Henry Wood Elliott, a scientist employed by the U. S. Treasury on the Pribilof Islands in the 1870's, contended that northern development should be neither expected nor desired. Aside from the furs gathered from the seal rookeries of the Pribilof Islands, Alaska had no readily exploitable worth. But Alaska's general worthlessness was no cause for alarm. Elliott assured Americans that they need not fear a tax burden in support of the territory. The government did not need to build roads or lighthouses, or provide any services beyond a minimal police protection.
Conditions change as time passes.
With the advantage of hindsight we can question the wisdom of some early prophets. Only a few opinions have been cited but library shelves groan under the hundreds of lengthy studies made of Alaska's resources in the last hundred years. Sound or not, the conclusions of experts have affected development policies. If the history of all past assessments teaches us anything, it is only the need for caution. Those who have admitted to an insight into the future have been influenced variously by unfounded optimism, self-interest, a marginal understanding of conditions relating to development, the inability to see beyond existing needs and technology, or exclusive ideas of the highest good.