The Alaska daily empire., 1915-07-09
TERRIToRAL nrHsIoN-NoT XEr

While the time win come without doubt when Alas ka sbond be divided into two or more Territories The fmn,re believes ,bat the lime for that has not yet ar r,yes We believe that more could be accomplished ,or Inc general good of ne Northand by closer un- ion of those of au sections rather than by agitation for seooration at this time The establishment ot nll rerritoral form os government with enc organization o counties in those sections that are more advanced md which are prepared for that kind of government rould automatically remove many of the questions that ,re now serving to keep apart various sections of the Territory.
 We say this with nsa realization that tho mem hers o the late Legislature from other divisions did not treat Southeastern Alaska fairly in the matter of the forest funds and possibly n Che distribution of the taxes and that in much of the legislation they eonsd cred only their local sections We say t. also realiz' ing that the conditions and resources of Southeastern Alaska are different from uose of the Alaskan interior
 so different. in fact that there must come time with further development when the Territory should be divided.
 However. it is possible that when the division of Alaska comes that southeastern Alaska should be in- eluded wth Che coast country to the Westward. and there is no indication that those Of that section are prepared to say ct this time that they desire separa' ,ion from the interior The conditions and rf ources ohtoinine along the coast rom Dixons entrance to unimak Pass arc similar The First and Third Divs ions are maritime countries and their resources are chiefly lode mining and fisheries with timebr and az rieuture coming next in both. climatlcaliy they are much the same. and they age united by shipping and other aes
 In the meantime. however. there is great work to ao in tbe development of aNaska and in union there is strength The government railroad was secured by
 .-,t.r on -,,fforc of Alaeka worked unit edy. none more earnestly and effectively than the old First Division There are other things to be worked out and these can better bs secured by the people working together than otherwise
 There should however. be more local seitgovern- raent in Alaska That could be secured through full Territorial form of government with county govern ents in those sections than prepared for them The roads and schools of different sections of the Territory and other local matters would then in large measure come under local authority.
 However. the resources of Southeastern Alaska are great enough to maintain full Territorial form of government The First Division is larger in area than srv of tbe States of New York or Pennsylvania vir rina sosth Carolina or Misslssppi or Ohio, Indiana 1entpev or Tennessee It is nearly as large either of the great States ot Illinois Alabama Arkansas Mich ieau Wisconsin or North Carolina It is nyesevenths the size of Missouri Washington Oklahoma Its re- sources in gold and copper and fish and other products of sea and land are inexhaustible it is capable Of maintaining large population and prosperous
 Southeastern Alaska is not bound to remain with the other sections and it should refuse to do so h 1t is to be denied the right of fuli local self government The people of Southeastern Alaska prepared for all the powers that have been bstowed upon the people of other Territories and ,hey should have them even if it requires separation to secure them