Douglas Island news., 1916-04-19
THAT CHANNEL BRDGE.


 IfJuneau is to ever pass from the town to the city class, it is imperative that she must acquire more territory in which to expand and as leveling down mountains Go obtain that territory would entail more millions chan Alaska has ever produced, the only thing left. Che only ching that can be brought about at a comparatively small cost small in proportion to the enormous benefits that would result-is to con- struct, or agitate until the government is induced Go construct a bridge over the marrow channel adjacent Go that town.
 Douglas still has ample territory on which Go build and expand and, unless Juneau gets busy on the bridge p,opo- si,ion, which vii. enable her Go build up new Juneau across the channel, the day will come when the now proud, and justly SO, territorial capital will be second iu size in the list of Gastiueau Chaaue, towns. There are grounds no pun inteuded) for this assertion and the grounds are on thjs side of the channel Co which those desiring homes for themselves will be forced to come in the very near future for the reason that there are no grounds on which to construct further buildings and homes on the Juneau side.
 The connecting of the towns Ou this side and the addition Go Juneau which would spring up on this side Go the present town by the proposed bridge would bs mighty asset Co both sides. and such a real estate boom would follow as has never before been known iu Alaska, which, by the way, has been decidedly fgee from real estate booms as compared wi,h less preteu- tious localities on the outside. With the additional facilities for building which such an ovation would bring about. Gastiueau Channel would, with in a few years, harbor population of one hundred thousand people, a population commensurate with the God-giveu resources and advantages with which this section of the country is endowed.
 With the greatest gold mines on the American continent practically within their corporate limits, there is nothing that eau retard che growth and devel opmeut of both Juneau aud Douglas. The experimental stage of this par ticular section is iu past era aud the future holds for both towns more than any man can compute. It is, therefore a good business propositiou-more than that, an urgent necessity hat a bridge connecting the two towns be constructed. and that without delay. Such bridge, with the natural increase in population that woulG follow it's construction, would not only furnish business for a larger fleet of ferry boats, but also for shore line tram way extending from the southern boundary of the present town of Tread we'll on Che west Co Thaue on the east.
 At present a man of moderate means in Juneau has no show of ever owning his own home owing to the fact that what little land there is suitable for building sizes is held at such prices that only those of wealth aud cousid erable wealth at that, can afford Co own a home. The proposed bridge would open up au addition Co the town in which those of moderate means could secure lots and build homes cheaper than even a lot, that bears a striking re emblauce to Pike's Peak, in Juneau proper can be purchased.
 Juneau Thaue and Douglas-Tread- we'll should work hand in hand for bridge across the head of the Channel and should bring every influence at their command to make such proposed improvement a reality. Visitors see the necessity of such connecting link and wonder that there is not more agi tatiou among those most iuteresed for it. We are a progressive people but unless we all get in and boost for this most needed of a.l improvements-it even has statehood from a local stand point faded to frazzle-we are asleep at the switch.