The Alaska daily empire., 1920-04-13
OUTLOOK FOR
 NORTH IS GOOD SAYS IMMERSION
Manager of Alaska Bureau Outlines Prospects for Leg
 islation and Action

At lHS IeSuldT business luncheon of the Members Council of the Cham Der of Commerce last week the prin- cipal topic was the enactment of a constructive policy to provide for the development of Alaska" ]. S Me Pherson. Manager of the Alaska Bur eau of the Chamber of Commerce. delivered an instructive address GOV ering the needs of the territory and what has been done in the direction If development and settlement. He have drifted without any fixed or constructive policy looking to the rational development of Alaska that would result in permanent popula- ion and local industries. After three years Congress was persuaded to be gin the construction of an Alaskan railway. The project-from Seward 70 Fairbanks with terminals and Nranch lines. will comprise 600 miles The work will be completed in 1922
 After six years of work it is real
 zed that the development of traffic is necessary to the successful opera ton of the railway.
 'In the campaign for additional 'unds to complete the project I ap
 oeared before four congressional com
 nittees and urged that the railway would only pay by the creation of local industries and the settlement of tributary country; that such a re- suit is not possible under the present policy and that a reversal from re jtriction to one of aid and encoura- cement to settlers is necessary There is no such thing as frontier development with the pioneer en meshed in red tape-and such is re sponsible for the non-development of Alaska During the period of ex perimentation the population of Ala ska has steadily decreased while the output of Alaska's great resources has mounted into millions. We have taken from Alaska nearly a billion dollars and have given only in re turn railway and a few roads and trails which tend to make easier the dLJIdCllOu Ol f1ldSho hCditu. HIS
 is the one end to which the Alaska Bureau of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce has worked and will con tinue to work until the end is ach
 eved-the utilization of Alaskas rich resources to create local industries and a permanent and prosperous citizenry.
 
 "Timbered areas that should be the center of prosperous paper
 industry have been allowed to rot. The lands that are susceptible of cultivation when cleared aggregate over one hundred thousand square miles Assured of proper steamship and hotel facilities Alaska will be- come the tourist mecca of the con tinent To those pioneers left in the territory I say that I confidently believe that we are now at the dawn of new era that promises progress. We have secured the championship of two men essential to congressional leadership in the formation of a constructive policy for Alaskan development-the chairmen of two congressional committees charged with Alaskan legislation. Senator New of Indiana and Chair man Curry of the House committee. Through their efforts bill for an appropriation to pay the expenses of construction was reported from the committee on territories and i'm mediate action was taken by Con gross. These two men were aided in material way by the Washington Senatore and Representatives. who are today in strong and influential position in congress, and an ever in creasing number of members of both houses are actively enlisted in be- half of the rational developmnt of Alaska. Chairman Curry summed up this sentiment in a few words: We are going to enact constructive pol icy and provide for it's efficient ad- ministration in Alaska that will re- suit in the utilization of Alaska s rich resources, to the end of creating local industries and an increasing and prosperous citizenry'"