The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-07-10
INTERESTS
NEED FOSTERING
Declared Secretary Redfield in Outlining
the Work Planned by Department
of Commerce for the Benefit
of the Country.

Washington, D. c., July l0-"Every
interest in Alaska should have the fos-
tering care of the country, so that its de-
velopment may be rounded and not par
tial," Secretary Redfield declared to-day
in letter to Governor Thomas Riggs,
jr., outlining important work planned by
the department of commerce for the ben
eft of the territory.
An essential preliminary to the devel-
opment of Alaska, Secretary Redfield
said, is that Alaskan waters should be
made safe for navigation, and he pledged
the continuous services of the coast and
geodetic survey to that end. The hope
of Alaska to have coast dotted with
fishing villages is regarded with especial
favor by the department, which will lend
its efforts to bring this about. Mr.. Red
field also pointed out the possibility Of
establishing shipyard in Alaska and
said that if such an enterprise were in
operation now, the government would be
glad to have it build two of four launches
needed for the fisheries service.
Extension of the facilities for CARRYING
on the work of the coast survey, bureau
of lighthouses and bureau of fisheries is
planned by the department, including
new vessels for each. A new district for
the steamboat inspection service has
been made necessary by the growth of
the work in the Northwest, and head
quarters probably will be opened at Port.
land or Seattle Plans are being made
for salmon culture and for experiments
with neglected species of fish foods by
establishing fisheries experiment sta.
tion on Puget sound Secretary Redfeld
wrote
"The rich aquatic resources of Alaska
have not heretofore received the atten-
ton they deserve. One or two fisheries
of great Importance have overshadowed
others. Yet these more or less neglected
fishes are valuable food products and are
the very ones which have made other
countries prosperous. We have undertake
en- campaign to introduce into wider
popular use the valuable food fishes of
Alaska hitherto largely neglected
"Coincident with the resumption of
commercial sealing on the Pribilof is
lands, the department for the first time
in the history Of those islands is making
use of the by-products of the seal indus.
try. A reduction plant las been sent to
the islands, and there will henceforth be
large and valuable output of oil and
fertilizer. These are both in great de.
mand and viii never again be utterly
wasted as in the past.
ON my recent visit to the Pacific
Northwest, it was more than once sug-
gested as hope that the coast of Alaska
might be dotted with fishing villages,
each pursuing prosperous local indus
try and each contributing to the nations
food supply and wealth. It is our ear
nest hope that this may come to pass
and the department of commerce will
willingly lend its efforts to bring this
about.
"The department realizes, however,
that no country can safely depend per-
manently upon any one single overshad-
owing industry or occupation. In diversi-
ty lies security. Every interest in Alaska
should have the fostering care of the
country, so that its development may be
rounded and not partial. Before the
shores Of Alaska, however, can be COW
cred as they ought to be with the YES
sells bringing to and from her ports the
commerce that is their due, the waters
of Alaska must be made safe, and this
means that the surveys of many straits
and arms must be worked out so that
the navigator shall know how to avoid
the perils that now threaten him. To
this important task the coast and geo.
detic survey shall be continuously de-
voted.