New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-30
MAKES PLEA.FOR alaska
Let Government Stop Talking.
SAYS Daniel GuggenheIH.
TELLS OF ITS POSSIBILITIES
Urges That Congress Develop
Country or Give Private
Capital Chance.

rearsel C-ucsenhefrn, active hean OF the
ssorgar-Guggenheim Alaskan syndicate
will sail for Europe on "Wednesday on tile
sauretania Asked yesterday for an cpin-
ion as TO whether the development on
alaska's vast resources would be retarded
or advanced by the federal Investigations
If the affairs of the territory, Mr. Gus-
genheim said:
Alaska must ultimately benefit from
these investigations. for they have brought
10 the attention OF the people of the Orfteo
States as nothing else could have brought
81 TO their attention that there is great
sleeping empire of enormous wealth at our
very doors Now 1t Is time for the gov
ernrnent to stop talking and do something
which viii give the people the opportunity
10 go TO Alaska and take part IN the "orh
Of development
There has been a lot OF talk dOou'
syndicate control of Alaska because syn
dictate happens to be building railroad
there. But little in the way Of railroad
7,,r,lding has been accomplished as yet Ii
.be r.eonle feel that the government should
l,,,;Id the railroads in Alaska the govern
mon. should go ahead and do So Let the
iegsstato-s make up their minds whether
rho government should build the railroads
OF become a partner in the development
nv demanding royalties, or whether the
government should simply throw open the
doors TO private caIstaL The thing to 90 Is
10 stop talking and to sct To nave large
andeveloped quantities Of gold, silver, Ieao.
conner tin, zinc, coal, oil, etc, at our very
door and 20 refuse TO avail ourselves
17rolupfls Of this proffered wealth Is to hold
the country back. Why should not this
country take advantage of the Alaskan op-
portunity now%'
II was suggested 10 Mr.. Guggenheim
that while the popular appreciation OF
Alaska's undeveloped wealth was more
or less in line with his own, yet there
was q feeling that the country generally
would not share in the benefits OF Alaskan
development unless there was restrictive
legislation. TO this he replied:
-Just remember that Alaska is not one
mans land. or q set Of mems land, but
every mans land. It Is empire without
n people and is waiting TO be peopled-
would advise our husky and enterprising
Young men anxious to succeed, who are
willing to work and have backbone and
stamina, that they should go to the mag
netic North
1T IS true though, that our country
seems TO be bent on legislation adverse TO
corporations, and if this is persisted in 1t
viii finally legislate them out of business.
! cannot see how our exports can be IN
creased materially unless through large
CORPORATIONS having large means enabling
them 10 introduce the most economical
methods. so that they can compete with
the world There is no country, excepting
America. that does not welcome the CAPT.
talist who is willing TO spend his money
10 develop II. We surely need our re-
sources developed TO increase our pros
perity. and they can only be adequately
developed provided the capitalist is willing
10 take the risk or unless the government
is willing to become paternaL I hardly
think the American people are prepared for
ANYTHING of this kind, because in that event
each and every state In the Union would
he making demands upon the government
10 develop the resources of their respective
states and thereby create great jealousies
between the states America has been de-
Neloped by enterprising people and largely
through corporations Therefore they
should be assisted and not deferred from
doing their work.
IF the sellers Of any of our export
products were to set together and decide
upon a policy as TO what should be done
toward obtaining the highest possible price
for their products they would Immediately
Eet into conflict with our laws; whereas,
under the conditions obtaining in Europe,
the buyers. in buying from US, get the
advantage by getting together and selecting
some agent TO make purchases for them.
Very little, in my Judgment, can be
said of advantage for the people of the
United States by adopting onerous legisla-
tion against corporations or individuals
that are willing to spend their money to
dig or to manufacture, whether in agri-
culture or minerals anything else. We
seem to be at a period Of turning the clock
hack by radical legislation, while Germany
is adopting the reverse policy, thereby
rapidly putting that country in the front
rank as the greatest commercial nation