The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-09-15
SECRETARY FISHER TALKS OF ALASKA
Development on RETURN TO SEATTLE

mn his conclusions was awaiting 2
report from DR.. Holmes.
Talks of Development
/ Continuing, the secretary took M
the question of the development OF
the coal fields:
! "Now what are we going to do
about it? There is one thing that we
all want and that is to open those
fields to proper development just as
quick as it can possibly be done. We
don't want to open it except for prop
er development. Personally, l don't
believe it is necessary to make any
/, mistakes. Nor do believe it neces-
sary to adopt any law that will not
do absolute justice to the interests
| involved.
| There are three methods of de-
yelopment. The first, private exploit
tation, l shall waste no time on. |
am not speaking my convictions
alone. but I am telling you what
every intelligent man in Alaska said
to me.
Danger of Private Control
eff it should happen that any great
interest should acquire control of the
available power in this country SO
that it could dictate terms, all other
trusts would be dwarfed by COMPARE
son. We all know the feeling that
exists upon that subject, the feeling
that the functions of the government
ought not to be enlarged. The con-
troll of the coal mines, without con-
troll of the transportation, will &C
complish little. The most important
question in Alaska is that of trans
portation."
The secretary closed by predicting
great agricultural possibilities for
Alaska, and expressing the hope that
the agricultural development would
keep pace with the mineral develop
ment.
Seattle, Sept. Secretary Wal.
ter L. Fisher and party reached Sc
attic on the revenue cutter Tahoma,
direct from Skagway Thursday
Their arrival marked the completion
of the tour of investigation and sight
seeing taken by the secretary on be-
half of the administration.
The Tahoma tied up to a buoy in
the bay, fired salute, and the party
disembarked, going at once to the
Hotel Washington, where they have
apartments.
cit was pleasant and instructive
trip" said Secretary Fisher. eve
did not always face kindly audiences
but feeling of friendliness usually
marked the informal discussions
which followed or preceded those
meetings. These man-to-man talks,
however, were limited to those whom
the time at my command permitted
me to see personally.
On Ground With Open Mind
II have nothing to say now con-
corning matters of future policy. My
trip was for the purpose of obtain
/ ing information. l was on the
ground with an open mind to see and
hear.
There were some strenuous times
but they did not interfere with either
our plans or our pleasure. The
weather was delightful and we all en-
joyed ourselves immensely during the
entire time
The party went by rail from Skag-
way to Whitehorse, after leaving
Seward. and from Whitehorse, via
the steamer Dawson, to Five Finger
rapids.
| Sees Roth Gateways
This gave Mr.. Fisher an opportu-
nifty to view each of the important
gateways to the territory.
From Skagway they came direct
to Seattle by the outside route. The
trip was uneventful and made in good
time, the weather continuing delight
full throughout.
| The Tahoma is in the harbor wait
| ing for orders.
| The secretary leaves Seattle direct
for Yellowstone park, where an i'm
portant meeting of national park
superintendent will be held.
/ y =