canadian Government at Toronto with a view to the extension of the existing Canadian telegraph lines and the establishment of cooperation in telegraphic work between the Alaskan and Canadian systems.

The Canadian Government courteously placed in conference with the chief signal officer of the army Mr. J. B. Charleson, assistant superintendent of public works in the Yukon district, who was charged with the extension of the Canadian telegraph line from Quesnelle to Atlin. The Canadian authorities had the longer line to construct, but they performed their work with such expedition that, on May 5, 1901, the telegraph line was completed between Dawson and Fort Egbert, thus bringing the upper part of American territory on the Upper Yukon in direct telegraphic communication with Skagway, whence by steamer news could reach Washington, or any other part of the world, in four days under ordinary conditions. On Sept. 24, 1901, telegraphic communication was established between Fort Egbert and the Upper Yukon region, via United States military telegraph and Canadian land lines, and messages were exchanged between the commanding officers at Fort Egbert, Skagway, and the authorities in Washington."

"The total length of telegraph-line constructed up to date aggregates about 400 miles. The work is being pushed along the Yukon river above Nulato, and by the close of navigation in September it is hoped that there will be telegraphic communication between this point (St. Michael) and Fort Gibbon, a distance by the line of 420 miles.

"The work upon the transalaskan military road' under Capt. W. R. Abercrombie, Second Infantry, acting engineer officer of the department, was prosecuted with energy and under trying conditions. The latest information from Capt. Abercrombie is to the effect that the crossing of the Tanana will be reached by next November."

The report of Capt. Bingham, chief quartermaster under Gen. Randall, shows an expenditure during the year for army transportation of $185,744.74; for barracks and quarters, $49,233.28; regular supplies, $4,517.20. Capt. Abercrombie expended for military roads and bridges $63,840.

The only railway in operation in the Territory is the short Yukon and White Pass Railway, opened for traffic between Skagway and Lake Bennett, over the White pass, in July, 1899. In the days of the Klondike craze in 1897 it was a difficult task and took many days to get over this pass with an animal and pack, and some men and many animals perished in the attempt. The transportation of freight cost as much as 40 cents a pound. Now the trip across is one of comfort and pleasure, and freight is carried for 3 cents a pound. The laying of this line presented many engineering difficulties, especially for the first 20 miles. The scenery is magnificent, and the trip is now added to the tourist routes. The road connects at Lake Bennett with boats for Dawson and the Yukon valley.

Several routes for an "all-American road" into the interior of Alaska have been suggested, chief of which are the Valdez-Eagle route following the line of the new military road, and a line from

Cook Inlet to the Tanana through valleys of the Sushitna and Cantwell rivers. George H. Eldridge, of the United States Geological Survey, who was in charge of a party that made a sur

"The desirable features of such a route are: (1) That the southern terminus be on water open the year round; (2) that the country traversed yield a large amount of farm-produce for those

vey of the latter route in 1898, reports as follows upon its advantages for opening up railway communication with the interior: Nowhere along the route of travel was an obstacle encountered that would prevent the construction of pack-trail, wagon road, or railway. Grades for the latter could easily be found, the streams could be bridged at slight expense, and timber abounds either along the route or in close proximity to it. That the Sushitna-Cantwell valleys afford a feasible railway route to the interior of Alaska is beyond dispute, yet in any undertaking in this direction the winter snows must not be lost sight of. They would surely entail heavy operating expenses for at least five months in the year, if, indeed, they would not altogether prevent traffic. In the Sushitna valley the average depth of snow is said to be 4 feet; in the mountains it is, of course, much greater.

who may dwell in the interior and less agricul tural portions of the Territory. The SushitnaCantwell route affords both these conditions, and is the only one that does. Moreover, the route is remarkably direct, both to the Birch creek and Klondike mining regions and to the confluence of the two great navigable rivers of the interior, the Yukon and the Tanana, a point that, from its position, is regarded by many as of prime importance in the future growth and development of the interior.

Cook Inlet, in the winter season, is packed with floating ice as far south as the east and west forelands, a condition that has proved a barrier to navigation for four or five months each year. South of these points the ice is said to be less aggressive and navigation possible, though perhaps a little impeded. Off the shores of Redoubt Bay the charts indicate a depth of water of 10 fathoms, and the coast has protection from the north, as at Tyonek, where, with less water, an excellent harbor is afforded during the summer. This locality, therefore-without actual investigation-would seem to afford a suitable location for the southern terminal of a railway line to the interior.

"The second of the desirable features-that the country traversed shall afford a supply of agricultural and farm produce equal to its own demands and to those of the interior-will likely be realized if settlement is attempted, for the possibilities of this region are most encouraging to the farmer seeking a new home. Moreover, so far as at present known, this is the only area of such capabilities along the entire southern coast of Alaska. In other portions the great extent of arable valley lands is wanting, or the region, where open and level, has too great an altitude for the growing of grains and vegetables. A railway in the Sushitna valley might have tributary to it many thousand farms from which to draw its traffic. Besides farm-produce there would be carried a heavy tonnage of manufactured products, including machinery. The amount of return freight would, however, be considerably smaller than that passing inward.

"A feature of the Sushitna-Cantwell route that should not be overlooked is its picturesqueness.