The Alaska citizen., 1917-02-19
THE ALASKA 4. < M.

used as site for an agricultural college and school of mines. In addi ton to this, other sections were set aside as school lands. the proceeds of the sale Of which will go toward the support of such an institution as has been provided for Acts pre- yious to the one referred to provide for an annual appropriation of $5O.- 900 from the national treasury for the support of these schools when they have been established by any State or Territory in the Union.
 Nearly month ago the Fairbanks Commercial club drafted a personal letter 10 each representative of the Alaska legislature and set forth the provisions whereby the establish ment of an Agricultural and Mining or Mechanical, college had been made possible by the provisions above stated These letters also SO licited the aid of the representatives in securing the necessary funds from the territorial government so that the college may be started,
 That such an institution is UT gently needed now. and that the need will increase every year is not a question that is debatable for one instant We think there will be practically no dissenting opinions from this throughout the entire ter ritory. Investigation at the big min ing plants throughout Alaska should convince any "Doubting Thomas of this fact Such an investigation will show that the responsible positions of mining and consulting engineers for these industries are filled with men from the States who have had an opportunity of getting an educa, ton in just such schools as is con templated for Alaska That the men, especially the young men, of the north could just as well, or better, fill these positions if they were given the proper opportunity, as the man from the States. will not be denied for a minute by any true Alaskan. Not only would they be on an equal footing as to educational advantages and qualifications, but they would be familiar with the pecula rites of this country, which the States man must acquire before he can fill his job with competence.
 For these, ana other ample and sufficient reasons, there should be, and probably will be, no objections anywhere about the principle of the esta blishment of the proposed school. It is not thought that there will be any serious obstacles ot any kind 
 raised in securing the appropriations. But if there should be any, 1t can come from only two real sources. 1 The first Of these would be section alism, and the second an indisposi. tion on the part of some to appropri- ate the money at this time. In case ol obstacles arising from these grounds, they must be, and can be, met with indisputable facts, and not with hot air arguments.
 The action taken by the local Com toward securing the necessary ap- propriation. Unless 1t is followed up closely by other action on the part of not only the citizens of Fair banks, but the entire F>u"th di,i- sion. there is a probability that 1t may not succeed in producing the desired effect. Every man or wo, man in this district owes it to the district and the young men in not only the district but the entire Ter ritory, to use their best efforts to aid the Commercial club in their praiseworthy attempt.
 The time to start work is now, not next week, nor next month. Let your representative know that you are for the schools being provided
 for now Every year that it is put off adds to the handicap that the country, and the young men of the country, are laboring under. If you have connections, business or other
 wise, in the other divisions of the | Territory, get in touch with them and enlist their assistance. It may not be needed, but 1t won't do any
 harm to have it, and it Is likely to | come in handy.
 Fairbanks, in it's centrally located position, is an ideally situated spot for the institution. It is within easy reach of any part of the remainder