THE HUB

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 12 August 1942, Page 3

THE HUB

Fairbanks, the northern terminus of ! the Alaskan railway, which leads inland from Seward, might be called the hub of Alaska. It lies on the Tanana River, which is navigable tor some distance above the town, and its valley has millions of acres of potential agricultural land. Some experts have estimated that Alaska could easily carry a population of ten millions, and although we in Australia are inclined to be somewhat sceptical of estimates of population capacity, it must be admitted that Alaskan agriculture has immense possibilities Experimental farms have grown vegetables and fruit twice the size of that coming from | California, and the dairying industry ; is making rapid headway Fairbanks is also the centre of the j mining industry. Besides fish and furs, Alaska’s third staple industry is mining, particularly gold and copper, and it is here that the miners going up to the camps of the Yukon, Tanana, Koyukuk, and Innoka rivers purchase their requirements in clothing, stores, and eauinmer.t Fairbanks is the most typically •’Alaskan" town different from the international hustling Juneau. The Indians and Esquimaux of Alaska are rapidly diminishing in numbers, which is a pity, for they are intelligent and industrious hunters, furtrappers and fishermen. Bi t the white mail’s day in Alaska is only jus beginning. The cold-rush cities of yesterday the strategic centre of to-day, may become a great agricultural and industrial land to-morrow.