The Chitina leader., 1915-11-16
ALASKA I R A D {
IS GROWING
P|D[Y

q phenomenal increase. me total
through the port of Seattle from Jan
uary to September 80, 1915, was 80
per cent greater than for the same
period last year. This increase has
been gardually growing since early In
the year. For the months of July the
increase was Al per cent, for August
so per cent and for September 81 per
cent.
"Alaska's commerce this year will
show most remarkable increase, and
when the figures are completed by the
end of the year they will demonstrate
most effectively the great possibilities
of Alaska development when given
half chance" said j. L. Mcpherson,
secretary of the Alaska bureau of the
Chamber of Commerce. Commenting
on these figures, Mr.. Mcpherson said :.
Alaska commerce for this year
shows conclusively how enormous will
be her trade when her resources are
opened up and developed. If she can
maks such a showing with the slight
measures of encouragement that have
been melted out to her during the last
two years, and with her mere handful
of men, white population of about
only one-eighth the size Of Seattle,
what will she do when she is granted
those measures so essential to her ce.
velopment, and for which all friends
of Alaska have been striving?
Comparisons With Other Trades.
Some idea Of the immensely of this
trade and what it means to Seattle
can be gained from a comparison of
this Alaska business for the last year
with that of other countries. In 1914
Alaska's commerce exceeded the total
commerce of the United States with
China by more then $4,000, 900, and
was q per cent of the entire com
merce of all the United States with all
the countries of South America. AL
aska's white population was then only
about 10000. This years comparison
is going to be far more startling.
"The remarkable increase this year
has been due to no one factor, nor
does 1t center from any one locality
although some predominates over
others. All sections of the Northland
have felt the revival, and where for
years there was nothing but a spirit,
of pessimism, you will now find the
most enthusiastic optimism. These
facts are going to be a strong lever,
age to secure from congress the meas
ures for which the administration and
all friends of Alaska have been striv,
ing, and the opportunity is going to be
taken advantage of in the fullest
measure.
Bushes for next year promises
even greater returns. One company
alone, the Alaska-Juneau Gold Mining
Company, of Juneau, has recently
made known it's plans for next year.
1t contemplates the expenditure of ST.
100000 in the development of it's en-
ormous gold property back of Juneau
81 100000 for the mill, 100000 for
the power plant and $1,OO0,O00 for
mine development.
New BalI-Type Mill.
These plans include the erection of
an S,0O0-ton Ball-type mill, the first
unit of which, with a. capacity of 1000
tons daily, is to be in operation by
January 1. 1917, and the other three
unites, with total capacity of 5000
tons by March 1917.
Next years development in the
Northland promises greater activity
and advancement in all sections. To
take full advantage of the opportunity
now offering and secure the legisla-
ton SO essential to the greater dwell
opment of Alaska which Secretary
Lane and the administration are most
ably championing, the Alaska bureau
is now organizing most comprehen.
sive plan of education, by which it is
hoped to reach in personal way,
through Seattle's leading citizens, all
the more influential men of the coun-
try,
what this greater development will
mean to Seattle do not think any
one fully realizes. At the gateway to
Alaska, Seattle has a heritage I'M
equaled by any other city. To aid in
securing the remedial legislation es.
sential to Alaska's development is the
work of Seattle. Seattle Post-Intelli.
gencer
-:O:-
Nifty job printing at the Times.
.-.---==------.