The Alaska prospector., 1904-03-31

The Seattle P.-l. takes a very un- dignified position, when, after doing all in its power to knock the only improvement sought for in this section of Alaska, and being remon- strated with by every citizen of Valdez and the country stretching across to the Yukon, it undertakes to justify it's actions by singing mud at and otherwise abusing our best citizens. Our chamber of com merce is composed of as clean and brainy set of men as can be found in any city of the union. They have formed themselves into body for the betterment of the country, and spending their time, energy and money to advance its bests inter- ests. They are the class of men who for the past 100 years have, step by step, been moving the frontier line from the Atlantic clear across to the Pacific coast in the face of every opposition. The feat is accomplished and the country is in the peaceable possession of contented millions. The only fron- tier now is along the shores of Alas ka. and that same adventurous spirit is here along the line to drive it eventually to the north pole.
 It is certainly aggravating to find a barrier in the persons of those who are to-day enjoying the blessings derived from civilized community located where a very few years ago the hostile native held full sway, and was subdued by this very same frontier spirit. Those are the people who should lend us every aid in our battle against nature instead of knocking us.
 We have investigated the coun- try and its possibilities; we know that unlimited mineral and agri- cultural lands exist in the interior, but we are, with our limited means, unable to give the would-be settler a way of getting there, and are forced to look to the government for slight assistance in the form of a wagon road. We are entitled to it as we have more than paid for it in the past few years.
 It is true that the P.-I. in its editorial of Feb. 16 advocated the building of wagon roads in Alaska, but stipulated that they should be somewhere else rather than from Valdez. We cannot comprehend why it should not be from Valdez rather than elsewhere. If the P.-I. possessed the knowledge of this country that it professes to have, it would know that Prince William Sound affords a magnificent water way extending over 100 miles in- land from the Gulf of Alaska to Valdez, an advantage possessed by no other part of the coast of Alaska. And from this point is saved the building of over 100 miles of road to arrive at any point on the Tan ana or Yukon.
 It would be we'll for the writer of the P.-I. to study up the true geographical situation of Alaska, and be able to give a good, sensible argument rather than resort to the slinging of mud. the latter is an arr gument generally resorted to by loafers, and will on all occasions be- smear the party using it.
 The Mining Journal says it is much to be regretted that Valdez did not go to Congress with more meritorious proposition than the building of 2 wagon road to Eagle. and adds that in going to Congress for the construction of a mere wagon road, Valdez has invited the building of a line from some other point that will render the proposed wagon road worse than superAuous.