The Ketchikan miner., 1908-08-29

with tiange connections throughout. The machinery for the plant has al been ordered and contracted for de- livery by the time the buildings will be ready to receive it, and will be all of the latest and best improved type. The large new wharf is so nearly completed that it can be finished within few days after the workmen engaged in blasting the rock excava- tions shall have finished their work, which will be in the course of a few days at the most. The new wharf will be sufficiently large to accommodate the company's large fleet of steam and sail vessels, and the plant, in all re- spects, will be thoroughly complete and adequate in every particular.
 The plans of the company, as thus taintly outlined, have been undertak- eu after long and careful study and investigation of the advantages pre- sented for the establishment of such an industry as that in which they have for su long been engaged, at this place in preference to any other. These advantages are two fold, in that their plant will be located within a radius of not much more than fifty miles of the best and most productive halibut fishing grounds, and from which it's product can be shipped to the eastern markets in less time than is required by the company's vessels in making trips to the fishing grounds and returning thence to Vancouver with the fish there to be prepared for shipment by rail. In fact, the fish can thus be more directly placed on the market, and in less time, aftey they have been taken from he water, than under the plan by which the company is now operating. It is true, that the company now has contract with the Canadian Pacific railway for the ship ment of its product to the eastern markets, which has some time yet to run. uut " IS uoe " bO aueiStpatSu that any possible change it may be compelled to make will be other than to it's advantage. @
 The benefits likely to accrue to Ket- chikan from the inauguration of this great industry here can not well be overestimated. It will make this the center of the fishing industry of south
 eastern Alaska, add largely to the population of the town, and in addi
 tion to the wages paid to the large number of people engaged in fishing and manning it's vessels and in operat- ing it's plant, will afford ready and lucrative market for independent fish, ermen whether of high or low degree. It will no. only employ its large fleet in catching and bringing Ssh to il plant to be prepared for the market it supplies, but will buy all that are brought to it, thus affording a means of livelihood to all the independent fishermen, white and native, who may be ready and willing to avail them- selves of the advantages it offers in the way of au ever ready and reliable market. It goes without the saying.
 that the hundreds of thousands of dol. lars which will tbus annually be paid out in wages and the purchase of
 fish will, in large measure, find its
 way into the coffers of ihe local merchants and tradesmen, and to that extent add to the business prosperity of the town.
 To Mr. John W. Stedman. the con- pany's local agent, the people of Ket- chikan owe their acknow ledgments for having been chiefly isstrumentai, I through his influence and representa-
 tions, in having induced this great corporation to make such conservative @
 investialions as led it's management to establish here an industry which promises so much for the future
 growth and prosperity of Ketchikan.
 The inauguration of this enterprise,
 the realization of which is now sssur7
 ed beyond the contingency of any
 ooubt whatever, will be more wide
 spread in the way of benefits to all con- cerned than even the most sanguine
 among US are in the least likely to lexaggerate in the narration.