The daily Alaskan., 1909-10-18
NEGLECT OF ALASKA,

neglect and delay important legts- ton demanded by justice and exped- iency for the benefit of our outlying possessions. These dependencies have no votes that can effect the politics of the country and for this unworthy reason their claims are given only the the most grudglng attention by con gressmeu. It is one Of the evils of government without representation. Alaska is the Cinderella Of the Am erlcan family. Richer in natural re sources than any of our other distant possessions. and occupied by a popu- lation more distinctively American than any Of the other national de peudencIes, nevertheless congress can scarcely be persuaded to give the most casual attention to its needs
 Alaska is given nominal representa- tlon in congress by a delegate who is not permitted to vote. Its present representative is James Wickersham, who is urging on congress the enact ment of relief designed to give the existing rude and primitive form of government in that region some sort of administrative and legislative back bone. In a recent address in support of his measure Judge Wickersham gave some particulars of the natural wealth of the territory and the pro gress of It's development, from which We quote:
 "we have more coal than PennsyE yania, West Virginia and Ohio; more gold that California and Colorado put together; more copper than Montana and Michigan. Alaska is a more healthtul place. The sick and the halt are not to be found there. Only vigorous, sturdy, progressive men have established themselves there, and according to the census of 1900 wa had n populatIon of 63,5g2. Alas ka covers an area of 6OO,OOO square miles, every mile containing valuable mineral deposits. Alaska virtually feeds herself When we get more people and more capital there and the immense territory is opened and pro perly worked, she will not only feed herself. but millions of other persons. We have discovered the quartz from which the placer gold comes. This means that the gold industry will be worked indefinitely in Alaska. A rail road is being built up the Copper ri- yer. This will enable us to get our coal. copper and other minerals and other products out to the Pacific. Sometimes we hear that "the Alaska gold fever" is over. This is not true. When I left Fairbanks in February, saw I65 camp trains going into the interior. Probably as many more men. horses and sleds had gone into the interior before I started for Wash lugton. and an equal number since I left This gives an idea as to whether gold mining in Alaska is fever" and as to whether the fever is over"
 Alaska does not ask for money or appropriations. It has been a pay ing proposition from the start and yet its profitable development is only be- ginning. The gold, Of course, came first in process of exploitation, but this is only a small part of it's wealth. The copper, the coal, the lucrative fisheries and other forms of wealth are virtually ineThaustIble. Now con gress is unable or unwilling to give Alaska legislation the attention to which 1t is entitled. It is only just that the territory should be- given a legislature competent to enact such laws as the development of the coun- try may demand.-San Francisco Call