Northwest History. Alaska. General.

Alaska Notes Signs Of Second Federal Colony In Making. Alaska Notes Signs Of Second Federal Colony in Making Special to The Christian Science Monitor KETCHIKAN, Alaska—If the work of government surveyors, hundreds of applications for homesites, private migrations, and reports of climate and lands su...

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Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1936
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Online Access:http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/91986
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Summary:Alaska Notes Signs Of Second Federal Colony In Making. Alaska Notes Signs Of Second Federal Colony in Making Special to The Christian Science Monitor KETCHIKAN, Alaska—If the work of government surveyors, hundreds of applications for homesites, private migrations, and reports of climate and lands suitable for agriculture are any indication, then Alaska is due for another farm colony. The district at Homer near Seward is believed to be under consideration by the federal authorities as an adjunct to the Matanuska experiment. Those who advocate the project say that the soil, climate and transportation facilities in the Homer region are equal or superior to those of Matanuska. The rolling grass lands need no clearing. A year-around harbor, lack of mosquitoes and other pests found in the interior make Homer a more desirable location, the boosters say. The official weather reports for Homer in January showed 11 consecutive days above 40 and only one frost for the month. Five inches of rain fell. Pussy willows were in bloom, wild celery was sprouting, the grass was green; and strawberry plants were visibly growing, according to reports. Plans for major scale dairy production and sheep ranching are already under way for the Homer district. At the same time M. D. Snodgrass and Col. Otto F. Ohlson, general manager of the Alaska Railroad, have drawn and submitted to the Federal Government plans for a colony of 50 families to be iocated in the Tanana Valley near Fairbanks, hundreds of miles north of Homer. Mr. Snodgrass believes that Alaska needs 3000 agricultural producers.