The Alaska daily empire., 1920-03-23

on water routes is a subject of sui ficient importance to justify the ex- penditure of a considerable amount of time and effort. As was sug- gested at the last general meeting of the Association, this might be brought about through political in fluence at the Presidential nomin- ating conventions.
 Some sort of a suitable landing place must be secured for the land planes which are expected to make the flight from Seattle to Alaska and Juneau this Spring or early summer. Some of the preliminary work has been done but considerable work remains to be accomplished.
 To Attract Tourists
 There are prosperous communl- ties many times the size of ours whose only asset is the attraction they offer tourists. We have with in easy access of Juneau attractions which are unsurpassable and which may be made of considerable com mercial value without the expendi- ture of a great amount of either time or money. Chief among these for immediate consideration is the trail leading to the top of Mount Roberts and the extension and i'm provement of the Mendenhall Glac- fer road.
 Tt is quite possible that we could get the work done on the Mount Roberts trail by volunteer effort" There would be the dis tinct advantage In getting it done in this way of enlisting the aid of many people who have never seen the top of the mountain, and there by add these to the list of enthus- lasts. I believe that an auto road to the top of Mount Roberts might be found feasible and that the com mercial benefit to the town would be justified by the cost.
 ''As to the improvement of the Glacier River road, think it might be possible to enlist the aid of the Road Commission in doing some of the work It would be up to the Association, however, to look after the extension of the road beyond the Treadwell Company's power house and the improvement of the road leading past Kings cabin to the bank of the Mendenhall river, making the section up and down the river, from the site of the old bridge, accessible as a picnic ground and a place of interest generally.
 ''The opening of the road to Aux Bay has made available other places of scenic beauty, and the extension of this road to Eagle River would add considerably to the attractions of our city as a tourist center.
 There should be easily available for tourists reliable information as to the availability of automobiles for excursion parties, and of boats for hunting and fishing parties, and their approximate cost; arrange ments for visiting our great mines, etc.
 Legislation Needed
 Whatever may be said or done specifically to help or encourage the building of industries or other things of commercial interest, the larger fact is apparent that any work undertaken is difficult of accom- plishment, and often is practically impossible, unless laws affecting 1t are favorable. The mail service on the through routes, the water pow CT, wood pulp, logging and fishing industries, afford striking examples of this fact. I believe, therefore, that the Association might accom- plish more of commercial advantage to our community, while at the same time do a service for the whole Territory if it should concentrate considerable effort toward encour- aging favorable legislation and dis courage other kinds in both the Congress and the Territorial Legis- lature by working in conjunction with our Delegate in Congress and other commercial bodies in the Ter ritory.
 Matters in Congress should be acted upon as. they appear, but mat ters upon which legislation IS thought necessary by the Territorial