Valdez daily prospector., 1916-11-06

ka, its general development and pros perity would have been much greate than 1t has been.
 It has been charged that transpor tation rates to Alaska are excessive. As . result the Interstate Commerce Commission is now investigating the rates of the leading railroad and steamship lines of Alaska to ascertain If there are and have been discrimi- nation and overcharging fin the hand ling of freight and passengers.
 The railroads charge 10c and 12c a mile for passenger fares. The freight rates from Fairbanks to Seattle by water is s55 per ton, tho a specia! rate has been made recently to min CTS who have begun to mine tungsten for $12.5O a ton from Fairbanks to Seattle.
 Mining, fishing and agriculture in the order named are the most impor- tant industries in Alaska, tho furs and fox raising are also to be consid- cred. The modern fox farms of Alaska are second to none in the world.
 One of the most important aims O: the present national administration is to develop Alaska. The first govern Dent railroad constructed by Uncle Sam is being rapidly completed.
 Major Edes and Lieutenant Mears. two of the government commission. who are constructing the great rail road assured me that within two weeks, If they desired, they might ship coal from the mines on the gov ernment cars. All coal now consum- ed in Alaska comes from British Col lumbia.
 It Is said that oil has been discOv- cred and will soon be developed. With unlimited quantities of coal the possibility and probability of oil de- velopment is considered.
 The fish canneries and the fisheries are well regulated by the government Fishing in Alaska is not allowed iron, six o'clock Saturday evening to six a. 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. Can
 The banks of Alaska receive 12 per cent interest on ordinary commercial paper; and notwithstanding the Bank Reserve Law requires only 20 per cent reserve, there is so little demand for loans in Alaska that approximate ly 50 per cent of the deposits gre ger erally on hand.
 Not only gold, silver. copper. tin and antimony. besides other metals are mined in Alaska, but quite re gently Michael Stiepovich discovered tungsten. The discovery was made while he was mining for gold. Tung- sten is now valued at some four or five hundred dollars per ton. The war increased its value 200 per cent 1. Alaska, like Ireland, has no snakes CT poisonous vines. One can pick and Saf any berry with impunity. Snow 4ad frozen ground six months out
 the year prevent reptiles from ex
 Ting.
 There is no doubt that Alaska is T
 lty place. The death rate among
 hites is low. Children are heal
 la<p Rf ,tamosed from some
 fxsm 4fJn J eaS Sess s6s
 of civilization does not seem
 IT their development. , 1aily newspapers - limited na and the high cost of white p] telegraph tolls considered - arevelation to me. l should ssK najds and population consid- tI Give more news than any q similar conditions in the E t. 1, though the selling t1 Sten cents per copy. { bwest city. Anchorage.
 head of Cooks Inlet, e51 6pm town of three or
 people; and though it Hayicol fhara iS mt a nn1 xIhe city is under the pf fection of the United VSlopment of Alaska thru D. Friction of a great railroad TT by the government will be r by the whole civilized world. !. IT. Asrtainly no other field in the N &Qr development and experi- \ {231h as the territory of Alaska Eff the operation of this gov- s railroad opens up the vasf r Resources of Alaska. it viii i F6e a creative and construc; [ {1enmental work, but will chatls admiration of the entire civr r. fad. E
 I believe, answer to the sec of all concerned the Queel That's the matter with Alase