The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1919-10-21
Alaska Is an Asset
Mot a Liability


This issue of the Alaska Bureau of
Publicity Bi-Monthly is particularly
ing the great territory of Alaska de-
veloped along sound commercial lines
Unfortunately those vested with the
right to legislate for Alaska look upon
this vast domain as an Incubus liza
bility rather than an asset. In order
that uniformed minds may be dis
abused of this erroneous belief we sub
NIT the following letter which was re-
Gently sent by our governor, Hon.
Thomas Riggs, yr., to ]. w. Hallowell,
assistant to the secretary Of the in
terror, the reading of which may serve
to enlighten the uniformed and con-
vince them that Alaska is not the in
cubus they have been led to believe
it to be. The governors letter shows
that approximately 10000 people are
yearly turning into the federal treas
ury $10,000,000 over and above the
amount spent on them. This is at
the rate of about $3.50 per capita for
every white person in Alaska. The
history of America has been that a
territory has never been great source
of revenue to the nation. If the fed
eral government breaks even on the
administration of territory she is
doing pretty well, but when terri
tory can so materially help to keep
government wheels revolving, it is but
reasonable that such territory should
be given all possible assistance in
working out her problems, if for no
other reason than that she may be
able to produce still greater revenue
to the government:
The Governors letter to Mr.. HailoWell
Hon. j. w. Hallowell, Assistant to the
Secretary, Department of the In
terror, Washington.
Dear Mr. Hallowell: Referring to
government disbursements and re-
ceipts in Alaska, l beg to submit a
tabulation of such figures as could be
obtained in this office. These figures
are neither complete nor entirely &C
curate, but they are sufficiently so as
to show we are not barnacles on the
ship of state" The only place at
which complete and accurate data may
be obtained is in Washington, at the
various departments.
Federal Appropriations for the Fiscal
Year 1919
Purpose Amount
Governors, judges, attorneys
and marshals .-..............--,-..--S $1,000
Governors office .................... 5000
Repainting executive man
sion ..........................-.... $50
Legislative expenses ......-....... 46,O10
Observation-Disclosures cable. 147,445
Post roads and trails........-...... O,0O0
Mine inspection ........................ 1000
Alaskan engineering commits
sion ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $3.50, 900
Care of insane ...............-...- $4,000
Education of natives .............. 1000
Medical relief for natives $4,000
Reindeer service .................... 5000
Protection of game..-.-.---..----.- 10000
Liquor traffic .......................- $4,000
Seal fisheries .......................... 100000
Mining coal by navy............... 100000
Star mail routes ....................... 255. 900
Agricultural experiment sta
tions $4,000
Surveyor generals Office 1860
Fisheries service .................-.... O,4O0
Yes Bay hatchery ..-..--.......---..- S,22O
Afognak hatchery ......----,---.----- S,22O
Maintenance fisheries boat
Osprev .............................. 5,244O
Officers and crew .-.....,..,...,.-.-- $4,000
Investigating mineral re-
sources ................................. $4,000
Total ,ooo,lo
Of the above operations, the Wash
ington-Alaska cable and telegraph sys-
tenn is practically self-supporting; the
seal fisheries in 1918 exported seal
and fox skins to the value of approx
mately 100000; the appropriation
for mining coal by the navy depart
ment of $1,OOO0O0 was not utilized; a