Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-12-10


Development of Alaska.
l call your special attention to the
Territory of Alaska. The country is
developing rapidly, and it has an as
sured future. The mineral wealth is
tapped. The fisheries, if wisely handled
and kept under national control, will
be business as permanent as any
other. and of the utmost importance to
the people The forests. if properly
guarded, will form another great source
of wealth. Portions of Alaska are
| fitted for farming and stock raising,
although the methods must be adapted
| to the peculiar conditions of the coun-
try. Alaska is situated in the far
North: but so are Norway and Sweden
and Finland; and Alaska can prosper
and play it's 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 entryman may make his To-
cation and secure patent under methods
kindred to those now prescribed for
homestead and mineral entrymen. Sal
mon hatcheries. exclusively under gov.
eminent control should be established
The cable should be extended from
Sitka westward. Wagon roads and
trails should be built. and the building
of railroads promoted in all legitima tie
ways. Lighthouses should be built
along the coast. Atteution should be
paid to the needs of the Alaskan In
dams; 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 conditions.
| The commission appointed to investi-
gate, during the season of 1903, the
condition and needs of the Alaskan
salmon fisheries, has finished it's work
in the field, and is preparing a detailed
report thereon. A preliminary report
reciting the measures Immediately re-
quired for the protection and preserva-
ton of the salmon industry has already
been sumbitted to the secretary of
commerce and labor for his attention
and for the needed action.
Revision Of Public Land Laws.
Experience has shown that in the
Western States themselves, as we'll as
in the rest of the country. there is
widespread conviction that certain of
the public land laws and the resulting
administrative practice no longer meet
the present needs. The character and
uses of the remaining public lands diff
fer widely from those of the public
lands which Congress had especially in
view when these laws were passed.
The rapidly increasing rate of disposal
of the public lands is not followed by a
corresponding increase in home build
Ing. There is tendency to mass in
large holdings public lands, especially
timber and grazing lands, and thereby
to retard settlement. 1 renew and en-
phasize my recommendation of last
year that so far as they are available
for agriculture in its broadcast sense
and to whatever extent they may be
reclaimed under the national irrigation
law. the remaining public lands should
be held rigidly for the home builder
The attention of the Congress is es-
pecially directed to the timber and
stone law. the desert land law, and the
communication clause of the homestead
law, which in their operation have in
many respects conflicted with wise
public land policy. The discussions in
the Congress and elsewhere have made
it evident that there is a wide diverg
ence Of opinions between those holding
opposite views on these subjects; and
that the opposing sides have strong
and convinced representatives of
weight both within and without the
Congress; the differences being not
only as to matters of opinion but as to
matters of fact. In order that definite
information may be available for the
| i
a commission composed of w. A. Rich
ards. Commissioner of the General
Land Office: Clifford Pinchot. Chief OF
the Bureau of Forestry of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. and F. H. Newell
Chief photographer of the Geological
Survey. to report at the earliest prac-
ticable moment upon the condition
operation and effect of the present land
! laws and on the use, condition. dis
| nnCcI Of hn n
lands. The commission will report es-
pecially what changes in organization
laws, regulations and practice affecting
the public lands are needed to effect
the largest practicable disposition OF
the public lands to actual settlers who
will build permanent hores upon them
and to secure in permanence the full
est and most effective use Of the re-
sources of the public lands; and it
will make such other reports and. rec
concentrations as it's study of these
questions may suggest The commits
sion is to report Immediately upon
those points concerning which it's judy
| ment is clear: on any point upon which
it has doubt it will take the time neces
Sarv to make inveStg alton and reach
a final judgment.
Irrigation.
The work of reclamation of the arid
|
lily and satisfactorily under the terms
of the law setting aside the proceeds
from the disposal of public lands. The
corps of engineers known as the Re-
clamation Service, which is conducting
the surveys and examinations, has been
thoroughly organized, especial pains
being taken to secure under the civil
service rules a body of skilled, expert
enced and efficient men. Surveys and
examinations are progressing through
out the arid states and territories plans
for reclaiming works being prepared
and passed upon by boards of engineers
before approval by the Secretary of the
Interior. In Arizona and Nevada, in
localities where such work is pre-
eminently needed, construction has al
ready been begun. In other parts of
the arid West various projects are we'll
advanced towards the drawing up of
contracts, these being delayed in part
by necessities of reaching agreements
or understanding as regards rights of
way or acquisition Of real estate. Most
of the works contemplated for the con-
struction are of national Importance,
involving interstate questions or the
securing of stable. self supporting COM
munities in the midst of vast tracts of
vacant land. The nation as a whole IS
of course the gamer by the creation
of these homes. adding as they do to tho
wealth and stability Of the country,
and furnishing a home market for the