Douglas Island news., 1903-12-16
Alasl,a,s emblem at the next National

Alaska's emblem at the next National Convention next year will be a very neat and appropriate one. Delegate W. D. Grant has under way the mount ing of the same number of Alaskan eagles as delegates and alternates, neatly mounted on white cedar staffs. It is proposed to have one of these placed at the seat of each delegate or alternate attending the convention. Nothing could be more appropriate than Wrangell Sentinel.
 By shipping goods intended for the American side in bond to Forty y-Mile in summer on steamer and then storing in bonded warehouses there the traders are at a great advantage. They can buy goods from the American side and thus land them on the Alaskan side at any time of the year free of duty. Another great advantage in holding the freight at Forty-Mile until winter is the cheap CT freight rates obtained in winter. Forty-Mile river freezes smooth, and makes an ideal highway into the famous old diggings.
 What will be known as the Alaska Gold Nugget Company has been organ ized and at the St. Louis fair gold, ivory and furs from Alaska will be placed on exhibition. The collection is valued at 8i50,O0O and owned by Nome capitalists. It will be exhibited in building thirty five feet front and 100 feet deep. The Midway of the exposition is to be known as "The Pike" The collection of Alaska curios will occupy a build ing in that section of the grsunds. Part of the exhibit has already been sent East. It will include the big mug get recently found at Nome which weighs lS2 ounces and is valued at S3,276.
 President Roosevelt in his annual message to Congress says: I call your special attention to the territory Of Alaska. The country is developing rapidly, and it has an assured future. The mineral wealth is great and as yet hardly been tapped. The fisheries, if wisely handled and kept under nation al control, will be business as per manent as any other, and of the ut most importance to the people. The forests if properly guarded will form another great source of wealth. Por' tions of Alaska are fitted for farming and stock raising, although the methods must be adapted to the peculiar con ditions of the country Alaska Is sit uated in the far north; but so are Nor way and Sweden and Finland, and AL aska can prosper and play its part in the new world just as those nations have prospered and played their parts in the old world. Proper land laws should be enacted; and the survey of the public lands immediately begun. Coal land laws should be provided whereby the coal land entrymen may make his location and secure patent under methods kindred to those now prescribed for homestead and mineral entrymen. Salmon hatcheries, eX- clusively under government control, should be established. The cable should be extended from Sitka west ward. Wagon roads and trails should be built, ard the building of railroads promoted in all legitimate ways. Light houses should be built along the coast. Attention should be paid to the needs of the Alaska Indians; provision should be made for an officer, with deputies, to study their needs, relieve their immediate wants and help them adapt themselves to the new condi- tions.