Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-04-02
Copyright 1916. BY Frank G. carpentef)
JUNEAU. aska.

SGS&S4 than nine-tenths OF the ter
ritory and potentially it is !.
world OF the future. 1t embraces all the
land west of the long line OF the information
al boundary, that runs north and south be-
tween us and British Columbia, coming al
most to the Pacific ocean, where the Malas-
pima glacier slopes off from Mount ST. Elias
into the sea. The tail is southeastern Alas
ka, comprising the strip Of coast and the
Alexander archipelago lying south and east
Of the boundary extension, This sertion
contains much less than one-tenth Of the
land, but just now it has the most people,
and its industries are producing more money
than any other part Of Alaska of quadrupls
its size.
Southeastern Alaska may be said to begin
at the Malaspina glacier, OF Mount ST Elias,
and it runs TO the southeast from there
along the coast to Dixon entrance and the
Portland canal Ii includes strip OF coast
line which is 80 Or more miles il width, and
is three or four hundred miles long lthas
in addition about one thousand islands,
number Of which are of considerable extent.
These islands border the coast. They are
separated by narrow channels and they run
for distance of 100 miles or more out into
the Pacific. The proposed territory IS all
told about four times the size OF Massachu-
setts, or three times as big as Vermont or
New Hampshire 1t would make six or
seven Connecticuts, or a couple OF Switzer-
lands, and leave some to spare. Neverthe-
less, it compares in size to the rest Of Alaska
as a postage stamp does to bank note, and
as far as area is concerned it would seem
that the dog could not help but wag the tai.
The matter has come up in connection
with the apportionment Of the taxes and
revenues of Alaska The most Of the reVe-
nues are derived from this section OF the
country and the larger part are from the tor
ests. Southeastern Alaska is heavily wood
ed Uncle Sam charges a dollar thousand
as stumpage for all the timber that is cut en-
the government reserves, and the receipts
are supposed to 60 back to the people for
tile making of roads. Such revenues from
southeastern Alaska last year were about
S60O00 but the legislature majority Of
which comes from the body of the territory,
has SO divided the money that three-fourths
of it goes to road work which is outside this
region, and the people object Indeed, the
feeling is SO intense that party has arisen
which advocates that southeastern Alaska
break away from the main body of the ter
ritory and become territory Of its own. II
demands that it be a separate political entity
a committee Of six has been appointed ID
investigate the subject, and it will probably
be brought up before congress this session.
There are many reasons why southeast
ern Alaska will eventually be separate ter.
ritory In size it compares favorably with.
Indiana or South Carolina. I have already
shown that it's larger than some very inn
portant states Of the Union 1t is cut off
geographically from the rest of Alaska ald
II has interests which are different from
those of any other part of the territory. It
has its own climate, and IN comparison with
the country north of the Yukon river il
might be called tropic or temperate Alaska.
The japanese current, the gulf stream Of
the Pacific sweeps through it and forms
great hot-water plant that holds Jack Frost
in check and seldom allows him to approach
zero even in the midst OF winter. The cold
est weather Of the region is as mild as that
Of many Of our states south Of Mason and
Dixon's line Juneau, where am writing,
has Tanuarys warmer than those Of ST.
Louis. and the climate of Ketchikan IS like
that Of Seattle Throughout the whole re-
pion the summers are pleasant and the rain
fall Is. so heavy that the land Is green all the
year round. Indeed, there are but few signs
II winter, except the snow on the noun
tains. The slopes Of the hills fear the water
are q, warm that the snow 1nelts as it falls