Douglas Island news., 1907-07-31
THE FIRST STEP.


 eraIIy as a move in the right direction, was the organization in Douglas of the Southeastern Alaska Homeseekers' h. formation Bureau"
 The objects of this organizations briefly stated, are to advertise all the resources of the District, such as eli mate. soil, products, mineral resources, fisheries and other industries, opportu- mites for securing work and home steads, description and character of employments, and all the great and varied attractions of the District.
 In other words a helping hand society for the use of intending settlers and immigrants, who may at all times ob- tain free of charge, from the secretary or any officer of the society, truthful, dependable information on any and all subjects of interest and vital impor- tance to intending settlers.
 The officers are as follows: President, NJ. s. Hudson, Mayor of Douglas City, Alaska. Vice Presidents; lst, Charles A. Hopp, proprietor of the Douglas ls- land News, Douglas. 2dp Frank Bach, Judge Municipal Court. Sd, M. J. O Connor, Merchant, Douglas. Treasurer, P. H. Fox, Merchant, Douglas. Secret ary, John Henson, City Clerk of Doug las, Alaska,
 While the headquarters of the asso- citation will be in Douglas, and tho bus mess will Ee transacted here, yet 1t IS not the intention to limit the aseful- ness of the Bureau by the boundaries of the Island, but on the other hand it is the expressed desire of the organi- gers to cooperate with every person and every organization iu Southeastern Alaska that has for it's object the pro- motion of the interests of the section.
 The mem bership roll will be open for citizens who have property interests in Alaska, and they will be invited to join the society and give it their support, or, iu localities where it is considered advisable to form other organizations of similar character, every help pos sible will be given by this Bureau.
 The organization of the Bureau in Douglas was the result of careful study of every phase of the present and future necessities of the District, and a full realization of it's great pos abilities. Two elements combine in the building up of a coantry--capital and labor. The first is not more wary than the latter. The natural resources 2f a land such as ours are constant invitation to capital, which is ever on the alert for new opportunities. Many of those who acquired fortunes in the golden sands of the far North are look ing to Southeastern Alaska for an in- vestment having more of permanency than is found in placers. Almost every day brings the story of new under takings begun, and some of them of such magnitude that the truth sudden Iy breaks upon us that growth such as we never dreamed of Is to be almost forced upon us. Buty while the bring ing of capital to Southeastern Alaska is a matter of great importance, there are already forces at work that will ac- eomPlish this purpose without further effort of special nature.
 On the other hand is the problem of the labor. While at times it's solution may prove vexatious, yet there are al ways pleasing features. What can be more joyous than the invitation from the people who live in land where plenty reigns, to their needy fellows in less favored localities, to come and share their blessings2 And this is the mission of the Southeastern Alaska Homeseekers Information Bureau.
 If the projects new being brought rapidly to a point of certainty on Gas tineau Channel, are to be carried to a successful climax, it will mean won derful increase in our working popula- tion. They must come, and whoever they are, and wherever they may come from, they will be our neighbors and friends. However, a timely interVen-