The daily Alaska citizen., 1919-08-13
"AI.ASKA CAN" "CAN WIIAT:' "PAN THE NATIONS WAR DEBT.'
(Bv Hattie NJ. D'OrsayD )

In sight Ot my Cabln door are all sorts Ol grasses in uNuriant growth, higher than my hcad The trees have, and are fulfilling their mission as the finely finished residences and public buildings, the log cabins, the saw mills and Woodsaws testify. Fuel for an eight months winter in a country where we insist on the siN-inch varety-and plenty of it. Now that the new railroad thru Alaska is developing the coal mines it makes for even easier conditions.
 If only the men could or would prospect! If they could but start mining again! They just had to stop. Commodities in general SO high; wages not proportonate; this is what is rctarding the further development of this rich northern country.
 How can Alaska progress unless the men who would prospect for minerals re CcVc sufficient encouragement to insure them against starvation Ill their explorations? :? Men receive equipment to discover, or seek to discover, what lies at the poles The pros pector only seeks to open to the world Alaska's s buried treasures. Times without number he has proven his contention to the unlimited supply
 These men are good gamesters. It is as the breath of their nostrils It is in the blood puIsating at their hfecenters. But to main tain life itself a prOspeCtor should have a grubstake. It should be enough to outlast a seasons tour, at least he can work better on a full stomach In times past the prospector used his last cent; he borrowed, if he Could or else got the stores to trust him for the necessary grubstake. He put his all into the kit; his strength, his time, often friends and family went into the gamble. And he found gold-billions of it! Few prospectors have been rewarded, ultimately, except in the joy of discovery But they built cities and sky sCrOpers for others.
 The stores have been patient and gener ous But with times as they are, following so closely upon word-war, they know, and we are brot to realize, that running store is enough of gamble without stalking men who are lucky if they find pay and not all can strike it the first venture, while others may spend twenty, thirty years, nay life time, las many have done, and fail.
 But it has paid the United States, l. e., the lives and spirits of these gamesters have. Nations war debt!" Shall these daring souls forego "the Great Adventure?" and for mere pittance?
 Inc Old-tlme prOSpeCtOr the intrepid spirit of high hopes and dauntless courage, lis passing. He may be old or bent with years, but the old-time youthful spirit flashes up as he conhdes that he 'knows of a place to find it, if he could but get to it.
 And the new generation! It has been tried out-stood the acid test-for them! The sourdough did that! If they do as we'll their part; if Uncle Sam will but turn part of his army loose in Alaska, there will be a new Victory Drive that will make one United Scream of joy in golden eagles with the aid .o1 the United States Doughboys.
 Alaska can pay the Nations war debt . of course. It takes men with will to do, and dare and 1t takes also, a grubstake, but isn't 1t worth while? Vastly worth while?