Stikeen River journal., 1898-11-19
GUIDE MARKS.

led up to it's establishment. w rangel is no exception. The preference given to Il particular spot is founded upon conditions acceptable to those who To- cate upon it. As d rule these reasons applicable to Il particular requirement are continuing reasons. It is safe to assume therefore, that Wrangcl has no need to apologisc for it's existence. If we study the growth of towns and cities, their moving forces are desccrnable. Their natural advantages are apparent. | The chief features of their progressive action are found to lie in the concerted and we'll directed efforts af their eiti- 2ens.
 It is evident. no matter how gracious a kindly nature has been to us. that something is due from every dwcller in 1 Wrangcl to supplement these kindly conditions. At this stage to neglect such an obligation is to commit d sin. | if | may so nominate it. against the pace you have elected to dwell in.
 We can find inspiration and developr breadth often by looking over the heads of our immediate cares and re- responsibilities and observing the moving objects in Il more expansive field.
 The business men of British Column bia are English il is true. but they have no specially inviting business territory outside of Canada She has Il great reaching ground to the northward, and has already felt the glow of d newly cnk inded commerce. as she stands upon | its threshold. An organization is being perfected by them to run a line of steamers from San Francisco to Vie toria and from Victoria to serve the Alaskan waters. Nothing would justi | fy the operation of these vessels. eX- cept the fact that behind the shore lines lies d vast region which claims the world attention. and implies the movement of goods and people. We read too that our old friend. the Tartar. ! is on the run to Nladivostock. the ter minus of the great Russian-Si beran railroad which point is practically the only harbor open to the worlds com merce which she possesses We read too of a shlpload of saltcd salmon ship ped to Japan. Every day and every hour the business with the orient groNs with enormous strides. It is d noiseless cumulative current which will yrow in volume. in its service with teeminy millions. until within the next half century the, north pacific ocean will count its busy steamers by the thousand
 The Philippines may become Am erican territory OF not. The chances are they will. but American influence there will create an American business and from thence reach into broader fields To everybodv's surprise the conclusion of the late war has left us with liberated wings to soar out of our self satisfied provincialism and exposes vast possibilities for commercial ex- pansion. Taken in a purely negative way these influences alone would re- fleet some of its inspiring rays upon Us, and they will, but it brings Us face to face with that obligation. to do some thing ourselves with double force.
 It is upon the principle of a man seeking distinguished guests. He touches up the dwelling: he brightens his carpets: he polishes his. door knob and washes his sidewalk
 In conclusion, let Us admit that no body of men can make Wrangel d great city over night. but they can do those little. necessary, local things to make the town acceptable and desirable to those. who travelling upon the longer highways find it necessary to finger here.
 Glimpscs of the stored riches of Alaska have arrested the attention of the world. For centuries to come new sources of wealth will be discovered in Alaska. Let Us at once make our town scemly: provide d way for positive title to land: demand intelligent Legislation and work to the end that before the paling of many moons We may have a population sufficient to create a state that we may have the divine sovereign ity in the making of our own laws ap- plicable to our peculiar needs.