Evening star., 1914-04-05

of gold that startled the world in 1897 thirty years
after the purchase The lesson taught by these and
other discoveries is that we know little of what the fu
ture may bring forth. These localities widely scat
tered and far apart but each discovery forms settle
and base of supplies for the prospector, enabling
him travel farther and farther into regions yet
known Of but a small part of the territory have
any detailed knowledge: the larger part by far is
the domain of the prospector and by him only trac-
ton has been traversed. The remainder belongs the
wild denzens of the forests and the roaming natives.
But did not realize until within few years that
Alaska worth developing. Since then have
been waiting to make up minds as to what could
be wisely done. We have hesitated and halted out OF
the very keenness of appreciation of what Alaska
might become. new land, it must be opened under
conditions. But have paused long, and further
waiting would mean unnecessary delay.
7 HAVE given much thought to the question of what
must be done for Alaska and for the people who wish
to there, well for those already there To bring
the territory into the early and full realization of its
possibilities must create piece of governmental
machinery for the purpose Under existing conditions
there be satisfactory administration. Admins
erng laws distance of 5000 miles from the point of
action is almost absurd. Much less is this possible
where the two sections of the country separated
by and the land calling for attention closed
to the world for half of the year.
Alaska should be developed far as possible out of
her and The funds raised from
her lands and fisheries, her rs and her forests and her
mnes should be used for the construction of her roads,
railroads, telegraph and telephone lines, for any
other purpose that would make her resources more
quickly available to the world In Short would con-
struct the administrative machinery that would
surely lead to a prompt and continuous development
of Alaska part of the United States upon a plane
commensurate with her possibilities ndustrally, agr-
culturally and socially.
Alaska IS about to enter upon of unparalleled
development, indrstrally and commercially The gold
placer fields of Interior and Northwestern Alaska
longer give employment to many men in former
years but the gold output is still large. The volume
OF labor employed in the placer sections has decreased
because of the adoption of methods of mining in
those districts and the exhaustion of placer deposits
but elsewhere increase is noted This perhaps an
excellent showing, in that it proves that the number of
employees is decreasing but by the normal increase
white population there is evidence that more men be-
their employers. There is other way of
accounting for the decrease in aboring ranks.
The volume of merchandise shipments, including
precious metals and copper, between Alaska and the
United States and between Alaska and foreign countries
the fiscal year 1913 the largest history The
grand total for the year $67 150,519, and this
could have easily been increased had ransporta-
ton facilities been available.
Alaska, | confident, is replete with possibilities
for those who wish to cast their fortunes there. do
not to say that any who goes to Alaska
find fortune and plenty, because not every man
cope with the conditions but for those who feel they
can, who accept reverses with the readiness to