Douglas Island news., 1909-10-06
NEN G0TERN0R.


 Last Friday afternoon, promptly at. 2 o'clock, the door between the main room of the U. s, court house, at Ju- neau, and the quarters occupied by the judge, opened and Judge Cushman en- tered. Immediately following the Judge was slender, young-looking man, of rather serious cast of coun- tenauce. Following came Governor w. B. Hoggatt. They proceeded to the bench, where, without further barley, Judge Cushman began to read the oath which made Walter B. Clark governor of Alaska. As he repeated the words of the solemn obligation the young governor held in his hand a small bible with gilt edges, such as mothers often give to their sons, with farewell kiss, as they start for Alaska in the uncertain quest of fortone.
 At the conclusion of the obligation, Judge Cusbmau grasped the hand of the new governor, expressing his oou gratuIatious. Governor Hoggatt like wise offered congratulations, and then, turning to the large crowd of citizens assembled to witness tue solemn event, he introduced to them theiC new gov ernor, at the same time expressing the hope that hls administration might be ! foIicitos5a
 The new governor then delivered his inaugural address, as follows:
 My Fellow Alsskans; l come to you just at the close of what is, for Alaska as whole, the season of greatest Rctiv- ity in the chief industries of the terri tory, Placer mining operations for the season of 1909, except those which are carried on under the ground iu the winter months, have ceasedi the principal fisheries have s0s- pended for the year, certain other industries have become either wholly or in part inactive, and will continue SO until spring. It is good tine to reckon our standing.
 Of the decade between 1899 aud 1908, the first half may be described as a period of exploitation and the latter hale as a period of more settled condi- tions attended by development along intelligent economic lines. In the year 1903 our gold output was S8,6s3;S00; the product of the fisheries, as shown by shipments to points outside the terri tory, was S9, ,lS2,6 ,642; the copper output was Sl56,OO0; while the exchange of merchandise shipments between Alas ka and the States, comprising all arti- cles except precious metals, was $l9,- 474,724. In every succeeding year un- til two years ago there was an increase in nearly every department of industry aud commerce, until the aggregate of Alaska trade, including gold bullion, exceeded S5O,0OO,OO0 in twelve months. In 1907 there was slight general de. precision. Several causes contributed to this moderate decline, chief among them being low water in certain placer districts, labor disputes in at least two localities, and the financial depression of I9O7 in the United States. Subse- uuently the commercial and industrial situation improved, and the present year, although somewhat disappoint- ing, has gwen us some reasons for en- couragement. The gold output this year has been large, despite adverse conditions in the northwestern part of the territory, and there has been sat isfyiug improvement in other depart ments of industry. Information from careful observers ia several localities leads us to believe that business is about to experience a substaGtial growth of prosperity
 In announcing my appointment to the goVernOrship, immediately follow ing the regretted resignation of Gov ernor Hog gait, President Taft publicly stated in generous terms that the ap- poiutment was made Ion account of the importance of giving special con sideration to Alaska with view Of bringing together conflicting interests aud permitting the natural industrial development of the country" feel the added burden of responsibility which this expression of purpose and of confidence has placed upon me. 1t was in the mind of the president, as now it is lodged firmly in mine, that the era of increased prosperity, whose approach we now see in the conditions o,,rronndino Tarr;torial industry and