The Nenana daily news. (Nenana, Alaska) 1918-1921, 1918-09-03
ALASKA BUREAU
MANAGER SEEKS
INTERIOR DATA
J. L. Mcpherson Arrives in Nenana
On Tour of North, Looking
Over Conditions.


| bilities in Interior Alaska, J. L. Nc
Pherson, manager of the Alaska Bu-
reau of the Seattle Chamber of Com
merce, arrived in Nenana yesterday
afternoon and will spend several
days in town and out along the
line looking over the local field.
Mr.. Mcpherson came up the coast
to Cordova and thence overland to
Fairbanks, taking in the towns en-
route, and he plans to return the
same way, after he has completed
his Investigations in the Interior.
One of his chief objects in coming to
Nenana, Mr.. Mcpherson says, was to
have look at the coal fields, and
he will make trip to that district
as the guest of Engineer in Charge
F. D. Browne.
When interviewed by repre-
sentative of the News last evening
at the Portland, where he was found
searching for photographs descrip-
tive of the Interior country, Mr.. Nc
Pherson had much to say regarding
conditions in Alaska and the steps
that are being taken by the Alaska
Bureau to further the interests of
the Northland. He spoke enthusiast
ideally of the showing that is being
made by the Alaska fisheries, and
declared that the fishing industry at
no distant date would provide a
market for the agricultural products
of the Interior, limited at present to
local consumption. Such a market
and cheap transportation, he believes
Interior Alaskans must have before
they can hope for increased develop
ment of their agricultural possibili-
ties.
"You also must have capital in
here" he continued, "to develop your
mineral resources. And that is one
of the things the Alaska Bureau is
trying to get for you. We find,
however, that before capital can be
interested in Northern development
to any appreciate extent, there must
be less of bureau rule in Alaska"
MIR. Mcpherson is very much in
favor of the creation of a board
of control, composed of men of abil-
ity and understanding, to take over
the work of the various departments
and bureaus which at present have
jurisdiction over Alaskan affairs.
Such a board would have its head
quarters in Alaska, instead of Wash
ington, would be non-political and
would centralize control now scat
tered among a number of depart
ments, among which there is more or
less lack Of understanding and jeal-
ously.
Mr.. Mcpherson says that the war
and other conditions have combined
to make Seattle the Invest city on
the Pacific coast. The development
of bushes lately has been such,
he says, that San Francisco has been
aroused to action, and only recently
sent representative to Puget Sound
to inquire into conditions there.
Labor of all kinds is scarce in
Seattle, but still the bureau man.
ager would not advise Alaskans to
leave the North in search of employ
ment there. Living costs, he says,
are excessively high, and no one can
tell how long the demand for labor
will continue. Working conditions
in Alaska, he thinks, are better than
in the States.
A few days before Mr.. Mcpherson
left for the North, Mayor Hanson,
of Seattle, signed on as a shipyard
worker, in response to the call for
additional labor. The names of other
prominent business men also went
on the rolls. The mayor wanted to
get four-hour shift, but was told
that he must work eight hours or
not at all, so he is now putting in
full days, just like the rest of the
UOrkqrS and Jrouyipo tho roo,,lor