The Cordova daily times., 1916-11-13
NEWSPAPER MAN GIVES ALASKA
 B|C BOOST

HduS d tIip tO SOulnNeSIefn AlaSRa towns, gave out the following inter view upon his return to San Diego California: "I have just returned from trip to Alaska. I became in terested in the territory after a con versation with Secretary of the In terior Franklin K. Lane, a few months ago. At that time he said: Alaska is a great country and has a great future. My highest aim is to develop it. Few people in the United States know much of Alaska
 "l began to read and inquire about Alaska, and I found that Secretary Lane was right discovered that my own ignorance of the territory was appalling, and also the fact that very few educated and intelligent people in this country know much about the ma ton's only territory. l have travelled about the world several times, but found that l was densely ignorant of Alaska.
 'Paraphrasing William Allen White in his famous article of long ago, en- titled, Whats the matter with Kan sas?' l asked the question, Whats the matter with Alaskan
 Its climate is an unusual one be cause its summers are so short and it's winters so long. X few weeks ago it was dark but two or three hours out of the "A. For nine months a year the days are not long. It is said that one sixth of the soil of Alaska will permit of some form of agricultural develop ment
 When the leading officials and citi- zens of Alaska were asked what has retarded the growth and development of Alaska, many of them have an swered that the Roosevelt and Taft administrations were responsible in a large degree for the non-development of Alaska.
 Ultra-conseryatism was the charge laid against these administrations. But strange as it may seem, while Alaska is Republican politically, it's citizens are very kindly disposed to- ward the Wilson administration. be- lieying that President Wilson and See retary Lane are sincere in their de sire an dambition to develop the ter ritory of Alaska for the benefit of the people of the United States.
 The Guggenhcims are referred to by the AIaskaus as the 'Guggies.' ItI is true that the great Guggenheim Cor poration is today taking millions of dollars out of Alaska each year, be cause the Guggenheim interests own, control and operate the two best mines in the territory.
 "It has been charged that transpor- tation rates to Alaska are excessive. As a result the Interstate Commerce Commission is now Investigating the rates of the leading railroad and steapship lines of Alaska to ascertain if there are and have been discrimi- nation and overcharging in the hand ling Of freight and passengers.
 "The railroads charge Toe and 12c a mile for passenger fares. The freight rates from Fairbanks to Seattle byI water is $55 per ton, though a special rate has been made recently to miners who have hegun to mine tungsten for $12.50 ton from Fairbanks to Seattle.
 Mining, fishing and agriculture in the order named are the most import ant industries in Alaska, though furs and fox raising are also to be con sidered. The modern fox farms of Alaska are second to none in the world
 "One of the most important aims of the present administration is to de velop Alaska. The first government railroad constructed by Uncle Sam is being rapidly complet,i
 "It is said that oil has been discov- cred and will soon be developed. With unlimited quantities of coal the pos sibility and probability of oil develop ment is considered.
 "The fish canneries and the fisher ies are we'll regulated by the govern ment. Fishing in Alaska is not al lowed from o'clock Saturday evening tO 6 m Monday
 "The general ignorance of people concerning Alaska is also proven by the fact that many believe that Daw- son, which is located in the Yukon territory. Canada, is a city of Alaska, just as much so as is Toronto, Canada.
 "The banks of Alaska receive 12 per cent interest on ordinary conner cial paper; and notwithstanding the bank reserve law requires only q 20 Der cent reserve, there is SO little de- mand for loans in Alaska that apprOXi mately 50 per cent of the deposits are generally on hand.
 Not only gold, silver, copper, tin and antimony, besides other metals are mined in Alaska. but quite recent ly Michael Stiepovich discovered near Fairbanks vast quantities of tungsten.