The Chitina leader. [volume] (Chitina, Alaska) 1910-1928, 1912-07-23


fisheries (last year, amounted to
about $14,OO0,O00. Copper, timber,
furs and limited agricultural prod
ucts amount to a million or two more
The annual coastwise commerce be-
tween Alaska and the States, in both
directions. amounts to about $780,
100000 per annum. One can only
surmise how much greater would
have been the value of these products
and the volume of this commerce had
the past congresses devoted more
careful attention to the needs of the
territory.
The extraordinary controversies
over the coal lands and other matters
have had the effect, first, of directing
the attention of the general public
to the great resources of Alaska, and,
second, of bringing the principal
needs of the territory sharply to the
attention of Congress. These needs
are not of a complex nature at all,
but unfortunately the discussion of
the coal land, railroad and harbor
questions has been inspired by so
much selfishness and by such sordid
purposes of demagogism that a very
simple situation has been translated
into what is now commonly called
| 1.-THE Alaska problem" For my part
| can not recognize the existence OF
an Alaskan problem" inherent in
any premises which existed prior to
the recent period of false "conserva-
tion," scandal and undertaking. If the
coal land question mad been treated
with wisdom and discernment eight
years ago, when a hopeless law was
enacted, or even four years ago when
a worse law was placed on the stat
+ ute books. the present condition un-
der which not an ounce of Alaska e
rich store of fuel may be mined would
not have arisen at all. If we must
recognize a general Alaska problem
now, as it seems we must, the vari-
Gus questions of and by which it is
formed would still lend themselves to
solution if intelligence and devotion
and non-partisanship were applied to
the cause. But considerations of po-
litical advantage, a good deal of ig-
norance, and even desire for per-
sonal revenge have taken the place
of these. Nearly all of the most con-
spicuous articles in the newspapers
and the periodical press have been
| written by persons who never visited
| Alaska, but who are confident, it
would appear, that somebody is try
ing to steal Alaska's coal and every
thing else of value. They think it
their duty to stoy the thief. Particu-
larly on the occasion of the Control
Ter Bay fiasco mendacity ran riot,
and forgery succeeded falsehood. 1t is
not to be doubted that this sort of
publicity has had an unfortunate de-
terring effect upon the Congress at
Washington, and this is scarcely to
be wondered at.
Since recent false statements have
contributed to much to the unfortun-
ate situation in which Alaska finds it.
self at present, it follows that a
spreading of the truth will assist ma
terially in resolving this situation.
The truth is that neither the harbors
tributary to the coal fields, nor any
other harbors in the territory. have
been monopolized, or even threaten
ed by any persons seeking exclusive
privileges. The truth is that no
transportation monopoly has been
created. The truth is that no large
aggregations of mineral claims have
been brought under monopolistic con-
troll or ownership. The truth is that
while the development of Alaska re-
sources calls loudly for large capt.
tai, opportunities for poor men have
not been impaired and will not be
impaired, but rather improved by
the activities of capital. To use the
current phrase of demagogues, Alas
ka resources have not been "gobbled
up" 1 apprehend that the members
Of syndicate who should accom-
plish the impossible feat Of "gobbling
up" Alaska would speedily suffer
from a severe attack of indigestion.
Greatly as we may deplore the
present conditions, we can not expect
a remedy by merely denouncing them.
A great many Alaskans and the lead
ing members of the national admins
tration realize this. At the beginning
of the controversies produced Dy the