The Alaska citizen., 1917-01-08
Phone 2O2 Phone
ALASKA TO THE FORE.

ing the figures of production iH min ing throughout the United States, as given in the report of the United States Geological Survey for l9la should be very gratifying 10 Ala kans. For the figures show that while the United States as a whole shows an increase in production O. over twenty-five per cent, Alaska, which is figured in the general re. port, shows an increase of FIFTY FOUR per cent
 This means that Alaska has out stripped every other district in the United States in the matter oI the production of precious metals. For although the dispatches do not state how many districts are named in the report. making it impossible to figure out just what percentage of the total value of the mining indus try of the United States in 1916 was produced by Alaska, it is easy to see that the increase in the pro duction of metals in this territory has been largely the cause for the increase as shown in the general report.
 Alaska can have no better adver- Using at the present time than this report. For it. or parts of it, will undoubtedly be read in congress and by congressman. which will have the effect of showing the legislators the strides that this territory is making in the matter of me,alliGerous min ing The report will also show that Alaska is far ahead of other dis tricts throughout the country in this regard, and this will mean that the readers of the report, when 1t comes to making appropriations for such productive territory, cannot help bu; make note of that fact.
 Therefore. if congress does not show too much tendency to cut down expenses, as seems to be the case, according to other dispatches, Alaska should get all the money she asks for, no matter for what purpose oI purposes. The money for the rail road. in the sum of $lO.OOO,0OO, should be forthcoming the minute the mat ter is presented to congress and without dissenting vote, as should the appropriation of $600,0O0 for Al aska roads. For a glance at the geo logical survey report will show even the most critical representative from the smallest congressional district in the show me" state that Alaska is the greatest of all districts in the domain of Uncle Sam, and that, as such, it needs all the help that the government can give it, in order that it's already great productive ia culties may be increased
 Year by year this increase Of pro duction continues, but, for the req son that the bonanza days, the days when a big poke of gold meant but little to either miner or merchant because it was so plentiful, are oyer many Alaskans express the opinion that the country Is on the down-hill stride and that, with the comple- ton of the Alaska railroad what little prosperity there is will cease They do not seem to realize that the completion of the railroad will mean the lessening of the cost of all commodities to such an extent that industry will be developed where none existed before. The increased value of the products of the country from year to year shows this if nothing more. For the interior, in a general way has done it's share in the way of production, although there was slight decrease in the output of gold in last season over the season previous.
 For the most part, however. the people of the interior are enthusi- astic over the prospects, for the booster is in the majority. They realize that untold wealth yet re- mains undeyeloped in the Tanana Valley, and that the coming of the railroad will be the greatest factor in it's development. In fact, from practically every standpoint, it is predicted by responsible and con- seryative business men that the year 1917 will prove to be the most bene- ficial to the people of the Interior and to the business of Fairbanks in