The Nome nugget., 1902-03-08
A SOP FOR ALASKA.

From a Washington dispatch, published in the last issue of the NUGGET, it Is learned that Senator Foster. of Washn gton state, proposes to introduce bill to extend the land laws of the United States Alaska. and failing the passage of the bill he will present bill to allow the interior department to lease grazing lands in Alaska the United States. The dispatch also informs that "growng interest is taken in this subject as the value of the grazing lands of Alaska becomes recognized"
 As Alaskans We have right to be thankful that the value of anything in Alaska or appertaining to it, however remotely, is becoming recognized in the United States. For if we may judge by the treat ment that has been accorded this tuar possession of the United States for nearly thrtyfve years, it is our privilege to rejoice that any interest is manifested toward in the other portions of the United States The information thus received is peculiarly gratifying, nasmuch as it proves the truth ef the old adage that "a constant dropping will away stone." The mills of the gods. we are told grind slowly but they grind exceedingly small. No ether portion of the United States has been subjected to the burdens has Alaska no other section has been neglected nor forced to bear than ts share of the burden of government without repre- ssntation of any kind in congress. The disabilities under which we have labored have been borne pa tently, if not uncompainingly. We have, literally
 
 we have complained we have been told that we did not know what we wanted. It may be. Perhaps we asked the unattanable from a congressional stand point, from men who, by the very nature of their environment, were not capable of legisating for us Perhaps we scattered too much being small and uninportant portion of the republic, and had fined our demands or requests to matter at a time we might have received some consideration.
 Alaska is emerging from a chrysalis stage. The long.negected territory is becoming recognized Slowly but surely the resources of this great northland becoming known, and at last an effort is being made to extend the land laws of the United States to this district It is doubtful that it will be done at this session of congress but the mere fact that the attempt will be made is matter of con- graduation. Within ten years Alaska will have a permanent population of 100000 people; in fifteen years it will have 50OOOO and before another quarter of century has eiapsed it will have million. It is high time, therefore, that congress considered in serious manner the needs and requirements of great country, rich in all natural resources and which will within twenty-five years become strong and rros- porous commonwealth in all that the term implies.
 Under ordinary conditions would not view with favor the proposal to lease the grazing lands of Alaska. In the first place the idea is impracticable There s no extensive of lands suitable for this purpose Southeastern Alaska is a wooded country and 60 is large portion of Northern Alaska. Much of it is fertile, but it needs to be reclaimed It can only be made to bring forth and blossom by the ,same means as have other portions of the United States. It must be settled permanently; accus- toned to northern attitudes must do it, but perma nsnt development can be reached by leasing any portion of the public lands of Alaska for grazing or any other purposes. The land laws of the United States should be extended to Alaska in all justice and fairness. Not until congress recognizes the sim. pie fact that part and parcel of the republic should Alaskans be satisfied.