The daily Alaskan., 1906-07-02
AN EARLY BELIEVER IN ALAS
 KA RESOURCES.

Some person, evidently friend and we'll wisher of the gentleman whom the people of Southeastern Alaska, fires pective of party faith or creed, have put forward as their choice as first dele gate in congress, sends to us from Mar quette, Michigan, his old home, a copy of the Mining Journal, of the date of Oct. 2T, 1898, containing au editorial under the caption which is wholly pertinent to- the present political status in Alaska:
 "Iu view of the recent disclosures regarding the richness in gold of Alas ka, it is interesting to recall the faith in the mineral resources of that ter ritory which Gov. SwinefOrd held when he was appointed its governor during the first presidential term of Cleveland, 8 faith that was strengthened by his four years stay there, and which he has ever since stoutly maintained against all who were skeptical as to the value of the frigid territory.
 "It was because of his conviction that the-e were vast mineral deposits in Alaska, and that it was especially rich in gold, that Mir. Swineford sought the appointment which he received from President Cleveland. He had read and studied everything published concern ing the territory and had added to the information thus obJalned by inquiry, until he was remarkably well informed regarding its phySicsli characteristics, climate and resources, for a man who had never visited it, and all that he read and heard about Alaska convinced him that there was a great future be- fore the territory, and inspired him with the desire to be placed in a position to do something to bring its resources Co the attention of the people of the states iu order to promote and hasten the development.
 When he became governor of the territory he at once addressed himself, with an energy characteristic .oi the man, to inform himSlf fully as to its resources, and to bring these to the attention of congress. He sought in duStriously to obtain legislation that would enable prospectois to seek out the hidden wealth of the territory with some assurance that when they had found anything of value they would be protected iu their title to it, and which would tend to make life and property as secure for all ia Alaska aS in the states, to the end that a serious ob- s.acle iu the way of it's settlement and development might be removed. He was not very successful in getting the desired legislation, owing to the skeP- ticism of congress, but the effort did much to direct attention to the rich ness of the territory in gold and other minerals, and no doubt aided 10 bring about the discoveries that have now made the Yukon region known to the entire world.
 No living man has done more than Mr. Swinetord to bring to the notice of the people of the United States the great possibilities of gold mining in Alaska, as well as the extent and va riety of it's other resources. On that subject he could not talk st any time since his governorship of the territory without becoming enthusiastic, and making predictions that have since been singularly verified. It was a great mistake on the part of Cleveland when he became president for the second time not to re-appOint MT. SwinefOrd to the position in which he had accomplsed so much for the territory. But the good work that he did during his one term as governor of Alaska did much to start the movement which has had culmination iu the wonderful discoveries on the Yukon and it's tributaries, and for that work he is entitled to great credit"