The Alaska daily empire., 1916-01-11

paratively few years, tho govern ments of these provinces are repaid tkeir loans to the farmers. in due course Of time. and the country is set- Ied with an industrious citizenship and great prosperity and development naturally result Some such policy. were it adopted in Alaska. would at- tract Co this territory many citizens of the United States who now yearly become expatrIates, by emigrating to Canada"
 Railroad All important,
 On the early completion of the gov ernment railroad the report says:
 "The completion of the government system of railroads at the earliest possible time is a matter of prime im- portance to the territory. Although he work on construction may sad to but have scarcely begun. there has been large influx of people to the territory. not ali of whom are looking Tor employment, as many of them have come with the purpose in view of becoming permanent residents. Many arms are being homesteaded fin the vicinity of the railroad surveys; the prospectors are abroad in the hills and in the valleys of the interior and he coastal region. which 1t Is expect ed will be in close touch with the rail roads when they shall have been com pleted This augurs well. not only Tor the production of tonnage for the railroad. but it means also the estab- lishment In contiguous territory Of 'arming communities end industrial enterprises AS the railroads of the West were the pioneers of civilization SO will the building of railroads of Alaska cause the wilderness and now waste places to bloom and blossom 4 few months of the present year have demonstrated the wisdom of the government in beginning the develop ment of the resources of Alaska, on T large scale. through railroad con. struction.
 Halibut Shipping Conditions
 Southeastern Alaska's trouble .n getting rates for the shipping of fish 70 the Eastern marts over the Grand Trunk Pacific railroad is best explain ed in the following paragraph from the Governors report, with the remedy recommended:
 "The recent opening of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway from Prince Rupert. British Columbia. direct to The East may lessen the quantity of halibut handled through Ketchikan, which is the principal center of that industry in Alaska. It is not 80 much question of individual or indepen. lent fishermen suffering any serious loss as the result of the bid which Prince Rupert is making for the con. ,rol of the halibut industry. for the sshermen may sell their catch where they may obtain the best price, but it is however, the concerns buying and 'reezlng halibut in Alaske that may De hurt as a result of being forced to compete with the Prince Rupert com. oanles, which have distinct advant- age in the matter of transportation tc he markets of the East. The mer- 'hants of Southeastern Alaska. who ieal in supplies used by hallbut fish ,rmen will feel to a certain extent ,lso. the loss of trade, although 1t is not believed that this will be as ser 'ous or will be felt as much as may ne apparent at this time. The prlvi- 'eges of shipping in bond are such that lsh may be sent through Prince Rup ert to points iu the United States duty 'reee. The granting of terminal rates by the Grand Trunk Pacific railway Q shippers Of halibut at Ketchikau 70 miles distant. would do much to- yard insuring the retention of the business to Southeas ern Alaska. but he granting of such rates and privi eges can hardly be expected in the immediate future"
 The Herring Waste.
 With other subjects tho report deals IS follows:
 For years the Alaska oil and Qua. 10 Company has made extensive use 'f herring in the preparation of oil md fertilizer at Killisnoo. Southeast. 'rn Alaska. There has been much ag 'tation as to the propriety of permit ing the use of herring in the manu. 'acture of these products. 1t being ar gued that herring should be used sole y for food purposes It has been fur her charged by some that the activi- les of this plant have resulted in 9 decrease of the number of herring in he waters of Southeastern Alaska. It s hardly probable that any serious depletion has resulted from the use ,f herring in the KIisnoo plant, but n view of the popular clamor for iiscontinuance of the practice of us. Ing herring for the manufacture oi 'ertilizer and oil. 1t is believed advis- lble and proper to prohibit the further lse of herring for such opposes. a -easonable amount of time being glv- en the concern to close up it's affairs.
 A New Cable Needed
 There have been numerous inter. ruptIons of the military cables be- tween Alaska and Puget Sound dur ing the fiscal year due to breakages As matter of fact, the cables are steadily deteriorating through age and