The Alaska daily empire., 1919-12-12

t I1
 would seem that had the nation paid
 taxes last year in proportion to Alas
 ka, the Federal Treasury would have
 been. enriched by between five and six billions of dollars. It is we'll un degstood by those departments gov erning the Territory that Alaska is one of the greatest assets of the United States and that the original investment of $7,200,000 has been re- paid many times over; but, as with every other investment, we can not allow our property to be neglected,
 but must encourage and develop
 along sound. commercial lines. To use mining term, Alaska is. simply
 being "high-graded," to the detriment of the whole country. With the ex- ception of one or two great low-grade
 mines, only the rich mineral deposits
 are being worked; only the greatest salmon and halibut fisheries ex- plotted. while for lack of intelligent governmental assistance, the truly big resources of the country must pcrforce lie in idleness.
 q think I am safe in stating that
 every government official or member of Congress who has ever visited Alaska has recognized it's potentia greatness, but to those to whom has
 not been given the opportunity of seeing the Territory and noting con ditions, it is still viewed as the dis tant and desolate land at one time known as Stewards folly As a consequence, appropriations arc placed at such low figures as to pre- | clnde any effectiveness; the rich min l ing regions are made unavailable for | lack of transportation; the fisheries are threatened with xhaustion for ] lack of transportation; the fisheries are threatened with exhaustion for 1 lacl, of transportation; lawnessless, particularly that fomented by pro-Ger-
 man, I. w w, and Bolshevik ele
 ments, is becoming a menace; as happens nowhere else in the United States, the natives in time of epidem- | ics are allowed to die either of dis case or starvation; roads and rail road building must stop for lack of funds unwarranted reserves and | withdrawals of lands frighten away prospective investors and settlers; oil lands can not be entered upon and explored. and, as a result of laws
 and regulations, at every turn ap-
 pears the huge Teutonic sign yer
 boten.' h
 And yet, notwithstanding all gov
 ernmental neglect and repression. the
 people of Alaska, during the World War, responded more nobly to the
 call of duty than did the people Of any other State or Territory. In three war drives Alaska headed the nation in oversubscription of her al lotted quotas; and, in it's support of the American Red Cross, Alaska, in proportion, completely eclipsed all , competitors. To furnish soldiers and sailors, Alaska was practically de populated of young men. over F per cent of the entire number of white nhabitants-men, women, and child
 ren-answering the call to arms.
 "As required by law in my report, I shall endeavor to cover all condi tions existing in the Territory and
 make recommendation for the ad-
 ministration of existing laws and for
 new legislation 10 cover Territorial
 needs. I note that recommendation
 made bv past governors have re-
 ceived little attention or considera
 tion In this, a mistake ias been
 made, as the Governor of Alaska is a
 Federal executive, appointed by the
 President, confirmed by the Senate,