Douglas Island news. [volume] (Douglas City, Alaska) 1898-1921, 1905-07-19
PHONE NO. y.
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY
How 1t Grows!

Those of us who have lived in Doug
las continuously for the past five years
can hardly realize the many changes
that have taken place in that time.
Douglas is a growing town, and the
most remarkable part of its growth has
taken place during the period mention
ed. The increase of population during
that tine has been more than 100 per
cent. No other town in Southeastern
Alaska has done as we'll. Douglas has
stepped into line as the foremost city
in this part of the district. The census
of 1900 gave the town only little over
500 people. The recent census, taken
under the direction of the city council,
and which included only those resi-
dents who were not Indians, showed a
total of 1912.
To some the reasons for this rapid
growth may not be apparent. To 9th
ers, who have given the matter careful
thought. it is as plain as day. The first
and most important of the events that
have combined to bring about this
healthy condition is the fact that as
an Incorporated town Douglas has been
able to take on a measure of self-goY-
eminent. Her people have been privi-
legged to partake of the revenues arts
ing from the license tax, and with it
build city.
Not alone has the increased dignity
accompanying this event added to the
Importance of the town, but, having a
governing power OF their own choosing,
the people have felt that they were
somebody, that they we're not mere
slaves. working out some other peoples
salvation.
1t is a question if this one condition,
which has done so much for Douglas,
which has pulled her out of the mire
and clay of a shiftless, Indifferent,
aon't.care village, and has placed her
feet upon the solid rock Of progress,
would not, if applied to the people of
Alaska. bring about similar results.
Give her only taste of self-rule, and
Alaska will grow - Douglas is growing
OF course one might enumerate the
hundreds of things that have been &C
complished in the few years since
Douglas has taken on this added digni-
ty; we might speak of the beautiful
$1,000 school house, with its modern
equipments, that has taken the place
of the old ramshackle buildings kept
up for the government school; we might
tell of the miles of paved streets and
roads that have taken the place Of the
old trail through tho mud; the fire.
fghting equipment, hydrants, carts,
hose and alarm bells, that have taken
the place of the bucket brigade; the
the rows Of electric street-lights, that
have entirely usurped the place of the
smoky lantern; we might tell of the
cemetery, the parks, the sewers, and so
on; but all these things were made pos
sible only by giving the people a
chance.
The American people will progress
under the freedom which the flag is
supposed to guarantee, but they want
to be Independent, they want voice
in their own affairs, they don't make
good slaves.
The growth of Douglas in the last
FIVE years has been remarkable. To
double the population of any town in
five years is great thing. But it can
be done again. Given, a continuation
of the existing conditions and 1910 will
see Douglas city of 1000 souls. This
means that all the intervening years
will be filed with honest, earnest eff
fort on the part of our citizens
Douglas is fast becoming city OF
homes. Men who never thought of 1t
before are buying homes, and bringing
their wives and children here from
other lands.
There is one thing remarkable about
Alaska homes, very few of them are
cursed by mortgages. The government
census of 1900 revealed only y homes
IN the entire district of Alaska that
we're mortgaged- The reason
families are coming is apparent,
schools, streets, fire protection, and
Improved san5saGy conditions IS chs